Angle grinders. Again.

[Fazed]

I like angle grinders, me.
I've got a few.
My favourite and the one that gets reached for first is a blue Bosch 100mm mini grinder used for linishing, but I like to have one fitted with a slitting disc for, er... slitting things without messing around changing discs and adapters.
I have an old Power Devil 115mm cheapy thing bought from Argos about 20 years ago, or I did until earlier today when it made a death rattle and threw the towel in. It was a heavy ugly old thing, flippin' noisy, but with a 900 watt motor it'd laugh in the face of most things it was introduced to.
I also have a Site (Makita) 115mm which is great, but it's 110v not 240v, which means dragging the tranny (steady now...) out of the depths of the garage to use it.

So - to re-cap - I'd like some recommendations for a 115mm (4'n'half inch in old money) angry grinder, 240v, powerful motor, but slim bodied and easily grippable to suit my extraordinarily small pixie hands and arthritic fingers.

Cheers chaps

 

[Luke]

I'd vote for a Makita. I've one in 125mm flavour and am very happy with it.

 

[bigtip]

i've got a makita and a dewalt 4 1/2 inch (i think they're 750 and 800watt respectively) and i like them both but i saw on a thread here somewhere these dewalt grinders with a cut away head which would allow access to more confined areas which is what i'm gonna get next time i can justify buying one.

 

[Drains]

Makita 4.5 inch- fits in my wee hand. Got three.

 

[chunkolini]

Got three of these, at this price you cant go wrong.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DEWALT-D2...Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item48424e0b1d

 

[Fazed]

Been looking at the Hitachis. Namely this one: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HITACHI-G...Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item43ab3e8f23
Never had a Hitachi angle grinder though. Anyone use one?

 

[Ed.]

I'm partial to these but they aren't cheap, and the rat tail handle allows a good grip, BOSCH GWS15-125CITH 1500W, I do have a hitachi grinder but it is the 9" G23UBY, very nice grinder.

 

[georgetheforge]

in my opinion the Hitachi ones are crap, had a few in the workshops when i was teaching- lasted about a term each so fairly rubbish if you ask me-

i had a metabo which was great and lasted about 7 years until the fan thingy disintegrated into a thousand tiny pieces-!

i reckon the bosch and makita ones are best, but expensive-

buy cheap, buy twice.

 

[Fazed]

in my opinion the Hitachi ones are crap, had a few in the workshops when i was teaching- lasted about a term each so fairly rubbish if you ask me-

i had a metabo which was great and lasted about 7 years until the fan thingy disintegrated into a thousand tiny pieces-!

i reckon the bosch and makita ones are best, but expensive-

buy cheap, buy twice.

Interesting.
I've got a Hitachi cordless drill which has been great. We had a couple of Hitachi 4" grinders at work but everyone - including myself - prefers the blue Bosch minis as they can take some abuse and are featherweight.

Might have to dig around for deals on the Bosch's and Makita's .

 

[chunkolini]

On the link I posted above he has some blue bosch grinders at good [rices
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BOSCH-GWS...Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item48432d5067

 

[PTvor]

Makita are definitely good. Apart from anything else, they feel nice to use.

Don't forget that they do about four 4 1/2" models. 700W, 800W, 1100W and 1400W with increasing prices.

The more expensive ones are recommended for mortar raking and heavy duty use and they have overload protection.

 

[Fazed]

On the link I posted above he has some blue bosch grinders at good [rices
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BOSCH-GWS...Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item48432d5067

Good find Chunko, must've missed that when I skimmed through your link earlier. They're usually about £60 with the VAT.

My finger is hovering over the 'buy it now' button, just waiting for the Mrs to go and do something other than hover over my bloody shoulder

 

[MarkMG]

I've got two of these, been lasting well, motors really smooth compared to previous grinders I've had.
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/con115-41-2in-angle-grinder-230v

 

[Epicyclic]

I've got a 20yr old Hitachi 4.5" and its had some stick in its life time! The head gears have a bit of backlash now but its still going strong.

Like every thing else, well most things, they are now v/a'ed down to a price rather than to a designed spec. We had an expensive Bosch "Professional model" d/a sander that went bang in less than 12 months, Bosch didn't want to know - they said it had been over used, so no more Bosch for me!

It pains me to say this but I'll probably buy a cheepie next time as my philosopy has always been to buy quality I sometimes buy older equipment 2nd hand if I know its ok.

Cheers, H.

 

[Fazed]

Update...

Finally clicked on the 'buy it now' on the Bosch grinder in Chunko's link. Arrived in the post this morning
After owning the smaller blue Bosch 100mm grinder for a few years and also abusing the same at work everyday with no problems, I thought I'd give it's slightly bigger brother a punt.
It's light, a lot lighter than the old Power Devil museum piece that passed away recently. 850 watts too, and it has a kind of soft start compared to the Power Devil which tried to rip your arm off everytime it was fired-up.

I like new tools, me

 

[chunkolini]

I was tempted to buy one but could not justify it.
The business where the head can be turned around might be useful? or will that never happen?
I buy most of my tools from that ebay seller as he does a lot of very good deals on 'reconditioned' stuff

 

[dannyp]

hitachi grinders have done well for me.

i have 2 of the 115mm koki ones with the big motor theys had mortar rakes on them for weeks at a time and still work fine, they have a few with the smaller motor at work they are takeing the abuse well so far.

also have a metabo and a makita both work well prefer the feel of the makita.

think milawalki are crap they have a funny power lead that plugs into the grinder it dies and they want £30 for a new one, thats never going to happen.

cheepeis seem to last me about a week before they go bang

 

[Robotstar5]

think milawalki are crap they have a funny power lead that plugs into the grinder it dies and they want £30 for a new one, thats never going to happen.

I've got an old B&D grinder with a removable lead, can't see the point

 

[Welderpaul]

I've got an old B&D grinder with a removable lead, can't see the point

My very first grinder had one like that. Had a locking thing that turned to hold it in I always assumed it was so you could share leads between power tools - couldnt see any other use for it.
Killed that early doors

 

[nickk]

Been looking at the Hitachis. Namely this one: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HITACHI-G...Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item43ab3e8f23
Never had a Hitachi angle grinder though. Anyone use one?

in my 27 years business i've had german bosch chinese bosch,hitachi aeg,millwaukee,& makita. The germans did 7&12 years,chinese not even the duration of the warranty hitachi 's 4 years[except my'80's 9" which is still going] aeg 2.5 yrs milkee 4 & still going ,makitas ;4yrs on 1 & another still going @ 3.5 yrs.For comfort bosch my favourite.During that time some had brush replacements.