Disc grinder thoughts?

[rswyan]

Three here ... a Milwaukee 4 1/2, a blue HF 4 1/2 with the paddle switch, and an orange HF 4 1/2 with a slide switch.

The Milwaukee is my main, "go-to" unit, and is at least twice as powerful as the others. It has seen a lot of use. The field went bad in it a couple of years ago and I had to replace the field ... nice to have parts available.

The blue HF is a replacement for an identical one I destroyed by abusing it. It stays outfitted with a flap disc.

The (old) orange HF is outfitted with a wire wheel/cup brush.

 

[tomplum]

And speaking of Makita, how are the Makita zip and flap wheels or grinding discs? I've run the gamut on flaps. Buy Walter they say. I wasn't impressed with the longevity and certainly not the price. I've had some Sait in just about anything, use the Dewalt as much as anything else with good results.

 

[Big Barn]

And speaking of Makita, how are the Makita zip and flap wheels or grinding discs? I've run the gamut on flaps. Buy Walter they say. I wasn't impressed with the longevity and certainly not the price. I've had some Sait in just about anything, use the Dewalt as much as anything else with good results.

Klingspor.

 

[LD1]

Never found a need to have a 7" or 9" grinder.

Those removing "alot" of material.....just how are you using them?

I am all about working smarter and not harder.

If I have "alot" of material to remove, more than I want to do with a small grinder....I go to a different tool. Not just a big grinder.

Torches, cutoff disc, chip saw, bandsaw, mill, etc. Alot better ways to remove alot of material then just clean up with a small grinder

 

[EddieWalker]

And speaking of Makita, how are the Makita zip and flap wheels or grinding discs? I've run the gamut on flaps. Buy Walter they say. I wasn't impressed with the longevity and certainly not the price. I've had some Sait in just about anything, use the Dewalt as much as anything else with good results.

If you are talking about flap disks for wood, or any other type of sanding, Shopsmith is by far the best that I've tried. Lowes sells them, or you can get them online. Nothing lasts as long, not even close. If I'm desperate and Lowes is sold out, I'll use Diablo. Other then that, I'll just wait.

 

[daugen]

If you are talking about flap disks for wood, or any other type of sanding, Shopsmith is by far the best that I've tried. Lowes sells them, or you can get them online. Nothing lasts as long, not even close. If I'm desperate and Lowes is sold out, I'll use Diablo. Other then that, I'll just wait.

good tip on Shopsmith Eddie, like this?
Shop Shopsmith Ceramic 4.5-in 4-Grit Flap Disc at Lowes.com

is this the toughest of the flap discs or are there diamond ones out there?
I'm assuming ceramic is above zirconia. What's the pecking order here?

Doing a lot of grinding is a good way to get filthy dirty unless one has a fan blowing dust in another direction.
It's an exposed open wheel, that needs to be very portable, so not sure how any kind of exhaust hood could work.

All my battery tools are Makita and they have been flawless.
Even have their battery operated mini canister vacuum in the house which is marvelous.
I think I would stick with a corded tool though, why lug the weight of the battery if you don't need to. Remote work is another ballgame.

 

[bigdeano]

I bought a 5" Milwaukee last Summer. It has a 13 amp motor. I haven't been able to slow it down. It's variable speed so you can use a wire brush for instance without over speeding it. As you apply more pressure it feeds more power to keep the speed constant. Toolless wheel change too. Much nicer than the two 4.5" HF grinders I have, but cost a lot more too.

 

[EddieWalker]

good tip on Shopsmith Eddie, like this?
Shop Shopsmith Ceramic 4.5-in 4-Grit Flap Disc at Lowes.com

Yes. I use them for cleaning up cedar logs for my gazebo and porch projects. They cut through the bark and outer layer of wood really good. I've tried other brands, and they all start out great, but then wear down quickly. Shopsmith lasts a very long time!!!! I still have to change them and it usually takes two to do a log, which is a huge saving compared to Diablo that would take twice that many.

I'm about to start sanding three cedar posts for my back porch project next week.

 

[two_bit_score]

Last week I had 2) 4.5 inch corded Dewalts and 2) M18 grinders. I killed the one older Dewalt and was thinking about getting a larger one with a little more snot. I was told that the 7" packs quite a punch, but is heavy and harder to manage. I also see grinders that are listed as 4.5- 5" and even a 6". Is there a happy medium here with a midsize - power /weight or just get a 7" for when the going gets tough? TIA

What are you primarily using it for?



TBS

 

[California]

Never found a need to have a 7" or 9" grinder.

