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Hot Rods Angle Grinders

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by pirate, Sep 18, 2019.

  1. krylon32
    Joined: Jan 29, 2006
    Posts: 9,396

    krylon32
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Nebraska
    1. Central Nebraska H.A.M.B.

    I use a 4.5 inch grinder a lot in my shop. I have 2 Milwaukee 4.5 inch grinders I have used for years and they last good. I have one with a 4.5 cutoff wheel and one with a 4.5 36 grit grinding disc.
     
  2. Flathead Dave
    Joined: Mar 21, 2014
    Posts: 3,959

    Flathead Dave
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from So. Cal.

    Rules are made to be broken. I use several tools from HF. Always work good for me.
     
    46international likes this.
  3. blue 49
    Joined: Dec 24, 2006
    Posts: 1,820

    blue 49
    Member
    from Iowa

    I have a Craftsman with the slide style switch with a soft disc or flap wheel, a Ryobi I got at an auction with a trigger switch I use for cutting wheels and a paddle switch Harbor Freight one with a wire cup wheel on it now, I think.

    Gary
     
  4. lake_harley
    Joined: Jun 4, 2017
    Posts: 2,159

    lake_harley
    Member

    Another vote for Milwaukee. I have one that's about 20 years old. It's had to have the brushes replaced twice but in it's defense it got used really hard for about 15 of those years when I, and employees were using it in my fabrication business. I agree, the paddle switch is the only way to go. I cobbled a short piece of a paint stirring stick on the paddle switch of the Milwaukee for a while to make it a bit easier to hold but finally just got used to holding it a bit differently.

    I also have an old Black&Decker too, but now it generally is in the toolbox unless I need two different discs for a project. I goofed up the gearhead on it one time and went in to buy a replacement head. The counter guy pointed out that is was about $50 and I could buy a whole new grinder for $80 so why fix it. I told him that fixing it sounded like a better deal to me. I bought the head, saved the $30, and it's still going today.

    Often I see people using angle grinders just single handed but I find it easier to use the "side" handle too unless I'm in a really tight spot.

    Lynn
     
  5. AB6DO
    Joined: Feb 9, 2008
    Posts: 71

    AB6DO
    Member

    HARBOR FREIGHT...I have half dozen of them. Each one has a different use. They are the newer style with the paddle switch. They are like the bunny rabbit that never dies.
     
    Ford52PU likes this.
  6. Fortunateson
    Joined: Apr 30, 2012
    Posts: 5,331

    Fortunateson
    Member

    I have a 4" B and D that's about 40 years old and a Makita 7"(?) that's about 35 years old. Never any problem but that big boy is kinda heavy!
     
  7. 6sally6
    Joined: Feb 16, 2014
    Posts: 2,459

    6sally6
    Member

    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Harbor Freight is your friend!!!
    6sally6
     
  8. 6sally6
    Joined: Feb 16, 2014
    Posts: 2,459

    6sally6
    Member

  9. Anyone still using the 10 inch grinders? I have a 1970 Craftsman that won't die, plus a DeWalt and Makita. All are excellent grinders for the heavier work, but now I more frequently use the two cheap Chinese 4 inch grinders (Canadian Tire), that I have had for approximately 10 years. They both have the paddle switch, and have stood up well.
    I also have a heavy duty air grinder for 10 inch consumables, but it taxes my compressor to the limit.
    Bob
     
  10. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 33,861

    Mr48chev
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    The orange ones are pretty tough.
    I've got who knows how many angle grinders the last one being the blue 40 something buck Hercules from HF that I really like. It's a bit bigger and heavier than the orange ones though and heavier than the black and deckers that I bought for 18 bucks each and had three so I had one for flap wheel, one for cut disk and one for grind wheel .
    I've got a nice one under the bench with a big brand name on it that has an odd size arbor that I can't get a nut for to use.
     
  11. gene-koning
    Joined: Oct 28, 2016
    Posts: 4,040

    gene-koning
    Member

    I used to get 4-5 years out of the DeWalt 13 amp 4 1/2" grinders at my welding shop. I work them pretty hard. The last time I needed one, I could only get a 12 amp, but it seems to be working OK. 80% of the work I did at my shop was repair of other peoples failed welds, there was always a lot of grinding going on, and those 4 1/2" grinders were subject to a lot of abuse.

    I looked at the HF grinders, all were in the 5-7 amp range, I bought one that lasted 3 days! That one never held up to what I would put a grinder through, so I didn't buy any more. At least I was able to get my money back.

    I can also tell you the HF 4 1/2" 36 grit grinding discs do not cut nearly as well as the 36 grit 4 1/2" grinding wheels I was buying through a supply house for a dollar more each wheel. If your using them, stop someplace else and buy good grinding wheels. Recently I had to grind 2 large failed weld blobs off of a steel bracket. I put a new HF wheel on the grinder, and spent a good 20 minutes and about 1/4 of the wheel removing about 1/2 of the first weld. Frustrated, I put on a new supply house wheel, and within 10 minutes, I had removed the rest of the first weld I'd started on with the HF wheel, and the entire other weld blob. The new supply house wheel barely had the bottom corner wore off.
    HF is OK for some stuff, but there are things there not worth bringing home. Gene
     
  12. Ziggster
    Joined: Aug 27, 2018
    Posts: 1,694

    Ziggster
    Member

    My 4.5" Makita has taken a beating (15 yr old plus) and keeps on working with no issues, but I too was looking for a cordless version recently, but they were all too spendy.
     
  13. jaw22w
    Joined: Mar 2, 2013
    Posts: 1,671

    jaw22w
    Member
    from Indiana

    I use about any 4.5" grinder. Not too particular about brands. But when I want to use a cutting disk, I use my Metabo. Much safer than a regular grinder. It has a clutch for when the disk sticks in the cut. Much less chance of a cutting disk flying apart. They are expensive, but cheaper than the ER.
     
