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Tool Purchases

What maker of angle grinder do you prefer?

  • DeWalt

    Votes: 16 34.8%
  • Milwaukee

    Votes: 12 26.1%
  • Porter Cable

    Votes: 1 2.2%
  • Metabo

    Votes: 2 4.3%
  • Other

    Votes: 15 32.6%

  • Total voters
    46

DPI

1/2 ton status
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In the Burbs close to Tulsa, OK
Where do you guys purchase your higher quality tools? I would prefer online, but if I could get them local, that would be good.

I am wanting to replace a couple wearing 4.5" and 5" angle grinders. Looking at Metabo, Milwaukee, DeWalt, and Porter Cable.

Also what is your preference for grinders?

I've burned up DeWalts, but do get a lot of use out of them.
 
few months ago got my new hitachi 4.5 grinder from lows home center. under 95 bucks. 9.? amp tons of power.

figured last one lasted 6 years hard core use in auto shop then why go diffrent. and its got a long cord on it.
 
i got my angle grinder at home depot, went with a dewalt this time. i also have a milwaulkee and 2 old makitas. the makitas are pretty much wonr out and dont get used anymore, but they work just enough to keep one in my track toolbox and another in my desert box. i have used the rigid one and it seems pretty nice as well.
 
you can never go wrong with a Milwaukee power tool...

The Dewalt are a tad hit or miss.. seems about 9 out of 10 have great success, but you do get an occasional lemon... I've beat the living he!! out of mine for 8 yrs and it still rips..

To get an idea of the types of things I put it thru, I run 7" cutoff wheels in it to chop 3" stainless shafts out of boats... Thats alot of strain and torque on it.. not to mention the blade is about a 1/2" away from the trigger... :eek1::haha:

Makita is back to putting out good stuff now too...
 
I've got a Porter Cable recip saw that has gone strong for 7 years or so and it has seen some very hard use and probable 1000 blades.

I bought a Milwaukee drill and it is tuff too. That thing will dislocate both wrist if your not carefull.

I have a couple DeWalt grinders. And I bought them used, but seem like they were in good shape. One went out completely a couple days ago and the second seems to be on its last leg.

Haven't thought much about Hitachi. I may have to look into them. They seem to be a little lower priced than the DeWalt and Milwaukees.

Will have to look at Makita too. I've used some of their tools, but hadn't had much look with them, but that was quite a few years back.

Thanks for the advice guys! I appreciate it.
 
yup, Makita kinda had a bad stretch, but their recent offerings have been much improved..

I tend to find Milwaukee's stuff to be the best.. best motors, heaviest, etc...

The only Porter-Cable tool I've ever owned, possibly even used, is my DA sander from them... I've had 1 nearly 20 years now, well I bought a new one 5 yrs ago.. They can't be touched in that field... great quality... blow any air DA away imo...
 
when it comes to angle grinders I buy the cheapest name brand one I can find. Honestly they all burn up eventually and I have had plenty of lucky with my choice of cheap ones. I more often lose the wrench for the nut than I do burn them up, ha.

I all together stopped using electric angle grinders in favor of air sanders with grinding discs on them. So much better and easier to control in my eyes. Matco has a reversible one too. Of course a bit more expensive than the cheapy 4.5" electric grinders. The BluePoint air sander makes a great weld grinder too. I own one of those, I cannot deny for fab work it fits well.
 
24 grit rolocs on a quality right angle air die grinder rule! :saweet:

but for tons of it, a stone on a 4 1/2 electric is pretty hard to beat... actually most of the time I'm setting up something 7" on my makita buffer, from 24 grit discs to flatpad hookits to 7" stones and cutoff wheels...

that Mac 19.2 angle grinder and drill I bought have proven to be pretty tough performers...
 
Ive been beatin the daylights out of a Black & Decker for about a year now. Only problems ive had with it so far is the cord comes lose sometimes from pullin on it. Other than that it has plenty of power. IIRC it has like a 6 amp motor.
 
I have a Hitachi that I bought in Feb 07. I use it all the time and love it. They have a higher RPM (and I think Amp rating) than the higher priced Milwaukee, and I love Milwaukee tools so it was a tough decision. I think now the right one.
 
Home depot for the most, it's close and easy if i have to return it.
 
My wife bought me a DeWalt 4.5" Angle Grinder for Christmas a couple years ago and it hasn't missed a beat. I love it.
 
I love ebay for tools.

that said, for a 8" a mikita

for a small one a bosch, or dewalt paddle grinder.
 
milwaukee makes really good power tools, but so does dewalt. makita angle grinders rock btw. that being said i would go with a milwaukee, dewalt, or makita. ive had good luck with all 3 of them eventhough i currently have a craftsman angle grinder
 
I was a pipe fitter welder at a NH3 plant and after trying all the other brands we only had millwakee. Let the some out of all the rest. You stick the edge of a disk in a sced 80 6" pipe groove and to grind out a tack and push to grind it out and most grinders will go see jesus.
 
my ridgid 4 1/2" has done me right now for 4-5 years

Dale, isn't that a little personal. I thought we were talking about tools. :haha:

Seriously though, i have a Makita i've been using for years and have never had any issues with it but when i buy a new one i'm either going with a Dewalt or Milwaukee.
 
Picked up an old school black and decker big boy. The kind with the metal housing, sounds like a 747 on startup. Been very impressed so far, tons of power, good for big areas, use the 4.5" dewalt for the small areas
 

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