Recommend me a angle grinder

[zeppelin builder]

Metabo have got a 1700 watt 125mm model now should really perform

 

[Exuptoy]

I got a Clarke one following a Best Buy recommendation in Practical Classics which I killed within 1 day of hard use in my T2 Bay, returned it to MM thinking it was a one off, then killed the next one in another day (gearbox failure again), returned it again to MM where the guy in the counter said, mate, spend another £30 and have the Makita. Still got it 6 years later and it is still going strong.

Strangely the Bosch one I had years before died with a failed gearbox bevel gear too.

 

[Exuptoy]

Metabo have got a 1700 watt 125mm model now should really perform

For me 115mm will have better access.

 

[Richard.]

Metabo have got a 1700 watt 125mm model now should really perform

Yeah I seen that. I’d imagine there won’t be much that would slow that beast down.

 

[Turbo]

I use lots of angle grinders mostly for grinding out brick joints ready for re pointing.. I’ve used lots of them over many years !!

The very very best ??? Cheap as chips Parkside from Lidle.... Honest !,

125mm blade a 1200W motor and excellent build quality.. they come with a spare set of brushes as well. I’ve stripped a pair or two of them and made one good one from them. So trust me I know how good they are. Hitachi Makita Bosch last hours doing our destructible work. Park sides just go on and on.

Best bit ?? £20............

Trust me as a toolaholic that buys Milwaukee on a weekly basis saying the above is hard. But true.

When not on sale in Lidle you can get them of EBay but the bobbing rastards double the price. Search Parkside angle grinder.

Oh and a 3 year guarantee..

I have one of those 125mm parkside grinders & I agree on everything you say with loads of power & just keep running. But they are not as balanced as a Metabo & your hands get numb from vibration with extended use.

It was my go-to grinder for heavy grinding before I bought the metabo, now it lives with a knotted wire brush in it. I set the variable speed so that if the brush catches an edge the grinder stalls instead of jumping out of your hand!

 

[Kent]

I have one of those 125mm parkside grinders & I agree on everything you say with loads of power & just keep running. But they are not as balanced as a Metabo & your hands get numb from vibration with extended use.

It was my go-to grinder for heavy grinding before I bought the metabo, now it lives with a knotted wire brush in it. I set the variable speed so that if the brush catches an edge the grinder stalls instead of jumping out of your hand!

I have a feeling that some of these wire wheels are quite hard on the grinders. It's just a feeling mind

 

[Charliefarlie]

I have one of those 125mm parkside grinders & I agree on everything you say with loads of power & just keep running. But they are not as balanced as a Metabo & your hands get numb from vibration with extended use.

It was my go-to grinder for heavy grinding before I bought the metabo, now it lives with a knotted wire brush in it. I set the variable speed so that if the brush catches an edge the grinder stalls instead of jumping out of your hand!

I’ve spent a whole day grinding out brick joints and had no problems.. but that’s just me.. It would cost a fortune using Metabo or Hitachi as the machines are 4 times the price at least far less performance due to relatively low power motors and they last a fraction of the time. I do wear thick gloves which may explain why I can’t tell the difference between the expensive machines and the cheap ones ...

 

[DennisCA]

I have a 700w Makita I am quite happy with, unfortunately there seems to be a small crack on the gearbox. Not sure when it will give up the ghost. Might last for years yet. I would like a 230mm one and I got a gift certificate to a local store that sells Bosch tools so I guess I'll have to get one of those, though I think I'd prefer another Makita, or maybe Metabo.

My dad has a hitachi angle grinder from the early 90s, still going strong.

 

[DennisCA]

I also had a 125mm parkside, the gears stripped on it...

 

[MCKDAVID]

Have a look at Skil grinders, pretty solid. Not at the cheap end, but not at the expensive end either. Had mine (5) of them for years now, can't say they've had a particularly easy life, but not hammered either, and they've lasted well.. just the switches let them down, but other than that wouldn't fault them in terms of price / quality. Basically Bosch kit, well at least it's a Bosch service Centre you send them to for repair....

 

[fizzy]

I bought a Hitachi 9" and it came with a free 4.5". The 9" grinder is great - the 4.5" rubbish.
The best 4.5" I have is a Clarke/machine mart pro with a sliding switch. It is about 15 yrs old now so I don't know if current models are the same.

 

[fizzy]

Not the cheapest (particularly if you don't have the batteries) but I really like my Milwaukee Fuel grinder.

It's beautifully balanced to the point you can use it comfortably with one hand (whether you decide to or not is up to you...). The rapidstop is extremely useful. I had a cheapo 4.5" grinder and was taking off some paint of a Land Rover's sides which as the Milwaukee's batteries started overheating (was using them very hard on a very hot day) switched over to it. Melted the gearbox... Once the batteries cooled down the Milwaukee carried on. Used and abused it and it's taken everything with ease.

So useful and convenient having it battery powered.

Why is it called the fuel? Can you grind petrol tanks with it or what?

 

[Cobbler]

Why is it called the fuel? Can you grind petrol tanks with it or what?

The quote "melted the gearbox" perhaps gives you a clue. Maybe should be called "Handwarmer"

 

[sako243]

Why is it called the fuel? Can you grind petrol tanks with it or what?

Fuel is their brand name for the tools with brushless motors. If it doesn't have the fuel name it's normally a brushed motor.

 

[sako243]

The quote "melted the gearbox" perhaps gives you a clue. Maybe should be called "Handwarmer"

Melted the cheapo one not the Milwaukee.

 

[fizzy]

Fuel is their brand name for the tools with brushless motors. If it doesn't have the fuel name it's normally a brushed motor.

But why? Seems a bit crazy to me!

 

[Richard.]

I believe it’s to do with the gage on the battery. When you press the button to see how much charge is in it the increments light up one at a time representing a a gage type effect. I believe the fuel name originated from this as they call that indication the m18 battery fuel gage.

 

[fizzy]

Maybe you should write a strongly worded letter to their marketing department to let them know you disagree with their choice of branding - perhaps suggest an alternative?

What about the Turbo something? Or Laser? Just as pointless as fuel...............

 

[zeppelin builder]

Anyone tried the dewalt 54v battery one

 

[sako243]

I believe it’s to do with the gage on the battery. When you press the button to see how much charge is in it the increments light up one at a time representing a a gage type effect. I believe the fuel name originated from this as they call that indication the m18 battery fuel gage.

At the risk of going off topic there are no "fuel" batteries all of them (at least the M18s) have gauges. Fuel definitely refers to the motor.