Harbor Freight Angle Grinder

[Mirage]

Yea, it is 19.99 now, so I am waiting for the infamous 10 deal but after doing some more reading it seems that a grinder is really useful. Thus my thoughts on buying a better one for the long haul. Been looking at a Bosch and Dewalt too. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00005RHPK/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BM6BMI/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

The problem is, neither of these has the 3 handle positions. Only two. Ugh, too many decisions, lol.

 

[brrman]

Cant beat the Bosch - mine only went bad because I left in the rain for a week. It probably only needed the brushes changed after that, but I didn't have time to mess with it. I own a Bosch drill, driver, router, and a jigsaw also.

 

[Mirage]

Yea I have a Bosch jigsaw that is awesome. They make great stuff. I am correct thought that the Bosch only has handle placement on the two sides? Not the top too? Thanks!

 

[Photopilot]

I feel about dewalt as you feel about PC. Bought a whole bunch of them and 1/2 started acting up as soon as the warranty expired, cost as much to repair as to buy.

I bought the Hitatchi and ripped through my keg, as opposed to the HF which almost ripped through my leg. It comes with a case, and 5 or so grinding discs, and a handle that I do not think will fall off anytime soon. For $10 the HF is worth buying and seeing if you use the tool, then upgrading if it tries to kill you. If the HF is any more than that buy a $40 one at Lowes, the case is almost worth the difference because when you misplace the pin wrench you can not change the discs.

Top handle is a rare thing, most only have side mounting holes for the handles

 

[Mirage]

Yea, Dewalt is also kinda hit or miss for me too. I have an 18v cordless drill that I love and their chopsaws are great but some things have broken. Glad to hear that the Hitachi isn't too bad. I may just buy that. I think it will prob last longer than the HF and as you said it comes with a case which the Bosch doesn't. I don't understand how they can possibly justify this. The case costs almost as much as the unit.

 

[Photopilot]

which the Bosch doesn't.

My other vice is woodworking and I hang out at wood.net. I hear nothing but good things about Bosch especially the jig saw, which I bough that one instead of DW. One thing I hear about Bosch though is they include no accesories and charge a pretty penny for them, plus shipping. Just read a rant about it recently. Still wished I owned some of them or at least some non-lemon Dewalt. My jig saw acted up recently and it gave me an excuse to look at a Bosch, unfortunately I was able to fix it, kind of.

 

[skadalajara]

Putting on my "expert" hat...

I repair equipment for a construction company.
We used to buy Bosch angle grinders exclusively. (I wouldn't buy anything else for my self.)
But, since they're "shop tools" the operators abused the hell out of em. They're fairly inexpensive and easy to repair, though.

So, management decided to start buying HF grinders instead. That was about 8 months ago. We still have more than half the Bosch units, and most of the HF ones are in the trash, cos parts are more than a new unit.

All that being said, for the hobbyist, you can't beat HF.

Hell, I even know a professional remodeler that only buys HF. He buys a complete set of tools every year whether the old ones work or not.He donates the old ones to a local charity and writes it off on his taxes.
Of course, he's the only one using them and doesn't abuse them.

Buy the HF unit and don't look back.

 

[BigHefty]

Thanks for all the replies! I don't do too much work with metal so really it would just be needed for this project and hence why I really don't want or need to buy a true quality, will last you a lifetime, product. I think if the price comes down to 9.99 I will pull the trigger. At that price, you really can't go wrong even if it does break. Thanks guys!

FYI, My Harbor Freight is showing that item 95578 is going on sale for 9.99 from Jan 16-18.

 

[Mirage]

Ah awesome! Thanks!

 

[camiller]

The cheaper Item 95578 will be in the January Blow Out saleJan 16-18 for $9.99 (see page 4 of the add). However that one does not have the ability to put the handle on the back. Also there is a coupon on this page to get it for $9.99 from now till Feb 14 if you don't want to wait.

The heavy duty one from the original post has a coupon here to get it for $16.99

And if you are interested in a pneumatic one for $6.99 (and a 10 pack of cut off disks for $3.99) there is a coupon here good to Jan 10th.

All of these found via the continuously updated SlickDeals harbor freight coupon thread

 

[BigHefty]

Thanks for the links camiller!! Anyone know if the 3" disks can be used on the heavy duty grinder?

 

[Mirage]

You wouldn't want to use the correct size discs?

 

[BigHefty]

You wouldn't want to use the correct size discs?

Sure I do! But I didn't know if the 3" disks were just smaller in diameter or if there is something else different. If they're just smaller in diameter then I would rather use those and save a little cash.

 

[camiller]

Sure I do! But I didn't know if the 3" disks were just smaller in diameter or if there is something else different. If they're just smaller in diameter then I would rather use those and save a little cash.

Odds are the arbor is a different diameter. Besides the 4.5" wheels are only $4.99 for 5.

 

[Elshauno]

Make sure you wear safety glasses wear tight fitting clothes set it down wheel side up and unplug it immediately also hold it tight. they can kick. Those things cut well but they are dangerous especially if your not very careful.

 

[Photopilot]

Odds are the arbor is a different diameter. Besides the 4.5" wheels are only $4.99 for 5.

Yep they make 4" grinders and 4.5" grinders and they have diff arbors. Guess how I know. I ran into a store as it was closing and bought the wrong ones. That project was put off till the next day.

 

[wilserbrewer]

Make sure you wear safety glasses wear tight fitting clothes set it down wheel side up and unplug it immediately also hold it tight. they can kick. Those things cut well but they are dangerous especially if your not very careful.

Yea...+100...not to be a kill joy here...just trying to save a little skin. OSHA actually requires a face shield type protection while running a tool like a grinder...not just safety glasses.

Be careful folks...at 11,000 rpm when one of these things goes for a walk it can be very ugly...ok peace out and be safe!

 

[Photopilot]

Not that angle grinders are the most important tool in the brewing process but the safety needs reiterated. OSHA standards not even considered, don't begin to use this tool without at least chemical splash goggles. I have numerous safety glasses and tried a number of them but hot metal pieces kept finding themself too near my eyes so I bought a cheap pair of chemical splash glasses for working with rotary tools.

 

[lucasszy]

Not that angle grinders are the most important tool in the brewing process but the safety needs reiterated. OSHA standards not even considered, don't begin to use this tool without at least chemical splash goggles. I have numerous safety glasses and tried a number of them but hot metal pieces kept finding themself too near my eyes so I bought a cheap pair of chemical splash glasses for working with rotary tools.

I'll agree completely. Only once did I have to spend the time in my bathroom with tweezers, pulling metal shards out of my cornea, and that was the scariest thing, especially after I got the shard out and realized how big and completely imbedded in my eye it became. I now grind with a full face shield or complete wraparound safety goggles.

Cheers and be safe!

Lucas

 

[Mirage]

Very good advice everyone! Thanks! I will definitely purchase a full face shield before I start grinding (esp since I have never done grinding work before).