4.5 grinder recommendation?

[dstig1]

Same here. Mine is equipped with a flap wheel and relegated to quick touch ups.

The brushless is most likely better like you say but I won’t bother.

Me 3. The cordless Makita is so useless I only use it when there is really no other good option. I believe they are better now, but mine is several years old that I got with a set of 18v Makita tools. But I have several corded Makitas and they are awesome. I picked up a $20 Northern Tools grinder that is pretty close to useless too. I think you could stop the wheel with your tongue and not notice it. That one only gets really light finishing tasks. i have enough good Makitas that I don't have to change them around too often and can keep them mostly dedicated.

 

[ultrarunner]

I inherited Craftsman from the 1950's, 60's and early 70's that are top performers

 

[Big Barn]

I hate any (corded) power tool that doesn’t have a quality flexible cord.

 

[herm0016]

my metabo should be delivered today. so we will see. hopefully it fits in the case of the ridgid.
I do really like the cords on the ridgid stuff, they have a light and an icon of the tool on the plug so you can see its plugged in and know what cord is what if you have several things out at once and are switching on the extension cord.

 

[flyerdan]

The Metabos that we had at the fab shop were quite good, they were well balanced, lighter than the Milwaukees and had plenty of power. If you use 6" skinny wheels for freehand cutoff wheels, Metabo makes an excellent one as well.

 

[PILOON]

Well here I have to agree with Eddie.
I have 2 Makita's and to me they are indestructible.
One lives with a wire brush and the other has thin cut off disks mounted.

I'll add that both were garage sale buys so who knows how much punishment B4 me.
AND I go thru a pile of cut off disks.

However I do help them somewhat as I routinely blow them clean with compressed air.
I'll add my usage is such that I need to occasionally re tighten some of the screws.

Another Makita plus is that their cords are of a quality that in the cold they don't become 'fishing rods', the stay flexible in the coldest days.

 

[not2old]

I hate any (corded) power tool that doesn’t have a quality flexible cord.

The lousy cords were the reason I wouldn't buy Craftsman power tools.

 

[California]

I posted above I want an 11 amp 4.5" angle grinder and I was waiting for the Dewalt DWE402 to go on sale.

Today I went to Home Depot and looked at the Dewalt. Its great but $89 with wheel was more than I wanted to pay.

Then I stopped by HF's Black Friday sale ... and bought HF's new Hercules 11 amp model. It seems near identical to the Dewalt. I got a bargain table one that appears new, except the box looks like it was used for football by clumsy children - crushed both ends and torn. Whatever - I paid $33.75.

Home now, the grinder checks out as-new. A new toy!

Here's the coupon for this grinder. I think its a good buy at this coupon price.

(I'm going to duplicate this post over in the HF thread, to share the coupon).

 

[5030]

I'm a fan of buying 5 cheap Harbor Freight grinders for the price of a single nice grinder. At $20 each they are disposable & you can have a few with different wheels on ready to go without grabbing wrenches.

I'm with you 100%. I buy the least expensive angle grinders and run the bags out of them until I find the smoke\ and I can find the smoke in all of them (expensive or cheap) at some point. I don't mind landfilling a cheap grinder however. Just smoked a Makita a couple days ago. Man did it stink.

Not a plug for HF but I have a Bauer 20 volt 4.5" angle grinder that I keep a cutoff wheel on for jibs where an extension cord is impractical and I haven't found the smoke in it as of yet. I'm sure I could if I pushed it but it's only for cutting off bolts and stuff. Nice tool btw.

 

[5030]

One thing I do do when I buy an angle grinder (cheap or not) is, I take the gearbox apart and make sure it has adequate grease inside. I've found that the cheaper ones have little grease inside so I always add some quality grease. With my heavy handed use, they need all the help they can get....

