What is it with angle grinders…?

[premmington]

Plenty of serious rust. They have a hard time as I’m sure the rust/metal particles get regurgitated into the machine. The other thing I use often are those nasty nasty knotted wheels which are a little weighty on start up. It’s mostly always the armatures that go although this last one just won’t start and there’s power.
It’s not used every day and sometimes not even for a couple of weeks.
The thing is what is an angle grinder actually fit for? It’s a working tool.
The reason I’ve used Bosch is that they are the slimmest and comfortable for a one hand hold.

I have them lying about with flap wheels on them - cutting discs on them - grinding wheels on them - scotch pad on them.

Wheel changing I hate...

 

[Bluemotion]

I’ve an old black and decker from the ‘Professional’ range that’s 40 yrs old but as it hasn’t quick release, a thin spindle for 4” not 4”1/2 and a very unsafe ‘two hands switch, means it’s for desperate use only

 

[premmington]

I’ve an old black and decker from the ‘Professional’ range that’s 40 yrs old but as it hasn’t quick release, a thin spindle for 4” not 4”1/2 and a very unsafe ‘two hands switch, means it’s for desperate use only

I do like the tool less nuts and spindle lock on newer grinders - it seems horible to get pin spanners and thin shaft wrenches out now

 

[brightspark]

black and decker professional was good gear on par with wolf and kango

 

[Bluemotion]

You don't need an extended warranty, you are covered by the CRA2015 for six years, without jumping through hoops as long as you bought it for personal use.

What’s CRA2015?

 

[tigdlo]

I've only had 2 fail in hobby use, a Lidl after 2 years of very occasional use and a Kinzo, the spindle bearing got a little rough so I thought I would replace it, the aluminium casting was so poor it broke removing the circlip, amazingly the pliers had a stronger grip on the circlip than the strength of the aluminium casting.

I would think you are asking too much of your grinders, too low power for the work you are doing or using them for well above a reasonable duty cycle.

 

[brightspark]

I do like the tool less nuts and spindle lock on newer grinders - it seems horible to get pin spanners and thin shaft wrenches out now

all mine are pin spanner not a problem my only quick change gear is sds and a multitool and that IS a must changing the blade and its angle in diffrent positions times money

 

[oilcooled :)]

you couldn’t kill them small hikoki grinders the 730 watt

 

[Bluemotion]

you couldn’t kill them small hikoki grinders the 730 watt

Is that a play on words ie hitachi? Or a worthy tool on its own merit?

 

[reb78]

Like Bosch???

Like Lidl... I have three. The best two are before Parkside was a green colour. Had them getting on 20 years for hard hobby use. Brushes have gone in one but I have some spares somewhere ...

The later one isn't as good. Seem to need two hands to use it because of 'safety' features.

 

[brightspark]

most grinders are killed by folk pressing on 2 hard. slowing the machine down cuts less inficiently .wears the disks out faster takes longer and overheats the motor see it all the time .most havent a clue

 

[Ed.]

Try the Aldi rat tail 5" grinders, they are AU$30 have a 1200+W motor and seem to last well no matter what I do to them. I have several of them and at that price if one breaks it is no biggie (hasn't happened yet). The only grinders I had fail on me over 50 years are the ones that I use for cutting concrete or fiberglass.

 

[premmington]

black and decker professional was good gear on par with wolf

First few grinders I owned were Wolf 4" grinderette things like the bottom one here




Thank god grinders have got more powerfull over the years.

 

[reb78]

Is that a play on words ie hitachi? Or a worthy tool on its own merit?

It's the new name for Hitachi. They rebranded I think.

 

[tigdlo]

Is that a play on words ie hitachi? Or a worthy tool on its own merit?

They rebranded a while ago the company was called Hitachi Koki but tools were branded just Hitachi, now they are Hikoki

 

[brightspark]

First few grinders I owned were Wolf 4" grinderette things like these

View attachment 470154


Thank god grinders have got more powerfull over the years.

yea i paid 60 quid for same as the bottom one 45 years ago wasnt up to much niether powerwise

 

[premmington]

yea i paid 60 quid for same as the bottom one 45 years ago wasnt up to much niether powerwise

£60 quid - ouch - power tools were dear in times gone past!

I had two of these 4" things - one red and one sort of "white and blue". Not sure how much they cost in 1985 - but they were low powered.

Bet the red one is still in my domestic garage somewhere if you looked.

Bought them when I first starting working for myself.

Next one I bought was a 4.5" Porter Cable one - that had a bit more power

--------

Yeah I have been thru more than 11 mini grinders in my working life...

But not as many as I have had 1/2" air impact wrenches. At one time - I used to buy these in matching pairs - pairs of IR ones - pairs of Snap On ones. I would hate to count how many of these I have worked to death....

 

[Turbo]

Like Bosch???

Made in China!

 

[tigdlo]

Yet another hits the dust!!

What's actually failing?

My small grinders 15 to 40ish years old don't do much work between the 5 of them, but over the years I have still fitted a few bearings, a set of brushes, most of the power cables and a switch after dropping one. Tools need maintenance to get the most of them. The Lidl grinder had a faulty armature, now it's been replaced and they don't want the old one back I will take it apart and take a better look.

Anyone know when this grinder was made? I was given it in about 2000, looked old then, had a local shop replace the armature bearings then and I replaced the brushes, spindle bearing and cable about 5 years ago.

 

[jo1010]

best grinder i have ever bought is a second hand dewalt 4 and a half grinder 240v for 20 quid. it got a decent powerfull motor and not too heavy

De Walt seconded. I bought a later model a couple of years ago to replace an earlier one - the later ones have more power too and cut faster (you don't know you need more power until you see it in action )