Need a new 4.5" angle grinder

[sberry]

Reason I har barb on the wally one is the HF are junk compared to this one. What ever it is about it that come together in this design I am not sure but for 30 its worth the chance, if you don't like it send it will give you the 30 for it.

I have beat grinders absolutely merciless over 30+ years, have a whole box of carcasses. I actually went looking for a solution to 100$ units, when I hit on this I quit.

 

[sberry]

I like the DeWalts, the 402 which is the old B&D 2750 for feel the best but if a guy didn't watch the brushes ****, there goes the armature. I bought 3 of each in a pull one time, even tried the old Sears industrial which was a joke. Its kind of clumsy like the heavy Milwaukee, which is ok, just don't care for feel. Metabo, as good as any no argument, Bosch, nothing to write home about and I will agree about the skill being a tough little ****** too, I think Walmart carried it way back when but picked up B&D since although it seems I have seen them somewhere. What I like about the cheap BD is the brushes, never had intended on servicing one but after several years the switch goes, turns out there were extra contacts, my guy tossed it on the bench and about 10 minutes had it running again for a couple more years till it stopped for some reason, I suspect same problem but he said, no more repairing it, so I set it aside and simply replaced it but when he worked on it I asked him to check brushes, not even half worn.

The chassis looks the same as old 2750, for giggles I was going to take armature out and see if it fit, maybe even the back end, then we would have paddle switch back. Might fit the 402 also???

As for the HF, I haven't used a lot of them, run across a couple here and there, its a toss up, had to fix a cord/switch on a hew one, seen a couple that seemed to last, maybe half but this other one is about a sure bet. I know a couple contractor/welding shops that now use some of them, he agrees but says,,, don't tell anyone I use it from Walmart,,, ha

 

[fnsane]

I had 2 makitas on a service truck, my help tried their best, defaced them but could not break them. got new parts from website, rebuilt them, look like ****, run sweet. They are good stuff.

 

[Zeke]

@sberry, thanks for the B&D tip. I have used Makita 4" angle grinders for years and never had one rebuilt much less re-brushed. I also have a couple of HF ones I keep at home so I don't have to dig out the Makita. One of these has been through 3 car rust-orations.

Clunky shaft nut. That's the thing about angle tools. Makita needs an adapter to use 1/2" nut tools like a cup brush. But the sanding discs fit flush.

 

[ed_v]

I always like to keep a few grinders around. I used Makita's for years, but the last one died way to fast. I bought a Dewalt last time. It has a paddle switch and I really like that. The motor is a 10.0A compared to the 7.0A most others have. Not sure if that makes a difference.

Ed

 

[sberry]

The motor is a 10.0A compared to the 7.0A most others have. Not sure if that makes a difference.

It can for about a minute, after that not so much as a man has a duty cycle too. Yes, am not nuts about the nuts, I cannibalized some hex ones that came with old grinders for the new, on these been using the factory, not changing twice daily at this point or using them in the field where keeping track of the tool is an issue.

 

[03protege]

I wanted to thank everyone for the help once again. I picked up a Dewalt showing very little use at a pawn shop for 29.99. The only problem is I will have to change my name to "JAY"

http://www.homedepot.com/Tools-Hard...Id=10053&langId=-1&storeId=10051#.UG929FF1uUk

Oh also I want to add the Harbor Freight black 4.5" grinder I thought died came back to life. I figured I would plug it in and give it ago before I tossed it out and sure as **** it spun right up. I wonder if it has some sort of thermal protection built it? So I am going to keep that one around for abuse duty so I won't be sad if it burns.

 

[cheechi]

I wonder if it has some sort of thermal protection built it?

Probably a bearing that wasn't very good to begin with, and enough time to cool down unsiezed it. Blind luck.

You have two ways to go with angle grinders; if you treat them like disposable tools (or if your work makes you go through them often) then buying a lot of expensive vs a lot of inexpensive ones, you will eventually get more value buying a good cheap one. The B&D mentioned earlier, the more expensive HF model, the PC model, if you need many or if yours don't last, they work fine till they die in my experience.

Some folks (I think Jack Olsen has a photo with 6 or 8 of them) have several grinders and they're all different. I encourage you to do the same; get a new model each time yours dies and decide which one you like the best after you use several.

Porter Cable goes for around $40 at Lowes. Obviously it's not made in the US at that price. But they aren't bad.

I have a Porter Cable that is only slightly nicer than my HF model. It was twice as much $$ and still from China.

I like my PC, and have treated it like **** but it still runs great. I wanted the 5" DeWalt but settled for the cheaper on that's got the same kind of handle. I also have a Dewalt $50 or so model. I go for the PC first and don't have problems with whatever I throw at it.

Same as the earlier endorsements of the B&D and the red HF model, I would say the PC is 'best for the money' grinder.

 

[CWP1616L]

I've got a Bosch 1375. Won't use anything but Bosch grinders from here on out.

 

[mossyboy6]

I have burned up 2 Drill Masters (HF) in the past 24 hours trying to use them to cut through 1/4 aluminum. I have been using them for the past year or so for light sanding work, which they are fantastic for. I just picked up a makita paddle switch version at home depot today, and its quite a bit more powerful than they were.

I would say, if you have $100 to spend, throw in $10 more and buy the metabo. If not, get the makita.