Angle grinder suggestions

[Johnnyboy]

Hey guys,
So I'm in the middle of a restoration of my Manco Rattler LXT, and my $40 ryobi 4.5 inch angle grinder is in desperate need of an upgrade. It CONSTANTLY overheats, even when no pressure is exerted on it. What angle grinders do y'all use/recommend. I'd like to keep my options under $100 and what I'm mainly looking for is something that can work for 15-20 minutes or more without getting too hot.
Thanks!

 

[johnsonr81]

This is the one I use. http://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DWE402...36565919&sr=8-3&keywords=dewalt+angle+grinder

Works great. Doesn't overheat. I like the paddle switch. My last one didn't have that and it kinda made me uneasy since there was no way to quickly turn it off.

 

[Johnnyboy]

This is the one I use. http://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DWE402...36565919&sr=8-3&keywords=dewalt+angle+grinder

Works great. Doesn't overheat. I like the paddle switch. My last one didn't have that and it kinda made me uneasy since there was no way to quickly turn it off.

Thanks for the info. That grinder sure does look ready for business. 11 amps on a 4 1/2!?!

 

[chancer]

I also have a dewalt. Not the model listed above but I have never had a single problem with it. it is now 20yrs old, It sat idle for ten years, but still it has had 10 yrs of use as needed to. Home depot has several including dewalt and Milwalkee for under $100

 

[machinist@large]

My workhorse 4.5" grinder is an older Metabo, made in Germany. If that can't get the job done, I then break out the 9" US made Milwaukee. Both of those will set you back more than your budget.

As a short term fill in, hit Harbor Freight, and go looking for this particular part number 4.5" angle grinder. You need to find a #91223.

Yes, it has less than half the power of my old Metabo, but I won't take the Metabo to work any more. But it has a couple of things going for it.

1] It's on sale for $21.99 till the end of the month. If you have a super coupon, you can get it for even less.

2] If you don't force the issue, and let it take its time making the cut, it does a fairly decent job of it. The spindle nut wrench leaves a lot to be desired, and you're going to want to clean out the grease in the gear case and reload it with something decent (only refill with approx. the same amount though). Other than that, this model seems to be fairly reliable.

I've owned 5 of them over the last 15 year's or so: the first one died when a now former coworker decided to do a durability test on it because I had loaned out to someone I trusted (long story). The next one died under the wheels of a forklift (again, long story).

The last batch I bought two years ago for a temp/ contract welding job ( while I looked for a permanent job). I've worked for the guy off and on for over twenty year's; in his latest start up, he needed to have 15 machine bases welded up in 10 working day's.

They only had one 4.5" grinder: day one said that I couldn't wait for everyone else to get done with it if I was going to get paid. Went and bought three of them (one grinding disk, one sanding pad,one for spare).

At the end of the job, the owner bought the two active one's from me for list price. That's why I only have the one I used in my new job until Milwaukee's went on sale and they stocked up (Haleua!!!!!!!)....?....

 

[Poboy kartman]

I'll tell ya....I have several of the $20 Harbour Freight angle grinders.....I have put them through the wringer....and they have not disappointed....

Go get one....I truly think you will be very happy....(and only out $20 or so)...just make sure it's a Chicago Electric.....

 

[chancer]

That's good info. I always wondered about those harbor freight grinders. Sometimes (last week) they sent me the ad it showed 9.99 for an angle grinder. They must have 2 different ones. Either way 20 bucks is great, knowing they work!

 

[dwcopple]

I use the $9 4" not 4.5" angle grinder from HF. I've beat the pi$$ outta this thing and it still runs as good as ever. Can't go wrong IMHO.

 

[Poboy kartman]

I use the $9 4" not 4.5" angle grinder from HF. I've beat the pi$$ outta this thing and it still runs as good as ever. Can't go wrong IMHO.

And you can get a ten pack of grinding discs for almost nothing for them...and yeah...the 4" ones are the ones I've put through the wringer....I have several so I don't have to change discs...I have everything from a chainsaw blade to a sanding disc I use on them....

EDIT: I said $20.... because it's been so many years since I bought one....For $9....I would buy 4 more in a heartbeat....

 

[machinist@large]

And you can get a ten pack of grinding discs for almost nothing for them...and yeah...the 4" ones are the ones I've put through the wringer....I have several so I don't have to change discs...I have everything from a chainsaw blade to a sanding disc I use on them....

EDIT: I said $20.... because it's been so many years since I bought one....For $9....I would buy 4 more in a heartbeat....

$9.00 equals "Drill Master".

Any thing labeled " Drill Master " is the bottom of Harbor Freights' line.

HF's stuff has some real jem's; unfortunately, pretty much anything labeled "Drill Master" definitely doesn't make the cut.

Caviet Emptor..... Pay attention to what you plan to purchase....

 

[chancer]

So Chicago electric is the better one at HF and is 20 clams. The 9 dollar is the Drill master and is not as good.
But we have members here who have had no problems with either. For 9 bucks how can you go wrong. That's less than a pack of smokes in NY. but for 20 bucks you cant really go wrong either.

 

[Johnnyboy]

Alright guys, thanks so much for all of the input! I mean it when I say all opinions were taken into consideration, but I have to admit, I caved. I was at Home Depot he other day and just happened to take a stroll down the grinder aisle. A Milwaukee 11 amp grinder (and its 5 year warranty) caught my eye. It left the store with me along with a two year replacement plan purchased for just $12! Now I just switch between it and the cheap Ryobi to keep each of them nice and cool.

 

[shakey0818]

The Dewalt is def the way to go.I have bought countless HF ones and they are crap but for the money you cant go wrong.I use both to power sand houses so they keep running hard for hours at a time.The HF ones heat up so bad you cant hold the head to change the disks and their buttons to lock it when changing the disk suck.

 

[gazingm42]

Just purchased a dewalt 4011 today to replace my very used Ryobi 20 year old grinder.

The DEW4011 is a 7amp, 12K RPM with 4.5" disc. Very impressive for 59.00.

 

[maxpower49]

This is the one I use. http://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DWE402...36565919&sr=8-3&keywords=dewalt+angle+grinder

Works great. Doesn't overheat. I like the paddle switch. My last one didn't have that and it kinda made me uneasy since there was no way to quickly turn it off.

I agree with the paddle switch, I had one of the harbor freight ones with the locking tab jump out of my hand when a disk started to shatter and dig into my ring finger pretty good. On that note make sure you get some good thick welding gloves and safety glasses and or a face shield if you don't already have them.

 

[machinist@large]

I agree with the paddle switch, I had one of the harbor freight ones with the locking tab jump out of my hand when a disk started to shatter and dig into my ring finger pretty good. On that note make sure you get some good thick welding gloves and safety glasses and or a face shield if you don't already have them.

Switch type choices really revolves around how you intend to use the thing. My 9" USA made Milwaukee has the underslung paddle switch because it need's it. That being said, both my Metabo and HF 4.5" grinder's have the top side push forward and latch style switches, which I prefer for light, one handed operations such as sanding pads,which I use for deburring.

Safety wise? Yes, the underslung paddle switch is safer. But it can seriously limit what you can use the tool for. And trust me, this fight is still raging in industry today........