    Hnstray and scrap metal 48 like this.
  14. southcross2631
    Joined: Jan 20, 2013
    Posts: 4,413

    southcross2631
    Member

    I have used Harbor Freight paddle switch angle grinders for all of my cutting , grinding, wire brushing for years.
     
    scrap metal 48 likes this.
  15. earleg
    Joined: May 22, 2013
    Posts: 17

    earleg
    Member
    from Starr, SC

    Ridged come with a lifetime warrant also. You have to mail the warranty card in.


    Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
  16. krbstr
    Joined: Jul 18, 2016
    Posts: 37

    krbstr
    Member

    I have two makita grinders, the larger of the 4.5” with long handles and trigger switches. Three Dewalts, the smaller ones with thumb switches and an old skil brand. All have been trouble free with the exception of one dewalt that the brushes wore out in. All are quite old (5+years) and get used pretty heavily for various tasks. In my experience it’s usually the consumables that make the difference in how smoothly the job goes. I try to buy the better brand grinding wheels,cut off discs, and wire wheels.


    Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
     
  17. ...I agree, I like the paddle switches best, you can start em with one hand, sometimes the slide switches are hard to switch...
     
    scrap metal 48 likes this.
  18. pontiac
    Joined: Mar 21, 2006
    Posts: 771

    pontiac
    Member

    I use a cheap Skil grinder. I bought it about 10 years ago and it still works great.
     
  19. hotrodrhp
    Joined: Sep 19, 2008
    Posts: 446

    hotrodrhp
    Member
    from Wisconsin

    Generally like most in life you get what you pay for. Quality tools will generally out live the user if taken care of. I've used Makita, Black and Decker, Dewalt, Milwaukee etc. for 30 plus years in the construction trades with little or no problems. Had my own B&D for well over 20 years with no issues. Today I have a Milwaukee..expensive but its a high quality grinder. I shy away from HF but if thats your ticket to success go for it.
    BTW I had HF grinding wheel literally explode on me several years ago so maybe it's personal with me!
    Thankfully I was wearing a face shield.
     
  20. BamaMav
    Joined: Jun 19, 2011
    Posts: 6,707

    BamaMav
    Member
    from Berry, AL

    Got an air powered no name I’ve had for years. It has outlasted any electric one I bought. Got a no name cut off tool too. Use it with 4” cut off discs, carbide cutters, and grind rocks. Keep them oiled they’ll last forever.
     
  21. error404
    Joined: Dec 11, 2012
    Posts: 383

    error404
    Member
    from CA

    yea, air tools seem to last forever
     
  22. goldmountain
    Joined: Jun 12, 2016
    Posts: 4,442

    goldmountain

    I have about 5 cheap angle grinders. The cords always seem to give trouble from flexing where they enter the tool so I keep on shortening them.
     
    Atwater Mike likes this.
  23. Atwater Mike
    Joined: May 31, 2002
    Posts: 11,625

    Atwater Mike
    Member

    I've got 4 die grinders, air tools...3 of them have lost power, kept them well oiled, in the drawer of my Snap On box...The Snap On die grinder has held up well, one of the weak ones is a Mac, the other a Matco...
     
  24. 51 Hemi J
    Joined: Sep 27, 2006
    Posts: 394

    51 Hemi J
    Member

    The Key to making the HF grinders last, is when you take it out of the package, open up the the drive case via 4 screws and apply some good lube there. This is not a bad idea for any manufacturer. Mine have lasted years.
     
    57 Fargo likes this.
  25. Hyvolt
    Joined: Jun 12, 2016
    Posts: 279

    Hyvolt
    Member

    I teach a basics welding class, and we went all cordless. Holding up well for the 18 months we've used them. 1568926073452.jpeg

    Sent from my LM-V405 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
  26. low budget
    Joined: Nov 15, 2006
    Posts: 5,566

    low budget
    Member
    from Central Ky

    I got a porter cable from lowes a few years ago, its held up great so far, but I seem to have lost the nut that holds the non threaded disc on after using a threaded one:mad: .....I still need to check into getting another one:D
    I also have a porter cable compressor too...from Tractor supply....I do have a little harbor freight pneumatic cut off wheel tool thats been great for about 8 bucks;)
     
    Last edited: Sep 20, 2019
    49ratfink likes this.
  27. 41rodderz
    Joined: Sep 27, 2010
    Posts: 6,540

    41rodderz
    Member
    from Oregon

    I have to agree on cutting disc, grinder wheels and sand paper. Quality counts.
     
    Texas57 likes this.
  28. Mike VV
    Joined: Sep 28, 2010
    Posts: 3,029

    Mike VV
    Member
    from SoCal

    If I buy "anything"...from Harbor Freight, I buy it for one single task. If it lives longer than that one single task...great, I win..! NEVER...buy their insurance.
    As for my H.F. angle grinder, yep, still lives after many years of hard, somewhat abusive use.

    Mike
     
    46international likes this.
  29. 55styleliner
    Joined: May 11, 2015
    Posts: 563

    55styleliner
    Member

    I would recommend a cheap one for the cut off wheels and if you want to spend the money on a good one use it for only grinding. I have a Porter Cable that I have had for a number of years. I recently started using it with cut off wheels and the bearings have gone out pretty rapidly. I think the grit and debris from tge cut off wheels is pretty hard on them.
     
    49ratfink likes this.
  30. leon bee
    Joined: Mar 15, 2017
    Posts: 798

    leon bee
    Member

    I was looking at a friend's 4 1/2 inch cordless grinder. Realized it's a burglar tool, a methhead could steal that thing and cut a big ass door in my metal shop building.
     

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