I need an occasional use Angle Grinder

[Matt018]

Try the Hitachi 4 amp with 5 abrasive wheels, its fantastic, and comes with a nice case for only 50 bucks!

 

[tyyost]

I really don't know why people ask when they already have a plan. Just buy the darn HF $10 thing and give us a review already!

As for the durability, I think everyone agrees it is luck of the draw on the low end units. It also in how you use the tool, the harder you push the big fat grinding wheel or 4" cup brush the shorter the life of the tool.

What I haven't read is vibration and power. I have spent a ton of time holding on to a smaller grinder for tons of r and r jobs. There is no way I could use a $10 grinder all day long and still be able to feel my fingers. They vibrate, have little ergonomics and some get warm in heavy use. I'll admit, the less time I have to do work, the harder I push my grinders so power, like 8-10 amps is what I am looking for. I don't want hot hands and sore wrists. I want a quality tool that works exactly like I expect.
I don't think you will ever know what you are missing for your uses. Buy the cheapie and spend the money you save on better consumables like Weiler brushes and welding store discs.

 

[Mike_C]

So for years I had a cheap $20 angle grinder, used the piss out of that thing. But it was getting louder and louder and would vibrate quite badly. Still worked, but it was time to replace it. I found that I used angle grinders a lot, so I picked up a pack of 2 dewalts from home depot around s season for $100. I love having 2, 3 or 4 would be nice at times. I was shopping around for a quality grinder for a few months, and when I found that deal I jumped on it.

So with that said, I wouldn't hesitate to buy a cheap one if you don't think you will be using it much. Down the road you can always pick up a better one if you find your self using it more and more. I buy cheap tools all the time, if I think I am only going to use it a couple times. I'll spend decent money on tools I know will get used a lot though.

 

[shampoop]

I believe this is the one I have.
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200452869_200452869

It looks like it was rebadged as a harbor freight model when I bought it but has since been discontinued. Bought it because it was needed for a welding class. Having no experience with angle grinders, it seems quite powerful I've never made it bog down. I like the design of everything. My ONLY gripe is it doesn't seem to be all that smooth, but then again, the best of the best angle grinders may vibrate just as much or more for all I know.

 

[byoungblood]

I bought the aforementioned Bosch one for $20 at Home Depot 2-3 years ago, I believe it was a display model. It has only seen some light to moderate use thus far (last thing I remember doing with it was sharpening a lawn mower blade) but it works well for my purposes.

I'm always on the hunt for bargain tools. I don't like to go the HF or other throw-away tool route, so I'm always looking for clearance/display/open box/returned name brand stuff instead. There are a few tools in my box that have never been used but I couldn't pass them up because it was such a great deal.

 

[bobcatdan]

I don't know why this is such a big arugement, good angle grinders are not expensive. A milwaukee or dewalt cost what $80? My go to angle grinder, a 4" makita was $50 new. I thinking a I spend a lot at $125 for a 4 1/2 metabo. I never got some people's view of hf, " Its a useless piece of **** that only worked twice and didn't do a good job, but I only paid $8.99 with a 20% of coupon so I can't compain, 4 out of 5 stars." Just buy a name brand, even if you don't use it often, grinders still work hard when you use them, somethings are better to buy better.

 

[BBQ&Love]

I saw the perfect one yesterday at a pawn shop. It was a Metabo without the guard, and beat to hell. They only wanted $99.95 for it. They were willing to come down to $95.00 plus tax. It was this one: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0027IQGOW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Incredible.

 

[sberry]

Its why I like the wallyworld ones, smooth and a lot of power. We just used it building 6 trairlerd from used steel. Can't be beat, doubt a home/hobby type could ever wear it out. The hitch wasn't finished on this one yet. In the 3rd is kind of what the finished product looks like.

 

[VWandDodge]

I believe this is the one I have.
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200452869_200452869

It looks like it was rebadged as a harbor freight model when I bought it but has since been discontinued. Bought it because it was needed for a welding class. Having no experience with angle grinders, it seems quite powerful I've never made it bog down. I like the design of everything. My ONLY gripe is it doesn't seem to be all that smooth, but then again, the best of the best angle grinders may vibrate just as much or more for all I know.

Northern Tool just opened a store in Oklahoma City, so I went inside to take a look. It strikes me as an upscale Harbor Freight, which is right on the mark because I always thought the catalog prices were high. Basically, it's a higher class of trailer park. No thanks.

 

[shampoop]

I believe this is the one I have.
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200452869_200452869

It looks like it was rebadged as a harbor freight model when I bought it but has since been discontinued. Bought it because it was needed for a welding class. Having no experience with angle grinders, it seems quite powerful I've never made it bog down. I like the design of everything. My ONLY gripe is it doesn't seem to be all that smooth, but then again, the best of the best angle grinders may vibrate just as much or more for all I know.

Also to add to this, so far I am completely satisfied with my grinder, but if I could do it over again, I would wait till I found a nice makita on craigslist. The good ones really aren't that expensive, especially used, and that way you never have to worry about it.

 

[d33pt]

the thing about the HF grinder is that it gets hot fast and vibrates alot. I have a $40 dewalt that works much better. I still use the HF for quick 1-2 min jobs, but anything more and it just *****.