buying 5" angle grinder advise

[mrmikey]

.....what ever you decide on do not get one of those that stays on if dropped

Agreed, I picked up a new 7" Walter for work and it had a safety interlock as well as a trigger lock. First thing I did was remove the lock, as much as I like safety the interlock was removed next. It was not positioned in a comfortable place and it caused you to have to start the grinder at a wierd angle and then start grinding....Mike

 

[toxicjeeper]

I see you are Canadian. I have had good luck with the heavy 5 inch Canadian tire grinder. I think they go on sale for 60 or 70 bucks..we also use them at work in our granite shop the granite dust is hard on switchs but other wise they hold up pretty good.... I bought a 5 inch dewault ( not sure which modle but it was a bigger 12 amp jobby)when i was younger and got maybe 5 months out of it before the head stripped..250+ dollar grinder..junk

 

[Haywire]

I've got a 4.5" 7 amp Dewalt and have been happy with it. I've been hankering for a 7" grinder and the HF one looks inviting except that it's only 11 amps whereas the name brand ones are 15.

Ian

 

[Shield Arc]

I've been hankering for a 7" grinder

You may not want to spend this much money. But in the 70s, 80s and 90s the Black & Decker Wild Cat 9 inch grinder is about all you'd ever see on a construction site. Well DeWalt bought Black & Decker, and they have their own version of the Wild Cat. I have both, and they are real close in quality. In the 70s I worked in a fab shop that had 15-amp breakers, I could stand on one of these Wild Cat grinders until it through the breaker, but the grinder would not stall.

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-D28494N-9-Inch-Large-Grinder/dp/B00006JSPE]Amazon.com: DEWALT D28494N 9-Inch Large Angle Grinder: Home Improvement[/ame]

 

[Haywire]

You may not want to spend this much money.

Hey, you're right. :laughing: That is a good price though, considering the msrp.

 

[deereman75]

I got a black and decker pro 7 inch at a pawn shop for $45. Looks like a little smaller version of the one shield arc posted. Keep an eye out for used ones, good ones last for a very long time. The old all metal skil ones were also very good.

 

[Brushhill dave]

Haywire, I just found out they are all the same outfit this week from my home hardware dealer, he says there's still a huge difference in quality of the products!

 

[Shield Arc]

Hey, you're right. :laughing: That is a good price though, considering the msrp.

What's nice about them, they're light, fast, and have all kinds of torque.

 

[Brushhill dave]

You may not want to spend this much money. But in the 70s, 80s and 90s the Black & Decker Wild Cat 9 inch grinder is about all you'd ever see on a construction site. Well DeWalt bought Black & Decker, and they have their own version of the Wild Cat. I have both, and they are real close in quality. In the 70s I worked in a fab shop that had 15-amp breakers, I could stand on one of these Wild Cat grinders until it through the breaker, but the grinder would not stall.

Video Link: http://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-D28494N-9-Inch-Large-Grinder/dp/B00006JSPE

How does the button for locking the head last on the dewalt?

 

[Shield Arc]

So far OK, but I've probably only gone through 30 maybe 40 grinding disc so far.

 

[muddstopper]

Parts for the makita 5 inch arenot cheap. I recently broke the trigger switch on mine and the cost of the switch+shipping is $40. My 4 1/2 in Makita burnup and actuall caught on fire shortly after the 5 inch broke so I was out of grinders. I picked up the 7 inch Northern tool brand last wk for $59. I havent used it very much, but it sounds like the bearings are already making a racket. I also picked up Northerns Welbilt 4 1/2in for $25, another piece of worthless junk. Stalls out with the slighted pressure. Works ok with a cutoff wheel, but as soon as I get back to Notherntool, I am taking both back. I have used and like the Metabo brand, but dont own one.

 

[PapaPerk]

Metabo

 

[Brushhill dave]

I guess I have opened a can of worms here, I should have asked an easier question as to which brand to avoid!!! Lol

 

[deereman75]

I guess I have opened a can of worms here, I should have asked an easier question as to which brand to avoid!!! Lol

That would have gave you more answers lol! :laughing::thumbsup:

 

[muddstopper]

I guess I have opened a can of worms here, I should have asked an easier question as to which brand to avoid!!! Lol

Sorry about my rant on the Makita and the Notherntool brands. My Makita's where both several years old and I got lots of use out of them. My only real complaint was the cost of the switch which is a full 30% of the cost of a new grinder. On the other hand, needing a grinder and not haveing much money, I thought I would give the Notherntool brands a try. I can say I am severly disappointed with that purchase. Shaft bearings shouldnt go out in less than a wk on a new grinder, even if it is el cheapo chinese made. And that is with very light duty grinding to boot.

 

[deereman75]

Not all chinese grinders break fast. I have a clarke strongarm grinder that is probably 10-15 years old. I have used it quite a bit, and it still works fine. Just because it still works, doesnt mean I am happy with it. It vibrates so much that your hands go numb after a few mins. It is also much too loud. I just keep a wire wheel on it, and use it for cleaning rust and slag. I use my 5 inch makita for grinding, and my 7 inch b&d for cutting. I would like another 7 inch some time, they are great for sanding.

 

[Brushhill dave]

Dewalt 5" is on sale this week for $110 so that will be the deciding factor

 

[Brushhill dave]

And the winner is Dewalt

 

[Haywire]

I bought this at a pawn shop for $60 today... of course replacing the safety shield and lock nut wrench cost me another $30, so it really cost me $90.

 

[Brushhill dave]

Is that a 6" haywire??