Which 4.5 inch angle grinder to buy

[deereman75]

Well my backup angle grinder, a cheep old clarke strongarm, finally needs replacement. I was using it with a wire wheel, to try and clean rust and paint off the bender I am building, and the side handle snapped in half. This thing vibrates alot, and is way too loud (compared to my makita), so I am not going to bother replacing the side handle, and will just get a new one. I have a short body makita 5 inch, which I love, but I want to know what would be better. I am thinking either another makita, a milwaukee, a dewalt, or a bosch, which would be better, and which should I stay away from.

 

[oliver1555]

That's like asking what tractor or pickup to buy. Personally, I like Dewalt. I've gotten good service from all of my Dewalt tools and that's all I buy. Others may like something else, but that's my preference.

 

[deereman75]

That's like asking what tractor or pickup to buy. Personally, I like Dewalt. I've gotten good service from all of my Dewalt tools and that's all I buy. Others may like something else, but that's my preference.

Ya I agree it is a question that more asks opionions, I just dont know how good differnt ones are, I have only used a chineese clarke, a makita, and a b&d industrial 7 inch. I am a bit of a milwaukee fan, so I am thinking I might get one of those. (if it works as well as my half inch magnum, I will be happy)

 

[Shield Arc]

When I go to buy a grinder, brand doesn't mean a whole lot to me. I look at speed, amps, and weight, then price.

 

[deereman75]

Shield Arc that is the best advise about buying a grinder I have ever heard. I see you have some dewalts, how long are they lasting you?

 

[Shield Arc]

The large 7 / 9-inch DeWalt I've had for a year or two. Supposedly it's the replacement for the Black & Decker Wild Cat next to it, I've had it for 26 years, and only replaced the brushes, and switch. So far the DeWalt has been real good. The 4-inch DeWalt I've had for 3 or 4 years no complaints at all. I'll never buy another DeWalt die grinder. The one you see in the picture I've had for 11-years no problems, bought another one, it didn't last at all, took it into the repair center, they couldn't figure out what was wrong with it, so in the round file it went. I bought the Makita to replace the DeWalt, so far it's been real good.

 

[Mace Canute]

I had a friend who owned several angle grinders and his favourite place to purchase them was...Princess Auto. They can't be beat for price and warranty. He bought the cheap ones when they were on sale and they either failed quite quickly and got replaced or they lasted a good long time. He never had to swap out blades/discs etc, just grab a different grinder when he needed a different "tool" on it.

 

[deereman75]

I had a friend who owned several angle grinders and his favourite place to purchase them was...Princess Auto. They can't be beat for price and warranty. He bought the cheap ones when they were on sale and they either failed quite quickly and got replaced or they lasted a good long time. He never had to swap out blades/discs etc, just grab a different grinder when he needed a different "tool" on it.

I first tried multiple grinders with differnt wheels yesterday, with a grinding wheel on the elcheepo that broke today, and a cutoff wheen on the makita, it was so much faster, because I needed both discs constantly. Until I get a replacement grinder, I will just use my 7 inch with a cut off wheel, and the makita with a grinding wheel.

 

[chopped]

My first one was a craftsman one and it worked well. but it cost a fair amount of money. It finally died and was replaced with the HF el-cheapo ones These come with spare brushes,which I thought either was a good touch or was there becasue it would burn up brushes quickly.They arent very powerful but take a heck of abuse.And Im not gentle to set it down.lol
As previously said its how much and how you use it..

 

[two_bit_score]

Milwaukee makes some good ones.

 

[PapaPerk]

Many pros use Metabos. Also I like Makita.

 

[deereman75]

Many pros use Metabos. Also I like Makita.

I want a metabo, they just cost too much. I am thinking I will just glue up the handle on the elcheepo, and use it with a wire wheel until it dies (I am kind of wondering how long the motor will last). The 7 inch can use a cut off, and the 5 inch can use a grinding wheel. When the motor dies in the elcheepo, I will replace it with a milwaukee or makita.

