Angle grinder - Professional or Hobby?

[bawjaws]

paul, i have them clicky springy ones on a couple of my grinders, they are the best thing since sliced breed! seriously, i used to bend the pins on my spanners trying to get the nuts off, now i can get the disc off even though most of my grinders locking pins are snapped!

 

[Hitch]

Ive been wary of dewalt grinders since a mate had a nut split in two mid use

The click nuts, the one i use is a bosch one, only use it on the 9" grinders.

5" never use a spanner for them, a quick knock with the palm of your hand and they undo, if its a knackered cutting disc, knock it on the edge of the bench. Tighten up hand tight, as long as they are tight they self tighten anyway.

 

[Welderpaul]

paul, i have them clicky springy ones on a couple of my grinders, they are the best thing since sliced breed! seriously, i used to bend the pins on my spanners trying to get the nuts off, now i can get the disc off even though most of my grinders locking pins are snapped!

Might have to invest in a couple o those.

 

[jaykay]

my makita is 30 yrs old,still going strong.

 

[madkayaker]

Ive attached the pin spanner to the plugs of my grinder so i don't loose them and as a reminder to unplug before changing disk.

 

[eil]

I only hand tighten on the 115 grinders but i have drilled two other holes opposite the factory ones on my old bosch blue because was allways picking up the wrong spanner or if I was sending the lad to get one for me id get the wrong one im shure u get the picture.

 

[Pistonheadz]

This - http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/d28113k-41-2in-angle-grinder-230v/path/14-angle-grinders-polishers-accessories

Not broke so far in 3 years of abuse.

 

[bawjaws]

while were still on the subject of grinders, does anybody know where ill be able to get spare wheel guards for hilti grinders? its for a bunch of DC 125-S grinders ive meaning to sort for a while, cheers

 

[silversid]

Is the Bosch GWS 8-115 4 1/2" (115mm) Angle Grinder 240v a good grinder for hobby use?

 

[hoodedclaw]

http://www.axminster.co.uk/product.asp?pf_id=793362&name=angle+grinder&user_search=1&sfile=1&jump=0

Just came across this deal. It's only a tenner off, but at £70 for a 4 1/2" and a 9" grinder, it's not too shabby. I've been giving one of the 4 1/2" ones light abuse at work for a couple of years with no bother, and I've got quite a few other Axminster own brand tools, which are all going strong.

 

[arkangel06]

get an expensive one

i though about the buying alot of cheap ones over a good one and its not worth it

buy a good one you will feel good about it and wont have any problems (we can hope)

 

[JimM]

OK, it looks like I'm definitely outnumbered on this one - may have to get a more expensive grinder just to see what all the fuss is about

Anyone know anything about 'Maktec' grinders apparently same people as Makita but presumably aimed at a less pro market??

Cheers

Jim

 

[araspitfire]

I have one of each....

A 4 dollar one (actually free, new, from my Dad), with the output bushing replaced by a roller bearing.. (still has plastic bevel gear though...)

I use this one with a flapper wheel for light prep and cleanup. It's not very powerful, but gets used a lot and works great.

I have a 50 euro one that does all the heavier work, cutting, heavy grinding, etc... I'd not be without two... I could use 3 actually... I'm often changing my cutting disk for a grinding disk as it is... not sure I'd be able to suffer always putting the flapper wheel on and off all the time...

Al...

 

[wyn]

Is the Bosch GWS 8-115 4 1/2" (115mm) Angle Grinder 240v a good grinder for hobby use?

I have three of them, had one for years, it's still going with a new lead and brushes....good grinder

 

[silversid]

I have three of them, had one for years, it's still going with a new lead and brushes....good grinder

Thanks for that, got chance of a new GWS 8 for £35.

Are the blue Bosch a better grinder than the green one's, reason I'm asking is my old green Bosch that I have had for years has just gone bang, had it in bits, and its totally knackered.

 

[Archie]

The blue Bosch stuff is the professional range, the green is for the average punter.

 

[Coo]

With a tool as potentially dangerous as a grinder - I really would not want to put faith in a cheap one.
They may do the job - but what parts are they scrimping on etc just a small worry for me.

I had a draper one, lasted 10 minutes, wont buy draper again...

Now I stick to Bosch

 

[MrFluffy]

Little grinder 4 1/2" etc, cheap and cheerful from the diy shoppe. Generally something bad happens to them before they wear out (get stood on, dropped and the casting gets damaged, get wet etc). Current cheapie is getting on for 3 years old now, last one was a bosch that the bevel gear let go one day after about two years of use, Ill buy another when i get my floor in workshop so I dont have to switch between cut/grind/wire discs.
Hard work, out comes the makita 110v 9" monster. Ive had it for about 15 years now, and I was sawing a window slot in a stone wall with a segmented disc with it yesterday.Its unwieldy, and has loads of gyro's when it spins up, but it gets the job done. When it breaks, Ill seek another one of the exact model out secondhand. 110v kit is just so tough...

Maybe my cheapie lasts because I don't ask it to take on jobs the size of mars

 

[knoba]

I'd say get a good one! It's vital to have a good; cutter, grinder & (to a lesser extent) a polisher. I have 7 125mm grinders. Out of them all; if I could only have one it would be this 'un;

It's a Makita 9565CV 125mm Angle Grinder!

Both light & comfortable; it has an adjustable rpm dial at the back. This feature allows grinding to take place at lower speeds and significantly increases the life of the abrasives and allows a gentler stock removal if required. High speeds are for cutting. The lower speed is also Ideal for polishing too. Price represents good value for money.

Well done Makita! - You give me what I want - and I'll give you; what you want.

 

[future_jack]

I think I might just go with the pro. I wonder do professional tools get marked down in the sales (January). I could imagine the diy stores stocking up on black and decker, bosch green (thinking presents for boyfriend, dad's) etc. and thus selling extra stock off in January but is pro a different story?