I have a rather large corded DeWalt angle grinder but I am looking for a smaller version to use with a cut off wheel, also grind weld and do some rough sanding with a flap wheel. I also have a pneumatic version but was looking for an electric version. What’s out there that has good quality and works well?
Buy three Harbor Freight versions!
Following. My 4.5" Milwaukee corded is great, but huge. I've been considering this one, but haven't pulled the trigger yet.
I used to just buy multiple cheap harbor freight ones. Then I got tired of them being terrible and vibrating my hands off. I bought one of the $60 Milwaukee grinders and it is so much better. I'll buy more to have different wheels on when I need them.
The Makita ones also look good but I haven't tried one.
how are the battery powered ones?
I have spent 20x as much in grinding, cutting, flapper discs as I have on the Harbor Freight grinder they were attached to. Damn thing just won't die.
Battery powered ones are great...for small jobs and ocassional use.
I have a small Milwaukee. It is OK. Size is good. Power and noise lever are decent. The trigger sucks and it constantly turns itself off. It's also in the wrong place. That pretty much kills it for me.
I have a Hitachi. It's probably my favorite. Small, powerful, reasonably quite, and works well. I vote this one. They used to be about $40 at Lowes.
I have a Porter Cable. It's pretty horrible. Loud, vibrates, just not a quality product.
mad_machine said:how are the battery powered ones?
I have a ryobi one that matches my other ryobi tools. It works great but uses battery moderately fast. It's better as a 'let me grab this and cut or grind one thing quick' than it is a 'big build day' tool.
Maybe if you're a good welder and spend most of the time welding (not most of the time grinding, like me) then it would be fine.
Bosh is my preferred angle grinder in the 4.5" format. Known affectionately as "Killer" in my shop since it permanently has a 1/16" cutt-off wheel attached and no guard.
Pete
I try to buy the highest amp at the lowest sale price.
I have had four Canadian Tire "Mastercraft" brand angle grinders, one with a grinding wheel, one with a cut off wheel, one with a wire wheel, and one with a flap disc.
Recently one Mastercraft grinder died, and I replaced it with a comparably priced Bosch for the same price. The Bosch's guard has annoying step increments instead of infinitely rotateable, so I might not buy another one of those.
I had a Princess Auto (Harbor Freight equivalent) that literally burst into flames within 5 minutes. I took that one back for a refund.
30 Years ago Makita was the one to have ,
but I think they used a different thread size so the regular wire wheels would not fit ,
Do they all have the same shaft thread now ?
I use them a lot and wear out either switches, bearings, or motors. have had corded Ryobi, Bosch, Makita, and a slew of HF ones. Current go to is Milwaukee but don't like the switch. Paddle switches from now on.
Have not tried battery powered.
My 18v battery Makita angle grinder is possibly the best tool I own. I have tortured it for two years now with some pretty big projects, and it just asks for more. Every bit as powerful as the POS corded Harbor Freight one that lasted less than a year.
ebonyandivory said:Buy three Harbor Freight versions!
Actually I came here to say NOT the HF versions 
They don't suck for a few projects here and there, but they have either plastic or pot metal gears (pneumatic and corded, respectively) and they don't last. Having said that, my pneumatic 1/4" angle grinder lasted about a year, and my corded 4" angle grinder lasted almost two before giving up the ghost.
Normally I would say HF all the way, but these are two areas where they just don't seem to shine for me. YMMV
Many of the big-name tools are all under one roof these days. Separate quality levels and production, but all under the Rigid/Home Depot umbrella.
I have three in my shop at work; a Dewalt, a Bosch, and a Porter Cable (the old ones back when they were really good). The Porter Cable is lovely and ergonomic, but it is constructed more like a slimmer version of a rotary buffer. It is long and skinny making it hard to get into some tight spots. The Dewalt is my welding grinder, and the Bosch I usually use for concrete/tile/masonry/granite.
Porter Cable... I love the control and the trigger switch. Hate the big size.
Dewalt ... Love the long, beefy cord and compact body, Detest the side thumb switch.
Bosch... berkeleying bulletproof. I have dropped it off the roof, dropped it in a sump full of water, and accidentally gave it 240v because some idiot before me at the theater improperly wired an outlet. It gets weekly abuse with diamond wheels and fine silica dust and it keeps on going. Unfortunately, still hate the side thumb switch.
Huh, came here to say HF!
I have 3 HF angle grinders. I put a grinding disc on 1, a cut off wheel on one, and a flappy sanding wheel on the 3rd.
I have built 3 race cars with them and they always work!
I have had to change the brushes on 1 of them - (new brushes come in the box)
I have found vibration is more from the attached disc than from the grinder itself.
I have several of the $10 harbor freight ones, few years old, live in my open ended shop, and work great every time.
Hf grinders blow
dewalt or makita 2 pack at derpot for $99. Put a cup brush on one and use the other for wheels. Bonus points for buying 2 packs so you always have what you need on a grinder.
Porter Cable, DeWalt, NEVER HF.
The above is an opinion.
I have a harbor freight, dewalt, porter cable, and milwalkee. Hf is only good for flap wheels, underpowered. Dewalt is 15 years old and a beast. Cutoff wheel equipped. The Milwaukee does it all well. Porter cable feels great in my hand, but is rather long and unweildy. Which makes it great for grinding things to shape where the wheel can get caught. More leverage and control.
Tyler H said:I have spent 20x as much in grinding, cutting, flapper discs as I have on the Harbor Freight grinder they were attached to. Damn thing just won't die.
Me too. But that isn’t saying much. With coupon, mine was $9.95. August 1997. Been using it ever since.
Edit: if I needed one to put food on the table, it probably would not be HF
I have used HF ones for years at home. I gave a few away as I couldn’t kill them and I used them with all sorts of grinding, cutting, and wire wheels. They definitely feel cheap but mine all lasted.
when I use to turn wrenches as a job we had Milwaukee and they were great but heavy and expensive.
I have a battery powers ryobi but haven’t used it yet.
Dewalt 4.5, no guard, new switch assembly (brushes) .....would do it again when the gear set goes....
Which one will reconfigure your fap hand into a permanent gang sign with the least effort?
That's the one to buy.
At work we use the DeWalt 7" polisher as a sander/grinder. If the smaller one feels anything like the 7" count me in. They get abused and we might have to replace a switch every few years if we're unlucky. We've also got to Fein machines but that's some proper money... but they do feel really nice.
In my garage I keep the highest quality HF grinder. The switches on the cheaper models suck. I immediatly opened it up and replaced/refilled the grease because I'd read that's a weak point. I've had that grinder for 3 years now and it's been great to me. Cost 30$ before coupons.
You'll need to log in to post.
