4 1/2" Angle Grinders - How Many??

[Bird]

When I worked with a pipeline contractor all our welders only used 2 grinders. They were usually a 5" Makita. One would have a grinding wheel the other would be a wire wheel for buffing the weld.

Your pipeline welders' grinders are like my bench grinder. I do have some other wheels, but 99% of the time just keep a grinding stone on one end and a wire wheel on the other because the wire wheel is the thing that gets used the most.

I only had one 4.5" electric grinder and a little pneumatic angle die grinder; never even thought about having a use for several until I read this thread. However, I have a son-in-law who does a good bit of woodworking, and I thought it was very odd the first time I noticed that he has at least 4 or 5 routers. I guess it does save time to avoid changing bits. I've frequently found using 2 or 3 drills on the same job saves time the same way.

 

[dstig1]

Your pipeline welders' grinders are like my bench grinder. I do have some other wheels, but 99% of the time just keep a grinding stone on one end and a wire wheel on the other because the wire wheel is the thing that gets used the most.

I only had one 4.5" electric grinder and a little pneumatic angle die grinder; never even thought about having a use for several until I read this thread. However, I have a son-in-law who does a good bit of woodworking, and I thought it was very odd the first time I noticed that he has at least 4 or 5 routers. I guess it does save time to avoid changing bits. I've frequently found using 2 or 3 drills on the same job saves time the same way.

Only 4 or 5 routers? He isn't trying hard enough! :laughing: I have a friend with ~15. I have like 6 myself. The big benefit in woodworking of multiple routers is for jigs like dovetail jigs. Being able to leave the bit setup after it has been dialed in saves you a bunch of time and headache. Same thing if you have multiple setups for a project. No adjusting means you save time and improve quality (everything comes out the same).

 

[rswyan]

I have two ..... and would like several more :laughing:

The second one I bought is an orange 4 1/2" Harbor Freight el cheapo unit .... slide on-off switch and incredibly noisy ... first time I turned it on I thought it had no bearings (mebbe it doesn't ? :confused2 ..... obvious piece of junk ... but it's still working

I really, really hate the slide on-off switch ..... will never buy another grinder with one.

The first one was a Milwaukee 6146 I bought about 8 years ago .... 11 amp, 11,000 rpm, ball bearings, paddle trigger switch, no tool quick-change .... it was made in Mexico IIRC .... but has withstood a lot of abuse and held up very well. It just has the feel of a quality piece .... unlike the HF unit.

If I was flush, I'd buy three more of them:

Milwaukee 4 1/2" Grinder 6146

As it is, for the next one I'll probably give the paddle switch HF one a try for $30 ....

I do need a new grinder. It will be 4.5" as that will do what I need to do.

What I do want is a ball bearing model with a paddle switch. But no one talks or says what kind of bearing they have.

Anyone know what models have Ball Bearings.

Check out the Milwaukee's :thumbsup:

 

[Renze]

My neighbour buys the cheap 30 euro grinders from the supermarket, and happens to wear them out between 2 months to 4 days before the warranty ends: He's on his 3rd now, for the same price.

I had a cheap Hitachi, cost me 50 euro or so. The angle gear housing was very light and cracked right at where it screws to the motor.

since then i decided i'll never buy the cheapest anymore: my latest grinder is a 900w Black&Decker which is the ONE BUT cheapest, which i think is most bang for the buck: a little extra power (900W versus 750W on the entry level models) a WAY STURDIER aluminium angle gearbox, and a decent pushbutton, not the awkward slide button that gets you a sore thumb as these get hard to move from the abrasive dust or welding spats.

The Hitachi 2300W 9" grinder i got from my brother, is over 7 years old, has seen lots of abuse and has made LOTS of operating hours: Right now the bearings are shot because it has been sitting in a pig barn, the ammonia vapour created some rust on the bearings which started to wear on them.
My next will also be the one-but-cheapest, because i feel that the first price increase over an entry level model, you pay for the quality increase, and the next you pay for bells&whistles i dont need.


Ohh and before i forget: Personally the idea of four or five different grinders in the shop doesnt appeal to me: with the big one with cutting disk, the small one with deburring disk, the welding torch and the earthign cable, i already get tangled up... Let alone with those cords of the extra 3 grinders...

 

[deereman75]

Two you might want to look at, the makita 5 inch short body grinder, got mine on sale for $80. And the metabo 4 1/2 inch, cost over $200 but will last forever.

 

[FastPauly]

I am at 4.....individual duties are grinding wheel, cut-off wheel, flap wheel and wire brush. 2 of them are craftsman...the other 2 are HF. I don't use any of them on an extended basis so I am getting by with the lower quality.

I repair grinders.....all of them break down....even Metabo's. I have a tub full of grinders I deemed as not worth fixing in the shop....you name the brand and I will guarantee there is at least one of them in that tub.

