angle grinder question

[Jim Nelson]

What options are available for a 5 inch that are not available on a 4.5 inch? I've never even heard of a 5 inch, but that might be because I've always had 4.5 inch angle grinders. Right now I have two Makita's. One is a paddle trigger, the other is a sliding switch. Of the two, the paddle is the more dangerous. You set it down wrong and it starts spinning!!!!! If you ever do any work on a ladder, that becomes a very big issue.

I've had DeWalt, Craftsman and a few Chinese named ones that I can't think of. All where junk and lasted from a few weeks to maybe a year. My Makita's are going on ten and 7 to 8 years now and if one fails, I'll buy another. I got more then my money worth out of them.

Eddie

About a year ago I gave up on HF grinders and bought a 4 1/2" Makita because I knew they make good stuff.When I got it home and took it out of the box I found "Made In China". It lasted about 30 min. and spit a segment from the armature.Got a Bosch and it's still going but It's not as comfortable to me as the Makita.

 

[BethelHntr]

A friend bought the hf chopsaw, It was toast in six months. You get what you pay for!

 

[EddieWalker]

About a year ago I gave up on HF grinders and bought a 4 1/2" Makita because I knew they make good stuff.When I got it home and took it out of the box I found "Made In China". It lasted about 30 min. and spit a segment from the armature.Got a Bosch and it's still going but It's not as comfortable to me as the Makita.

That's disappointing. Makita has been my favorite tool brand for awhile now, but if they start going the made in china route, I'll go to my next favorite brand, which is Bosch. Hope that's just a oops on their part to make the Home Depot people happy

Eddie

 

[PILOON]

Makita 9005!
I have 2, one for cut off discs and the other 4 grinding or sanding.
Both are about 10-12 years old and both come from yard sales so they are well experienced. (and I buy discs in dz lots)

I do however thoroughly blow them clean after usage.

Buddy likes cheapies and I gather he trashes maybe 12 a year

 

[rswyan]

Makita 9005!
I have 2, one for cut off discs and the other 4 grinding or sanding.
Both are about 10-12 years old and both come from yard sales so they are well experienced. (and I buy discs in dz lots)

I do however thoroughly blow them clean after usage.

Buddy likes cheapies and I gather he trashes maybe 12 a year

Probably something to that blowing out/cleaning thing ...

I had my Milwaukee angle grinder for quite some time before I picked up the second one (a Harbor Freight cheapie with a slide on/off switch) ... so the Milwaukee saw a lot of use ... some of it pretty hard ...

My Sawzall also saw a good bit of hard use ...

When I say "hard use" I mean things like running for extended durations cutting 1/4" plate ... doing things like this makes them pretty hot ... to the point of the gearbox grease actually seeping out ...

It (along with the angle grinder) eventually developed a definite rapping in the gearbox ...

So about a month ago I called Milwaukee and ordered the correct grease for each tool - one type for the grinder and two other types for the Sawzall ... and tore them down, cleaned them out, and repacked them. Some of the gears in both were largely dry, the grease having been flung to the far recesses of the case. Brushes in both were in great shape.

The difference was like night and day (quiet vs. noisy)

For grinders (or any tool with gears) that see a lot of heavy use this (pulling them apart and having a look) probably should be done on a regular basis ... like once per year. It really isn't that hard ... just takes a little time.

What came out of the Sawzall middle/intermediate gearbox, along with the tub of new, fresh grease:

And the front gearbox:

Front cleaned and repacked:

 

[JRobyn]

I've gotten pretty good service out of a Hitachi 4.5" that I bought at Costco for a reasonable price. Can't remember exactly how much, maybe $30. It has the slide/lock switch. I prefer my Milwaukee with the paddle, but each has its place.

- Jay

 

[Professor Marvel]

I see that Ryobi has an angle grinder that the handle spin 90 deg. It seems to me that that would be a great idea for cutting a lot of times. It is only 6.5 amps though. Has anybody used one of these?

 

[Locoweed]

Another vote for Bosch.

 

[SPIKER]

I have used some of the HF stuff the shop started buying it as they got dropped a lot. The Drill Master stuff was really poor and I would say stay away (and I like their stuff mostly.) The Chicago brand of HF tools are OK but you can't bear down on the elec tools as you can an OLD Miliwalkie or dewalt (the new ones are not much better than HF stuff now.)

Mark

 

[ultrarunner]

That's disappointing. Makita has been my favorite tool brand for awhile now, but if they start going the made in china route, I'll go to my next favorite brand, which is Bosch. Hope that's just a oops on their part to make the Home Depot people happy

Eddie

My first quality power tools were Makita... still have them without issue... 30 years later.

Bought a lot of Milwaukee and recent as in the last 5 years experiences with Milwaukee have soured me on buying any more.

No complaints on Bosch or my the few older Dewalts like my biscuit joiner or my old 77 skill saws...

For that matter the hand me down Craftsman tools from the 60's are good too...

My old Milwaukee angle grinders have had a rough life and no complaints... and I do use Milwaukee grease.

My neighbor had gone through a Harbor Freight angle grinder a day when he was building his wrought iron work for the new house... they basically just melted down.

