4&1/2" angle grinder reccomendations?

[Jim in ICT]

I use a DeWalt,works fine..... wish I had a Metabo.

 

[yomax4]

Metabo seems to be the HD choice at the Fab Shops in my area. Many are good however. I have an older Milwaukee that I had had so hot that I could barely hold onto it and it never missed abeat. Still works great after 15 yrs. Some choose throw aways and some like units that can be repaired.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

Anyone out there got some experience with angle grinders - as in durability? I run them with the thin cutoff wheels and a sanding disc, my old DW402 dewalt burned the windings up last year so I treated myself to the new model the D28402N, it's lasted me a light use year and the gear case stripped out yesterday.

The old one had a bushing on the inside of the case and the new units have a "Low Profile gear case to reach in tight spaces" as per the sales literature and now I've got a roached bevel gear!

Turns out the new case is thinner cause there's only one bearing! so all the load torques the bevel away from the pinion gear!

So, I want to find a new heavy duty unit WITH A PADDLE SWITCH but don't know what's what. Online they all look to have a wimpy little gear case (Bosch looks a little thicker, the Milwakee doesn't look too good in the pics, Makita's supposed to be nice)

I've got to go to a store and lay my hands on them to get a feel of them and compare construction.

Anyone got any suggestions/experience?

The DeWalt 802 is the five ton version of the 402 if you were to consider the 402 a half ton. I've got a couple of them for fifty to sixty dollars over the years at DeWalt repair stores when the client didn't want to pay for the repair and the became for sale.

I like paddle trigger grinders. That eliminates a lot of brands. Of all the grinders I've used over the years the best ones by brand have been Metabos. They are gawdawful pricey but if you can swallow the nut they're stay with you for a long time. The best reasonable priced ones are the DeWalt 802's.

I've been welding for over forty years now. Most of that has been for a living working for myself.

 

[Kernopelli]

I'll save an opinion on a different 4 1/2". There are some good ones out there, it usually comes down to $$$..you usually get what you pay for. My 9" Bosch is a brute, don't know about their smaller grinders though. I too have been through the DW gear case dilemma and just wanted to mention that parts are available. I have replaced it on mine for about $25.00. I will say that I was really surprised when the DW OEM replacement part was stamped CHINA though. Just didn't want you to throw away a pretty decent grinder that can still be used...just not on heavy stuff....for a $25.00 fix.

 

[gears351]

That's where I'm at now, I figure I'll spend the $25 to make my 1 year old $80 investment work and then buy a heavier duty replacement for the cutting stuff and save the DW for bodywork rather than fabbing steel.

 

[framer]

I use milwaukee 41/2 for 5 yrs now have burned one up only because i put to
large wire disk on.Have burned up my makitas and boshes to quickly i thought .
My next grinder will be hilty they make good cored and cordless tools. Strictly
industrial.Would recommend milwaukee for medium duty.

 

[gauthier]

These new ones are all like coffee makers,disposable.

 

[Scotty370]

Gauther- Is that sad, or what! I agreed with what you say. But where are the old 'quality' USA tools? Guess we just don't make "stuff", anymore.......

~Scotty

 

[evo803]

Had an old Makita that lasted for years doing repointing work on chimmneys. Then got a new Makita and it did not last 2 years doing the same work.These grinders nowadys seem to last about as long as the wheels do pretty soon the wheels will be welded on and just throw them out when your done.

 

[fredhargis]

The sheet metal guys at work would ruin a grinder in 6 months (so they say) until they started buying Metabos, They claim some of them are 3 years old, and still no failures. I don't use them quite that hard, and wound up with a Milwaukee 8.5 amp model.

 

[mwb]

I recommend upgrading to a 5" Makita:thumbsup:. They have more power than the 4.5" so hopefully you won't tend to burn them out. Also, with the extra wheel diameter you will find the added capacity (cut-off wheels) a real bonus. I have had mine for 20 years and it still runs perfect.

7" and bigger grinders are too heavy for most jobs but the 5" is a nice compromise between a "one hand" grinder and monster like the 7".

 

[Gary Fowler]

It seems everyone is saying the same thing. Milwaukee, Makita, Dewalt oldies are good and last almost forever, but upon replacement with the new one (all made in China I believe) they dont last so good anymore. Skil used to be very good also, but now I think they are made in China also. Metabo without doubt is good, but $200 for a 4" grinder is not for me to pay. The only thing electrical I have ever bought at HF was a drill that burned up drilling a 1/4" hole in some 1/4" plate and I had to finish it up with my cordless so no more HF electrical for me. If you can find one with power at less than $40, that would be the one I would get. I dont think any of them now will last more than a couple years of light use.

 

[yomax4]

Not possitive but I believe Makita is still Japan. Still, Kind of higher end price wise. On the cheapo units, It's usually the brush springs that burn off or the triggers burn up right away. At least with some of the prior listed brands you can buy new brushes and switches for them. I guess the best policy is to not lean on them too hard while they are grinding or they will probably fail sooner than later. I have an ols 6145 Milwaukee from the 90's that gets used 3x more than my newer Milwaukee and the newer one has already failed and been repaired. Go figure.

 

[flusher]

Makita--get one and enjoy.

 

[sweettractors]

Hitachi has been doing a good job for us. The ones from HF last about 30 days around here. Ken Sweet

 

[mwb]

If you are looking for a Hitachi grinder Princess Auto (Canada) has them on sale for $45. 4.5", 5 amp

 

[DanD78]

Metabo makes a 6" grinder that is about the same size as a 4 1/2. The motor has a speed control that will keep the RPMs up and a soft start so it won't jerk out of your hand when starting. It also has a wrench less wheel nut. I think it was worth the extra money. I also have 3 black & deckers that are still going strong and a Makita that just won't die. My Makita has the metric spindle so it stays with the type 27 discs.

I keep 4 grinders around with different tools on each so I am not always changing wire wheels or discs.

Dan

 

[rjmack]

i think the best 4 1/2 inch grinder is a 5" grinder.:thumbsup:

5" is the standard size, 4 1/2 is the oddball.

makita 9005b is the industry standard, but dewalt makes one that has a nice easy adjust guard on it and a nice disc locking nut... unfortunately the dewalt trigger is so touchy that imho the grinder should be taken off the market untill the trigger is redesigned.:ashamed:

 

[Ford tractor]

My 15 year old B&D "professional" 4" grinder was acting up, so I bought a Milwaukee 4 1/2". It's a steaming POS. It heats up FAST to a temp you can't hold it. Funny thing, the old B&D will run a LARGER wire brush for 5x as long and not heat up. New Milwaukee = junk.

(I still use the old B&D for most jobs. The blade hold button fell out, the bearings are starting to growl, but it runs and doesn't require me to blow compressed air into it while running to keep it from burning my hand. And this is AFTER taking the POS Milwaukee in for service twice. )

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

i think the best 4 1/2 inch grinder is a 5" grinder.:thumbsup:

5" is the standard size, 4 1/2 is the oddball.

makita 9005b is the industry standard, but dewalt makes one that has a nice easy adjust guard on it and a nice disc locking nut... unfortunately the dewalt trigger is so touchy that imho the grinder should be taken off the market untill the trigger is redesigned.:ashamed:

That must be why you might find two 5 inch grinders on a shelf under a 2 inch pile of dust within a 100 miles of here and even have to look just as hard for a 5 inch disk.:confused2:

All shops around here use 4.5s,7's, or 9's, with an occasional 4 thrown in.

It might be a regional thing...but I can count on 1 hand the times I have seen a 5 inch grinder in use.