4.5" Grinders...

[cdogg44]

I currently have a DeWalt 4.5" grinder that has served me well. I got it cheap and the motor is like 5 amps or something.

Anyway, I'm looking at some Milwaukee stuff and they make some good looking stuff. They have a 4.5" grinder with a 12 amp motor. Is there any real benefit to having a motor that big?

Here's a link to it: http://www.milwaukeeconnect.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=27&catalogId=40027&langId=-1&productId=284427&mainHeader=Tools&categoryId=189334&mainCategoryId=362&parentProd=281147

They also make one just like it that is variable speed from 4k-11k rpms. Worth it? Or just something else to go wrong later on down the road?

Thanks

[SquattyD]

i have the 12 amp variable speed mil and the standard 8 amp, both 4.5".

the 12 is like 2 inches longer, not really any bulkier. Bit heavier. i use the 12 all the time now, and the 8 is just backup. it isnt a huge advantage however. i would get it over the 8 for two reasons: you want to take off the gaurd and use the bigger (5", 7", whatever) discs, or you want variable speed.

i use top speed for pretty much everything, except wire brush cups. at top speed, even on the 8 amp, the grinder will throw the wire bristles right out of the cup. when you turn the speed down, it works better, doesnt throw bristles, and they last longer. another nice feature of the variable speed 12 amp is that the cord is one of those disconnect styles, so its easy to unkink those cords which seem to tie themselves in knots in about 2 minutes of use. i think the 8 is about $100, and the 12 is $130...i would get the 12.

[darkstar]

I bought that 8 amp grinder on sale for $80 a year or so ago. It is an excellent unit. Goes thru 1/4" steel with a cutoff wheel like butter.

[D60]

I killed an 8amp unit cutting a bunch of tack welds on expanded steel, but that was after a year or two of other use. Fixed under warranty, but it's sounding kinda sickly again.

I'd for the 12 if you can swing it, it'll only mean the motor isn't working as hard to do the same task.

After doing a little grinding this weekend - I'll say again: the cheap grinders aren't worth it for serious use. The vibration is a killer and they have no weight to them which is actually a hinderance when you're trying to remove material. A bit of weight to a grinder only helps to give it a better feel and more user control. But the most annoying is when I stop I can hardly feel my hands or forearms - dont' have this problem w the Milwaukee

[mason44]

I use the 12 amp milwaukees daily, Dewalts and makitas would last me about a week, I have 3 milwaukees that I have been using for over a year now.

[fledgling666]

um, i buy the 10, 15 and 20 dollar harbor freight and northern tools 4.5" grinders. they last about 1-2 years, using them every weekend for 2-3 hours. not sure on amperage, but they get the job done. use HF flap disks too, but i get the cut-off and grinder wheels from home depot cuz HF's are always off-center.

[D60]

but i get the cut-off and grinder wheels from home depot cuz HF's are always off-center.

Wha??? The Norton junk that Home Depot sells sucks. I use the HF cut-off wheels and they last 4x as long as the Norton discs. And the HF grinding wheels seem fine. I've never seen a single one off-center and I've gone thru many, many 10 packs of both the cutting and grinding wheels.

[SquattyD]

i dont know which ones i get from HD, but they are very plain and just have some blue ink with white letters printed on them. complete junk. if you ever have to make a curved cut, stay away from these. they shred on contact.

the dewalt cutting wheels i get at lowes were okay for awhile. then about 3 months ago, the quality went down the tubes. the discs were all pitted, some off center, some the matting wasnt all there and you could see thru the disc.

so now i dont know what to use. i guess ill just use it as an excuse to get a plasma and a bandsaw, and leave the grinder for flap disc use only.