4 1/2" Angle Grinders - How Many??

   / 4 1/2" Angle Grinders - How Many?? #61  
When I worked with a pipeline contractor all our welders only used 2 grinders. They were usually a 5" Makita. One would have a grinding wheel the other would be a wire wheel for buffing the weld.

Your pipeline welders' grinders are like my bench grinder. I do have some other wheels, but 99% of the time just keep a grinding stone on one end and a wire wheel on the other because the wire wheel is the thing that gets used the most.

I only had one 4.5" electric grinder and a little pneumatic angle die grinder; never even thought about having a use for several until I read this thread.:D However, I have a son-in-law who does a good bit of woodworking, and I thought it was very odd the first time I noticed that he has at least 4 or 5 routers.:confused: I guess it does save time to avoid changing bits. I've frequently found using 2 or 3 drills on the same job saves time the same way.
 
   / 4 1/2" Angle Grinders - How Many?? #62  
Your pipeline welders' grinders are like my bench grinder. I do have some other wheels, but 99% of the time just keep a grinding stone on one end and a wire wheel on the other because the wire wheel is the thing that gets used the most.

I only had one 4.5" electric grinder and a little pneumatic angle die grinder; never even thought about having a use for several until I read this thread.:D However, I have a son-in-law who does a good bit of woodworking, and I thought it was very odd the first time I noticed that he has at least 4 or 5 routers.:confused: I guess it does save time to avoid changing bits. I've frequently found using 2 or 3 drills on the same job saves time the same way.
Only 4 or 5 routers? He isn't trying hard enough! :laughing: I have a friend with ~15. I have like 6 myself. The big benefit in woodworking of multiple routers is for jigs like dovetail jigs. Being able to leave the bit setup after it has been dialed in saves you a bunch of time and headache. Same thing if you have multiple setups for a project. No adjusting means you save time and improve quality (everything comes out the same).
 
   / 4 1/2" Angle Grinders - How Many?? #63  
I have two ..... and would like several more :laughing:

The second one I bought is an orange 4 1/2" Harbor Freight el cheapo unit .... slide on-off switch and incredibly noisy ... first time I turned it on I thought it had no bearings (mebbe it doesn't ? :confused2:) ..... obvious piece of junk ... but it's still working :D

I really, really hate the slide on-off switch ..... will never buy another grinder with one.

The first one was a Milwaukee 6146 I bought about 8 years ago .... 11 amp, 11,000 rpm, ball bearings, paddle trigger switch, no tool quick-change .... it was made in Mexico IIRC .... but has withstood a lot of abuse and held up very well. It just has the feel of a quality piece .... unlike the HF unit.

If I was flush, I'd buy three more of them:

Milwaukee 4 1/2" Grinder 6146

As it is, for the next one I'll probably give the paddle switch HF one a try for $30 ....

I do need a new grinder. It will be 4.5" as that will do what I need to do.

What I do want is a ball bearing model with a paddle switch. But no one talks or says what kind of bearing they have.

Anyone know what models have Ball Bearings.
Check out the Milwaukee's :thumbsup:
 
   / 4 1/2" Angle Grinders - How Many?? #64  
My neighbour buys the cheap 30 euro grinders from the supermarket, and happens to wear them out between 2 months to 4 days before the warranty ends: He's on his 3rd now, for the same price.

I had a cheap Hitachi, cost me 50 euro or so. The angle gear housing was very light and cracked right at where it screws to the motor.

since then i decided i'll never buy the cheapest anymore: my latest grinder is a 900w Black&Decker which is the ONE BUT cheapest, which i think is most bang for the buck: a little extra power (900W versus 750W on the entry level models) a WAY STURDIER aluminium angle gearbox, and a decent pushbutton, not the awkward slide button that gets you a sore thumb as these get hard to move from the abrasive dust or welding spats.

The Hitachi 2300W 9" grinder i got from my brother, is over 7 years old, has seen lots of abuse and has made LOTS of operating hours: Right now the bearings are shot because it has been sitting in a pig barn, the ammonia vapour created some rust on the bearings which started to wear on them.
My next will also be the one-but-cheapest, because i feel that the first price increase over an entry level model, you pay for the quality increase, and the next you pay for bells&whistles i dont need.


Ohh and before i forget: Personally the idea of four or five different grinders in the shop doesnt appeal to me: with the big one with cutting disk, the small one with deburring disk, the welding torch and the earthign cable, i already get tangled up... Let alone with those cords of the extra 3 grinders... ;)
 
   / 4 1/2" Angle Grinders - How Many?? #65  
Two you might want to look at, the makita 5 inch short body grinder, got mine on sale for $80. And the metabo 4 1/2 inch, cost over $200 but will last forever.:D
 
   / 4 1/2" Angle Grinders - How Many?? #66  
I am at 4.....individual duties are grinding wheel, cut-off wheel, flap wheel and wire brush. 2 of them are craftsman...the other 2 are HF. I don't use any of them on an extended basis so I am getting by with the lower quality.

I repair grinders.....all of them break down....even Metabo's. I have a tub full of grinders I deemed as not worth fixing in the shop....you name the brand and I will guarantee there is at least one of them in that tub.
 
   / 4 1/2" Angle Grinders - How Many?? #67  
I am at 4.....individual duties are grinding wheel, cut-off wheel, flap wheel and wire brush. 2 of them are craftsman...the other 2 are HF. I don't use any of them on an extended basis so I am getting by with the lower quality.

I repair grinders.....all of them break down....even Metabo's. I have a tub full of grinders I deemed as not worth fixing in the shop....you name the brand and I will guarantee there is at least one of them in that tub.

You got a hilti in there?
 
   / 4 1/2" Angle Grinders - How Many?? #68  
You can't repair a Hilti tool......"You" being the key word here. Hilti does not sell repair parts......you have to send the tool back to them for repairs. So the answer is NO, I do not have a Hilti in the tub because I won't take them in.
 
   / 4 1/2" Angle Grinders - How Many?? #69  
Oh ya I forgot about that...
 
   / 4 1/2" Angle Grinders - How Many?? #70  
Tools of the trade magazine tested angler grinders and had this conclusion: "All these tools work well, but some are better balanced, more powerful, and generally better to use. The Bosch tool was our favorite because its great balance, smooth operation, and well-routed exhaust made it handle flawlessly in any material we threw at it. Metabo came in a very close second for the same reasons. From there, the field finished as follows: Milwaukee, DeWalt, Porter-Cable, Makita, Hitachi, Hilti, and Craftsman."

Www.tootsofthetrade.net
 

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