Which 4.5 inch angle grinder to buy

[dstig1]

I have the cheapo Northern one too. It is not worth it, IMHO. Slide switch that is poor quality (no paddle), and the motor has no guts at all. It was $15 or 20, and that money would have been better put towards another Makita, IMO... I have 3 makitas of the 4.5" size now (and a 4th on the way that I got a good deal on). Plus one 7" Makita.

 

[big lar]

Harbor Freight has them cheap ($30 or less, chinese, don't know how long the last) I have a Ryobi from HD, heavy and rugged, I don't use it a lot though.

 

[cobb71]

I welded in the oilfield for 30+ years and wore out tons of grinders. I have 2 metabo and dewalts. Metabos are expensive but lasts forever. For the money dewalt is a quality machine. cobb71

 

[MESSMAKER]

I have a Dewalt and a couple from HF. The HF model is 20 years old and works fine as does the Dewalt. The Dewalt has a bit more power but is heavier and cost 3x as much.

 

[Gary Fowler]

IF you get a HF one, dont get the $9 one, go for the higher amp one with the paddle( I think??? 15 amp motor) which I got with a coupon for $19. The one I have performs as well as the Dewalt. HF has the el cheapo about 8 amp motr and then also a lot better quality one for more money.

 

[aczlan]

Another thing to look at is speed. I know someone who does hoof trimming for dairies using an angle grinder and a special disc (like this). He says that he can tell the difference between an 11k RPM grinder and a 9k or 10k RPM grinder and the faster one works better... He switches between 2 angle grinders for 8+ hours every day, so he buys Dewalt grinders and they rarely last for 2 years before they wear out, get stepped on, or dropped and broken.

Aaron Z

 

[Soundguy]

Harbor Freight has them cheap ($30 or less, chinese, don't know how long the last) I have a Ryobi from HD, heavy and rugged, I don't use it a lot though.

i buy them from HF when they go on sale for 9.99 $ drillmaster is the common name for the 9.99 units. I have 3-4 of them unopened. I usually get a couple years of hard use / ABUSE out of them till something lets go.. then i toss in a bucket. once I get 2-3 in there.. I rebuild 1-2 of them out of parts from all. works decent.

the northern one must have been a fluke.. if it had no guts... the lil 9.99 units from HF are plenty gutsy.. and i imagine all are pouring out of 1-2 factories in china no matter who'se name is on them..

 

[George2615]

i buy them from HF when they go on sale for 9.99 $ drillmaster is the common name for the 9.99 units. I have 3-4 of them unopened. I usually get a couple years of hard use / ABUSE out of them till something lets go.. then i toss in a bucket. once I get 2-3 in there.. I rebuild 1-2 of them out of parts from all. works decent.

the northern one must have been a fluke.. if it had no guts... the lil 9.99 units from HF are plenty gutsy.. and i imagine all are pouring out of 1-2 factories in china no matter who'se name is on them..

I also have a HF 4.5 inch grinder. I've been using it for about 6 years now. I thought it would fail so I bought another last year. Its still in the box waiting for the older one to die. For the price mine has been through the war and is still going. It even came with a set of spare brushes.

 

[rankrank1]

In regards to switch preference

I like the thumb slide switch for cutting with a cutting disc as it allows two hands for control.

For grinding then paddle or slide is okay

 

[Artisan]

Things are tight here and I needed a 4.5 grinder recently and I could not
buy the Dewalt w/ paddle switch ( NO DEADMAN) so I reluctently bought
a Kawsaki on EBAY for $16.00 with FREE SHIPPING! I have used it a good
15 miuntes and it is still going strong, although when I first turned it
on I smelt a burning smell... HA! It has gone away and I suspect it
will last a good long while.
Check Craigslist near you too, sometimes there are great deals to be had.