4.5 grinder recommendation?

[ultrarunner]

MY SOP is I buy more than one at a time so if and when I find the smoke, I go to another and find the smoke in that one and so on and take them all back at one time. Quantity discount so to speak.

So far I have not found the smoke in any of the Bauer 20 volt tools and I've tried though not stupiditly. I'm sure if I got stupid with them, I could. You put any motorized tool be it 110 or cordless in a locked rotor situation and keep on juicing it, you'll find the smoke and it don't matter who made it either. That applies to any motor in fact. Locked rotor equals no air flow and maximum amperage draw. No air flow means the windings overheat and then they stink. Some stink worse than others but they all puke the same way.

Don't believe me? Take your Milwaukee and gouge it into something, lock it and keep juicing it. You'll find the smoke, I guarantee it.

Least with the HF Bauer stuff, finding the smoke isn't financial ruin.... Chicago Electric is even better 'cause it's even cheaper.

He had a painted walk that was slippery leading to the front door and was using a cup wire wheel to remove the paint.

Don't believe he ever locked the rotor but it was an all day job spread out over a weekend.

 

[5030]

Can you stall an 11 amp angle grinder? Seems to me you risk shattering the wheel pushing it that hard.

Frankly, I don't know. I have a corded DeWalt big grinder that I don't think I'd try it with unless I had a death wish. Maybe a pipe wrench on the spindle and juice it???

 

[dragoneggs]

Neighbor went through 3 Harbor freight one weekend... I loaned him my Milwaukee and no problem... but now wonder if that was a mistake?

He had the warranty so the exchange was no problem other than driving there... when he came back the last time they refunded his money in full... and he did not even ask for a refund...

Another has a well booster pump... he has the warranty and same thing... full refunded as he came back too many time.

Now I have Harbor Freight Chain I use around the place and 100% satisfied...

What I like about HF 4.5in grinders (after I change out the lard in the gear box) is they are less than 10 bucks so I can afford to have an array with different disks so no need to swap out during use... love that. If I need to get on something hard, I turn to my larger Makita and PC grinders.

 

[Dr Gas]

I started metalworking with HF grinders and they are ok for light to medium duty but the cords are crappy , the motors burn out, the switches break etc etc. I have switched to Milwaukee 6147’s and a cordless Milwaukee 18. They have very good reliability, great power, good cords and switches. I have dropped them many times but they keep on going. I have had Makita, Hitachi, Dewalt and Metabo but the Milwaukee’s are my favorite and good bang for the buck. Whatever you buy please get a paddle switch as they are safer and easier to use.

 

[goeduck]

I am using a Dewalt, even down on the beach around saltwater cutting out worn out bolts on the dock float. Takes a salting, keeps keeps on ticking. Not that it is getting in the saltwater but everything I take down there has a rust film on it a few days later. I bought it as a toss away if it failed. But not so far.

 

[Big Barn]

Dr Gas mentioned paddle switches being safer and I agree.

I prefer using cut off wheels on paddle switch grinders and wire cups/wheels, grinding wheels and flap wheels on grinders with locking trigger switches.

 

[spitter]

When you are constantally grinding for 10 hrs , paddle switches suck.Their is no place to put your hand so you don,t shut it off. I had a milwakee 8 amp paddle switch that was one of the most comfortable smooth vibration free grinders I have ever used ,. But if I were using it all day with a flap wheel my hands would cramp up . So many times I just wanted to through it out ,when it fianally died I bought a metabo with a regular on off switch that you can spin the housing weather you want the switch on the right ,left, or top. It is a very well balanced vibration free grinder .:thumbsup::drink:

 

[dragoneggs]

I am using a Dewalt, even down on the beach around saltwater cutting out worn out bolts on the dock float. Takes a salting, keeps keeps on ticking. Not that it is getting in the saltwater but everything I take down there has a rust film on it a few days later. I bought it as a toss away if it failed. But not so far.

I'm a little off the beach and 100ft elevation and my shop tools battle the saltwater air. The humidity requires me to frequently dress my tools with steel tops with wax. I don't know a good way to preserve my hand power tools. Other than to run them occasionally. I'm not worried about my fleet of 4.5in HF grinders though.