 

[Bigfoot62]

Well my backup angle grinder, a cheep old clarke strongarm, finally needs replacement. . . I am thinking either another makita, a milwaukee, a dewalt, or a bosch, which would be better, and which should I stay away from.

I have several, both 4.5" and 7": B&D Industrial, Craftsman, Makita, and two Milwaukees. All of them have served me well. The Craftsman is the oldest, probably close to 30 years old. (I believe it is a B&D, but not positive about that)

The Craftsman and Makita were bought new. The others were bought from a used tool salvage and surplus store where my cousin works. (I just can't pass up a bargain) :thumbsup:

 

[deereman75]

The others were bought from a used tool salvage and surplus store where my cousin works. (I just can't pass up a bargain) :thumbsup:

I got my B&D industrial 7 inch for $45 at a pawn shop, and I dont thnik I will ever kill it.

 

[crash325]

Picked up an El Cheep O today at HF. Best 4.5" they have. The one with the paddle switch. $29.95. Only a 6 amp machine, I wanted 6.5 or 7+. In the next 2 or 3 weeks it will get a years worth of work. If it does not hold up, back it will go.

Stay tuned for the results.:laughing:

 

[crazyal]

The last grinder I bought, a Dewalt, was about the most powerful (amps) they sold. It's a 13 amp 4 1/2" but it's a 7" or maybe even a 9" frame. It's a little bulky so if you want to get into tight places then you'll struggle but if you're going to be grinding lots of weld and don't want to wait every 15 minutes for the grinder to cool down then this will not let you down.

 

[crash325]

DO NOT BUY THE HARBOR FREIGHT PADDLE SWITCH. TOO MANY SHORT COMINGS.
No cam or lock of any kind on the back washer. Step on back washer too tall for it to tighten onto HF cut off disks. Have to add a worn out disk in order to tighten up a new one.

Power is just OK at best. Being as its sold as Heavy Duty, way to weak. It did pick up a little power after about an hour of use.

Only have about 2 hours on it, will give it some more tomorrow. But a very good chance it is going back, and be replaced with something better.

 

[me0418840987]

I was a rent a slave to a General contractor for 3 years on a tuckpointing and resealing project ( 1 building, lots of scaffolding and lots of time and material labor). Burnt up 3 milwaukees, 2 porter cables, and 2 dewalt 4.5 grinders. I bought 2 new Makitas at the start of the last year of the project, and they are both still around. I have used them to build 3 trailers, (1 tilt 20' bed car trailer, one 13' flat deck, and one frame to mount a box truck box on) a massive logsplitter, and several other repairs as needed. The one Makita shuts down if you push it too hard, so you don't burn up the motor.

 

[bindian]

I want a metabo, they just cost too much. I am thinking I will just glue up the handle on the elcheepo, and use it with a wire wheel until it dies (I am kind of wondering how long the motor will last). The 7 inch can use a cut off, and the 5 inch can use a grinding wheel. When the motor dies in the elcheepo, I will replace it with a milwaukee or makita.

That's the spirit, fix up the old one.:thumbsup: I have thought about replacing tools numerous times, until I priced a new one. I have been teased beyond telling about fixin' old tools instead of replacing.:laughing: I take a lot of them to work and get harassed by all my mechanic coworkers.
hugs, Brandi

 

[tungularafishcamp]

My old power tools are my good ones! The ones I have bought in the last 10 years or so have seemed pretty unimpressive except for some of the newer millwakie cordless stuff. While I was in Oregon last winter I found a lot of good used stuff for cheap on Craigslist for setting things up there, name brand stuff in great shape for about the same price and less than harbor freight.

Rick

Oh yea this is about grinders, got a 20 something yr old millwakie, couple sets of brushes, new cord, and new switch and still going strong, have killed a sears, dewalt, and almost done in a makita during that same time.