4&1/2" angle grinder reccomendations?

[Jim in ICT]

I use a DeWalt,works fine..... wish I had a Metabo.

 

[yomax4]

Metabo seems to be the HD choice at the Fab Shops in my area. Many are good however. I have an older Milwaukee that I had had so hot that I could barely hold onto it and it never missed abeat. Still works great after 15 yrs. Some choose throw aways and some like units that can be repaired.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

Anyone out there got some experience with angle grinders - as in durability? I run them with the thin cutoff wheels and a sanding disc, my old DW402 dewalt burned the windings up last year so I treated myself to the new model the D28402N, it's lasted me a light use year and the gear case stripped out yesterday.

The old one had a bushing on the inside of the case and the new units have a "Low Profile gear case to reach in tight spaces" as per the sales literature and now I've got a roached bevel gear!

Turns out the new case is thinner cause there's only one bearing! so all the load torques the bevel away from the pinion gear!

So, I want to find a new heavy duty unit WITH A PADDLE SWITCH but don't know what's what. Online they all look to have a wimpy little gear case (Bosch looks a little thicker, the Milwakee doesn't look too good in the pics, Makita's supposed to be nice)

I've got to go to a store and lay my hands on them to get a feel of them and compare construction.

Anyone got any suggestions/experience?

The DeWalt 802 is the five ton version of the 402 if you were to consider the 402 a half ton. I've got a couple of them for fifty to sixty dollars over the years at DeWalt repair stores when the client didn't want to pay for the repair and the became for sale.

I like paddle trigger grinders. That eliminates a lot of brands. Of all the grinders I've used over the years the best ones by brand have been Metabos. They are gawdawful pricey but if you can swallow the nut they're stay with you for a long time. The best reasonable priced ones are the DeWalt 802's.

I've been welding for over forty years now. Most of that has been for a living working for myself.

 

[Kernopelli]

I'll save an opinion on a different 4 1/2". There are some good ones out there, it usually comes down to $$$..you usually get what you pay for. My 9" Bosch is a brute, don't know about their smaller grinders though. I too have been through the DW gear case dilemma and just wanted to mention that parts are available. I have replaced it on mine for about $25.00. I will say that I was really surprised when the DW OEM replacement part was stamped CHINA though. Just didn't want you to throw away a pretty decent grinder that can still be used...just not on heavy stuff....for a $25.00 fix.

 

[gears351]

That's where I'm at now, I figure I'll spend the $25 to make my 1 year old $80 investment work and then buy a heavier duty replacement for the cutting stuff and save the DW for bodywork rather than fabbing steel.

 

[framer]

I use milwaukee 41/2 for 5 yrs now have burned one up only because i put to
large wire disk on.Have burned up my makitas and boshes to quickly i thought .
My next grinder will be hilty they make good cored and cordless tools. Strictly
industrial.Would recommend milwaukee for medium duty.

 

[gauthier]

These new ones are all like coffee makers,disposable.

 

[Scotty370]

Gauther- Is that sad, or what! I agreed with what you say. But where are the old 'quality' USA tools? Guess we just don't make "stuff", anymore.......

~Scotty

 

[evo803]

Had an old Makita that lasted for years doing repointing work on chimmneys. Then got a new Makita and it did not last 2 years doing the same work.These grinders nowadys seem to last about as long as the wheels do pretty soon the wheels will be welded on and just throw them out when your done.

 

[fredhargis]

The sheet metal guys at work would ruin a grinder in 6 months (so they say) until they started buying Metabos, They claim some of them are 3 years old, and still no failures. I don't use them quite that hard, and wound up with a Milwaukee 8.5 amp model.