4 1/2in Grinder

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Hi! I have managed to burn up the Black & Decker Grinder at work and need to get another one. What is the most powerful and durable brand I can get? The B&D was a 5 Amp one.I use the heck out of them due to arthritis in my wrists so no large ones please.
Reply:What is the most powerful and durable brand I can get? The B&D was a 5 Amp one.
Reply:Here's my collection.  1 Dewalt, 3 HF's and 1 old Craftsman buffer/sander.  I like the HF's; haven't killed one yet...That aint heat lightning in the neighborhood tonight...
Reply:With an arthritic wrist.  I would think you would want to pay attention to where the switch was and how it was activated.  I have a 9 amp 4.5" makita with a large palm lever on the bottom the lock at the rear of the grinder--kind of annoying yet powerful.  I also have a 7.5 amp 4.5"' hitachi with a thumb auto lock on top--I like it though I do inadvertantly hit the switch while grinding on occasion.  Both have performed well.  Don't buy any grinders with all plastic.  They should be metal around the gears housing. By the way have you replace the burshes in your grinder.  Or is the field burned up.
Reply:Originally Posted by ElectroLight... I like the HF's; haven't killed one yet...
Reply:The only way to break a Milwaukee is to drop it on the gear case.  They're very powerful, too.
Reply:Metabo 5 and 4.5" are a pleasure to use and bullet proof
Reply:Thanks guys!  The grinder will work for about 5 mins and then quit for a while. I use it for cutting grooves and cleaning stick tacks up to weld over them.
Reply:The Metabo warranty is at least two years last time I checked.  If you are really abusive get the ones that have a safety in the circuitry.  If you overload the grinder it shuts down momentarily.  What that does is prevent the operator overloading and damaging the windings.  It is bothersome but it sure saves motor windings.  Most of the shops I work in will not pay the extra dollars but it is true that you get what you pay for.
Reply:Originally Posted by MAC702Have you ever needed the extra brushes that come with it?
Reply:I run the Milwaukees until they get so hot I can't hold on to them anymore, even with a welding glove.  They just keep on going.
Reply:I love Harbor Freight for some things. The paddle switch grinder is one of them. http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=31309They occasionally come on sale in their email flyers, I have never seen them in the stores. Even at $29.95 they are a good deal. I abuse them and they keep on running, never had one quit on me. I have a grinding wheel in one, a cutoff wheel in anotherand flapper disk in another. I usually buy 2 or 3 at a time and keep a spare. The spare gets used as a dedicated tool of some sort.JimCut an MGB and widened 11" C4 Corvette suspension and LT1 Chevrolet power & 6 spd. Pictures here:Part 1http://forum.britishv8.org/read.php?13,7581Part 2http://forum.britishv8.org/read.php?13,22422
Reply:Man my B&D never died...I had to get a 2nd pair of brushes....It hold for many 1 hour straight grindings, and pushing it to its limits...I had to stop grinding cause it was too hot for holding it....My Babies: HF Drill pressHF Pipe Bender3   4.5" Black and Decker angle grindersLincoln Electric PROMIG 175that´s it!
Reply:Amazing array of favorites out there.  I recently got a DeWalt 5" on the basis of high current rating and like it very much.  Also have an old Makita that has given very good service for a couple of decades but is finally getting noisy, a Skil that is fine, but ordinary, and a green chinese no-name gift that is a joke.I think any quality brand-name grinder will give good service.awright
Reply:Metabo 4.5" grinder are great! Metabo built the Ridgid 4.5" until Ridgid went Chinese.
Reply:I just bought a Milwaukee 4.5" this week having burned up my Black and Decker...must be the week for it.
Reply:Milwaukee is the best in my opinion. Makita and Dewalt not bad either. I do have a HF I cant kill but i am doing my best to bury it. HF was 6 Bucks 1 year ago and wont die (Sounds like its going to explode but keeps going). The Milwaukee about $120 but I don't think I will be buying another one for many years to come though, In my opinion its worth the extra cake. just my 2 CentsEDIT:  I do want to say that it depends on what you are doing. I am using this grinder every day so i choose the Milwaukee, If you are doing light work and or using it for hobby stuff you may want to go with the cheeper and good Ridgid / Craftsman / HFLast edited by drivesector; 11-17-2006 at 08:58 PM.Drivesector Hobart Handler 140Hobart Handler 180Ready Welder 2Hobart Air Force 400Airco Stinger 225Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most."OZZY"
Reply:i have 2 B&D's that have been swoped out on many acations due to burning up, but wally world just gives me a new one so no biggy as long as they dont change the modle i'll be ok with them for light work. i also have 2 porta cables, much nicer grinders all around. plenty of power and i like the paddle switch also. got both the porta cables on e-bay, after the first one arived and i tryed it out i went right back on line and orderd (well bid on ) another, one was bout $50 the other i got lucky er on and got it for like $40. both have worked well for over 3 years now.i have been thinking about geting one of the HF's just for light stuff, nice to have them all lined up with diferent disks on them and now that i got  TIG i will need seperate grinders for aluminum also so i think i'll try the HF for a few flap disks. i have a store in town so i can take it back if it craps out and no shipping charges. so with all the good feed back on them i guess i;ll have to give one a try, dought i will like them as much as my porta cables but for the $$ it will be a good option for starting my aluminum colection. should be lighter duty on aluminum any way so it should work out ok. summer is here, plant a tree for mother earth. if you dont have time or space, sponcer some one else to plant one for you.feel free to shoot me a PM or e-mail me at [email][email protected] i got lots of time.
Reply:FWIW the wire cup brushes seem to be the hardest on them and is what killed my B&D's several times befor i goyt the porta cables, witch have handeled the cup brushes fine summer is here, plant a tree for mother earth. if you dont have time or space, sponcer some one else to plant one for you.feel free to shoot me a PM or e-mail me at [email][email protected] i got lots of time.
Reply:I use a Milwakee 4.5 as well, Mostly for cup brushing.  I use a cheapo Biglots, oddlots 4.5 for grinding and cutting.  I thought for 10 bucks, if it blows up, aww well.  Its fairly weak, but gets the job done.  It doesnt really have the power of the milwakee though.
Reply:FWIW i was in HF yesterday and they have the 7" vereable speed 9.5amp grinder on sail for $18.90 also the 4.5" was on sale for $18 i couldnt decide so i didnt get eather i'll figure it out and get one next trip i guess, not like i need one  summer is here, plant a tree for mother earth. if you dont have time or space, sponcer some one else to plant one for you.feel free to shoot me a PM or e-mail me at [email][email protected] i got lots of time.
Reply:I've now got 2 of  those harbor freight guys that are on sale for $18, as well as one milwaukee. I figure 1 cutoff wheel, 1 grinder, 1 wire wheel, 1 flap wheel.... oops looks like I'm one short, have to hit HF again tomorrow !