 

[coxhaus]

I was getting the paint off a brick wall. It was an all day affair. I started with a HF grinder. After about 2 1/2 hours my hands were vibrating so bad after turning the HF grinder off I threw it in the trash. I bought a Makita 4 inch down the street at my local ACE. It was so much better I finished the wall.

Last year at a welding class most of the young kids were using Dewalt grinders at class.

 

[radios1]

I was getting the paint off a brick wall. It was an all day affair. I started with a HF grinder. After about 2 1/2 hours my hands were vibrating so bad after turning the HF grinder off I threw it in the trash. I bought a Makita 4 inch down the street at my local ACE. It was so much better I finished the wall.

Last year at a welding class most of the young kids were using Dewalt grinders at class.

that was the fault of the HF wheels, not the grinder.. also, a pressure washer was the thing to use for getting paint off brick walls.. nearly every tool you can think of is made in China, or a similar Asian Country, and re-branded according to the wish of the reseller.. Makita: "Makita Corporation (TYO: 6586) is a Japanese manufacturer of power tools. Founded on March 21, 1915, it is based in Anjō, Japan, and operates factories in Brazil, China, Japan, Mexico, Romania, the United Kingdom, Germany, Dubai, Thailand and the United States. Annual sales were equivalent to $2.9 billion in 2012." so the quality of the tool depends on the Country the tool was manufactured in!!..

 

[5030]

I was getting the paint off a brick wall. It was an all day affair. I started with a HF grinder. After about 2 1/2 hours my hands were vibrating so bad after turning the HF grinder off I threw it in the trash. I bought a Makita 4 inch down the street at my local ACE. It was so much better I finished the wall.

Last year at a welding class most of the young kids were using Dewalt grinders at class.

young kids today have about as much sense as a dead dog does. Besides, they don't care what they use because mommy and daddy bought it so might as well buy expensive yellow made in China that a less expensive tool No pay for equals a don't care attitude.

I'd say it was more about an out of balance attachment than the tool itself but I am amazed the HF 4.5 last 2.5 hours, the cheap ones, I can find the smoke in pretty quick.

I just bought the Chief air operated 4.5 angle grinder (IR clone) for 89 bucks. The IR one is 230 bucks at MSC every day. Looks identical except for the name on it. Same feel, same air consumption, same power, same throttle. Nice tool but then I prefer air of corded or cordless anything. Gonna get the Chief 1/2" air drill next.

 

[5030]

that was the fault of the HF wheels, not the grinder.. also, a pressure washer was the thing to use for getting paint off brick walls.. nearly every tool you can think of is made in China, or a similar Asian Country, and re-branded according to the wish of the reseller.. Makita: "Makita Corporation (TYO: 6586) is a Japanese manufacturer of power tools. Founded on March 21, 1915, it is based in Anjō, Japan, and operates factories in Brazil, China, Japan, Mexico, Romania, the United Kingdom, Germany, Dubai, Thailand and the United States. Annual sales were equivalent to $2.9 billion in 2012." so the quality of the tool depends on the Country the tool was manufactured in!!..

... and there is no practical way of telling exactly where it was made unless you take it apart. I just assume (maybe wrongly) that it was made in China. That way, my expectations are never too high. I don't believe any retail outlet would be happy about you taking a new tool apart to look inside to discover where it was made it....

 

[5030]

I have used several brands, in serious settings. Milwaukee, Metabo, Hitatchi, HF orange, HF red, Makita, DeWalt, Lowe's, Skil etc. I've picked up a bosch to use, but never put much time on it. But Bosch is the owner of skil.

