4&1/2" angle grinder reccomendations?

[RobertBrown]

I have a B&D professional model that I've used for 25 years. I replaced the grease (super blue) in the gear box about 15 years ago and it runs as good as ever. It's a 7 amp. and I should mention that I replaced the cord years back as well.
I recently bought a Hitachi so i wouldn't have to change discs to brushes to cutting wheels so often. It was 29$ new, only 5-6 amps but I figured for 30 bucks it's worth it. The Hitachi doesn't have the power that the B$D has but I'd expect that.

 

[spruce Deere]

I caught the wife wrapping Christmas packages today, and she did not want to wrap the biggest one, so she gave it to me, It was a Ryobi 4 1/2 angle grinder with the 90 degree adjustable grip and the 3 location handle positions. It also has a no tools guard adjustment and onboard storage of the wrench in the handle. Kinda of a Jimcrack sort of thing, but I used it today and kinda like it.
James K0UA

I got one of those for X-mas too!! Feels good, like the rotatable trigger handle has more features and came with more accessories than other more $$ models. I especially like the rotatable trigger coupled with the tool-less movable guard

 

[Tenn_Blue]

I have an old craftsman 4 1/2 inch one that I got used from an estate sale - still going strong after at least 2 years with me.

More commonly though, I just buy the cheap harbor freight ones when they have them on sale. As someone said, anything new nowadays seems to be a throw away once it does break. I get a good year or so out of the harbor freight ones, then chunk them when they break. I am kind of hard on grinders, so when they get crushed (don't ask how that happened...), or damaged, it isn't a big deal.

Also, for heavier metal, I started using a 7 inch model - the cutting disks last longer than the smaller cutters, and it removes metal faster if you have the room to use it.

YMMV...

 

[yushanhou]

I'm surprised to hear that some of you are getting decades out of your grinders. I've tried a few different brands including Milwaukee. I've come to the sad realization that angle grinders are a consumable. Now I just buy the cheapest thing I can find and run it until it quits. Then I trash it and get another. I buy a new one every couple of years; and I always keep a few around so I can have one with a skinny wheel, one with a grinding disk, and one with a flap disk or wire wheel.

your answer may be the best i have seen:laughing:

 

[mojoinco]

Tyler tool has a 30% off sale through the 3rd (look at the opening page for details). Doesn't help in the OP's request for info, but a deal is a deal:

Tyler Tool - Discount Power Tools, Makita, DeWalt, Porter Cable, Milwaukee, Bosch, Hitachi, Delta, Dremel, Craftsman, Dremel, Rotozip, Festool, Fein

PS.
I prefer to start my search with the spindle being a a 5/8" x 11 tpi. I have one grinder that always seems to be in my hand when I want to mount a brush (cup or flat). Then I curse, put the grinder wheel back on and go grab my other grinder. I usually buy a grinder when I find a deal (that way I have an extra -- usually -- when one dies). I also don't buy the 4" grinders. Wheels don't last long enough (and they are especially prone to the odd spindle thread/diameter). I would check out the 5" units, but don't usually see good enough deals (and hate having another odd ball tool requirement -- 5" wheels).

 

[Iplayfarmer]

... (and hate having another odd ball tool requirement -- 5" wheels).

Can one not put 4 1/2" wheels on a 5" grinder. I thought that was the original idea of a 5" grinder... It's built to take a bigger wheel so by keeping a smaller wheel on it the grinder lasts longer.

 

[QRTRHRS]

I have a couple of Milwaukee's that have held up pretty well. I replaced the cords on them not long ago but that's about it. I stripped off a 12' steel truck bed with them last summer using two different style of wire brushes. Both of them were cooking but they kept right on running. I don't figure they owe me anything but I expect to be looking for replacements sooner or later.

I have one Harbour Freight grinder that vibrates excessively. Cheap or not, that limits what you can do with it. I bought it to leave in the barn for touching up the brush hog blades but I can do a much better job with the Milwaukee's. Worse thing is I was not paying attention when I bought it and it's only a 4".

 

[toy]

I have a couple of Milwaukee's that have held up pretty well. I replaced the cords on them not long ago but that's about it. I stripped off a 12' steel truck bed with them last summer using two different style of wire brushes. Both of them were cooking but they kept right on running. I don't figure they owe me anything but I expect to be looking for replacements sooner or later.

I have one Harbour Freight grinder that vibrates excessively. Cheap or not, that limits what you can do with it. I bought it to leave in the barn for touching up the brush hog blades but I can do a much better job with the Milwaukee's. Worse thing is I was not paying attention when I bought it and it's only a 4".

I also have a Milwaukee and a Dewalt and a Makita that have held up good, I also bought 2 of the cheap ones but I don't remember their name brand. One of the 2 cheap ones died in less than an hour[ something burned up in it]. I got the second cheap one out to try to use it and I noticed a vibration in it, so I decided to check it out before going any farther with it. When I was checking it out I got a hold of the wheel and there was slack in the wheel. I took the wheel off to make sure I had gotten it on right [one of those things you know you did but you want to be absolutely sure] and it was on as it was supposed to be then I wiggled on the shaft of the grinder and I saw that there was a lot of play in the bearings so I threw it away as I felt that it was dangerous. I wanted to mention this because you mentioned the vibration and thought you might want to check it out also. I doubt that both of the cheap ones put together ran a full hour and I wasn't pushing them, but being generous to them no more than 1 and 1/2 hours for both of them together.

 

[Qapla]

We have one that is older and I am not sure of the brand. We also have a Rigid and a HF-on-sale one. They all work just fine.

That said, my brother used to install commercial shelving in warehouses all over the country. His boss bought the name brands at first for all his tools. He later found out that when used extremely heavy day-in-day-out they all give up in a year or two. He had some of the heavy impact drills, the kind you use standing up to drill the floor, and even those only lasted about 6 months.

Personally, I buy the HF tool for many of those types of tools. Then, when it wears out, I replace it. I never buy their extended warranty since it costs almost as much as replacing the tool when it is on sale.

However, for tools like cordless drills and good circular saw and such, I buy something that has proved it will last and that feels comfortable in my hand. We have had good results with the Rigid line.

 

[tractorboy5500]

To look for a good grinder, look at the amp rating, on the Dewalts 4 1/2" grinders there is a 5 amp which i would think is for light duty, then they make a 7 1/2 amp, and then they make a 10 amp which is alot stronger. We run into this alot at work when ordering grinders, the 5 amps dont last long at all, they get used alot also. But for home use it will be alot differnt, and the way they treat tools at work is not that great either. A person that buys his on tools will take much more care of them. But to me its the amp rating that makes a better grinder.