 

[5030]

Metabo is by far the best grinder I have ever used . I bought a Metabo 14 amp 5 " grinder for my demanding jobs like concrete cutting and grinding .The problem is if you don't have hands as big as andre the giant's holding on to it for lite flap wheel tune ups it get whey to heavy and cumbersome. Plus it will run you about $300 . If you go on the metabo website they have about 75 different grinders in the 4-6" range ratails , lever switches , thumb switch, all 7-14 amp. pretty mind boggling.:confused2: But if you can't find your perfect grinder there it don't exist. Much better than buying what ever they have left on the shelf at the home sh-- hole. :drink:

I smoked a Metabo too. They stink as well..... Did that one at work so I wasn't out any funds.:laughing:

 

[5030]

Well here I have to agree with Eddie.
I have 2 Makita's and to me they are indestructible.
One lives with a wire brush and the other has thin cut off disks mounted.

I'll add that both were garage sale buys so who knows how much punishment B4 me.
AND I go thru a pile of cut off disks.

However I do help them somewhat as I routinely blow them clean with compressed air.
I'll add my usage is such that I need to occasionally re tighten some of the screws.

Another Makita plus is that their cords are of a quality that in the cold they don't become 'fishing rods', the stay flexible in the coldest days.

The HF grinders all have 'rigid when cold' cords....lol

 

[PILOON]

The lousy cords were the reason I wouldn't buy Craftsman power tools.

LOL, but on a cold day they doubled as fishing rods.

 

[NWOH_Grizz]

Recently I needed another grinder, and did some research. Generally I like Milwaukee power tools, but this time I went with a Dewalt. Initially thought I'd get a 4012 model, since Amazon has them a 2-pack for $99. I went to Lowe's to check them out, and just didn't like the paddle switch and the fat grip area. Tried out a 43113, which has the trigger switch at the rear. That fit me fine, balance was very good, and could use 4.5 and 5 inch discs. $139 at Lowe's, they wouldn't price match Amazon at $109, so I stood there and ordered it and had it two days later. I've done some serious flap-wheel stuff and some actual grinding, lots of power. The cord is quality, stayed flexible when the barn was at 30 degrees F. Can use a 6mm hex key to change discs, don't have to bother with a spanner anymore. Discovered nylon stripper discs too, really works well for taking off paint and rust and not hurting the metal surface.

 

[theg]

Ford Chevy dodge kia. Watch Ave you tube. I like Makita that is just me. All are good.

 

[Big Barn]

Ford Chevy dodge kia. Watch Ave you tube. I like Makita that is just me. All are good.

My opinion also. I try to stick with Makita but any name brand is fine.

 

[PILOON]

A friend goes thru grinders at a great rate and I still have my 2 Makitas that came from yard sales.
Local welder also burns up a 1/2 dozen/yr.

My 2 (previously owned) Makita's are now going on 10 years.
I think my practice of blowing them clean on a regular basis is the secret as after all that metallic grit sure can't be healthy for bushings and bearings.
Also I occasionally torque all the fasteners as some do tend to loosen over time.

I do find the power cords take quite a beating and probably have replaced mine 3-4 times so far.
Problem I find is to locate good quality real rubber cord and not crappy plasticised power cord.

 

[fatjay]

I have 2 dewalt grinders and 3 harbor freight grinders. I find myself using the harbor freights more often, i have 2 with cutoff wheels and one with wire brush. I like their lack of safety features, such as the on/off switch, instead of my dewalt's paddle you have to hold down. Flip the switch and it grinds and grinds. My dewalts are probably 20 years old, my harbor freights are 6-10 years old, and i've used/abused them plenty.

 

[Big Barn]

I do find the power cords take quite a beating and probably have replaced mine 3-4 times so far.
Problem I find is to locate good quality real rubber cord and not crappy plasticised power cord.

Ideally quality rubber cord with a moulded OEM type plug on the it. I hate retrofitted clamp on cord ends.

 

[yomax4]

I have a nice Walter variable speed grinder that I like but normally only use it when variable is needed. Although I use 18v cordless / brushless 90% of the time, My corded go to grinders are 2= 20 year old 4.5" Black and Decker Industrials ( Pre Dewalt ) and a USA made Milwaukee 6145 I believe. It's old enough that it has a 1/2 -13 spindle and 2 wire cord. All 3 have been so hot that you could barely hold them and they still work like new. Bigger jobs I have a lower priced Masterforce 6" that seems to be a decent unit for the price. Hopefully no-one has to use a 9".