which angle grinder for welding?

[BTL-A4]

I'd like to get a corded, paddle-switch, 4.5" angle grinder for use in grinding down welds, prepping metal, etc.

I have a cordless Ryobi that's good for quick and short work, and a industrial-grade Black and Decker that I use all the time. I find I'm often switching out wheels and would like something I can use with other wheels and leave the B&D with the sanding pad. I'd like to hear from anyone who has any of these whether or not they like them:

My options are to buy something new from HF (the other models they carry are weak-sauce):


My other option is to get something used. Here are a few in my area. They seem to be going for $50-$60:

DWE402 (I think). Seller says he thinks he has the handle, but no wrench. $118 new.


Milwaukee. Not sure of the model. I have a message into the seller about the handle and wrench. Looks a little used.


I guess the question is: Buy HF new, or get something considered better used for about the same price? Thoughts and comments, preferably from people with experience with the above grinders. Thanks!

 

[zendriver]

Used, if it's so good, why are they selling it? (provided it's not stolen)

New only power tools, for me.

I have the 13 amp Hercules. Well built IMO. the 11A seems solid and a good price.

 

[u2slow]

I have several now. The small ones look like a clone of the Hercules. $40 on sale. Ok for light finishing and cutting auto body metal.

Then I have a higher amp 5" that doesn't bog when you have decent grinding chore.

And finally a 7" Makita. My favourite for cutting 1/4" steel or truck frames.

 

[kyrbz]

Metabo HPT (Metabo’s lower end line) sold by Lowe’s and other big box stores is a solid grinder for $50. I use Bosch grinders for metal work but bought a Metabo HPT to abuse doing job site masonry work. It’s has good power and I’ve used and abused it hard and it hasn’t skipped a beat.

 

[Rusted Nut]

We use mostly Bosch corded grinders at work, they go forever. I have one in my garage, keeps on going.

 

[u2slow]

I like the longer trigger-handle style for heavier work.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I'd like to get a corded, paddle-switch, 4.5" angle grinder for welding.

I have a cordless Ryobi that's good for quick and short work, and a industrial-grade Black and Decker that I use all the time. I find I'm often switching out wheels and would like something I can use with other wheels and leave the B&D with the sanding pad. I'd like to hear from anyone who has any of these whether or not they like them:

Here's the thing about grinders, buy one and see how you like it. Then buy another and when you have some extra cash, buy another one.

If you buy one and don't like it, put your least used wheel on it and find another one. . . . . rinse & repeat.

4.5" grinders are about like 1911's, you can't have just one.

 

[FigN⋅m]

4.5" grinders are about like 1911's, you can't have just one.

"Beware the man with one grinder."

 

[strength_and_power]

Grinders are fairly inexpensive, as said above, get a couple and tool them up with different wheels so you aren’t wasting time swapping discs.
I prefer on/off slide switches so I can grab the grinder different ways as needed. Paddle switches grinders seem to be a bit more bulky in my experience.
I don’t have any experience with HF grinders, let us know what you end up with and your thoughts.

 

[WWheeler]

I'd like to get a corded, paddle-switch, 4.5" angle grinder for welding.
[...]
DWE402 (I think). Seller says he thinks he has the handle, but no wrench. $118 new.


[...]

FWIW, You can get that Dewalt DWE402 for ~25% less than that new in the box (w/ the handle and the wrench). Out of the ones you have listed, it's the one I'd recommend, but only because it's the only one I own and have used before so I can't give an informed opinion about any of the others. I luv mine, and fwiw, I paid nearly the same ($83.99) for mine in 2020.

https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DWE402-2-Inch-11-Amp-Grinder/dp/B00RVZ7DNO/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Dig Doug]

I'd like to get a corded, paddle-switch, 4.5" angle grinder for welding.

I have a cordless Ryobi that's good for quick and short work, and a industrial-grade Black and Decker that I use all the time. I find I'm often switching out wheels and would like something I can use with other wheels and leave the B&D with the sanding pad. I'd like to hear from anyone who has any of these whether or not they like them:

My options are to buy something new from HF (the other models they carry are weak-sauce):


My other option is to get something used. Here are a few in my area. They seem to be going for $50-$60:

DWE402 (I think). Seller says he thinks he has the handle, but no wrench. $118 new.


Milwaukee. Not sure of the model. I have a message into the seller about the handle and wrench. Looks a little used.