Those removing "alot" of material.....just how are you using them?.....I go to a different tool.
Torches, cutoff disc, chip saw, bandsaw, mill, etc.

Portable bandsaw is the only thing I own that is close to your inventory there. For occasional farm repairs I can't justify tools I would seldom use.

Last time I used the 9" grinder: I bought a pair of 70 lb tractor wheel weights - $20 - that needed a cavity gouged out for the valve stem to go past. Here's a photo starting out cutting with the portable band saw. I then switched over to the 9" angle grinder. I can't find my photo of the finished grooves but they were deeper and wider than the area indicated by these saw cuts.

It would be nice to own the specialized tools suitable for this kid of work but in this case brute hp was sufficient to get the job done.

But I'm getting old. Rasseling that grinder for an hour hogging out that much material on two weights was tiring. Due to fatigue I'm not sure I could control the grinder if it got bound up. I eventually sold the 9" grinder and prefer my 4.5 " and 7" versions.

 

[tomplum]

Never found a need to have a 7" or 9" grinder.

Those removing "alot" of material.....just how are you using them?

I am all about working smarter and not harder.

If I have "alot" of material to remove, more than I want to do with a small grinder....I go to a different tool. Not just a big grinder.

Torches, cutoff disc, chip saw, bandsaw, mill, etc. Alot better ways to remove alot of material then just clean up with a small grinder

Well, you know. Sometimes the cardboard on my CAD program isn't cut quite right, or I incorrectly set up a half a dozen brackets and weld them in, or other changes come up. Sometimes it's just to make noise. I could gouge more than I do. Grinding is OK, I just want to be more efficient at it. Pretty much I fab things up in my spare time and lately some pretty heavy and large things. I had to fit some legs today to an unknown surface, set up some base plates etc. I figured them in close, but at 5 x 5 1/2"- they're too big to do much else with them other than deal with them by hand. At least with what else I have for saws etc. A large bandsaw could be helpful, but then ...

 

[tomplum]

If I am allowed one dumb question a day, here it is. I've pretty much decided on a corded 6" grinder. I see on "can be used with a dc power supply." What the heck is that?

 

[Shield Arc]

tomplum, my SA-200 engine drive welders only put out 120-volt DC power. So I have to make sure all tools are rated for DC power.

 

[gsganzer]

I was walking thru Lowes one day and saw a brand new (no box) 7" Hitachi angle grinder in the clearance rack for $50. I snatched it up. I use my 4.5" Milwaukee's most of the time, but when you need to grind a lot of material, the 7" Hitachi makes quick work of it.

 

[yomax4]

I was walking thru Lowes one day and saw a brand new (no box) 7" Hitachi angle grinder in the clearance rack for $50. I snatched it up. I use my 4.5" Milwaukee's most of the time, but when you need to grind a lot of material, the 7" Hitachi makes quick work of it.

Perfect. I vote both. 41/2 and a 7 or 9". My jobs have scaled down a bit and i have been enjoying the Milwaukee 18v brushless grinders. Smooth, quiet, powerful and long battery life. I hardly ever reach for my 5 corded grinders anymore. Same goes for the 18V grease gun, 1/2" Impact, Sawzall, Circle saw and Jig saw. No more cords if i can help it.

 

[Big Barn]

I was walking thru Lowes one day and saw a brand new (no box) 7" Hitachi angle grinder in the clearance rack for $50. I snatched it up. I use my 4.5" Milwaukee's most of the time, but when you need to grind a lot of material, the 7" Hitachi makes quick work of it.

I don’t NEED another grinder but for $50 I would have grabbed it too!! Good scoop.

 

[tomplum]

Ah, thanks Shield Arc. I have to say yomax, I like my M18 stuff too. 2) 1/2 impacts 2) 1/4 impacts 2) 4 1/2" grinders 2) flashlights, led lantern ,grease gun, sawzall, oscillating tool, 1/2 HD drill, circular metal and wood saws, plus a blower and vac . Some of these make my world work well. But, I freshened up today with a couple of 5.0 battery packs and was delighted to get 2 for 100$. You see batteries so much cheaper for other brands. I borrowed a Ryobi power caulking gun today from my BIL. He says he can just give me one along with a charger and battery if I want. He says sometimes they just leave them on the job site anyways rather than flying them home. He says they're like 39$. If that's true- I'd bet the m18 guns are 4-5 times that. They know what that red plastic is worth!

 

[California]

Does anyone have the Ryobi 18 volt angle grinder? Does it have the power of say a 7 amp corded model?