What angle grinder do you use.

[Ashley Burton]

@Hood I don't work with anything big enough to use a 9" grinder

 

[marlinspike]

Mostly an Aldi cheap one. Has lasted 5 years with occasional use. Better than the very cheap generic ones because it has soft start. Their cutting discs aren't great though. Much better to buy quality discs as the cheap ones fracture easily and are a false economy.

 

[Barking Mat]

Agree with comments regarding changing disks on the small ones by hand.

Big one, not a hope in hell. The key / spanner thing lives on a long string, and lives in the box PERMANENTLY!

 

[Burdekin]

Makita, love the ergonomics of it, can hold in one hand no bother and is compact for getting on places when using on the cars. I have a couple for different discs.

 

[Memmeddu]

I have 5 angle grinders right now
An Hitachi G12SE2 (1200W)which is probably the toughest angle grinder I've
I got it for free two years ago cause was broken,made in 2003 , had an armature bearing failure , replaced for 5 euros and it's a workhorse .
Very ergonomic design , enough lightweight , smooth enough for me ,I would like to get another one (it's still produced so it's a good design and it's being improved they added soft start ,restart protection)
I've got it even stalled for 15 seconds I believe and it still going
An Hilti DAG 125 SE (1050W) which I got for free which is a Bosch GWS11-125E ,we use it in the jobsites it's very quiet and smooth .
I like it but take the Bosch which now equivalent should be the Bosch GWS 13-125CIE because they discontinued the smaller version , you will save money and have the exact product even better.
A Bosch GWS18-230 (1800W) got for free , replaced a bearing and it requires little bit more love,it in fact needs all three bearings to be replaced and a new powercord but I don't use it often , it's not accurate .
I've installed a soft start module on it because I use it just for "heavy" grinding
It's not really powerful but I got it for free so who cares?
It's practically the same exact they actually produce it's little bit different design but it's practically the same just in 2000 or 2200W
So seek for Bosch GWS20-230JS or GWS22-230JH
A Metabo W12-125 (1250W) Quick which I love and it's actually the first powertool I've really bought .
Bought it in October 13 or 23 2017 for 140 euro with two filters ,I used those filters for awhile but later I've quit using them because I felt like them was causing overheating
It's a brilliant grinder very powerful and it has a very sturdy construction ,I love the guard adjustment ,the quick change system and the 4meters long powercord ,it's very torquey and it has mechanical safety clutch
It's little bit bulky , it's pretty loud (the motor spins around 50000rpms because the spindle spins around 12000 and the grinder has a gear ratio of 4.something instead of the common 3.number )
I like the design and it's very comfortable to handle and manoeuvre
I really recommend metabo grinders.
So today this model it's being discontinued and replaced by the W13-125Quick
A Metabo WE19-180 Quick RT (1900W rat tail) bought it in November 2018 and I love it
Choose it because it weights only 2.7kg , small, compact , easy to use .
It's practically a 125mm angle grinder but with lots of power ,a rat tail handle and 180mm wheel capacity .
I choose it also because it has the same cutting depth of a 230mm one .
It has the same details of the up above mentioned W12 just bigger motor and wheel
It has also electronics which control the motor load
While the power it's switched on but your are not cutting the motor spins at half speed, while you're are cutting the motor increase the speed till reaching the nominal 8500rpm
If you measure it it's running on 190VDC , you have 50V yet to use if needed
The more you try to stop it the more power it will provide during cutting till the safety clutch slips
A very good light weight grinder ,love it .
Really satisfied .
Metabo grinders have only a problem ,them leak oil from the spindle lock button.
Essentially prior investing money on a grinder you want to make research about the various models .
It's very important the subjective factor , you can get the best grinder in the world but if you doesn't like the colour (which doesn't change performance) for example you will probably find the worst issues of the tool or even think it's not a good tool just because the colour
I've always loved Metabo products because I grow up using the ones owned by my neighbor
So I made researches and made a choice.
Nowadays I am curious to try other brands either , not because I think they could be better than metabo (and them actually could) but because I'm impressed by various little aspects and because I'm affected by angle grinder compulsive buying and irrational desire syndrome
I would like to have a Fein WS14-125P, Flex L14-11-125 (don't remember now the exact code) and others like Makita , Bosch and DeWalt in 125mm format

 

[mtt.tr]

It will be worth it or so I keep telling myself

If it is like my circ saw it it will have as much power as mains grinder.

My 18v grinder is the nuts always near by its spent days doing brick work on a cutting disc the battery 4ah last as long as a cutting disc.

 

[Memmeddu]

Agree with comments regarding changing disks on the small ones by hand.

Big one, not a hope in hell. The key / spanner thing lives on a long string, and lives in the box PERMANENTLY!

Metabo Quick
Bosch SDS Click
Makita eazynut
Milwaukee fixtec

 

[fizzy]

I have an Hitachi 9". Also several 4.5" models and a 4" air powered one.
My favourite is my trusty old Clarke. Much quieter and smoother than the Hitachis.

 

[Jacktegla]

I've not tried a battery grinder yet. Are they worth the money? How long roughly does the battery last cutting or grinding? Would probably only use for car repair works and use the corded for heavy boat works.

I have 5ah and 4ah batteries and their is a big difference in the performance I reckon I get about 20-30 cuts depending on thickness and pressure applied( I apply a lot of pressure and hasn’t cut out on me yet which I like), grinding and flap disc are ok but uses the battery much faster as you have to apply more pressure.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Bosch.
Mainly masonary and ceramics/porcelain so get covered and clogged with crud.
Just keep going. One of them must be 13 years old. Retired it to the garage for flap disks

 

[chris pruteanu]

I think I have about 4x Bosch profesional 4.5", one it's 110v and the other 3 are 240v...they are all really good and have smooth start too. Two makita 4.5" grinder- they works fine but no soft start and a milwaukee heavy duty 4.5" also very good in 240v as well. The most abused is the milwaukee however one Bosch is used with a large cup wire wheel and it copes brilliantly!

