I'm in the market for a grinder, but I really don't know what I'm looking for. I don't really have a specific use in mind, but I'd be using on the truck for metal work and things like that. I think electric is going to be the ticket for me, being that I don't have an air compressor. I would prefer not to spend enormous amounts of money, but I am willing to shell out a bit for a decent one that's going to last me a while.


Suggestions?

4 1/2" angle grinder works is what most people use. go to a tool store and pick one out that is comfortable for you. most of them use a 5/8 arbor which works well with grinding and cutting wheels and also have a decent selection of wire wheels. i'd stay away from cordless. remember, more amps, more power

4 1/2 Milwaukee with the highest amperage you can afford. (I want to say mine is 8.5 amps)

Its one of my most highly used tools. Costs me right around $100 about 6-7 years ago.

I have a cheap 4 1/2" harbor freight grinder I got a few years ago. I think I paid $20 for it, it works great, I havent had any problems with it. Well worth $20

I have 3 of the blue harbor freight cheapys that you can get for $10 on sale. I have yet to kill them using a wire wheel, a cup brush, and a grinding disk.

4 1/2 Milwaukee with the highest amperage you can afford. (I want to say mine is 8.5 amps)

Its one of my most highly used tools. Costs me right around $100 about 6-7 years ago.

:stupid

I use mine at least every other day, I've run it over, dropped it off roofs, left it out in the rain, and abused the hell out of it.

also I had the gear case on one of those $10 ones explode:duh

what ever you get be sure it comes with the deadman switch on it.

This is the one I got from HD. I'm pretty pleased with it so far.

http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImages/300/1b/1b4f1203-473a-4203-bca4-e0933c9bf9c6_300.jpg

i have a black and decker 4 1/2 i love it . it has fallen off a three storie biulding, picked it up and went back to useing it. i use mine as offter as i can it was like 90 bucks i dont remember but it was well worth it

I like a 8'' grinders. It is ALOT faster at getting the job done. Downside is that its hard to get into some places(but I have 8'' and 4.5'' grinders). I realy like Dewalt power tools. What ever brand you choose make sure it has a solid steel gearcase and cover(top part of case). Good luck.

i would get either a milwaukee, dewalt, or bosch

I like a 8'' grinders. It is ALOT faster at getting the job done. Downside is that its hard to get into some places(but I have 8'' and 4.5'' grinders). I realy like Dewalt power tools. What ever brand you choose make sure it has a solid steel gearcase and cover(top part of case). Good luck.

I've never seen an 8" grinder...



IMO you can never go wrong with Milwaukee. I have their 4.5" and a 7" (allthough I have been known to remove the guard to put 9" wheels in it. Not reccomended) and they work great. Not only do they work great, they work great no matter how old they get or how much they are used. Mine are fairly new since my old ones got stolen 3 years ago but they are still built the same way.
And yeah the 7 and 9" grinders are awesome for doing heavy duty grinding and fast material removal of rough work but you can't easilly do "precision" work with them. Plus if you use one all the time with small and light work they will kick your ass. Get a 4.5", but ONLY if it had the 5/8"x11 arbor if you can only afford one.

I'm overseas, so my options are limited to what I can get shipped to me. However, I'm looking at the DeWalt 28402K, which can be seen here (http://www.dewalt.com/us/products/tool_detail.asp?productID=10939). It's gotten good reviews on the website and it looks like a pretty good deal. Sears sells it for 100 bucks.

I'd go milwaukee, they are pretty fairly priced and work well. we have the M18 cordless set, the batteries last and charge pretty quickly. The M18 grinder they have is next on my list, the set we got only came with the impact, recip saw, drill, and circular saw.

I'm overseas, so my options are limited to what I can get shipped to me. However, I'm looking at the DeWalt 28402K, which can be seen here (http://www.dewalt.com/us/products/tool_detail.asp?productID=10939). It's gotten good reviews on the website and it looks like a pretty good deal. Sears sells it for 100 bucks.

I wouldn't get a DeWalt anything. They are the most overrated tools ever IMO.
And for the same $100 you have so many more choices out there.

I wouldn't get a DeWalt anything. They are the most overrated tools ever IMO.
And for the same $100 you have so many more choices out there.

agreed. milwaukee's cost about the same, but are a better built tool IMHO.
don't forget metabo grinders....the cadillac of grinders.:thumbup

sence your over seas i recomend millwakee they take abuse and keep working we use millwakee everything at work we trow our drills off scafolds the saz all has cut through live wire and just kept going the can be rebiuld wilwakee is your best bet. and by the way thank you for serving our country and best of luck

what ever you get be sure it comes with the deadman switch on it.

Agreed! I nearly lost a finger a few years ago from an old school grinder.

I wouldn't get a DeWalt anything. They are the most overrated tools ever IMO.
And for the same $100 you have so many more choices out there.

The old DeWalt argument again. :banghead

My old man bought a DeWalt grinder many years ago (before I can even remember) and I just went home last week and used it. It's like brand new minus all the dirt and grease on it. I love DeWalt tools....I also really like Milwaukee as said by everyone else.

Right now I have a Craftsman grinder and have been very pleased with it so far.

craftsman's powertools are just relabeled. Rarely the best.

Listen to MikE, and search around on www.garagejournal.com/forum

I have never seen mike suggest something that was shitty. If only we could bottle his knowledge.

The old DeWalt argument again. :banghead

My old man bought a DeWalt grinder many years ago (before I can even remember) and I just went home last week and used it. It's like brand new minus all the dirt and grease on it. I love DeWalt tools....

The DeWalt now doesn't have anything in common with the DeWalt of back then other then the name on it. All Dewalt tools are built by Black & Decker. Most all of the cheaper "non-professional" type DeWalts are simply Black & Decker tools but made with yellow plastic instead of black or gray. With the more professional type DeWalt tools they are built differently, but still designed and constructed with Black & Decker's cheapness and planned in life cycle. The way Black & Decker does it, is they will say this tool will be used by your average professional for 8 years (or whatever it is) and they design everything on the tool to fall apart at that time. If they find out with testing or based on their experience their motor will last 8 years then they will cheapen up the switches, wiring, case, bearings, gears and everything else to not last any longer then that 8 years. AND they will still put that high price on it and good marketing so the buyer thinks they are getting a high quality product. In 8 years when it falls apart most of those DeWalt owners will think "Hey that last one gave me 8 years of good service so I'm going to buy another" when a higher quality tool may just need a simple brush replacement and it will be good for another 20.
I used to work right next door to a tool shop (the old type "real" shop where they serviced them, not just sold them) and with anything DeWalt the owner could take you in his back room where everything was getting worked on and point out every internal part on DeWalts and how it was far inferrior compared to most other brands.

IMO you can never go wrong with Milwaukee.

Normally I'm with you there, but the Milwaukee grinders we have a school suck donkey balls. Weak, rattely, and a cheap ass trigger that is a strip of plastic that bends as you depress it. They really are worse than the dewalts we have (about 1/3 red to 2/3 yellow in the tool room). Cliff notes: don't get a cheap Milwaukee just cause it's red.