Angle Grinder(s) - Lost Their Smoke

[Mattmotors]

A little off topic, but I have a nice DeWalt jig saw. Minimal use over the years. The wheel that the blade rides in has broken. Guess which part is the only part that is no longer available. It use to be that you paid good money for a quality tool that would stand up to use. Now I feel they are all junk. Just get the one you like. I have been migrating to Bauer at HF.

 

[Denali94]

Once you let the magic smoke out they are pretty much done.

Now if they were made in England you could try that Lucas OEM Smoke in a Bottle that we use in British sports cars when the wiring system starts to leak its smoke. Still available at most BMC dealers.

 

[5030]

Why I go with air operated. No smoke at all. Just air tool oil regularly.

 

[olenjohn]

I have two angle grinders (DEWALT and Bosch) that have been used on concrete a fair amount and on their last use both started smoking and quit working.

Is there any chance a brush replacement would restore them to working condition?

A big ”NO”. Not worth the effort. Go buy new ones. Concrete dust is the death to electric tools. Best chance of survival is to blow them out with compressed air after each use.

 

[TxSteveS]

Wen makes a quality angle grinder for $25 pretty good review here

Wow. I have 2 older Dewalt grinders, but I've thought of getting a couple of cheap ones to hold different disks on so I don't have to swap them out.

That Wen looks like a great option. $23 right now.

 

[qualsite]

Yep... those jobs that look like tool killers are just the ones for a cheap Harbor Freight tool. You buy it knowing it's a throw-away tool to get a job done, and many have held up better under those conditions than I would have expected. If it survives, you have a spare tool for the next dirty job that comes up, or when your good tool finally bites the dust. Also, when a neighbor wants to borrow a tool, you always loan the Harbor Freight tool, for all the same reasons.

 

[Missouri Pioneer]

Next time, buy Ridgid brand from Home Depot, jump through the registration hoops and you are set: Unlimited lifetime warranty on both tool and batteries.

 

[Sonny580]

It could be rewound at a motor repair shop most likely BUT the cost would be more than a new grinder. I have a nice old 9 inch jobber and thats what I ran into so its under the bench in the junk

 

[paul dees]

It could be rewound at a motor repair shop most likely BUT the cost would be more than a new grinder. I have a nice old 9 inch jobber and thats what I ran into so its under the bench in the junk

I have a buddy who owns/runs a motor repair shop. He tells me that Chinese "smoke" smells different than other "smoke". He knows how to rewind most any thing, won't if it's not worth it.

 

[big bubba]

no doubt the abrasive dust did both grinders in.

on the operator's side, i see a lot of residential, commercial, & public works concrete being cut in construction all the time. generally, 90% of the construction workers don't wear masks, safety glasses, or ear protectors.
hell, replace the Bosh, it's toast.... but when you start coughing or lose your sight & hearing?...don't know what to say on that

 

[tacticalturnip]

The Bosch one was from the 1980s that My Dad had.

I am pretty sure the concrete did both in.

That's unfortunate, to lose such an old and well used tool.

 

[ultrarunner]

Have Milwaukee from the 80’s and so far so good.

Neighbor burned up 3 HF over a weekend and HF insisted on refunding so he would not come back.

 

[dieselscout80]

no doubt the abrasive dust did both grinders in.

on the operator's side, i see a lot of residential, commercial, & public works concrete being cut in construction all the time. generally, 90% of the construction workers don't wear masks, safety glasses, or ear protectors.
hell, replace the Bosh, it's toast.... but when you start coughing or lose your sight & hearing?...don't know what to say on that

Pro gear is required.

 

[gsganzer]

I wish the angle grinder makers would make a place to store the arbor nut on the tool, when not in use. Those little buggers either grow legs or my aging mind can't remember where I put them.

 

[coast40]

Now if they were made in England you could try that Lucas OEM Smoke in a Bottle that we use in British sports cars when the wiring system starts to leak its smoke. Still available at most BMC dealers.

Lucas, the Prince of Darkness.

 

[chim]

no doubt the abrasive dust did both grinders in.

on the operator's side, i see a lot of residential, commercial, & public works concrete being cut in construction all the time. generally, 90% of the construction workers don't wear masks, safety glasses, or ear protectors.
hell, replace the Bosh, it's toast.... but when you start coughing or lose your sight & hearing?...don't know what to say on that

OSHA's Silica regs came out a few years before I retired. Our company made big investments in training and equipment. We always had PPE, but the amount of equipment and attachments required to be compliant with the silica regs was quite large. There's a means to mitigate dust regardless of the operation. We had gangboxes of vacs and attachments for our projects and even bought 20V SDS drills that accept HEPA filtration.

Most people went along with the effort. We also had some hardheaded fellows who didn't think their lungs were worth a few simple precautions.

 

[mike0000]

I wish the angle grinder makers would make a place to store the arbor nut on the tool, when not in use. Those little buggers either grow legs or my aging mind can't remember where I put them.

I agree, I now have a dedicated grinder shelf for everything grinding related. How about zip tied to the cord for the arbor nut? Yes you cut the zip tie when you need it but if you’re like me have a large zip tie collection.

 

[big bubba]

OSHA's Silica regs came out a few years before I retired. Our company made big investments in training and equipment. We always had PPE, but the amount of equipment and attachments required to be compliant with the silica regs was quite large. There's a means to mitigate dust regardless of the operation. We had gangboxes of vacs and attachments for our projects and even bought 20V SDS drills that accept HEPA filtration.

Most people went along with the effort. We also had some hardheaded fellows who didn't think their lungs were worth a few simple precautions.

you're prob correct. there is federal safety protocol. then it varies by state. bottom line, it's the contractor's responsibility to follow though enforcing. NW AR is rapidly growing. most all of the workers are Hispanic (excellent workers) but most workers i see cutting concrete, carpentry, etc wear no safety glasses or hearing protection, or masks. Most are young....don't see many older ones on the job.

 

[1Mech]

Back when I was young and dumb, I was grinding a high spot of concrete with no ppe. I learned the hard way it is important to wear goggles, mask too. Had to go to the doctor to get a chunk of concrete removed from my eye. I thought it would wash out on it's own, so I waited a day or two before seeking professional help. Sure was irritating! Not so young anymore, hopefully not as dumb either!