I guess the question is: Buy HF new, or get something considered better used for about the same price? Thoughts and comments, preferably from people with experience with the above grinders. Thanks!

I must have 10 grinders.
makita
ridgid
milwaukee
metabu
dewalt

They all work for their intended purpose

Note - look at the amp rating and get a high amp grinder !

 

[dnschmidt]

How serious are you? If ultimate quality is what you're after the German Metabo is considered the world standard. If you're just screwing around the Hercules and Dewalt corded are fine. If you're going cordless Milwaukee probably is the way to go.

 

[u2slow]

I prefer on/off slide switches so I can grab the grinder different ways as needed.

I find them awkward, and they often lose their 'stick' so you have to hold the switch anyway. That said, it's what the cheaper/smaller grinders have, so I have those anyway.

 

[Bert_]

I just weld and don't grind, problem solved.

I have an older Milwaukee that I like. I'd have a hard time spending $60 on a used one unless it was in very good condition

 

[liliysdad]

Dewalt only in my shop, they have just always worked for me. I have a couple of corded units with a rock and a knotted brush, but I use the cordless one with a flap wheel or cutoff wheel 90% of the time.

I have zero issue buying used power tools, but they better be cheap and proven to work. Corded grinders are dirt cheap at the pawns shop, and are guaranteed to work or your money back within 72 hr. You can even plug them and try them before you buy.

 

[sparky 1971]

I just buy cheap grinders at Menards or HF and keep a different wheel or brush on each one. Grinding wheel, flap disc, cupped brush, flat brush, and cutting wheels so I don't screw around changing things around. I don't think I have a 4" grinder that cost more than $30, the Bosch I have is the best, but it's still the cheapest they made and I got it for free 20+ years ago when I bought a SDS rotary hammer. At one time I did have a nice Milwaukee, but a plumber buddy was helping me out when his burned up, so I gifted mine to him as a thank you.

 

[nadogail]

Grinders are fairly inexpensive, as said above, get a couple and tool them up with different wheels so you aren’t wasting time swapping discs.
I prefer on/off slide switches so I can grab the grinder different ways as needed. Paddle switches grinders seem to be a bit more bulky in my experience.
I don’t have any experience with HF grinders, let us know what you end up with and your thoughts.

I have several Harbor Freight 4.5" grinders, most of them were bought on sale for $10 each. They are fitted with Wire Brushes, Flap Discs, Cut off wheels, and Thicker Grinding wheels They have lasted long enough to make me feel that they are well worth the money that I have paid for them. I keep a new still in the box, $10. Harbor Freight grinder in reserve for if and when a grinder fails.
I also have a Dewalt with a Paddle Switch, a former employer bought it as a replacement for a $10 Harbor Freight that died on the job. At the time I was the only Maintenance Tech that had a 4.5" grinder and everybody used mine, the only store the employer had an account with sold only Dewalts.
I thought the Paddle Switch was "more professional" and the Dewalt would be a "step up". it is my least used grinder.

 

[The Cobbler]

I also have several grinders fitted with different discs . the only name brand ones are Milwaukee paddle switch that was given to me because the owner bought a new one as he couldn't get the disc off( 1 minute a punch & hammer it was off for me) A makita that was from Princess auto for cheap because someone stole the flange, nut & wrench so they cleared it out, some Dewalts that were ebay purchases for repair and probably 4 or 5 generics .
They all served me well, the makita I burned up the bevel gears by using oversized discs , but even at that the gear set was like $15 . one of the generics was like $5 at habitat ( new but switch seized , fixed that easily) another one was about the same price as it had bad gears , but I had an identical one with a bad switch that I was going to use but I am looking for gears on Ali express for it.
they don't get used all day everyday, but I don't baby them when I do use them.

 

[Lwel9226]

4.5" grinders are about like 1911's, you can't have just one.

I have 7 4 1/2 in. grinders.... mostly older DeWalt/B&D.... Each one has a different type tool on it ......

LynnW

 

[seber]

My best are Metabo and Hilti. The worst I've had was Milwaukee. I have not tried Dewalt. Makita and Porter Cable were under powered and burned up when pushed too hard. Milwaukee just kept failing. Mostly bad switches.

