Angle Grinder

colu41

colu41

Joined
Dec 24, 2014
Messages
1,598
So my angle grinder was one of my most used tools, other than the 2x72 of course. But, yesterday it took a crap. Was just a cheapo from Harbor Freight for $12. Lasted me 6 months.
Now, I need a new one. I dont have a band saw or anything, I strictly use my angle to cut out and rough grind profiles.

Could someone (in their experiences) point me to the BEST angle grinder I can buy for around $75? A nice heavy duty DeWalt would be awesome but I'm not paying $130 +.

Thanks for any suggestions.
 
I have a Dewalt 4.5 inch wheel. I love it! I think I payed 65 for it. It's great and had never given me issues
 
How exactly did it "crap out"? I've have the exact same HF (orange one) angle grinder ever since I first started out about 5 years ago and the only thing that needed to be replaced when it wouldn't turn on where the carbon brushes. I got a second one from a friend that gave it to me since he had no use for it anymore and I figured I'd just use that one since it happened to be newer and still had a fresh set of carbon brushes.

Yours should've came with (as mine did) an extra pair in the box. They are the small rectagular blocks with a spring on them and a small brass circular thng on the end. Just take a flat head and unscrew the two black plastic round "things" on each side of the grinder, (they protrude a bit on each side near the rear on the grinder) then take out the old worn down "carbon brushes" and insert the new ones just as the old ones were. Note that when you put the new ones in, it may not fire up the first time, but that is only because you can't tighten them in too tight or have them too loose. It also helps to take a Q-tip and clean out as much carbon build up as you can in the slots that the "brushes" go in before putting in the new ones (don't be confused by the name, they don't have bristles or anything lol).

And in all honesty, I woun't spend that much money on a name brand angle grinder, unless of course you easily have the money to spend. But I don't have a bandsaw, and the only things I've been using to cut out my blades from the bar stock it a HF angle grinder, ever since I first started, (again) about 5 years ago. Keep your extra money and put it towards and portaband set up. :thumbup:

And no, I don't work for HF! :p ;)

~Paul
My YT Channel Lsubslimed
 
I have two of the Dewalt 4.5's. I do a lot of cutting with them and they have performed well. Under a hundred dollars around here.
 
My angle grinder is very rarely used since I bought the HF Portaband and made a simple stand for it. You could get one for the same or likely even less money than a decent angle grinder.

Chris
 
Personally, I love my HF grinder. They're so inexpensive I've got two so I don't have to change wheels. My father in law is a big time industrial plumbing contractor and HF grinders are all he buys anymore. The DeWalts were always "getting lost" or breaking before their time and at $100 a pop it was painful. He buys the ones from HF and they never get lost and if they break he's out $20. Swears by them.

Get a grinder holder and it turns it into a mini metal chop saw. Grizzley makes one and you can find knockoffs on ebay. I'm grabbing one soon to make more precise straight cuts.

http://www.grizzly.com/products/G8183
 
Y'know, for $150 you can get a 4-1/2" metal cutting bandsaw from Tractor Supply-I know that creates a space issue, but I've been running mine in a full time shop for a long time, with very few repairs and it'll do a lot more. For an extra $60-$75 it's worth considering.
 
I don't know if this is any help, but DON'T get the inexpensive Metabo.
I got one with high hopes of it being an great grinder, and it overheats really easily- the company didn't respond to any of my attempts at communication, either.
No doubt the luxury models are great, but the one that's around $100 isn't the great deal it seems.
I've gone through a wheelbarrow load of these and the Hitachi lasted the longest. $60 at a pawn shop and it ran for year after year after year before developing a switch problem that didn't seem worth fixing.
 
I have two Makita angle grinders, a 4" and a 4 1/2". They both do good and cost less than $75 IIRC at the home center.
 
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You know a bandsaw would be great. But I really like the Angle for awkward cuts, and also rough profiling blanks with the grinding wheels. I understand the band saw would yield cleaner cuts, but it also seems that it would take a hell of a lot longer to saw out a blank then cut and grind.
 
Get a bandsaw and another cheapie angle grinder instead of spending any significant $ on the grinder.
 
Get a HF portable bandsaw, you won't be sorry. Make sure to get some 24tpi blades from home depot or Lowes though. The coarse ones that come with it aren't for cutting metal.

If you have a 2x72 any rough grinding you need to do after cutting the profile can easily be done with a 36 grit blaze belt. Those belts last forever and you should be able to profile a bunch before needing another.
 
J W Bensinger said:
Y'know, for $150 you can get a 4-1/2" metal cutting bandsaw from Tractor Supply-I know that creates a space issue, but I've been running mine in a full time shop for a long time, with very few repairs and it'll do a lot more. For an extra $60-$75 it's worth considering.
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I'm not finding this bandsaw on tractor supply? You have a link?
 
JG Custom Metal Works said:
Get a HF portable bandsaw, you won't be sorry. Make sure to get some 24tpi blades from home depot or Lowes though. The coarse ones that come with it aren't for cutting metal.

If you have a 2x72 any rough grinding you need to do after cutting the profile can easily be done with a 36 grit blaze belt. Those belts last forever and you should be able to profile a bunch before needing another.
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Ive been thinking on this one and may go with this. $82 for the band saw and I found a 3 pack of Lenox 24tpi blades for $17. I may get another cheap angle grinder because they are nice to have but. I watched a short video on this portaband and it looks pretty nice.
 
I use the Band Saw alot more than the angle grinder.Once you get good with the Band Saw you dont have as much grinding to do.I would be willing to bet if you tried you will like it.
 
gredpe3 said:
I use the Band Saw alot more than the angle grinder.Once you get good with the Band Saw you dont have as much grinding to do.I would be willing to bet if you tried you will like it.
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The one I mentioned in my earlier post would be the portable. I never thought I would like that but after watching a video it looks pretty cool. I definitely am not in the market to spend $300 on even a cheap stand up metal bandsaw. Even Harbor Freights metal band saw is $350 or something like that. That portable one looks like I can get similar cuts like my angle. Just would be a better and faster cut. I'll just have to order some Blaze belts as JG Custom said and do all my profiling on the grinder.
 
Another vote for Makita......I have a 5 inch that has been abused for a decade at least, and my brother still uses a 4.5" that was my grandfathers........at least 25 years old.
 
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