Looking for a die grinder

[Luke'sScreenName]

Looking for a straight die grinder. Air powered. Mostly for dressing welds and cuts.

Never had one before. What size/features should I look for? What kind/brand burrs should I look for?

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Angled vs straight? If you only have one, I'm guessing angled?

1/4"?

Carbide burs? Which brand?

Other features I should look for?

 

[Will S]

Well I don't know how much you want to spend, but Harbor Freight has a few different pretty inexpensive ones, that seem to get decent reviews. Also, grab a 20% OFF coupon from a magazine, or their website, and use that for a few extra dollars off.

If you buy one, and don't like it, save your receipt, and just return it for a refund within their return period (30 days ???)

 

[Rustyiron]

In my experience, cheap die grinders are just fine as long as you put a few drops of oil in them every time you get it out.
Get a good German burr at the welding place, chances are it will be 2x the cost of the tool. That's where you want to spend the money.:thumbsup:

 

[Bill 55]

I don't always have access to air, but do have a small generator so many years ago I purchased a Makita 33,000 rpm electric. It was a good decision I have never regretted. Whatever you decide on get a few good carbide burrs and start making chips, just remember to wear eye protection them little chips are very sharp.
Bill

 

[Stimw]

I have half-dozen die grinders but my go to for weld prep/clean up is a 4 1/2" grinder with a knotted wire wheel.
I also use a bench grinder with a regular wire wheel to de-burr round and square tubing.
While holding the tubing at the right angle you can remove the inside burrs too.

 

[duanew1]

I have a 26 gal 5cfm air compressor and I dislike tools like the die grinder and cutoff tool. I don't have enough air for it. I find it much easier to buy the electric version. I love my Harbor Freight 4.5 angle grinder.

 

[George2615]

I also have a cheap straight HF die grinder and it works great. I ordered the carbide bits elsewhere online. They do like to use air as all other air tools but I have an 80 gallon dual cylinder compressor with plenty of CFM.

 

[jwmorris]

The HF ones use more air, make more noise and tend to have less power than a "quality" unit but they cost less than shipping on a decent one (can buy a half dozen or more HF vs a single IR unit) and work for years if properly maintained (a few drops of air tool oil before use). They often come with air fittings and a few stones.

I have a number of them with decent bits installed in them, it's faster to change the tool than what you have mounted in them.

Get both double cut and single cut carbide burs and see what works best for what you are doing, I keep tools set up for a few of both.

 

[Fifelaker]

I have two personal die grinders Ingersoll Rand and Chicago pneumatic, the CP has a little more umph than the IR. At work they bought a couple of the Harbor freight and I take my CP to work because HF's are painfully slow and under powered. The only thing I hang off them at work is a cutoff wheel, at home I use carbide burrs and stones.

 

[bigdeano]

I try to only use carbide burrs outdoors. Those tiny slivers they make are razor sharp and will be everywhere for months. Boy do they hurt when they stick in your hands.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

I try to only use carbide burrs outdoors. Those tiny slivers they make are razor sharp and will be everywhere for months. Boy do they hurt when they stick in your hands.

Good to know. Thanks

 

[HeribertoParker]

I need a cheap straight HF die grinder.

 

[5030]

Thats all we use in the shop anymore...the cheap HF die grinders (with high quality burrs and stones, not the HF junk). They run well and are throwaway cheap and run a long time so long as the airline has a mist oiler on it....

 

[Bird]

When I was repairing/rebuilding air tools, I became convinced that Sioux die grinders were the best I ever saw, but they are not cheap. So all I have for my own use is a little Harbor Freight (Central Pneumatic) die grinder.

 

[ray66v]

Don't buy an angled die grinder, unless you have to. You loose rpm in the gearing.

Angled grinders lack the speed to run carbide burs well.

Carbide burs will bounce, and chatter, if you don't have sufficient power to maintain high rpms.

If you are only going to have one grinder, you want the biggest, most powerful rated HP one, you can budget for.

Consumer grade tools, are all disposable anyway, so I would suggest one with a plastic housing. They don't get so cold, you can't hold on to them, after running it for long periods of time.

For reference, an American made, industrial quality, re-buildable die grinder, starts at about $250.

But, $100 will get you a good consumer grade, brand name, Chinese one.

If you aren't making a living with it, you can buy one for $15 with coupon. You won't know what you are missing, until you own a good one anyway. But, when you know the difference, you will stop torturing yourself, and only buy a good one.

You can pay as much as $40, for one, large, good quality carbide bur. Or, $10 for a set of 12. You get what you pay for.

 

[5030]

Don't think I've ever paid over 30 bucks for a die grinder. We have at least 10 in the shop for my guys to use. When they poop out it's landfill, well, scrap dumpster time. I buy them for my employees to use in die reclaim rework. Just use top quality burrs and mounted stones.

 

[Bird]

Don't buy an angled die grinder, unless you have to. You loose rpm in the gearing.

Angled grinders lack the speed to run carbide burs well.

I won't disagree with you on those points, but personally, I much prefer using an angle die grinder when possible.

 

[5030]

I won't disagree with you on those points, but personally, I much prefer using an angle die grinder when possible.

Certainly easier for us old timers to hang on to..............:thumbsup: