4&1/2" angle grinder reccomendations?

[mwb]

I recommend upgrading to a 5" Makita:thumbsup:. They have more power than the 4.5" so hopefully you won't tend to burn them out. Also, with the extra wheel diameter you will find the added capacity (cut-off wheels) a real bonus. I have had mine for 20 years and it still runs perfect.

7" and bigger grinders are too heavy for most jobs but the 5" is a nice compromise between a "one hand" grinder and monster like the 7".

 

[Gary Fowler]

It seems everyone is saying the same thing. Milwaukee, Makita, Dewalt oldies are good and last almost forever, but upon replacement with the new one (all made in China I believe) they dont last so good anymore. Skil used to be very good also, but now I think they are made in China also. Metabo without doubt is good, but $200 for a 4" grinder is not for me to pay. The only thing electrical I have ever bought at HF was a drill that burned up drilling a 1/4" hole in some 1/4" plate and I had to finish it up with my cordless so no more HF electrical for me. If you can find one with power at less than $40, that would be the one I would get. I dont think any of them now will last more than a couple years of light use.

 

[yomax4]

Not possitive but I believe Makita is still Japan. Still, Kind of higher end price wise. On the cheapo units, It's usually the brush springs that burn off or the triggers burn up right away. At least with some of the prior listed brands you can buy new brushes and switches for them. I guess the best policy is to not lean on them too hard while they are grinding or they will probably fail sooner than later. I have an ols 6145 Milwaukee from the 90's that gets used 3x more than my newer Milwaukee and the newer one has already failed and been repaired. Go figure.

 

[flusher]

Makita--get one and enjoy.

 

[sweettractors]

Hitachi has been doing a good job for us. The ones from HF last about 30 days around here. Ken Sweet

 

[mwb]

If you are looking for a Hitachi grinder Princess Auto (Canada) has them on sale for $45. 4.5", 5 amp

 

[DanD78]

Metabo makes a 6" grinder that is about the same size as a 4 1/2. The motor has a speed control that will keep the RPMs up and a soft start so it won't jerk out of your hand when starting. It also has a wrench less wheel nut. I think it was worth the extra money. I also have 3 black & deckers that are still going strong and a Makita that just won't die. My Makita has the metric spindle so it stays with the type 27 discs.

I keep 4 grinders around with different tools on each so I am not always changing wire wheels or discs.

Dan

 

[rjmack]

i think the best 4 1/2 inch grinder is a 5" grinder.:thumbsup:

5" is the standard size, 4 1/2 is the oddball.

makita 9005b is the industry standard, but dewalt makes one that has a nice easy adjust guard on it and a nice disc locking nut... unfortunately the dewalt trigger is so touchy that imho the grinder should be taken off the market untill the trigger is redesigned.:ashamed:

 

[Ford tractor]

My 15 year old B&D "professional" 4" grinder was acting up, so I bought a Milwaukee 4 1/2". It's a steaming POS. It heats up FAST to a temp you can't hold it. Funny thing, the old B&D will run a LARGER wire brush for 5x as long and not heat up. New Milwaukee = junk.

(I still use the old B&D for most jobs. The blade hold button fell out, the bearings are starting to growl, but it runs and doesn't require me to blow compressed air into it while running to keep it from burning my hand. And this is AFTER taking the POS Milwaukee in for service twice. )

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

i think the best 4 1/2 inch grinder is a 5" grinder.:thumbsup:

5" is the standard size, 4 1/2 is the oddball.

makita 9005b is the industry standard, but dewalt makes one that has a nice easy adjust guard on it and a nice disc locking nut... unfortunately the dewalt trigger is so touchy that imho the grinder should be taken off the market untill the trigger is redesigned.:ashamed:

That must be why you might find two 5 inch grinders on a shelf under a 2 inch pile of dust within a 100 miles of here and even have to look just as hard for a 5 inch disk.:confused2:

All shops around here use 4.5s,7's, or 9's, with an occasional 4 thrown in.

It might be a regional thing...but I can count on 1 hand the times I have seen a 5 inch grinder in use.