Need Input On HF 9" Angle Grinder

[monteu]

I am considering buying this 9" grinder from Harbor Freight. http://www.harborfreight.com/9-in-heavy-duty-angle-grinder-69085.html Has any one tried this one? I don't use a large grinder very often in my shop, but borrowed one a week ago and will need it again for some heavy duty grinding in a couple of weeks. Thanks

 

[DSM21]

I am considering buying this 9" grinder from Harbor Freight. http://www.harborfreight.com/9-in-heavy-duty-angle-grinder-69085.html Has any one tried this one? I don't use a large grinder very often in my shop, but borrowed one a week ago and will need it again for some heavy duty grinding in a couple of weeks. Thanks

I used the regular grinder, but not the heavy duty grinder. The regular grinder burns up in credibly easy. I don't know about the heavy duty though

 

[Just Primer]

I have a friend who went through 6 of the small 4'' grinders before he got one that would last more than an hour. I bought a Makita myself. That thing won't slow down for nothing.

 

[jon72vega]

I have a friend who went through 6 of the small 4'' grinders before he got one that would last more than an hour. I bought a Makita myself. That thing won't slow down for nothing.

I also bought a Makita, about 15 years ago.
I use it almost daily at work, for grinding & cutoffs.
It's been used & abused, & it's still going strong.

 

[c4cruiser]

I noticed in the description that it mentioned "easy access brushes". Not sure if that's a good sign..... All of the small grinders I have bought from HF came with an extra set of brushes. I had to replace the original brushes with the extra set on all of them within a few months. I now have 2 Makita small grinders.

 

[JoeFin]

I have 2 Dewalt grinders and a Milwauki pencil grinder - no problems EVER

 

[whyNick?]

I have what I think is the same grinder (mine is a "Farmhand" brand from TSC but looks identical other than the color). It works fine but hasn't seen heavy use. I used and abused one of HF's 4" grinders for years and finally killed it after using it to run a wire wheel for 6-8 hours straight. I definitely got my $10 out of it.

 

[theoldwizard1]

This guy is building a steel hull sail boat SVSeeker.com on a budget. (There is an awful lot of gringing to do when you are building a 70' steel hull sailboat !) He is on a very tight budget and buys a lot from HF, except when durability is an issue. He uses both the DeWalt
4.5" and 9" grinder.

He also likes these grinding wheels

The grinding wheel aka "Spinning Rock of Deat", Type 11 or flaring cup grinding wheel made from resin and zirconia alumina. Search for part number: 66252838566 Zoro Tools sells them for $41. The 3M depressed center disc, Cubritron II, can be found in various diameters. I like the 9 inch disc because they get the job done faster.

If you do buy the HF unit, pay extra for the "extended warranty" and expect that you WILL have to use !

 

[dwatsonkc]

Mine lasted for 2 uses. Wish I didn't buy it.

 

[Mike Miller]

The Chicago electric brand is fairly rugged, any of the Drillmaster stuff will go away quickly.

 

[gtermini]

If I was looking to buy another 9" grinder, I would either buy a new Metabo, or go search some pawn shops/craigslist for a older used Milwaukee or Black and Decker Industrial grinder. They usually are available on craigslist for $25-75. The older ones are completly rebuildable, but last a lifetime under normal home shop conditions.

Like any of these examples from my area:
http://salem.craigslist.org/tls/4610736772.html
http://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/tls/4635401582.html
http://portland.craigslist.org/clc/tls/4620598887.html
http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/tls/4631758826.html
http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/tls/4633673831.html
http://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/tld/4633956232.html

You get the idea.

Spend a little more up front so you don't have a useless doorstop after 2 uses.

Greyson

 

[DXN1EL]

I had the chance to use one of the 4.5" from HF, I don't know it there was something wrong with that think. My hands got sleepy in a matter of seconds.
I waned a 9" but I bought a 7" Metabo W24-180 this weekend. I love this thing. Unbelievable smooth!
About using flaring cup wheels (type 11 wheels) I had this Hitachi G18SS which is a 15Amp 7" 6000 RPM, I use it with the http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_419351_419351
That thing can really move a lot of metal! But can also make a HUGE mess loots of black dust.
This is what I would like to try out next

 

[Askme42]

I have a friend who went through 6 of the small 4'' grinders before he got one that would last more than an hour. I bought a Makita myself. That thing won't slow down for nothing.

If you're using the grinder in small spurts I think they hold up well. Mine lasted a few years with occasional grinding for few minutes. Once I started some serious projects it burned up day one and I bought a metabo.

 

[Ghosting]

I can vouch for the blue one they make. Its under their "professional" brand but I've had it for over a year and have beat on it pretty good. It has a trigger which I like, and have used it for pretty long intervals. For the price I'm happy with it.

 

[monteu]

Never heard of metabo, what can you tell me about that?

 

[J.A.Varela]

Never heard of metabo, what can you tell me about that?

Baddest grinders ever made. Typical German quality. A Dewalt is a Hyundai. A Metabo is a Lear jet. Makita rides close in second place.I'll call it a Hyabusa

 

[J.A.Varela]

Video

 

[bcradio]

I love all of the first hand experience with this grinder in the thread... it's comical.


I have the 9" and the 7" from HF and both have held up great for 2+ years so far. They are dedicated to concrete/block cutting, so they see some hard use. It was used to cut about 15ft of curb and did it like a champ. I do blow the concrete dust out regularly though (as with all my tools) because I am not trying to be stupid and break it. No complaints about it at all.

If this will be used in a professional environment, then I'd get Matebo. If you will use it around the house regularly and want to save some cash, then I'd get the HF.

Edit: I cannot however, recommend the HF worm drive saw... it's terrible.

 

[skruft]

The only large (7-9") angle grinders I have used are an old Sears that I gave away to someone, and a blue Makita that I now have. They both worked fine for years in limited use with coarse sanding disks doing body work and grinding a few welds.

I think Milwaukee are more common with pros.

(Note that I do not endorse Sears anything, but that grinder worked well enough.)

 

[monteu]

Any thought on a 9" vs 7" grinder? I found some factory reconditioned Bosch and Makita at a reasonable price, but they are 7 inchers.

 

[DXN1EL]

Any thought on a 9" vs 7" grinder? I found some factory reconditioned Bosch and Makita at a reasonable price, but they are 7 inchers.

Is 8,500 RPM on a 7" the same as 6.600 RPM on a 9"?
I mean a 7" wheels have 8.5k as max and 6.6k on 9"