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4.5 angle grinder. mine locked up.

herm0016

herm0016

Diamond Member
ok. i had a rigid 4.5 angle grinder that i did like very much. it started spitting ball bearings out of the motor and locked up today. it had a regular trigger and a nice grip.

this one: https://www.amazon.com/Ridgid-R1005...003UV8OOK/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8


need a new grinder, would like to go with a higher amp model. I went to harbor freight and looked at the new Hercules line, but the 11 amp rated one was the exact same as the 7 amp rated one. also did not like the grip / trigger that much. my rigid lasted me about 5 years. so it does not owe me anything. Not sure i want to replace with the new rigid, im sure i did not register it.

so.. which one? don't want to spend fortune, but quality is important.
 
corded. fyi. any one have the Metabo or Bosch? i can get those for 100 bucks on cpo outlet. looks like they have the Milwaukee as well.
 
I've got a little Dewalt corded that the piledriver/welders abused for 2 years on my barge. When we decommissioned the barge, I took it home. That was in 1999...it's still going strong today.
 
I have a Makita and a Dewalt that my crew have been abusing for years, both still work. Quality grinders are so cheap there isn't any reason to shop bottom end.
 
I like my Milwaukee. If I needed another one I'd probably do DeWalt cordless to go with everything else that I have now.
 
I go larger, reach for a 9", 15A Bosch when my 4.5"/7A Craftsman isn't up for the job, but I sometimes find that even 7A is too much in a 4.5" size so will eventually get either a 4.5" variable speed corded or cordless for more precise work.

Since factors like the grip and trigger matter to you, I'd check out some youtube video reviews.

Amazon currently has a $20 off $100 promo on select (quite a few) Bosch products:

 
i have never had a job i could not do with a reciprocating saw, that i would need a battery angle grinder. I cant imagine how many batteries i would go through, i am usually working on a welding project and using it off and on all day when i do use it.

i have a good stock of 4.5 wheels that i got on sale. are 5 in wheels easy to find, and can i use my 4.5 wheels on them/ are the heads larger that you really don't get more reach? a little more reach when cutting would be nice.
 
^ They both have their place. For a rough grind or shallow cut in metal, you can't beat the consumables cost for a grinder. A $2 wheel can take the place of a $10 carbide tipped recip blade, but you are limited in how tight a space it will fit in and can only make very broad curved cuts or else lose a lot of material.

Most 5" have the same 5/8" spindle thread and 7/8" backing flange so you can use 4.5" discs with either 5/8" threaded inserts or open 7/8" hole. The primary differences are the larger guard and usually higher current range. This is also true for larger grinders such as 7" or 9", but of course moving up the product line will cost more and may bring higher quality and more features.
 
I use 4.5" discs no problem. I honestly don't think the head/gearbox is any bigger. I'm not really sure what the difference is other than the guard being larger.
 
I've got a brushless and cordless Ridgid that works pretty well; doesn't eat through batteries all that fast. I don't do a ton of work with it though--mostly cutting bolts and/or grinding off frame rust to prep for primer and paint.

The cutoff wheels that HF stocks aren't great but for the price of 10 you can't really go wrong. They even sell the mixed pack with the grinding wheels. Can't speak for their actual grinders though.
 
i ended up ordering a made in Germany Metabo. ill let you know how i like it. still under 100 bucks. I cant imagine using a battery one. usually working on a welding project so i have to have power anyway. i have a 20 amp outlet wired up in front of my garage, and a 50 just inside the door that goes with all the 220 stuff and charging the Volt.
 
I thought Ridgid had a lifetime warranty? It's one of the reasons people cite when buying that line.
 
Oh, they have the warranty, BUT:

It is our experience that a product that fails prematurely due to a manufacturing defect in materials or workmanship, will generally do so very early in the products life cycle, often the first or second time the product is used. When returned for inspection, these products are generally found to still be in like new condition and show very little signs of use. It is uncommon for a product that was manufactured with a defect, to survive under normal use for any extended period of time. Products that are returned for warranty inspection after months or years of continuous reliable service are rarely found to be defective.
Click to expand...

www.ridgid.com

Full Lifetime Warranty | RIDGID Tools

This warranty lasts for the lifetime of the RIDGID tool. Warranty coverage ends when the product becomes unusable for reasons other than defects in workmanship or material.
www.ridgid.com www.ridgid.com

Of course that's nonsense, a lesser defect can easily cause premature failure (of almost anything) months to years later, but the point is that it's not a no questions asked, default in your favor, warranty. "Full lifetime warranty" is just a lie.
 
Meh, would rather have a German made tool.

Anecdotal evidence that led me to buying a Bosch. We had some paver work done and the contractor had in his arsenal a well worn Bosch angle grinder they were using with dry masonary discs. While working on our project, it quit on him. I offered to take a look at it to discover it had eaten through the brushes. So, it wasn't dust or a bearing failure but a simple wear item. I replaced the brushes and back to work it went.
 
mindless1 said:
Oh, they have the warranty, BUT:



www.ridgid.com

Full Lifetime Warranty | RIDGID Tools

This warranty lasts for the lifetime of the RIDGID tool. Warranty coverage ends when the product becomes unusable for reasons other than defects in workmanship or material.
www.ridgid.com www.ridgid.com

Of course that's nonsense, a lesser defect can easily cause premature failure (of almost anything) months to years later, but the point is that it's not a no questions asked, default in your favor, warranty. "Full lifetime warranty" is just a lie.
Click to expand...

Ridgid power tools (the homeowner stuff sold at Home Depot) doesn't have a lifetime warranty...but if you register it, you get a lifetime service agreement for MOST of their tools...they'll repair or replace it. (Almost a warranty...but not)
 
NutBucket said:
Meh, would rather have a German made tool.

Anecdotal evidence that led me to buying a Bosch. We had some paver work done and the contractor had in his arsenal a well worn Bosch angle grinder they were using with dry masonary discs. While working on our project, it quit on him. I offered to take a look at it to discover it had eaten through the brushes. So, it wasn't dust or a bearing failure but a simple wear item. I replaced the brushes and back to work it went.
Click to expand...

IIRC, most Bosch tools are now made in China or Malaysia...but "designed in Germany" is more prominently displayed on the box...
 
BoomerD said:
IIRC, most Bosch tools are now made in China or Malaysia...but "designed in Germany" is more prominently displayed on the box...
Click to expand...
Only the top end ones are German made...but even then you need to check. Some production has moved to eastern Europe. Otherwise I wouldn't pay $140 for an angle grinder 😉
 
see above... my made in Germany Metabo is wrapped up under the tree.

AVE just did a tear down of the new Bosch drivers, a few good features, but overall not worth the money. trying to send him my wore out grinder.
 
I have a DeWalt that's been great for 15 years....but it recently developed a shimmy to it...so I picked up a $39 Porter Cable....it sounds twice as loud, but was $20 cheaper than the next model up. I was able to use it for my tile job doing some very intricate scoring of unforgiving tiles....I only botched 2-3 of them before getting the cut right. =P
 
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