My thoughts:
1) Milwaukee. Good Product. Not without faults. Get highest amperage you can find. But idiots exist and as my father said "Some people can tear up a steel ball in a sand bed."
2) Metabo. Good product, but not what people say it is. Get the clutched model. But once you get in a regular habit of slipping them, they slip easier and easier.
3) Hitatchi. Good product for the price. Buy 4 and keep a different wheel on each one, and put the 4th one up.
4) HF orange. Save the brushes they send with one. But never had any issues with them except the fact they are low amp rated. Use accordingly and let the grinder do its job and they last. If not, watch the smoke. I miss those because they were good for certain tasks...but they've replaced most of them now with the red product I think.
5) HF Red product. Nope.
6)Makita. Works well while they last. Never had great luck, but some people swear by them. I burned up mine quickly when used under comparable conditions to similar amped models.
5) DeWalt. My favorite. If anything, you can see it with the bright yellow. But I don't buy less than the 10 amp. They have a 13 amp model...which I like. But I was on a job installing burglar bars on a restaurant. Had a new HF and just happened to be fairly new DeWalt on the tailgate of my truck connected to my engine drive. Walked into the restaurant to check out some installation issues. Came back out 15 minutes later and the orange HF walked off, and the Dewalt was still there. Go figure. Also they have newer designs with a special vent that keeps the sparks from getting into the motor works on some of them. Easy to use and adjust spark guard.
6) Lowe's. I think my brand at the time was GMC? Good product, variable speed, but it had its limits. Never burned up or smoked it, but did wear out the brushes. Need to fix it. It was great as a cup brusher.
7) Skil. Run and hide. It's not the grinding disk throwing out smoke.
8) B and D Orange Crap storm orange things. Lasts longer than skil...but don't hold your breath for more than home owner expectations, unless it starts smoking.
9) Bosch. OK...but I can't get away from the thoughts of a skil being from the same company blood.

But above all considerations, look for this:
1) Amp rating. It's the great equalizer and only way to truly compare. That will tell you expected duty and life span of the unit. 7 amps is not great, but tolerable for light stuff. 10 amps minimum for pro use. 13 amps are better, especially for a 4.5"
2) Extra Brushes. They all wear out.
3) multiple possible handle attachment points. 3 is good. 2 ok. 1...pass on it.
5) Easy to disassemble screws and brush openings. If its sealed up looking pass on it. No screws? Run.
6) Easy to access and operate Disk lock pin.
7) Easy to remove disk. I like the Dewalt hand remove, toolless design. Not all of them have it though.

Well, we all know where your stuff comes from and how it gets here (container). No mystery there. Is the insulation between windings rice paper as well? Hope you are sanatizing everything. I hear the Wuhan Flue can be spread from touching contaminated surfaces....lol

 

[coxhaus]

that was the fault of the HF wheels, not the grinder.. also, a pressure washer was the thing to use for getting paint off brick walls.. nearly every tool you can think of is made in China, or a similar Asian Country, and re-branded according to the wish of the reseller.. Makita: "Makita Corporation (TYO: 6586) is a Japanese manufacturer of power tools. Founded on March 21, 1915, it is based in Anjō, Japan, and operates factories in Brazil, China, Japan, Mexico, Romania, the United Kingdom, Germany, Dubai, Thailand and the United States. Annual sales were equivalent to $2.9 billion in 2012." so the quality of the tool depends on the Country the tool was manufactured in!!..

No, a pressure washer would not have worked for my wall. The paint was on too hard. The color was wrong and my wife wanted it natural brick. I have I think, 13 hp pressure washer with a CAT compressor. It is a big Porter Cable pressure washer.

I don't know where the Makita was made but it sure is a lot better grinder for $25 more.

 

[Ford850]

It's less about where it's made, and more about the quality/design specs from the mfr. I prefer Dewalt and Bosch upper end tools because they last for me. But I know they both make low end junk too, so I don't like to say which brand is best.

 

[Big Barn]

It's less about where it's made, and more about the quality/design specs from the mfr. I prefer Dewalt and Bosch upper end tools because they last for me. But I know they both make low end junk too, so I don't like to say which brand is best.

^^^Agreed^^^

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Well, we all know where your stuff comes from and how it gets here (container). No mystery there. Is the insulation between windings rice paper as well? Hope you are sanatizing everything. I hear the Wuhan Flue can be spread from touching contaminated surfaces....lol

I confess I am not sure about the intent of your post...so I'll comment as best as I can.
Miller and Lincoln get stuff in by container as well...no mystery there either, except to those with their heads buried in the sand or elsewhere. They don't air freight their product into the US.

Our transformer cores, many of them any way, are from the US. And no we use no rice paper. ETL wouldn't allow it.

