What is it with angle grinders…?

[Erie Fred]

A neighbour who is a hillbilly by any reckoning annually attends a race meeting (beer) for run what you brung ride on mowers. There appears to be no scrutiny or rules apart from a width gate. Some of them use methanol, I asked if that most allowed, yes of course was the answer.

"He was headed down to Knoxville with a weekend load, you could smell the wiskey burning down copperhead road..."

 

[Jelly_Sheffield]

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

I can usually get the nut loose just by gripping the wheel and twisting, it's only broken cutting disks that cause recourse to the pin spanner.

 

[charlysays]

Like that you’re a parkside lover and I’ve a few of those too.
I’ve also got a collection of Ferrex and those are on 5yrs hard working with the 20/40v 5amh batteries and still going strong. Also included in that is a ferrex 40v thin bodied grinder that’s still working well after two year’s although power hungry. See not everything fades at 12 months

Kinda like aftermarket car parts there are bargains to be had.
A lot of what they sell is sold by other tool shops are a lot more and with less warranty.
For years I forked out loads on Ring cordless inspection lights and they just didn't last or work well.
Bought 3 Lidl inspection lights which Re USB chargeable for about 20 quid for the lot, been great for years now even after being dropped repeatedly and sprayed with all sorts.

 

[pint]

i like the makita 9554 or similar, they do die but they're easy to work on and the bits are available and cheap, i've only bought one the other 3 were free cos people just throw them away

the 20? year old dewalt has had nothing but a blow out but that model isn't available anymore, was probably too reliable and we can't have that

bosch always die, everytime, ime

my milwaukee m18 fuel has had 3 warranty returns, get the extended warranty is my recommendation

the most surprising two are the silverstone pos that only ever has one of those awful wire wheels on it cos who cares if it dies, it won't die. and the einhell cheepy that i got to rake a wall cos the dust/constant running usually buggers them, it's still going

tldr: honestly there seems no ryhme or reason as to which grinders last the best, other than i have zero luck with bosch

 

[roofman]

My money goes on these, brushless DCG405N XR 18v with the 5 amp battery's, also fitted with the Milwaukee fast release nuts. I have 2 of them and cant wear them out.

 

[Bobupndown]

Had a B&Q own brand one for years and was really good. When it died I bought their current replacement model. Burnt out within an hours use. Took it back and changed for another one the same which is fine. Also have a cordless Ryobi one which is handy for small jobs. Mine get limited use, not a daily tool I earn a living with.

 

[Bluemotion]

So the full conclusion is most current angle grinders no matter what premium make they or for professional hard use are that they all destroy themselves close to the end of their warranty times. After a twenty yr span of branded ‘this is bulletproof’ grinders I’m probably going to go back to ‘throw away’ priced units with the odd exception of Metabo or hikoki.

 

[nickk]

That could well be a sad conclusion,manufacturing spends a lot of effort into r&d,part of which is evaluating lifespans & what fails quickest.

 

[Morrisman]

I met a man who owned many chainsaws, he owned several Stihl machines that he had spent more money on than the original unit cost, expansion chambers, exotic porting and bespoke carbs, all to cut wood faster than others between drinking beers, I remain amazed that people can afford to indulge themselves in truly niche sports.

Do a quick google for ‘V8 chainsaws’, you will be amazed the lengths people do go to for performance.

 

[MattF]

So the full conclusion is most current angle grinders no matter what premium make they or for professional hard use are that they all destroy themselves close to the end of their warranty times. After a twenty yr span of branded ‘this is bulletproof’ grinders I’m probably going to go back to ‘throw away’ priced units with the odd exception of Metabo or hikoki.

Those two are likely little, if any, better. Yes, is the answer, IMHO. Handtools, in business use, ought literally be classed as consumables. When you work out replacement cost against work done, it adds up. As long as they last long enough to earn their cost, beyond that point they're good.

 

[MetalMonkey]

So the full conclusion is most current angle grinders no matter what premium make they or for professional hard use are that they all destroy themselves close to the end of their warranty times. After a twenty yr span of branded ‘this is bulletproof’ grinders I’m probably going to go back to ‘throw away’ priced units with the odd exception of Metabo or hikoki.

I think the full conclusion was there is something wrong for you to be going through that many grinders irrespective of brand, but a lot depends on the circumstances and over what period.

