View Poll Results: What brand do you have or had...
Craftsman
6
17.65%
DeWalt
13
38.24%
Makita
8
23.53%
Milwaukee
9
26.47%
Black & Decker
4
11.76%
Skil
0
0%
Bosch
2
5.88%
Other
12
35.29%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 34. You may not vote on this poll
4 1/2" Angle Grinders
Thread Starter
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FTE Legend
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 80,542
Likes: 97
From: Norlina NC
4 1/2" Angle Grinders
Mine took a dump on me awhile back and was wondering who yall have and how you like yours.. trying to find a good one to replace my cruddy one... what i need is one that can do both grinding disks and cutting disks...
so let me hear your experiences with your grinders and what brand, amp, type they are...
im gonna put up a poll here too.. will make it so you can select multiples incase you have more than one brand...
so let me hear your experiences with your grinders and what brand, amp, type they are...
im gonna put up a poll here too.. will make it so you can select multiples incase you have more than one brand...
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 42,085
Likes: 6
From: Lakewood, Ca.
Of all the ones I've used, I'll take the Milwaukee hands down over any of the others with Hitachi a not so close second.
I've owned the Makita and DeWalt 4 1/2" grinders also...went through 2 of the DeWalts in the course of one year. I've used a Bosch and it was decent.
Can't comment on the others.
I've owned the Makita and DeWalt 4 1/2" grinders also...went through 2 of the DeWalts in the course of one year. I've used a Bosch and it was decent.
Can't comment on the others.
Thread Starter
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FTE Legend
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 80,542
Likes: 97
From: Norlina NC
i had heard DeWalts arent being made like they use to be... but didnt know they had gotten to be that bad...
ive been using dads lately which is a HD craftsman.. but his doesnt have the attachments to do cutting disks.. its got plenty of power to do what i want.. just not all the ability...
the one i had myself was a homier distributing one... was given it as a gift one year... thing worked alright but was a bit under powered imo.. then the bearing crapped out after a couple months so not the gears wont mesh anymore... dont feel like trying to fix it...
ive been using dads lately which is a HD craftsman.. but his doesnt have the attachments to do cutting disks.. its got plenty of power to do what i want.. just not all the ability...
the one i had myself was a homier distributing one... was given it as a gift one year... thing worked alright but was a bit under powered imo.. then the bearing crapped out after a couple months so not the gears wont mesh anymore... dont feel like trying to fix it...
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 42,085
Likes: 6
From: Lakewood, Ca.
I'm pretty rough on them....mostly used with a diamond blade for trimming stone or a cutoff wheel cutting re-bar. I think what did in the DeWalts was the dust that's generated cutting the stone....maybe the bearing isn't sealed as well as it is on the Milwaukee, because that's what failed on both of them.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 18,488
Likes: 22
From: The Big, Oregon
I have lit a DeWalt on fire, due to their poor cooling design. Most Boschs are awkward for me, with the paddle trigger at the rear. I stripped the gears out of two B&D grinders, but my current one works nicely- It's made by Global Machinery Co, is a variable speed with a rear handle and trigger. I cleaned the gear case out and put in high quality synthetic about three years ago. The only problem I have had is I damaged the switch, and the variable speed hasn't worked right since then, but I may eventually just get a new switch.
Of course, since I finally found one that could survive me, they don't make it anymore.
Of course, since I finally found one that could survive me, they don't make it anymore.
Thread Starter
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FTE Legend
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 80,542
Likes: 97
From: Norlina NC
I'm pretty rough on them....mostly used with a diamond blade for trimming stone or a cutoff wheel cutting re-bar. I think what did in the DeWalts was the dust that's generated cutting the stone....maybe the bearing isn't sealed as well as it is on the Milwaukee, because that's what failed on both of them.
i got a chop saw not long ago for when i can actually put the steel through it.. but if im somewhere i cant move it cuz its welded in and need to cut the welds or fixed like you said with re-bar having a grinder capable of doing cutting disks would be nice... have a couple things i need that capability for right now.. but dont...
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Thread Starter
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FTE Legend
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 80,542
Likes: 97
From: Norlina NC
thats how it always goes anymore it seems with everything...
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 28,609
Likes: 18
From: Lake Tahoe, Nevada
I bought one of the early DeWalts and it had a plastic case. I burned up the gears. So I bought an improved DeWalt with the metal gearcase and it was way better but it eventually failed. Bought a Milwalkee and it was great, but some butthole tripped over the cord and sent it flying and broke the gearcase. Got a Makita and it's been very good but not as powerful as the Milwalkee.
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,680
Likes: 1
From: Montreal Canada
I don't have a favorite. I buy whatever's on sale and when it dies I get a new one.
My friend does brick pointing, he'll pick up a dozen grinders when they come on sale. The dust is what kills them.
I'm pretty rough on them....mostly used with a diamond blade for trimming stone or a cutoff wheel cutting re-bar. I think what did in the DeWalts was the dust that's generated cutting the stone....maybe the bearing isn't sealed as well as it is on the Milwaukee, because that's what failed on both of them.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,672
Likes: 20
From: Nixa
I had a Harbor Frieght one for a while. It worked great. I had it for 15 years or so til it was stolen. I originally bought it to grind down my backing plates and a calipers on front axle when I swapped it into my 76 Chevy 4x4. i used it for almost 3 hours straight, without it getting hot. It was great for 17.00 tool.
Now I have a Dewalt that I found in the dumpster on a job site. Apparently the builder cleaned out his shop, and through everything into the dumpster. I took it to a shop to see what was wrong with it, and there wasn't anything wrong with it, but the cord was torn a bit, so I replaced it, even though I could have just taped it up. the cord was about 5.00, so I got a good grinder for 5.00, lol.
I have a Craftsman 8 inch grinder from work, but it's a peice of , well you know. It'had been to the repair shop 4 times before I got it, and I had taken it in once more, now it sits in the cabinet broke again.
Now I have a Dewalt that I found in the dumpster on a job site. Apparently the builder cleaned out his shop, and through everything into the dumpster. I took it to a shop to see what was wrong with it, and there wasn't anything wrong with it, but the cord was torn a bit, so I replaced it, even though I could have just taped it up. the cord was about 5.00, so I got a good grinder for 5.00, lol.
I have a Craftsman 8 inch grinder from work, but it's a peice of , well you know. It'had been to the repair shop 4 times before I got it, and I had taken it in once more, now it sits in the cabinet broke again.
