Learn me: angle grinders

Avoid getting one on your hootus.

Take my word for it, trust me.

Knurled wrote: Avoid getting one on your hootus. Take my word for it, trust me.

I have had my Makita for 25 years. I probibly use it at least once a week for something. Still works fine. The key is to let it do the work.

curtis73 wrote: One of the problem with recommending an [insert brand] grinder that has lasted for 25 years is the fact that the [insert brand] company has been bought and sold 6 times since then and now they might be junk. I have three; an older Makita that is bulletproof, an older Porter Cable that is bulletproof, and a newer Dewalt that so far has been bulletproof. As a former warranty repair guy for nearly all of them, I can say this: Porter Cable has been bought and put under the same umbrella as B&D, Dewalt, Ridgid, etc. They still operate as separate engineering/design/production, but many are being consolidated. Fortunately, many of the corded tools are still distinct designs. Since the companies got in bed together about 5 years ago, Dewalt has benefited, Ridgid seems to have not changed much, and Porter Cable has gone a cheaper route. The net result is that (from warranty repair views) they all seem to make fine tools, but none of them are as good as what they were. I think a 20-year old Black and Decker is better than a brand new Makita. At work we have a Bosch that is probably 6 years old. It gets used daily, dropped daily, abused daily. I've lost track of how many times we have had to replace the cord. They are rock solid, thick-cast aluminum gear gase (that has actual steel gears instead of pot metal like many others) So putting it all together, I usually buy Bosch or Ridgid. Bosch is a better tool but usually has a 2-year warranty. Ridgid is a slightly cheaper tool but has a lifetime warranty. Play your cards right and you'll never ever have to buy another grinder; either because you bought a Ridgid and registered the warranty, or because you bought a Bosch and it will likely never fail.

I have a Wen jig saw that is cast aluminum that my grandfather left me. I can't find blades for it so I have to cut down rip saw blades to fit.

I have not been able to bog it. 1/2 plywood, no problem. Like butter. It can do anything a circular saw or a jig saw can do, if you put in the right blade.

"...and thou shalt be consumed with fear, for when comes the Day of Reckoning, Satin himself shall be tasked with removing all skin from the knuckles of the unrepentant, using an angle grinder fitted with a flapdisc..."

-- Makita 3:16

Woody wrote: "...and thou shalt be consumed with fear, for when comes the Day of Reckoning, Satin himself shall be tasked with removing all skin from the knuckles of the unrepentant, using an angle grinder fitted with a flapdisc..." --Makita 3:16

Good point" Thou shalt use protection"

I currently have three Mastercraft/Canadian-Tire grinders. The first one I bought was 8A and on sale for $25. The next two I bought were also on sale for $25 each, but they were only 7A. The current batch of CDN Tire grinders are 6A or less.

They have been fine, and have lasted so far. As far as I know, most "Mastercraft" brand is relabeled Ryobi.

At my school metal shop, all I have are Makita and they take all the abuse the kids can muster, only needing the cords shortened or replaced every few years when they get cut through.

The reason I have three (and want a fourth), is because I hate changing disks all the time.

1. (8A jobbie) Has a wire cup on it

2. Has a grinding disk on it.

3. Has a cutting disk on it.

4. Will get a flap disk on it when I find one I want for cheap.

They all hang on the side of my welding cart, since that's when I'm usually using them.

I had a Princess Auto grinder that literally burst into flames within 45 minutes. Scary. Like Harbor Freight, I don't care much for Princess Auto electrical tools.

I have had a couple of HF angle grinders. One died fairly quickly, the other is still going strong, though my use is occasional.

This past Xmas I got a DeWalt angle grinder. Not sure what model, I think it was sourced from Home Depot. A couple of things that haven't been mentioned, yet, that I found when going from cheap-ass to quality:

The HF grinder has a high-pitched screech on it that sets my teeth on edge, even with ear protection. The DeWalt, though loud like you'd expect an angle grinder to be, performs without screaming at me.

A feature I really like on the DeWalt is that the guard can be easily be turned and set in different locations via a spring activated lock. Dunno if every quality angle grinder has this, but maybe something to look for.