 

[armalites]

I've not tried a battery grinder yet. Are they worth the money? How long roughly does the battery last cutting or grinding? Would probably only use for car repair works and use the corded for heavy boat works.

If you want a decent battery one then you need to get one from the major players.

The benefit is convenience and portability, if you are grinding for hours every day then a mains unit is the way. That said I rarely pick up my mains 4.5" grinder these days. I have a brushless Dewalt 18v and it's very good. If you have a couple of spare baterries and chargers then things are better I have to say I don't find myself moaning that my battery has run out very often.

 

[Robbie260]

Hmmmmmmmmm some one mentioned festool a while back might be time to put thier 10 year warranty to the test. A decent metabo or fien one with batteries is only marginally cheaper.

 

[tflnemesis]

I have 2, a Ryobi 18V one, performs well, eats batteries on big heavy cuts tho. Will last half a day on light work with a 5Ah battery.
My other is a 30 yr old bosch blue 110v that my dad gave me with a transformer years ago. It gets abused big time, gets dropped at least once every time I get it, out vibrates like hell and gets very warm on heavy work but just won't die.

 

[MetalMonkey]

I prefer rat tails and paddles.
I have:

Two Metabo 125 rat tail quick (usually set up for cutting and grinding).
One Metabo 115 paddle quick.
One Hitachi 115 side switch jobby (not keen on the slide switch on this one)
One Silverline 115 rat tail which has had three sets of brushes and a lifetime of abuse and won't die, worth every penny of the £8 it cost me on clearance. Usually a wire wheel or flap on this.
One Hitachi 18v cordless paddle for convenience when away from the workshop.

Killed a couple of cheapies too.

 

[zeppelin builder]

For a 9" you can't beat the Hitachi G23MR, it is not the standard 9" Hitachi, they are decent but not a patch on that one.

For 4.5" I usually go with Hitachi as well but the last two I have got are not as good as the older ones, will have to look and see if they do a better 4.5" like they do the 9"

For my birthday I got one of the new DeWalt 54v cordles FlexVolt 5" grinders. Sadly I have not been able to use it as it is a bare one and the other half thought I could just use the battery from my Makita drill in it I now have to wait until Screwfix are back to normal so I can exchange for the one that includes batteries, I will also have to part with £220

i was at nigg when stanley tools were tied in with CRCevans they made a demo video with the 54 v they had a drone hovering about with a camera dodging the doos while a pipey
cut and prepped an 8 inch pipe good machine im told

 

[MetalMonkey]

For a 9" you can't beat the Hitachi G23MR, it is not the standard 9" Hitachi, they are decent but not a patch on that one.
For 4.5" I usually go with Hitachi as well but the last two I have got are not as good as the older ones, will have to look and see if they do a better 4.5" like they do the 9"

I nearly picked up a G23MR, but I really have no need for a 9", and quite frankly it scared me! Built like a tank though.
I've not tried one, but when I was looking for the 115 equivalent the G12SE2 (G13 for 125) was the closest I could find, beefier build and made in Ireland instead of China I believe - might be worth a look.
Or just buy a metabo

 

[Hood]

i was at nigg when stanley tools were tied in with CRCevans they made a demo video with the 54 v they had a drone hovering about with a camera dodging the doos while a pipey
cut and prepped an 8 inch pipe good machine im told

Aye reports seem favourable, it will be a good while before I can comment though as Screwfix won't do returns at the moment
I personally would have preferred a 4.5" as I am not keen on having to use two hands with small grinders but even if you could grip this thing it is bleeding heavy so you would need to use it two handed anyway.

I nearly picked up a G23MR, but I really have no need for a 9", and quite frankly it scared me! Built like a tank though.
I've not tried one, but when I was looking for the 115 equivalent the G12SE2 (G13 for 125) was the closest I could find, beefier build and made in Ireland instead of China I believe - might be worth a look.
Or just buy a metabo

Aye the G23MR is made in Ireland so likely the top end 4.5" ones are as well.

 

[Memmeddu]

Aye reports seem favourable, it will be a good while before I can comment though as Screwfix won't do returns at the moment
I personally would have preferred a 4.5" as I am not keen on having to use two hands with small grinders but even if you could grip this thing it is bleeding heavy so you would need to use it two handed anyway.




Aye the G23MR is made in Ireland so likely the top end 4.5" ones are as well.

Mine One is made in Ireland
The MR should be the one which has the alluminium motor housing right?
Andrew Camarata has one the G18MR I believe if my thoughts are right

 

[Memmeddu]

I nearly picked up a G23MR, but I really have no need for a 9", and quite frankly it scared me! Built like a tank though.
I've not tried one, but when I was looking for the 115 equivalent the G12SE2 (G13 for 125) was the closest I could find, beefier build and made in Ireland instead of China I believe - might be worth a look.
Or just buy a metabo

You should buy both
I have the G12SE2 it's a real workhorse , very reliable and well made
I love it I've also a metabo 125mm the only difference is that the Hikoki (mine still Hitachi and made in Ireland) and the metabo is that the metabo has the safety clutch ,the newest version of the Hikoki has all the optionals that mine metabo has
Antivib handle, quick adjustable guard, restart protection and soft start
I was almost buying another one but lockdown came and when we will be able to come back to our lives I couldn't take it