At some point I'm going to buy an angle grinder. I don't need one that often, but when I do .... Anyway, it's just for me doing projects around the house and occasionally cutting off a nut or bolt or cutting small metal stock, things like that. So I obviously don't need anything great, but I don't buy crap power tools. I'm thinking the usual Dewalt or Makita. No more Ryobi ANYTHING for me, not going down that hell of a rabbit hole. I'm not a tradesman or a fabricator, just me and my garage and house and cars an such. I like making things and I'd like to start using more metal and less wood. I won't be cutting or grinding anything big like a large thick pipe, but probably 1/8 and 1/4 aluminum, steel and brass metal stock you pick up at the hardware store.

So, I think I'm going get a 4-1/2 inch model. BUT, I don't know if I should go with a 6 amp, 7 amp, 11 amp, or 12 amp. They are all 4-1/2 inch grinders, but relatively the same size more or less (I think).

So how do I know if I need more amps, or less amps ? How much is too much or not enough ?

Dewalt’s standard 7 amp would be fine for you. Amazon has it for 58 bucks.

https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-...e%2Caps%2C148&sr=8-6

Dewalt. Can’t go wrong.

Couldn't find my makita when we moved 15 yrs ago. So I bought a cheap "tool shop" brand from menards. $10 after rebate I think. I liked it better than the makita so I kept it and gave the makita to my BIL when I found it. Still going strong today.

Another vote for Dewalt. I work in a metal fab shop, and ours see pretty heavy use.

If they have a problem, typically a short in the cord from repeated twist and flexing, or a bearing (heavy use!), we send them out to a Dewalt service center to be rebuilt. Not sure how many manufacturers offer that.

Depends on how you are using them. With heavy use on the ranch when we were doing a lot of fabrication, we found that it actually made the most sense to buy Harbor Freight 4 1/2 and 9" grinders and buy the insurance on them. They would die sometime after the first year, but before the insurance ran out. You'd take them back, they'd replace them and off you went. We tried Makita a couple times, but heavy use just kills an angle grinder eventually, and the Makitas didn't last any longer on average than the Harbor Freight ones, and you couldn't just pay another 10% (or whatever it was) for an extended warranty.

Now for something that was going to get occasional, relatively light use around the house, I'd buy a nicer one. For something that is going to get rode hard and used up though, I'd go with HF and the insurance. It's like buying 2 for 110% of the cost of buying one.

I bought and wore out a Harbor Freight one to supplement my 9". It still runs but sounds like a thrasher. It was money very well spent and it never let me down. I replaced it with a Milwaukee cordless 18V fuel and really love being cordless.

IF you have a battery system already I would go with that brand in cordless but otherwise it sounds like for light duty use most any corded would do.

Just look at the switch or paddle configuration, some are hard to operate in less than ideal positions. Go hands on before you buy if possible.

I worked in a fabrication shop for years. Ever grinder big and small in that place was a Metabo. Never had an issue and were always worked hard. Still made in Germany

Metabo - 5" Variable Speed Angle Grinder - 2,800-10,500 RPM - 9.5 AMP W/Electronics, Lock-On (600388420/WEV 10-125), Concrete Renovation Grinders/Surface Prep Kits/Cutting/Finishing https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00W..._api_i_Dxr2DbEWH7PT9

I have the DeWalt 20v cordless and it has been great for light use. I like being able to take it where I need it without running a cord.

If I used it a lot or for heavy jobs I would get a corded one but for my needs it works great.

 
I would advise wearing a full face shield, in addition to safety glasses. Cut off wheels on those high rpm tools do at times disintegrate and send pieces of the wheel flying. A piece of the wheel could easily embed itself in you. Even when using a grinding wheel (as opposed to a cut off wheel), a full face shield is a good idea due to the tiny bits of metal flying around in those sparks.
 
I do have a Bosch cordless, because I'm heavily invested in their 18v battery system for a number of tools. I use it for quick, light grinding jobs. But for real work, a corded angle grinder is the way to go. I have Makita, Bosch, and Hitachi in corded, and all three brands have performed well over the years. Less amps means using a slower cutting/grinding feed speed. You don't want the tool to bog down. Let it do the work with the power it has. Metabo is top of the line, and the price reflects that fact.

^^^^

(Voice of experience: ) And don't set it down until it has completely stopped spinning.

quote:

Originally posted by PowerSurge:
Dewalt’s standard 7 amp would be fine for you. Amazon has it for 58 bucks.

https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-...e%2Caps%2C148&sr=8-6

I recommend spending an extra $22 for the 11 amp model. You can grind longer and harder without it heating up in your hand. I have one and it was been abused and still runs along like new.

Dewalt 4.5" 11 amp angle grinder at Amazoom.

Whatever model you get, get ANSI rated safety glasses and think leather gloves. One protects the eyes, the other your hands, and one day you will be glad you were wearing them.

Ive used both the Dewalt and Makita grinders and either is good to go. Used Dewalt in a weld shop grinding/blending welds. The grinder is absolute evil toward metals. Great tool. Dewalt brand of grinding wheels are as good as any made.

I wanted one for years but didn't really need one until I was trying to cut a well casing the was kicking my sawzalls ass. I picked up a Dewalt angle grinder, had the casing cut below grade in about 3 minutes and said I should have bought one sooner. I still don't use it often but when I grab it things cut cut quickly. It's been great with a diamond wheel for doing tile too.

I bought the Dewalt with a paddle switch.If it ever gets away from you it will switch off as soon as it jumps out of your hand.

This Craftsman is got to be over two decades old. It may have been professionally repaired once, like a $30-$40 service. Even though it cost maybe $60, it was still worth it to fix.

I've wanted a battery model for ages but the corded model will definitely count when there is heavy sustained cutting to do.

Cutting apart the cast iron bells of 4" and bigger soil pipes is most of its use. And slicing / trimming up crushed and snapped pipe ends.

Really good protection to eyes / ears / lungs is crucial, but that is another thread entirely. It'll easily jump to 15-20 pages, in fact.

One thing about battery models run time.
I have a Milwaukee 18v - a popular model.
Both my grinder and reciprocating saw will use up batteries fairly quick with hard use.
So have PLENTY of batteries as you will be changing often.
I recently repainted a metal gate and used the grinder with a flap wheel.
I went through several flap wheels and batteries.
The battery only lasted about 15 min of hard use.
You can do a lot of damage (or good depending on how you look at it) with a grinder in 15 minutes.

I have four angle grinders. The two corded ones are Dewalt, and both cordless ones are Milwaukee Fuel M18. All are GTG, and would serve you well.

Another vote for Metabo. It is the preferred brand in the shop where I work.

Please use the proper PPE. Safety glasses, full face shield and leather working gloves. Your face and hands will thank you.

For an occasional use I find my HF unit to be more than adequate. Not a glamorous piece, but for 9.95 how badly could you get hurt?