Which angle grinder ?

[tigler]

Need to get a new electric angle grinder, dropped mine off the roof of a race transporter a few months ago, too badly broken to repair
It was a Bosch, good few years old but I'd had it from new, looked after it and it was good and worked fine.
Had a scope around at various brands and just wondered what the consensus of opinion here was ?
Dewalt can be had at good prices at the mo and look quite business like.
Oh yes, it would be a 240 volt and 115mm disc size.

 

[Hitch]

Blue Bosch, starting with GWS for small grinders.

Id never buy a dewalt, a mate had one, brand new, first outing the nut sudenly split in 2. Leaving a loose disc flying around.

 

[langy]

I usually use DeWalt or Makita but i was working at someones workshop and had forgotton my grinder so popped into B&Q and got a 4.5" 750 watt Ryobi, Its the model with the spindle lock spanner in the handle, What a superb little grinder and it was only £36

 

[langy]

Must of been a 1 off i've had all 3 of my DeWalt 5" grinders for over 15 years, Still going.

Blue Bosch, starting with GWS for small grinders.

Id never buy a dewalt, a mate had one, brand new, first outing the nut sudenly split in 2. Leaving a loose disc flying around.

 

[scarecrow]

i had Makita and DeWalt the DeWalt feels more DIY than the Makita

 

[grandads_shed]

i have had a green bosch for 17 years, it stopped just over a year ago. i replaced the brushes (£6+) and still useing it,
whilst that was out of order waiting for the brushes to arrive i bought a blue bosch .. would recomend them to any one.

 

[Mikey D]

Ive , got both a dewalt and a blue bosch both 115mm and both ok imho

Id say metabo are probably the best but cost that bit more i should think.

cheers mike

 

[Welderpaul]

Blue Bosch everytime.

 

[mangocrazy]

I'd agree that Metabo are probably top of the quality tree, but do cost more. I use Lawson HIS for most power tools (their 115mm angle grinder page is here : http://www.lawson-his.co.uk/scripts/products.php?cat=4%20%BD%22%20Angle%20Grinders ).

They also do have the occasional clearance sale on Metabo stuff, which is well worth looking out for. I recently bought an (admittedly cheap) Makita angle grinder and the on/off switch failed after not much use. To replace it I bought a Hitachi and that has been excellent so far. It appears to me that Hitachi are making a push into professional quality power tools and are pricing stuff aggressively to get market share.

 

[SC_BK]

Gotta be a rear handle, so much easier to use (imo), only disadvantage is you can't get into as many tight spots

Bare in mind if you're buying for yourself the VAT goes up very soon, get your order in now!

 

[pedrobedro]

Gotta be a rear handle, so much easier to use (imo), only disadvantage is you can't get into as many tight spots

Bare in mind if you're buying for yourself the VAT goes up very soon, get your order in now!

It will make £2.50 difference per £100, hardly going to influence the purchase of a £40 angle grinder. It's going up to 20% not by 20% Metabo with marathon motor are brilliant tools but they don't come cheap. I have a couple of rear handle 125mm grinders and the disadvantage with them is you have to use both hands.

 

[graffian]

Must of been a 1 off i've had all 3 of my DeWalt 5" grinders for over 15 years, Still going.

The nut split on my little bosch grinder, it was pretty new when it happened and I used big old nut from a black and decker for rest of the grinders life.

 

[chunkolini]

This thread could start a fight.
My first 'grown up' power tool was a Makita grinder. Spent ages reasearching it, the sucker blew up three months later, went bang, spat bits out and that was the end, had a horrible stiff lead that was too short.

Now I have three dewalt grinders, lovely flexible long leads, oldest is about 5 years.

Reccomended, look for reconditioned stuff on fleabay.

or you could find the HwaaFong or whatever jobbies for a fiver, some go on for ages.

I reccomend at least two grinders, one with a 1mm cutting disc and one with a grinding disc, or ideally a third with a fairly fine grade flap wheel. Will save years off your life changing discs. I Have spent more of my life changing grinder discs than I have spent shaving.

Chunko'.

 

[ford34/2]

Your all gonna laugh, BUT ALDI about 12/14 quid when they are on offer, 240 volt only, thrash it to bits 3 year no quible guarantee, pays your money takes your pick. got it as a spare cause all 3 Hitachi were set up for other bits, wire brushes on, flap wheels etc, gets used a hell of a lot and hasnt complained yet, dont know the maker --Aldi --maybe Wolf? any one know??
Use Blue Bosch and Dewalt at work, cant say they are any better than 110 volt Hitachi, or the 240 Aldi. They all need brushes eventually.

Stan

 

[the snooper]

I Have spent more of my life changing grinder discs than I have spent shaving.

Chunko'.

from your photos you've never shaved so in theory you could have only changed one disc

 

[chunkolini]

I have shaved, I got to once a week and stopped.

Chunko'.

 

[Ian D]

Blue Bosch, take off lead, put on chunky extra long one, sorted.

 

[tigler]

So, it seems there is a bias towards blue Bosch. Will have a touchy feely session at B&Q to see what talks to me !

 

[Hitch]

I said blue Bosch, For a 4.5" they are great, the body on ther are quite slim so often a little better in tighter spaces.
We only use Bosch and Hitachi for grinders at work now, theres been Dewalt, theres meen Metabo, theres been Makita.... none of them stand the test of time, except the dewalt, mainly beceause its been on the shelf for about 3 years untouched, beceause its an underpowered piece of junk.

The only problem we get with the Bosch ones is brushes or cables. Just through the amount of use they get.

 

[Ian D]

I have 3 Blue bosch 2 x 240 1 x 110 1 x new in a case makita (never gets used) 1 x Hitachi never gets used thats 4.5 inch ones and 2 Hitachi 9" one for stone one for metal. Hitachi is the best for 9" in my view.