 

[kaymccampbell]

I like Dewalt. They've been good to me over the decades. They're repairable. I have 4 electric angle grinders. 3 are Dewalt, one is Bauer. I cut, grind, and wire wheel with the yellow ones. The red one is undergoing approval testing as a sand disk. If it fails, there'll be a 4th yellow one in the herd.

 

[finn]

I have Metabo, Skil, Bosch, Milwaukee, Dewalt, and maybe a few more. The last two I bought were Porter Cable from Tractor supply that were a Christmas deal priced at either $20 each or the pair for $20. They’re a year and a half old and work fine.

The only grinders I don’t like is the old orange Harbor freight 4” grinder that I bought for repairing something at my mom’s Florida condo, and a long tail Skil I bought twenty years ago at 2:00 in the morning when Walmart was still open 24 hours, seven days a week.

The HG Is rough and noisy, and the handle spontaneously exploded when stored over the winter in an unheated garage. I have had several bad experiences with HF plastics in sub zero temperatures. They are on my “do not buy” list., but in fairness, my mom’s been gone for eleven years now and the grinder still gets used on occasion. The issue with the Skil is that the long tail gets in the way sometimes.

No way would I pay more than $20 for any used grinder, no matter how pretty or what brand.

I fully agree with others who recommend several grinders, all set up with different discs, knotted wire brushes, and cutoff wheels.

Switch style is a matter of personal preference. I like paddle styles, but they aren’t the safest, since there’s the possibility of accidentally setting them on the paddle, which can be exciting.

 

[OccupantRJ]

I buy used grinders when I see them and keep a different device on each one. It is well worth the saving of aggravation changing wheels and wire brushes. Grab and use is worth the small monetary cost. If a side handle is missing, I buy them two for $10 on Amazon. I just installed two new handles on grinders yesterday. There is also a battery powered grinder on a shelf in my power tool room, and air and electric die grinders in a drawer, right angle and straight. You never know what you may need to grind at any given time if you work with metals.

 

[liliysdad]

The last two I bought were Porter Cable from Tractor supply that were a Christmas deal priced at either $20 each or the pair for $20. They’re a year and a half old and work fine.

I bought two sets of those. I used one of them, and found it to be absolutely gutless. i ended up giving two away, and selling the two new in box t a swap meet. I will stick to yellow.

 

[Jackfre]

I have a 4.5” Metabo from about mid-80’s that simply will not quit. I also bought a Makita that is my go to. I checked and got the highest amp unit and it runs strongly. 7” Makita rounds out the main units.

 

[LeonardY]

I have a Black And Decker Industrial. Which is Dewalt now. It’s a work horse.
Also a Makita But it’s not a paddle switch.

 

[OccupantRJ]

The large grinder is a monster, but is too damn heavy as I get older.
I ran one of those as one of my first part time paying jobs for $2 an hour when I was 14 for a backyard fabricator and got all of that I wanted. My friends were making 60 cents an hour working tobacco. The grinder seemed to weigh as much as I did back then. I jumped for joy when the market had smaller grinders available. My first was a 4” Skil that I ended up giving to my son when I switched to the 4-1/2”models. Normally if I see one for $20 or less at a sale I take it home.

 

[finn]

I bought two sets of those. I used one of them, and found it to be absolutely gutless. i ended up giving two away, and selling the two new in box t a swap meet. I will stick to yellow.

I have a wire wheel or cup brush on one. Works fine for that type of work. The other has a thin cutoff disc, I think. No issues with that, either.

 

[Jagmandave]

I think you'll find none of them weld very well.....

 

[danielbuck]

for corded, I like my older metabos, 4.5" and 7".

But honestly for most of the work I do, I'm not needing to remove a whole lot of material, and I'd rather have a lighter weight tool that can easilly be used with 1 hand. I use an pneumatic 4.5" angle grinder, and even just die-grinders with 2" or 3" wheels or flap disks for most things.

 

[Wamsutta]

Paddle Switch Grinders

 

[Old Man Roger]

Paddle Switch Grinders

Agreed, my go to is a dewalt with a switch.

 

[MongoTA]

Unless you live near me (lol) check out auction sites like bidspotter. I'ver bought a couple batches of grinders ove the years, and being from metal shpps, they are typically DW or MKE. I'll bid on a lot of 2-4 grinders and get them for maybe $15-$20 each. Only repair I've ever had to make was to put new brushes on one, that's a 3 minute job and the easiest repair you can possibly make.