Some brands are better than others, but it doesn't always follow and some models are just bad or you get unlucky.
My cheap (cost £9 on clearance) silverline grinder finally died, its had at least three sets of brushes and been used almost exclusively for rust removal with a wire brush - restored several vehicles with it. I'd treat that as a consumable and I can't complain at all.
I had another cheap grinder (name escapes me) which I ended up binning because it came with such an imbalance in the shaft it was painful to use.

The rest of mine are Hitachi/Hikoki or Metabo and have been solid, but I look after them, don't overwork them, let them cool off and keep them clean.
I appreciate if you are trying to make a living with them that is not always practical, but in that case regular replacement of tools should be baked into the operating costs really.

I prefer a 5" inch rat tail for wire wheels, you get a better grip and they are a beefier machine while not being too heavy.
I keep the smaller 4.5" grinders usually just for slitting or a bit of touch up.

Wire wheels are really a last resort for me, if there is a better, quicker, less labour intensive way to remove rust - chemically, blasting etc, I'll do that out of preference unless its a very quick task.

Another thing to consider would be if you are using long extension leads, running from generators or other electrical issues, that could be a factor too.

They aren't a tool that lasts for ever and generally they have a hard life, but you should expect reasonable service from them IMO.

 

[Ian X]

Do a quick google for ‘V8 chainsaws’, you will be amazed the lengths people do go to for performance.

I watched a few of those, the cutting part is many less seconds than the youtube adverts and the channel preamble, b-u-u-u-u-z, 30" log sawn through.

 

[JOEPRO]

Does anyone use air angle Grinders and are they any good? Do they have decent torque and are they excessively noisy in use?

 

[Trevorleach]

Does anyone use air angle Grinders and are they any good? Do they have decent torque and are they excessively noisy in use?

They might be better npw, but every one I have used would not pull the skin off a rice pudding, these were 4 or 4.5 inch, was a long time ago.

 

[charlysays]

Does anyone use air angle Grinders and are they any good? Do they have decent torque and are they excessively noisy in use?

I have a CPtools one. I'm gonna say it's 3" actually. It's pretty powerful for an air tool and is useful for confined spaces. I probably wouldn't buy one new tho, i inherited this one and whilst it's useful, not useful enough to go and buy one new. Die grinder is way more useful overall for inaccessible spots but obvs produces horrible sharp swarf.

 

[Robotstar5]

Does anyone use air angle Grinders and are they any good? Do they have decent torque and are they excessively noisy in use?

We had them in the production welders booths as corded grinders would have been wrecked in short order.

 

[ajlelectronics]

So the full conclusion is most current angle grinders no matter what premium make they or for professional hard use are that they all destroy themselves close to the end of their warranty times. After a twenty yr span of branded ‘this is bulletproof’ grinders I’m probably going to go back to ‘throw away’ priced units with the odd exception of Metabo or hikoki.

I can't understand why you would be destroying them so quickly, but as I have already pointed out, you have up to six years to bring a claim against your retailer for an "Inherent defect". Note that it is only valid for consumers and not business to business sales.

You also have the protection of Section 75 CCA via your credit card issuer. You do use your credit card don't you?

 

[Bluemotion]

I can't understand why you would be destroying them so quickly, but as I have already pointed out, you have up to six years to bring a claim against your retailer for an "Inherent defect". Note that it is only valid for consumers and not business to business sales.

You also have the protection of Section 75 CCA via your credit card issuer. You do use your credit card don't you?

Yes it’s business use I have them for. Ive just come to the conclusion that’s it’s yet another one of those 12 months use items then throw as they get air blown through cleaned and well looked after. What I think the problem is the weight and torque from knot wheels as it’s used on low wattage motors. Claiming on a credit claim is not an answer to a long term quality issue as they all hit 12 months manufacture expectations.

 

[ajlelectronics]

as they all hit 12 months manufacture expectations.

There is no such thing! Your contract is with the retailer, not the manufacturer and the law says that goods must be of merchantable quality. It also matters not what you use them for, but how you decide to identify as a buyer. If you can be a "consumer" rather than a Ltd company, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 applies in full and S75 CCA backs it up. As long as the tool has not been "abused" there should be no problem with a claim.

 

[Bluemotion]

There is no such thing! Your contract is with the retailer, not the manufacturer and the law says that goods must be of merchantable quality. It also matters not what you use them for, but how you decide to identify as a buyer. If you can be a "consumer" rather than a Ltd company, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 applies in full and S75 CCA backs it up. As long as the tool has not been "abused" there should be no problem with a claim.

That’s interesting and very good to
Know. What’s your background knowledge by the way just out of curiosity?