Angle Grinders Part Deux

[HasBean]

As I have several 115mm grinders already I really shouldn't be thinking about getting another one but..........

I have a cheap one from B&Q which has a flap disk on which I think is about to pack up shortly (the heat through my gloves after a couple of minutes is too much). Another cheap one has become the grinder but I don't hold out much hope for that one either .
However my Hitachi I got for nothing (came free when my dad bought his 9" grinder) is great, apart from the angle of the side handle (Many years ago had an accident which resulted in my hand being broken away from the rest of my arm and now I'm limited to the angles I can hold my hand at)
This grinder however is just right for cutting and lives with a diamond disk in it.

After all this inane drivel my question is;

Sometimes I find a 115mm grinder just a little too small for cutting but a 9" grinder too big.
Thought a 5" grinder wouldn't make too much of a difference so would a 7" grinder be a good compromise? Was hoping it would give a better depth of cut than a 4 1/2" one but lighter than a 9" job (I can always borrow my dads if I need to)
Only problem again would be trying to find one a 90 deg side handle, than again if I only use it for cutting that won't be a problem.

Any ideas anyone?

Cheers,

Paul

 

[Hitch]

A lot of the 7" grinders use the same body as the 9" others are smaller but by no means easier to use.
A couple of makers do 6" models, based on 5" sized body, i think Metabo and Makita.

The difference between 4.5 and 5 is supprising though.

 

[HasBean]

I've had a look around the internet and there's very little in the way of 7" disks anyway As you mentioned it Hitch I'll probably wait until the first cheap one dies and replace it with a 5" job.

Paul

 

[HasBean]

I now find I have quite a bit of 6mm angle to chop up plus some other odds and sods so a 9" job is on the shopping list. Any recomendations? It'll probably have to be off the internet as well (local Makita dealer has the grand total of nothing, Bosch & Hitatchi dealer has two of each but look like very old models) Would soft start be a good idea?
Any thoughts gratefully received.

Paul

 

[Archie]

I have the DeWalt 9" with soft start. It's very smooth and vibrates very little. Soft start is not essential (I only have because I bought it practically new off a mate who had no use for it) and if it's going to cost a lot more I'm not sure I'd bother. If the option's there and the price is reasonable go for it.

 

[Robotstar5]

I used Homebase own brand "performance" 9 inch grinder to turn this



into this



in about an hour with no problems

 

[ben8vgte]

I like milwaukee grinders, but what ever you buy check the speed at which it runs, makita tend to be a little slower and eat there disk's where as hitachi tend to be faster which helps the disk's last

 

[Hitch]

We have had a couple of milwaukee 5" grinders, i cant stand the thing, slightest bit of overload and it cuts out

 

[ben8vgte]

I've got the 4.5 ones never cut out maybe different control circuit in the 5 ? sanded down 3 cars to be metal ground out for meter's of leadflashing cut out brickwork, dropped one 3 lifts of scaffold, that one didnt fair to well

 

[madkayaker]

I usually put a loose not in the power lead round the scaffold so i don't drop it over the edge.

 

[ben8vgte]

i'd un plugged it to untangle a couple of 110 cables and kicked it off, should of been toe board's really also on same site the the stealth and hasety officer told me off for wrapping a cable round the scaffold

 

[madkayaker]

Ohps that is the floor of my system to. Ive recently been fitting aircraft lighting to 300m telecoms towers makes you really think about dropping stuff.

 

[ben8vgte]

lol i bet it does

 

[HasBean]

Well after a good look around it's basically down to;

1) Bosch GWS21-230AVH

2) Makita GA9020

Both off the internet as nothing local, other models come from suppliers who charge ridiculous postal charges if they'll supply me at all

Any recommendations guys?

Always liked the 'blue' Bosch as it's never let me down but some people swear by Makita (my only tool by them is an old 'red' diy electric plane which wasn't much cop , but then I never found the diy green Bosch tools impervious either )

Paul

 

[madkayaker]

Blue bosh for me. I have that one in 110V and it has never let me down. You can rotate the body round 90 degrees by undoing the 4 screws make it a lot comfy to hold for cutting if that's what you spend most of time doing with it.

 

[irondarren]

My own personal opinion of Bosch now is that it isnt what it used to be, i have had a few bosch blue bits and they dont seem to last as long as metabo ones. with grinders i tend to be very biased towards metabo because i have used and abused them and they last about 4 years. which for professional use i believe is very good. drop on the floor throw in the back of the motor etc

 

[HasBean]

Thanks guys, must say I like the idea of being able to rotate the handle to suit, I'd probably be using it for cutting mostly. Roll on the January sales

 

[ben8vgte]

Try here they have the aeg (same as old milwaukee) grinder for £20
http://www.knighton-tools.co.uk/acatalog/CORDED_MILWAUKEE.html