 

[deereman75]

I am at 4.....individual duties are grinding wheel, cut-off wheel, flap wheel and wire brush. 2 of them are craftsman...the other 2 are HF. I don't use any of them on an extended basis so I am getting by with the lower quality.

I repair grinders.....all of them break down....even Metabo's. I have a tub full of grinders I deemed as not worth fixing in the shop....you name the brand and I will guarantee there is at least one of them in that tub.

You got a hilti in there?

 

[FastPauly]

You can't repair a Hilti tool......"You" being the key word here. Hilti does not sell repair parts......you have to send the tool back to them for repairs. So the answer is NO, I do not have a Hilti in the tub because I won't take them in.

 

[deereman75]

Oh ya I forgot about that...

 

[two_bit_score]

Tools of the trade magazine tested angler grinders and had this conclusion: "All these tools work well, but some are better balanced, more powerful, and generally better to use. The Bosch tool was our favorite because its great balance, smooth operation, and well-routed exhaust made it handle flawlessly in any material we threw at it. Metabo came in a very close second for the same reasons. From there, the field finished as follows: Milwaukee, DeWalt, Porter-Cable, Makita, Hitachi, Hilti, and Craftsman."

Www.tootsofthetrade.net

 

[crash325]

Yesterday I got a new Ryobi 4.5" grinder. $44. & Change. Would have gone for a better (more costly), but was not feeling very rich.

I have quite a few Ryobi tools, some almost 20 years old. I have never been completely happy with any of them. At the same time Ive never had 1 of them quit working.

The good points on this grinder, 3 position rotating handle, not a big deal, but kind of handy. 3 Screw holes for side handle, some I looked at only had 2. No tool shield adjustment, common these days, it's very tight and hard to position, will loosen up in time?? Came with a Flap Wheel, Grinding wheel,, brass wire brush, nice case, long cord and the spanner Wrench stores in handle, maybe even I can keep track of it. It does run very smooth.

Not so good, motor only 5.5 amps and a little weak, motor and gear head get warm very quickly. I cut about 4.5' of 1/8 mild steel, it was pretty hot by the time I was done. A little later I wire brushed the lip on the tank cutoff and it did a fine job there, not much power needed.

I could live with the weakness, but the heating up bothers me. May take it back and move up to something better.

See my thread on new Roller & Sheep's Foot build.For

 

[k0ua]

I have that same Ryobi, got it for Christmas, though "ah junk" at first, but in using it for a while, I kinda like it. for the reasons you stated.. I usually keep the flap wheel in it and cut with the Makita. seems to work fine and with the handle adjustable it is comfortable. I am gonna keep mine

James K0UA

 

[Iplayfarmer]

...No tool shield adjustment, common these days, it's very tight and hard to position, will loosen up in time??

Any grinder I get receives a tool shield adjustment first thing before I ever even power the thing up. I have a whole pile of never used tool shields if someone wants them.

 

[psj12]

That could sure be true as far as I know, but I've never seen one or known anyone who had a Metabo.

I have a Metabo and it is pretty much bullet proof. I also have a couple of Harbor Freight 4.5 inch orange $19 specials. I figured I would use them till they drop but they just keep going and going. Same for the HF orange 7.5 inch.

 

[weldermike]

I have same grinder, thought it was a piece of junk at first. Bearing made noise right out of the box. I beat the living daylights out of that thing for almost 5yrs, every single day, with the same overheat problem. Had to wear one welding glove to use it since I take the handles off all of my small grinders. The brushes just recentley took a crap, but ill change them and who knows how much longer it could last. Oh I bought a rigid from home depot once and I cooked it on first job, that one was $109.

 

[boxygen]

I have had the same experience with Ryobi. Didnt expect much from it but it actually exceeded my expectations and lasted 4-5 years. I now have two Makita's and another Ryobi. The Ryobi always has the wire wheel in it.

 

[Stampeder]

I have a Bosch. It's over 5 years old and I too beat the crap out of it. I have put on a six inch wire brush and got the thing so hot I couldn't hold it.
I have ground my way through more grinding disks that I can count. The bearings in the head have made noise since day one and that hasn't changed or affected the tool in over 5 years.
It's not the greatest tool for balance and I hate where the on/off switch is located, but I will definitely by another one so I can have a wire brush on one and a cut off disk on the other.
Anything that takes the kind of beating this thing has is worth it in my books.
It just works, what can be better than that?:thumbsup:

 

[twoone]

We have two one with the brush on it and a wheel on the other.

 

[JerryK]

I have a 7" Metabo. Ran thru tons of 7" cutting disks and grinding disks .... a really great tool.

 

[crash325]

After a couple of hours with the new Ryobi a new short coming has showed up. The threaded shaft is 1 thread shorter than most others. It's not long enough to put a sanding disk on. The shield was so hard to adjust that it is now gone.

Have not made up my mind "Keep or Return". Next time I go to town, will take it along. Check out some that are better and make up my mind then.

Sure glad the old Porter Cable is still working.

After today's frustrations 4 will be the min. number that I will have. 5 is a better number.