TRoglodyte wrote:

Woody wrote: "...and thou shalt be consumed with fear, for when comes the Day of Reckoning, Satin himself shall be tasked with removing all skin from the knuckles of the unrepentant, using an angle grinder fitted with a flapdisc..." --Makita 3:16

Good point" Thou shalt use protection"

I removed a lot of skin from my knee this spring while using mine to grind down glassfibre on the boat

curtis73 wrote: One of the problem with recommending an [insert brand] grinder that has lasted for 25 years is the fact that the [insert brand] company has been bought and sold 6 times since then and now they might be junk.

This is especially true of HF, they don't change the catalog numbers every few months for fun.

I have a cheap black plastic case 3/8 drill from HF. The keyless chuck turnout is a little high and it once let out a huge cloud of nasty white smoke when I stalled it a little hard driving deck screws. But somehow took no damage from that (I tore it down at that point and started running it unloaded a few seconds between screws) and still runs great, it's almost entirely ball bearing construction in there too, steel gears, well greased.

I couldn't tell ya if the current "same" drill, angle grinder, whatever, will be that durable, just that if you get a dud, when you take it in for warranty, get one with a different number on the box. Often times they have two different numbers on the shelf for the same tool, if they don't, give it a week or two.

The best is going to be Metabo.

http://www.amazon.com/Metabo-W9-115-Grinder-Lock-On-Sliding/dp/B00TQEUVUA

Second best is Bosch (non consumer grade). I suspect they have the same motors as the brushes have had the same part numbers in the past.

IMO. (Some may say Fein are best but I think the spindle isn't the commmon 5/8-11...never tried one though)

I run a weld shop and these are all I use (I have four currently) Other weld shops in my limited experience run these, or Bosch which are very similar, or sometimes Dewalt, which are powerful but get too hot and vibrate too much for me.

It's all about the ergonomics if you have to use it daily for a job.

SkinnyG wrote: I had a Princess Auto grinder that literally burst into flames within 45 minutes. Scary. Like Harbor Freight, I don't care much for Princess Auto electrical tools.

You seriously bought a tool made by a company called princess auto? And then were surprised when it failed to do work?

itsarebuild wrote:

SkinnyG wrote: I had a Princess Auto grinder that literally burst into flames within 45 minutes. Scary. Like Harbor Freight, I don't care much for Princess Auto electrical tools.

You seriously bought a tool made by a company called princess auto? And then were surprised when it failed to do work?

Shhhh! It's a Canadian thing. Not a good idea to talk smack about Princess Auto, Tim Horton's, or nationalized health.

I have 2 Makitas, a Dewalt, and 2 Auto Zone specials.

I like the Makita best with the Dewalt second but I probably use the auto zone ones the most cause I want to see how Long they last lol

I second the suggestion to not compare a 25 yo grinder with what is available today. We build heavy equipment at out shop and put 4-1/2" angle grinders to the test. We used to buy only Milwakee but they have become much less reliable in the last 10 years. My supplier suggested we switch to Metabo. They have been bulletproof in the last year or so but I also pay $160 apiece for them with my discount. I'm sure they would last forever in a home shop. I've also tried some cheaper ones lately to see if it would be cheaper to just buy and throw away when they die, instead of having the expensive ones repaired. The jury is still out, but I have to say the Ryobi that I got from Lowes was $35 bucks, has a 3 year warranty, and has a regular handle with a trigger like my 9" grinders. It would be the one I buy for a home shop.

Woody wrote: "...and thou shalt be consumed with fear, for when comes the Day of Reckoning, Satin himself shall be tasked with removing all skin from the knuckles of the unrepentant, using an angle grinder fitted with a flapdisc..." -- Makita 3:16

I think Satin does dollar dances down by the airport.

Basil Exposition wrote:

itsarebuild wrote:

SkinnyG wrote: I had a Princess Auto grinder that literally burst into flames within 45 minutes. Scary. Like Harbor Freight, I don't care much for Princess Auto electrical tools.

You seriously bought a tool made by a company called princess auto? And then were surprised when it failed to do work?

Shhhh! It's a Canadian thing. Not a good idea to talk smack about Princess Auto, Tim Horton's, or nationalized health.

Yeah...if you don't watch what your saying about Canukistan sacred cows, they will unleash the sleeper cell beavers that are south of the border and they will bite your wood!

In reply to NOHOME:

So what you are saying is, moose are actually APCs (Antlered Personnel Carriers) for beavers?