I don't know how many grinders I have, but it's a mix of 4-1/2" to 9".

From maybe a year ago...three grinders, three drills, for $60 total. And yes, they clean up purdy.

 

[KwikFab]

Just buy one, and run with it.

I'm a bit of a Milwaukee tool snob when it comes to battery powered stuff, but angle grinders are one thing that's hard to **** up.

I have a Fuel (battery), Metabo HPT, corded DeWalt, corded Milwaukee, corded HF Warrior, and I grab one based on the attachment that's on it and not the brand itself.

I'm retired and a hobbyist welder/fabricator, but having worked in the industry as both a TIG and MIG welder, the thing that mattered most was that it worked. Even the cheap angle grinders lasted the test of time.

 

[ohhimark]

Makita 9557. Still works great after 10+ years.

 

[kaymccampbell]

Unless you live near me (lol) check out auction sites like bidspotter. I'ver bought a couple batches of grinders ove the years, and being from metal shpps, they are typically DW or MKE. I'll bid on a lot of 2-4 grinders and get them for maybe $15-$20 each. Only repair I've ever had to make was to put new brushes on one, that's a 3 minute job and the easiest repair you can possibly make.

I don't know how many grinders I have, but it's a mix of 4-1/2" to 9".

From maybe a year ago...three grinders, three drills, for $60 total. And yes, they clean up purdy.

You clean them?

 

[jblnut]

DWE402 (I think). Seller says he thinks he has the handle, but no wrench. $118 new.

What do you use the wrench for ? I grab the wheel, hold the locking button and spin it off and on. Hand tighten on only. I’ve never had an issue of any kind and I’ve gone through hundreds of wheels on dozens of different grinders from 4.5-9”.

Metabo HPT (Metabo’s lower end line) sold by Lowe’s and other big box stores is a solid grinder for $50. I use Bosch grinders for metal work but bought a Metabo HPT to abuse doing job site masonry work. It’s has good power and I’ve used and abused it hard and it hasn’t skipped a beat.

I have 4 slide switch Metabos like above and they’re awesome for light stuff. I have a pair of rat tails that get used for a little heavier stuff and one of the 9” grinders comes out for anything that needs some extra grunt.

Having enough grinders in each size so you’re not always switching wheels is great. I have two different grit grinding wheels, slicing wheel, wire wheel and a sanding wheel on the smaller grinders and it’s great being able to pick one up and get after it.

OP - I’d buy cheaper new vs used any day unless it’s a dang good bargain at an estate sale. If buying used bring a piece of iron and a grinding wheel and give it a test. If they won’t let you test it I’d pass.

 

[oldtractors]

When I was 16, in 1986, I bought a made in Japan, Makita 4" grinder for about $120. That was a week's net pay at the minimum wage I was making. It finally failed after 35 years with most of its use being a wire brush. The rest of my grinders have been much cheaper and most have been Milwaukee. Even the M18 grinder was cheaper than the Makita (with inflation). I have had a couple of HF grinders. They lasted about 2 years at the most. I will say that the 4.5" Dewalt corded that my son uses has a lot more start up torque than any of mine. I have to be careful to hang on tight when I use it.

 

[Aaron_W]

I have a pair of Milwaukee 4-1/2" angle grinders, and a Dewalt. All corded, There is no way I paid more than $100 for them (HD has them listed at $119). Maybe $70, but that was about 5 years ago. My welder is also now about 50% more than I paid in 2019, I guess that is just how things go these days.

I've actually been fairly happy with the Bauer and Hercules tools I've picked up. At half the price of Dewalt or Milwaukee I'd certainly give the Hercules a shot if I needed another grinder.

It's a grinder, pretty hard to screw up.

 

[Wamsutta]

Unless you live near me (lol) check out auction sites like bidspotter. I'ver bought a couple batches of grinders ove the years, and being from metal shpps, they are typically DW or MKE. I'll bid on a lot of 2-4 grinders and get them for maybe $15-$20 each. Only repair I've ever had to make was to put new brushes on one, that's a 3 minute job and the easiest repair you can possibly make.

I don't know how many grinders I have, but it's a mix of 4-1/2" to 9".

From maybe a year ago...three grinders, three drills, for $60 total. And yes, they clean up purdy.

Zip tie those damn cords. Hell yeah!