Need a cheap angle die grinder tomorrow

[gdocktor3]

I seem to have "misplaced" my angle die grinder and need a cheapo to do a job tomorrow. So, if you had to choose between HF, Home Depot, or Lowes, which would you choose and why? I'm looking for the best, of the worst basically. Not the cheapest. Any tool is an investment to me and if a $50 Husky die grinder will work like any other for the next 2 years, I'd be happy. If the $15 HF will do it, I'll be happy with that too, but personally haven't had good luck with HF tools. I need this grinder to help remove rust from the frame of my truck. I want to get it done before winter and I'm off all week. Since we're on the topic, how are the needle scalers from HF?

 

[theoldwizard1]

Go with the $30 HF grinder.

 

[dodge610]

I have had good luck with the husky and the HF. If I had to choose it would be the husky first Hf second.

 

[ChrisLS8]

The HF is a workhorse, at one of the powdercoating shops I worked at it got used all day every day for years

 

[gdocktor3]

Which HF grinder's are ya'll referring to? Are they still available now or are these older models you're speaking of?

 

[southalabama]

Test the HF before you get to the job. Their electrical stuff is hit or miss.

 

[Skin]

http://www.harborfreight.com/air-angle-die-grinder-32046.html

Have 2 of these in the disposable/community tools area that are a few years old and amazingly still kicking. Having seen inside them the sintered parts and castings aren't super clean but they work and at this point i'd bet the bearings are wrecked but..$15. The only thing you'll need to "modify" is back off the nut and dab some Loctite on the threads. You wont be removing really stubborn rust scale but its fine for loose stuff and general cleaning.

 

[Kenskip1]

I would like to participate in this survey. I happen to have the HF. It has been dropped, kicked and urinated on(my dog not me). Anyway the model I have has worked flawlessly. Only thing about it is the air gets cold on your fingers.I wear hearing protection while using it. I have to use it on a brake job on my 150 tomorrow.I grease the head about once a week.Monies well spent, Ken

 

[Know Wosad]

They're all OK. Get some air tool oil and give them a shot once in a while. Suppository style. They last forever.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I wasn't sure if I'd like an angle die grinder so I bought a HF unit for cheap. It lasted a few years and when it died, it became scrap. I orderd a set from IR, one regular and the other, angle.

 

[gdocktor3]

No one has experience with the HF needle scaler?

 

[crazylunker]

my brother in law works the hell out of the HF scalers on his job in the local public works garage. He's the poor guy that has to repair/weld the town trucks that carry the saline/salt mix.

 

[shoot summ]

It wasn't completely clear but I think you are asking about air angle die grinders.

I have the HF, the Husky, and an Aircat.

The HF has been used and abused, bought it on sale for $9.99 and I have absolutely gotten my money back out of it.

The Husky was on clearance for $14.99 when I got it, runs the same as the HF, the covering on the body makes it a little more comfortable to use. Still a good tool for the price and has held up well.

Neither is in the same league as the Aircat, more powerful, and much quieter. I didn't realize the HF and Husky lacked power until I got the Aircat. The downside is the 'Cat is WAY more expensive than the others. I'd buy it again, but if you budget is tight either the HF or Husky will work IMO.

 

[gdocktor3]

It's not a budget thing, its a time thing. I would like to pick one up today, so I guess I'll take the trip to HF and pick one up.

 

[rlitman]

http://www.harborfreight.com/air-angle-die-grinder-32046.html

Have 2 of these in the disposable/community tools area that are a few years old and amazingly still kicking. Having seen inside them the sintered parts and castings aren't super clean but they work and at this point i'd bet the bearings are wrecked but..$15. The only thing you'll need to "modify" is back off the nut and dab some Loctite on the threads. You wont be removing really stubborn rust scale but its fine for loose stuff and general cleaning.

I have four of these. They're really good.
One I keep at work. One has a 2" roloc chuck that mostly holds a 3M bristle disc. One holds a 1" cup brush. The last is a spare I picked up because it was cheap.

The only issue I've had with them, was the valve seat behind the trigger tore on one (the pin pushed through the rubber, splitting the back half off). I was able to repair it with Shoe Goop, and it's been fine ever since.

IIRC, I got them on sale for around $8, but $15 is fair. I wouldn't spend over $20 on a cheap Chinese imported air tool. Which basically means stay away from the Husky or Craftsman or other related **** like the plague. It may look a LITTLE better than the HF, but inside it's the same old cheap stuff, marked up 100% or more because of branding.

Now if you wanted to spend your money on something better, I think I'd look at Astro next.

No one has experience with the HF needle scaler?

I have the needle scaler attachment for an air hammer, on the front of a cheap IR air hammer. It works, but I don't use it much, because I don't like my metal all dinged up with crescents.

 

[gdocktor3]

I have the needle scaler attachment for an air hammer, on the front of a cheap IR air hammer. It works, but I don't use it much, because I don't like my metal all dinged up with crescents.

I've never used a needle scaler. It will leave noticeable marks? I really don't care because it's the frame, just wondering.

 

[Master Caution]

It wasn't completely clear but I think you are asking about air angle die grinders.

Neither is in the same league as the Aircat, more powerful, and much quieter. I didn't realize the HF and Husky lacked power until I got the Aircat. The downside is the 'Cat is WAY more expensive than the others. I'd buy it again, but if you budget is tight either the HF or Husky will work IMO.

I agree with this statement. I have a HF air die grinder and never realized that it lacked so much power until I borrowed a friend's SK. Heads and tails above mine in terms of torque.

If you are talking about electric grinders, I initially had a HF. It worked, but it was always noisy and vibrated a lot. When I needed it for a heavy job, it disintegrated on me, lock tab melted out and grease spewing from the head. Got a Makita as a replacement and couldn't be happier.

However, I realize budget and time is an issue. HF tools work, but I consider them disposable and you get what you pay for. Good Luck.

 

[Jdsmith]

I've never used a needle scaler. It will leave noticeable marks? I really don't care because it's the frame, just wondering.

Yes, it will leave noticeable marks. I have the small HF needle scaler and I used it to clean up a trailer frame where an angle grinder won't fit. It isn't as fast as bristle discs, I only used it to fit into corners where the discs won't fit, or next to edges that would tear up a bristle disc.

 

[red94chev]

After my HF angle grander finally fell apart, I bought the Astro Onxy twin pack off Amazon. They are badass for the money. In the meantime, spending $15 on the HF for one job wouldn't kill me.

 

[brownbagg]

go to lowes and get the metabo

 

[ex-x-fire]

I don't know if I'd buy a cheap again, my experience with them is the spin at a billion rpms and like to do a death wobble. I'd take a look at HF's Chief line up on grinders.

 

[joshmodelskidoo]

I have the cheapo hf angle die grinder and it works fine but i acquired in ir one and its tighter and smoother. I had the bigger hf needle scaler and it broke so when i took it back and got the smaller one because that was what I wanted anyway and the only issue i have with it is that after using it a while it won’t shut down completely but I believe that’s a water issue. Anyway i have to take it apart and clean and oil it. I wire brushed a frame and thought it looked pretty good the got the needle scaler and tons more rust came off so i wire wheeled all over again

 

[platypus20]

I have one of the Chief brand angle air die grinders, from Harbor Freight, $30, works great

 

[shoeless]

I think he's probably already made his purchase......3.5 years ago.

 

[Tallpilot]

Ugh...this is what happens when we tell people to use the 'search' function. Also HF tools change so often I doubt any information from 2016 is useful today.