Lets talk electric angle grinders

[RedneckWelder]

What companies are typically Metabo dealers/distributors?

Fastenal carries them around here. I'd imagine Grainger does too, and the local weld supply shop may have them (I think I've seen them in the Airgas around here)

Personally I'd be looking online if I wanted a Metabo unit. Some of their lower end grinders are Chinese made, so if you want German, research carefully.

 

[LG63]

What companies are typically Metabo dealers/distributors?

Amazon for one. But you may want to hold off because Metabo appears to be ready to release a new slimmer design to the US market.

 

[Farmall450]

Good luck finding something one not from china, I am not familiar with coo on angle grinders but in general the vast majority of power tools are made in china. I heard that this black and decker angle grinder works really good and has outlasted other more expensive grinders, and that those are thrown in yellow cases and sold as dewalts. There is a thread on these a couple days ago I think. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000077CPU/?tag=atomicindus08-20

If I need a grinder I will buy one of them, but grinders scare me and that guy that nearly cut of his **** is not helping me feel any safer.

Well, Fein of Germany would be a good start. Every single one, made in Germany.

OP, I used to be a DeWalt fan, and still am, but I'm really liking my 5" Fein. Soft start takes a touch of getting used to but it's super ergonomic, at least for me.

 

[skipnay]

Well I have a Makita grinder with a paddle switch that I bought probably like 15 years ago. I love it to death. In the last 3 years I bought a Real Gear with side switch and a Milwaukee 18 volt fuel electric one that is awesome just don't want to be using it like I have been. I have been hard on it.

Anyway I would like something that will last like my Makita but I also want another paddle switch because the side switch ***** unless you want it to stay on constantly and don't mind having to turn it off quick. So I seen Milwaukee has an electric one with a dial to speed it up or slow it down. The only thing it isn't paddle switch it's a side switch.

So who makes a dial speed one with a paddle switch? Also will it last?

 

[thebeekeeper1]

Good luck finding something one not from china, I am not familiar with coo on angle grinders but in general the vast majority of power tools are made in china. I heard that this black and decker angle grinder works really good and has outlasted other more expensive grinders, and that those are thrown in yellow cases and sold as dewalts. There is a thread on these a couple days ago I think. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000077CPU/?tag=atomicindus08-20

If I need a grinder I will buy one of them, but grinders scare me and that guy that nearly cut of his **** is not helping me feel any safer.

My most-used angle grinder is an old B&D "Industrial" that has been used and abused to a terrible degree. I have used it for things that are likely illegal in many states, had it too hot to hold, and otherwise abused in all manner--and it still works as well as the day I gave a neighbor kid $5 for it when he beat on my door asking if I would buy it.

I'd buy ten more of them if they still made them. It looks quite different than that one, but if it is 1/10 the grinder mine is you can't go wrong.

 

[Monte]

What companies are typically Metabo dealers/distributors?

http://www.metabo.us/Local-Distributors.3657.0.html?&no_cache=1

 

[MaineGuide]

Amazon for one. But you may want to hold off because Metabo appears to be ready to release a new slimmer design to the US market.

Metabo has already released them. Available at Fastenal and CPO Metabo, possibly other places too.

 

[LG63]

Metabo has already released them. Available at Fastenal and CPO Metabo, possibly other places too.

Interesting. Looks like they bumped the amps a tad and upped the model numbers by +1. Old W8 now W9, W14 now W15

 

[MaineGuide]

Interesting. Looks like they bumped the amps a tad and upped the model numbers by +1. Old W8 now W9, W14 now W15

I bought one with a slide switch at Fastenal (they matched CPO) and I've really enjoyed using it so far. The slimmer body is so much more comfortable for me than the old style.

 

[fasteddie313]

My milwaukee got hit by lightning, I put a new cord on it, still running 3+ years later.

 

[maico]

these Metabo angle grinders are made in germany

Fein grinders like this one are made in germany

Flex grinders in this design are made in germany

several Bosch grinders are also made in germany.
Their imported grinders look similar so you have to look closely
(imported ones are usually in the 700-800 watt range)

These Hiltis are also made in germany
(they do offer chinese entry level imports)

Suhner solely produces in germany:

Pferd angle grinders are made in Germany

most Kress angle grinders are made in germany

Berner offers angle grinders made in germany

BTI offers angle grinders made in germany

Wurth offers angle grinders made in germany

Over here Makita offers UK made grinders and Hitachi offers Irish made grinders. Other european angle grinder manufacturers are Rupes (Italy), Stayer (Spain), Casals (Spain), Felisatti (Spain), Interskol (Russia), Sparky (Bulgaria) and Perles (Slovenia). Bosch "Green" grinders are made in Hungary.

So you can see there is still a large selection of non chinese grinders

Good post. Here in the UK the big retailers seem to be inundated with Makita, Bosch and Hitachi. All seem to have UK plants and big marketing budgets.

I'm saving up for a Fein having been persuaded by this video which shows the grinders being made. Reminds me of Miele where production of motors is all done in-house. Having tight control of the production process generally means better quality.

 

[exmaxima1]

Love my metabo with the "quick" feature, the joys of not having to use a pin spanner

Do the Metabo "Quick" grinders use standard discs and wheels?

 

[Monte]

Do the Metabo "Quick" grinders use standard discs and wheels?

yes .

 

[sljeme345]

Who actually has experience with longer operating Metabo grinder? Think of 4 + h of work.
The reason I ask, because at work we have half tools (grinders) from Metabo and other half Fein.
We have overheating problems with (30%) angle grinders from Metabo (seria with adjustable speed) during first 15min, has anyone noticed with his grinder?