 

[Bird]

I do however thoroughly blow them clean after usage.

I don't know how anyone does without a good air-compressor. Any and every time I use my mower, string trimmer, drills, saws, grinders, even my electric razor when I shave, I thoroughly blow them clean. We have 4 different kinds of vacuum cleaners, so they only get the compressed air cleaning when they are emptied.

 

[lockhaven]

the truth is about power tools if it is made in China stay away. Zero quality control, that is why some love them others hate them no in between. Dewalt (Black& Decker in a yellow housing) was made in the United States same as Milwaukee, Proter-Cable are now all made in China. I do not know of any power tools made in the United States. I buy German, they cost more but still are made with pride and are consistently good.

 

[rswyan]

the truth is about power tools if it is made in China stay away.

One doesn't necessarily have to stay away ... just have open eyes going in ...

Zero quality control, that is why some love them others hate them no in between.

Dunno if it's zero ... but it doesn't appear to be very consistent at times ...

Dewalt (Black& Decker in a yellow housing) was made in the United States same as Milwaukee, Proter-Cable are now all made in China. I do not know of any power tools made in the United States.

Really ?

DEWALT Tools of the Brave | Built in the USA

... lol ...

 

[2458n]

Only two post with Metabo? As noted everyone you would think had a US made label no longer does. You get what you pay for .if in your twenties get a Metabo. If you are short on time go to harbor freight. nobody is gonna be here forever.

 

[ultrarunner]

My uncles swear by Metabo... not swear at.

It is a very popular pro brand in Europe...

 

[rswyan]

Wonder how many folks are aware that Metabo has a factory in ... (wait for it) ... Shanghai ...

 

[lockhaven]

One doesn't necessarily have to stay away ... just have open eyes going in ...


Dunno if it's zero ... but it doesn't appear to be very consistent at times ...


Really ?

DEWALT Tools of the Brave | Built in the USA

... lol ...

I guess the new "built in the USA" is in away correct as it does not say "manufactured in the USA" all manufacturing was moved off shore the "manufacturing plants" they list were the Black&Decker plants because DeWalt was a name only. It's head quarters was in Hampstead Maryland which was at one time a manufacturing plant, I worked there for 2 years before transferring to the Towson Maryland corporate head quarters which was and is the development engineering location. I worked on the development of the DeWalt line of tools, while some were actually new products the majority were B&D with yellow housings. The Kentucky plant was an accessory plant making saw blades ,drills bits and the like. The FAQ part of the link is typical half truths, 3. "What are the other U.S. factory locations?
DEWALT has manufacturing plants in Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky and Connecticut."
The Plants in Maryland are closed for manufacturing. Maybe Stanley is going to open some back for manufacturing, I hope so but doubt it.
Another funny answer is
"7. Why are only cordless products being built in the USA? Why only specific voltages?
We feel like there are opportunities to offer users a cordless option for products built in the USA with global materials because our 18V and 20V product lines make up majority of the market in the United States." They never could claim the higher voltage cordless tools were USA because the extra batteries ran the % of USA components over the "made in USA" limit.
I worked for B&D for 22 years at the Towson engineering group, The DeWalt line was thought up there and the ruse that it was an independent company was played out because B&D had a bad name with professionals because of their cheap consumer line. B&D had bought the original DeWalt company years before, they made stationary tools and were famous for their radial arm saws and highly respected among the pros. Read the FAQ's
"19. How many jobs will be created with this new initiative?
Production of DEWALT products that are built in the USA with global materials at the Charlotte manufacturing operations facility will help boost the local economy in the Carolinas and create more than 250 new jobs." not much more then an assembly line when I was with B&D the clock numbers were up to the 10,000 number and climbing until they went off shore.
As far as China's quality control, just read reviews about their products very few are consistent some work reasonably well, most fail. Read some reviews from Harbor Freight typical: 'Unit did not work returned it after several returns I got one that works'

 

[Soundguy]

is it one of those 'assembled in use' from parts made in china?

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have one DeWalt 4.5" grinder and 3 from HF plus one 7" grinder. One of the HF grinders has a slide switch as does the Dewalt. The other 2 are both the higher priced paddle switch type. Only the white and orange colored one is really underpowered enough that you can tell if with a grinder blade. Put a brush on and you can tell who has the bigger motor.
I find them all to work well enough for my uses. Like any electric motor, you must never stall them done, if you do it is going to let the magic smoke out and they they wont work. If you are stalling your 4-5" grinder, possibly you need to move up to a 7" grinder. I put a 9" blade on mine, sans guard which I don't like to do, but it turns it with all the power I need.

My brother gave me a whole box of 9" Pipeliner blades that he picked up off the right of way after the welders moved thru. They use a blade once then change it out. Most are 8" in diameter and some are brand new just thrown down and left.
If a pipe line is going thru your area, get out there before the backfill crew comes and you can gather up a truck load of slightly used to new grinder blades and wheel brushes. My Dad did the same thing back in the 70's and never had to buy another grinder blade or wheel brush the rest of his life.

 

[mfridenmaker]

I have had tremendous luck with Bosch. I am a big fan and feel I have gotten my money's worth out of every purchase. Not the cheapest, but worth every penny.