As far as the flu, our factory isn't in the area greatest affected, and no new cases have been reported. Our factory is at work, although a a reduced compliment But on hard surfaces, the flu doesn't survive that long, and shipping takes 2 weeks+ to get here on average...sometimes a bit longer, depending upon port of calls.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I was getting the paint off a brick wall. It was an all day affair. I started with a HF grinder. After about 2 1/2 hours my hands were vibrating so bad after turning the HF grinder off I threw it in the trash. I bought a Makita 4 inch down the street at my local ACE. It was so much better I finished the wall.

Last year at a welding class most of the young kids were using Dewalt grinders at class.

I have Dewalt and several HF grinders. The Dewalt MAY have a bit more power but if you buy the larger amp rating paddle switch on, they are about equal except for the very stiff cords on the HF grinders. That really doesn't have anything to do with the longevity of them. I have been using my HF for over 10 years, even have one of the slide switch $10 ones and so far none have let out any smoke. I know enough about grinding that I dont bog them down. They cut faster if you keep the RPM up with medium pressure on them. Other than the sliding switch on the $10 one which I dont car for, it works just as well as any of them
Vibration is the attachment, not the grinder. Get a quality grinder disc and you will notice much less vibration. I have dropped all of them off my fab table at one time or another and other than breaking the grinding disc on them, not one has been damaged. Unless I am grinding the root pass on a buttweld, I prefer the sanding disc to a grinding wheel. They cut just as well or better, always have a fresh sharp grinding edge and the sparking isn't as much.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

That's fine, but Jim Colt is no longer around for Hypertherm and I am. He admitted publicly he "trolled" through forums, looking for opportunity to inject free advertisement and talk down other players in the market, and Hypertherm has never sponsored any forums or anything that I can think of. Once he retired (according to what I was told), he no longer cares about forums like this. (when was the last time you saw him...he said he had a tractor). I've actually managed several multi-million dollar farms for a living, and grew up in the farm equipment business, and worked as a territory manager for the Tennessee Farmer's COOP outside of the state. I do care about more than just here, and when I see things I can help with outside of this forum, I have, and do.

He never shared or helped people outside of a narrow scope of things, and for a tractor forum, I never heard or saw much participation outside of here. And I have. And yes, I had reason because he attacked us many times on many different forums. We've carried on privately behind the scenes and I know what was said, so it wasn't without provocation.

As far as a defensive posture, I'm here because I want to be. I defend Everlast to be sure. But I'm guessing there have been hundreds, if not thousands of customers that have bought products here on this forum, as a result of our presence. I've tried to do a good job representing the brand and those customer's interests which put their trust in me.

Anytime someone like the above mentioned comes in and slants things against us that are not true, or out of date, or extremely biased from one point of view ( which Jim frequently did...and IS provocation) I do want to defend the brand.

If I leave stuff along, from people who state things out of ignorance and people who state things with malicious intent, it doesn't take long for people to assume that it is correct and that there is an issue, where things could not be further from the truth. I get calls all the time where people are all jacked up about something they read here or there, and was later repeated to be true somewhere else and they read it in both places thinking it is a problem or that something was true (whether capability, specification or whatever) that was not. Then they believe it is an official Everlast position or problem. And they begin to repeat it, or call me expecting me to explain.

So, yes, I do have to defend things, especially when they are wrong or misleading. Sorry if that rubs you the wrong way. When you have an innovative and different business model, where you market differently, and a competing brand comes in a tries to "drive by" you and make outright or veiled statements and then leave without any accountability or explanation until they decide to do it again, without any real skin in the game, I think that is wrong and that is why I have defended the product so strongly.

I can't count the endless number of times customers both prospective and current that actually voice that they agree with what I do and say in not only promotion, but defense of the brand.

As far as what the Chinese government told us, I am not going by that. I am going by information that I have read and researched independently and recently from the US. Maximum life is 9 days on the outside of things. Usually within 48 hours or less it is dead.

As far as that goes, we've sent over additional supplies to be used in decontamination and factory worker self protection against spreading the illness since self protection stuff is in heavy demand over there...and expect more will be sent as needed.

But back to grinders...