 

[sljeme345]

Just for the record, I do not want to speak ill of Metabo, I'm interested in your experiences.

 

[Monte]

Who actually has experience with longer operating Metabo grinder? Think of 4 + h of work.
The reason I ask, because at work we have half tools (grinders) from Metabo and other half Fein.
We have overheating problems with (30%) angle grinders from Metabo (seria with adjustable speed) during first 15min, has anyone noticed with his grinder?

Do you adjust the speed to a lower rpm .......?

 

[sljeme345]

Do you adjust the speed to a lower rpm .......?

Yes. I speak from my experience, and my experience of workers from site. We mainly working for Oil refineries and power plants.
We have about 500 angle grinders (125,180 and 230).

 

['sallgood]

Just for the record, I do not want to speak ill of Metabo, I'm interested in your experiences.

I will. They're over rated junk; like most **** from Germany.
Buy a Makita.

 

[Monte]

Yes. I speak from my experience, and my experience of workers from site. We mainly working for Oil refineries and power plants.
We have about 500 angle grinders (125,180 and 230).

i think i would try the "Inox" model:
http://www.metabo.us/Product-catalogue-Metabo-Metal-hand-held-power-tools.36360+M5cc816490dd.0.html

or this
http://www.metabo.us/Product-catalogue-Metabo-Metal-hand-held-power-tools.36360+M527f0c67ba7.0.html

...if you run the grinders on lower speed.
There is a quadratic coherence of the speed and air flow. If you reduce the grinder speed by 25% the air flow will be reduced by 50%. So if you work with reduced speeds i would purchase the proper slower speed grinder since the air flow will be higher and the torque is higher too on the slow speed models.

The most recent Metabo grinders are supposed to be better too...

 

[sljeme345]

i think i would try the "Inox" model:
http://www.metabo.us/Product-catalogue-Metabo-Metal-hand-held-power-tools.36360+M5cc816490dd.0.html

or this
http://www.metabo.us/Product-catalogue-Metabo-Metal-hand-held-power-tools.36360+M527f0c67ba7.0.html

...if you run the grinders on lower speed.
There is a quadratic coherence of the speed and air flow. If you reduce the grinder speed by 25% the air flow will be reduced by 50%. So if you work with reduced speeds i would purchase the proper slower speed grinder since the air flow will be higher and the torque is higher too on the slow speed models.

The most recent Metabo grinders are supposed to be better too...

Its truth Monte.

We had a debate at work about angle grinders, we have concluded that there are no same grinders for German and Croatian (adriatic area). Although they all have label "made in germany", but there are not same quality
But there are exceptions, for example Fein. We have construction sites in some European countrys (Germany, Belgium, Finland..), when the site is finish and bring power tools wich they buy, its not same like here in Croatia (I think the quality built).

 

[exmaxima1]

i think i would try the "Inox" model:
http://www.metabo.us/Product-catalogue-Metabo-Metal-hand-held-power-tools.36360+M5cc816490dd.0.html

...if you run the grinders on lower speed.
There is a quadratic coherence of the speed and air flow. If you reduce the grinder speed by 25% the air flow will be reduced by 50%. So if you work with reduced speeds i would purchase the proper slower speed grinder since the air flow will be higher and the torque is higher too on the slow speed models.

The most recent Metabo grinders are supposed to be better too...

I think I should have done research on my newest purchase, as I have never used an angle grinder yet. I just won a Metabo Inox on the auction site, but just noticed the max revs is only 7000/min. I hope that will suffice for normal use.

 

[Monte]

which grinders do you use ? Maybe use the higher amp versions with 1700 Watt ?

 

[Monte]

I think I should have done research on my newest purchase, as I have never used an angle grinder yet. I just won a Metabo Inox on the auction site, but just noticed the max revs is only 7000/min. I hope that will suffice for normal use.

It´s mainly for stainless steel work but you also can use it for cleaning/finishing discs (3M...) and flap wheels on steel. Because of the lower speed the discs will last longer and the work piece won´t get as hot.

 

[exmaxima1]

It´s mainly for stainless steel work but you also can use it for cleaning/finishing discs (3M...) and flap wheels on steel. Because of the lower speed the discs will last longer and the work piece won´t get as hot.

My hope was for cleaning rust on machined surfaces like saw or drill press tables. Plus, I'm pretty old so I think I will enjoy the slower grinder

Thanks!

 

[stihlntime]

I have a 20 year old craftsman professional I've beat the hell out of and it keeps going wonder who made it. Bought a new a new Milwaukee a couple of years ago and it has been great. A friend who is a professional welder by trade swears by Metabo.

 

[d.mcfarland]

The slower speed will be perfect for cup brush work. They won't flare out on you. Don't be upset you have the slower speed. Even a 1750 rpm wire wheel bench grinder easily removes rust. The only thing you might face any issue with is when using a cutting wheel on thicker metal.

 

[Rosso]

I'm saving up for one of those Flat head metabos.

Can't wait to get one, will make life so much easier at work.

 

[exmaxima1]

The slower speed will be perfect for cup brush work. They won't flare out on you. Don't be upset you have the slower speed. Even a 1750 rpm wire wheel bench grinder easily removes rust. The only thing you might face any issue with is when using a cutting wheel on thicker metal.

Thank you. I feel much better now.

 

[sljeme345]

which grinders do you use ? Maybe use the higher amp versions with 1700 Watt ?

Major number of them is Metabo WE 14-125 plus. we will have the first purchase in november, for new ones.