View Poll Results: What brand do you have or had...

Craftsman

17.65%

DeWalt

38.24%

Makita

23.53%

Milwaukee

26.47%

Black & Decker

11.76%

Skil

Bosch

5.88%

Other

35.29%

Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 34. You may not vote on this poll

4 1/2" Angle Grinders

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Dec 2, 2009 | 06:24 PM

#31

helifixer

Hotshot

Joined: Dec 2005

Posts: 10,247

Likes: 7,666

From: Chino Valley, Arizona

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghunt

I have a Craftsman 4 1/2" grinder, don't know the model number but they still sell it- it's the one with the trigger, and the handle on the side up near the head that you can put in 3 different positions.

To be honest, I bought it when I was still working at sears because it was on sale and I got a discount, but it has been an excellent grinder. What I thought was neat about it was that you can use grinding discs OR cutoff wheels, all you have to do is flip over the spanner nut. And if you take the guard off (honestly mine hasn't had the guard on it for 2 years probably) you can run bigger cutoff wheels, like 5" or whatever the hell sizes they come in.

I've had that thing for at least 4 years and it's still going strong. Probably the only disadvantage sometimes is its size, just makes it a little difficult to get into tight spots. Also I lost the spanner nut

so I have to use a regular 5/8" nut to hold the wheels on. I need to find a jam nut or another spanner nut that will work on that thing.

is this the one you have?
Craftsman 4-1/2 in. Angle Grinder

Dec 2, 2009 | 06:40 PM

#32

Bdox

Fleet Owner

Joined: Sep 2005

Posts: 28,609

Likes: 18

From: Lake Tahoe, Nevada

The ampere rating gives pretty good idea of how much power they have. And most of the manufacturers build several models so there is more to the choice than just the brand.

Dec 2, 2009 | 10:32 PM

#33

Sparky83

Thread Starter

FTE Legend

Joined: Jan 2009

Posts: 80,535

Likes: 97

From: Norlina NC

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bdox

The ampere rating gives pretty good idea of how much power they have. And most of the manufacturers build several models so there is more to the choice than just the brand.

very true bruce... but same time you have to watch for quality in mfg now an days.. isnt like the old days when everyone was making things that would last forever... alot are looking at "how cheaply can this be made" now... which sometimes hinders their durability... cant say it goes for everybody and everything out there... but does fit for alot of things out there..

Dec 3, 2009 | 11:51 AM

#34

Old93junk

Post Fiend

Joined: Nov 2008

Posts: 23,849

Likes: 20

From: McKenzie River

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bdox

I once bought a new no name grinder from ebay for ten bucks. It actually burst into flame after about a half hours use.

Must have been one of those harbor freight "Chicago industrial" brand, same experience here...................I did not know there was a Chicago in china?

Dec 3, 2009 | 02:14 PM

#35

ghunt

Postmaster

Joined: Oct 2005

Posts: 3,724

Likes: 0

From: Clarksburg WV

Quote:

Originally Posted by helifixer

is this the one you have?
Craftsman 4-1/2 in. Angle Grinder

Yup, that's it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bdox

I once bought a new no name grinder from ebay for ten bucks. It actually burst into flame after about a half hours use.

Ya know those electric die grinders they have on ebay? They have kind of blue/green case, and are sold under a bunch of different names but they're all cheap chinese ripoffs of a Makita or something like that (can't remember exactly). I have had two of those particular die grinders, and the funny thing was they were worlds apart.

The first one I bought, I used for probably two years, I had some small problems with it here and there (like the wires pulling out of the switch, etc), but then the plastic piece that connected the motor to the grinder head got hot and halfway melted, so it wouldn't spin the grinder head anymore. I bought another one off ebay, and I kid you not- the thing lasted less than ten minutes before it started shooting bits of plastic out of the vents and then wouldn't work anymore. I took it apart, cannibalized it for parts for the other one I originally had, and got that one working again.

I STILL have that first die grinder- I've probably had it close to 5 years now, and I use it on a regular basis and it's still going strong. I guess they get one right every now and then. Honestly I'm surprised that thing hasn't killed itself too, because if you use it for an extended amount of time it gets HOT...I mean hot enough that you have to wear gloves to use it.

Dec 3, 2009 | 04:35 PM

#36

tjc transport

i ain't rite

Joined: Mar 2005

Posts: 65,448

Likes: 5,518

From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.

i have 3 of the cheap harbor freight units. $19.99 on sale. one for the cut off wheel, one for the flapper disc, and one for the grinder wheel.
they are all 4 years old now and still work like new.

and i am very hard on them..

Dec 3, 2009 | 06:05 PM

#37

rebocardo

Post Fiend

Joined: Jun 2002

Posts: 13,873

Likes: 3

From: Atlanta GA

I voted Dewalt, but, would not buy it again. The tab that locks the wheel so you can change disks is a piece of junk and currently broken on mine, so I use an impact to change wheels. I should have bought the cheap HF one.