Many pages back I wrote about the HF Angle Grinder Holder that makes the grinder into a cutoff tool. It was unsatisfactory. The lightweight sheet metal base flexed too easily letting the cutting disc wander. This was unsafe in addition to making an inaccurate cut, a thin cutoff disc can shatter if flexed sideways under load.
Today the equivalent tool but with a cast iron baseplate is in a Northern Tool email ad. $15. I bought it.
I was asked to report on this
Northern Tool Angle Grinder Holder after I got it set up:
I like it. It's solid, precise, just what I need. It's a valuable addition to my tools.
I mounted an old $10 HF DrillMaster angle grinder (4.2 amps) in it. That has plenty of power for driving the thin cutoff blade. It continues to cut precisely when weight is applied to work the grinder harder. It simply works. It's better than I expected.
If you buy one: Setting it up precisely is like the many adjustments you do to make a table saw cut true - adjust, measure, adjust some more, repeat. After considerable tinkering, it makes cuts that are as true as I can evaluate by comparing a finished item to a carpenter's square.
My cheap DrillMaster angle grinder isn't as fat as this was designed for. So that meant more tinkering to get the cut moved over, to not nick the vise and baseplate. I notched the washers that mount the superstructure to the base, to get the Allen screws even closer to the upright part. See the photo below.
The manual says it's for 4.5" and 5" angle grinders. My grinder is 4.5" but I have a 10-pack of 4 inch cutting discs. They are too small. After their diameter is ground down 1/8" smaller they wont reach the bottom of a cut. This needs 4.5" cutting discs.
I can't think of anything else. In summary -just buy it.
