Pneumatic Die Grinder Recommendations

[MAYOR28]

REPEAT THREAD ?

Looks like I lost this tread in the great server hiccup of July 1st.


I am looking for a new pneumatic die grinder (right-angle style). IIRC, their were good recommendations for the NAPA Brand Carlyle line up, others said the tool truck brands were good, as well as AIRCAT & Astro.

I have a couple HF one currently, but am looking for more power and durability. But I am not looking to spend Snap-On $$ .

This was the front-runner, IIRC:

 

[MAYOR28]

Follow on question:

Where do you recommend buying abrasives/discs/etc for these?
I have a set of the older style non-roloc backing pads, but I think I may need to switch to the rolocs since they are cheaper/ easier to find.

 

[PelicanPines]

For air... I like Aircat

I buy cheap consumables... whatever, wherever... mostly at Tractor Supply

 

[CafeTools]

The harbor freight chief stuff is very good.

 

[Mr_B]

Buy the 2pc astro set with carbide bit set included as normally find a deal price ...
They really nice grinders.
Air tools in truck brands is waste of money for not best modernair tool design in general besides 1 or 2 real special scenarios .

The carlyle ones had a real deal of 2 for 50bucks which was great value and the solid taiwan made old style alloy body tools .

 

[Dave455]

If you’re looking for an upgrade, be a bit careful.

An awful lot of these tools are either “generic Chinese” or “generic Taiwanese”. Although a lot of the tools with brand names on may look different, and may be priced very differently, it’s often the same tool underneath the plastic trim / rubber trim / label.

I’m not sure what the Harbor Freight are, but I suspect generic Chinese. If this is the case, a Taiwanese machine will probably be an improvement. Amongst the Taiwanese machines, don’t get too involved with the different brand names, simply buy the one you get the best deal on. Every supplier and his Brother will tell you that yes, their machines are made in Taiwan, but they’re somehow better than all the other Taiwanese grinders. This is bull, get the cheapest.

If you want a real improvement you have to get a grinder made somewhere else. I personally wouldn’t buy a Snap On either (I think they’re a bit overpriced, and many of their air tools have a lot of plastic parts, that I don’t want on an air tool). I would buy a Dotco. Lovely tools. Don’t own one but used one once. Probably the best.

For less money I would consider a Kuken. Japanese made (provided you avoid the cheapest grade) and beautifully smooth. For less money still, go used. Air tools don’t wear out like power tools, and if you get a decent one are you can usually get parts.

The consumables are probably more important than the tool. I’d rather use a Taiwanese grinder with decent tools than a top end grinder with crappy tools. 3M pretty much win it for me. Some of their stuff is really innovative and all of it works!

 

[bob15]

US-made St Louis Pneumatic https://www.stlouispneumatic.com/

They have this style (like what you have a picture of):

Or one that is design for Roloc pads with the 1/4-20 stud and rubber pad attached (it can be removed and replaced), which makes it a smaller package (it is nice being smaller/shorter):

http://www.stlouispneumaticstore.com/store/p/40-Mini-Angle-Head-Die-Grinder-w/-Rol-Loc-Spindle.aspx

And this .5hp one for 65 bucks through Home Depot:

 

[Skin]

I think I mentioned my beater is an old MAC ADG410AH which you can get used for about $50. Not sure who the OE was but its US made.

Snap-on/Sioux are really nice units. Snap-on you can shop ebay and should be able to get a PT210 for about $120. Sioux may be harder to find since they're a niche brand that caters more towards commercial clients. Also be aware that their "Force" line is imported (mostly Taiwan).

Going to come down to what you want to do with them though. Most of the units sold are .25-.3 HP and are fine for gaskets and light scale removal but wont do grinding or heavy rust.

For new I like Snap-on/MAC followed by JET, CP, and Aircat. Not a big fan of Astro air tools.



As far as consumables I like 3M mainly because they work and it supports US manufacturing. That said on a budget there are a lot of clones on Amazon now and will generally work pretty much the same for 30-50 cents a disc instead of a buck that the 3Ms cost.


Left to right


PT110 .3 HP 25,000RPM
ADG410AH .25 HP 25,000RPM
PT210 .5 HP 23,000RPM
PTGR410 1.0 HP 12,000RPM
Milwaukee 2485 .3 HP 24,500RPM

 

[anndel]

I have the Astros you show in your picture and they've worked great for the past 5 years. No issues, I oil them regularly with an automatic oiler.

 

[BillK]

Not sure what type of problem you are having with the Harbor Frt ones. My 30 year old Chicago Pneumatic finally died about 6 months ago. I was in a bind and got a Husky from Home Depot. So far it has been fine. It gets used daily but not really ahrd use. Mostly deburring stuff after machining.

As far as consumables go I learned years ago that you get what you pay for. I buy almost all 3M for Rolocs and other abrasive discs. I get them from McMaster Carr. Not the cheapest but I get stuff from them at least once a week and the service is great. Order by 6 and have it the next morning when UPS shows up.

 

[Skin]

Not sure what type of problem you are having with the Harbor Frt ones. My 30 year old Chicago Pneumatic finally died about 6 months ago.

This area had no HF until about 10 years ago but from what I gather their old stuff was pretty decent before they turned into an import junk store. The one most people think as crappy is the Central Pneumatic unit you can get on sale for $12 or something. Its weak, sounds clapped out right out of the box, and isnt worth a penny more than what you pay.

They offer a unit under their Chief brand now that's around $40 and its probably significantly better.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Not sure what type of problem you are having with the Harbor Frt ones. My 30 year old Chicago Pneumatic finally died about 6 months ago

Harbor Freight sells Central Pneumatic and Chicago Electric. Chicago Pneumatic makes good air tools, so HF knocked off the name.

That said, I use a St Louis Pneumatic right angle, a cheapo HF straight, and recently picked up the 2pc Carlyle set in the Real Deals flyer. The Carlyle win hands down.

 

[Steve_P]

I have newer snap on and Dynabrade, and 20+ year old HF die grinders. In right angle, Dynabrade and HF. Dynabrade is stupid expensive, Snap on is expensive from Ebay, HF is …. The HF have gotten a ton of use, and feel terrible when you rotate them by hand, but still work. On the cheaper brands, they're so inexpensive that I don't think you can go wrong for home use. For quality on a budget, I'd look at Aircat. I have a few of their tools and like them (no grinders)

 

[Benito]

We have an Astro die grinder in the shop older than me I'm told. We still use it