good grinders

[pozman]

hi guys, my grinder shat itself the other day and was looking for some opinions on what to get

looking for some thing in 5in (125mm) and fairly powerful, cutting fairly thick steel every now and then

under $200 would be good

thanks paul

[msg]

I have got a metabo 5" and a makita 5" the father in law has got a Dewalt they have all had a hard life without a problem. The Dewalt has got a small toggle switch(on/off) in the base that is hard to use when wearing welding gloves. But the two others have slide switches on the side that are very easy to use . That is the only difference between them.
Friends have bought ryobi,ozito,skil,gmc. They all died a premature death out of the warranty period after very little use.

[fester2au]

We use the Bosch blue 4" versions at work for stainless fabrication. We have 4 on the floor and they get used all day every day for cutting and sanding stainless and never miss a beat. Great buying at $89. They also have a 5" that is not much dearer than that and should have similar life. Otherwise for the 5" we use a Hilti and it is near on unkillable. Local boilmakers are now using them as they were going through other name brands like they were Ozitos (shut down boys are hard on tools fullstop). They are dear but have one ofthe best trade warranties, repaired no question. And even if out of warranty they will repair for reasonable cost and then warrant the entire tool not just the repair for a further 6 mths.

Local plumber even had his recipro saw covered under warranty after he dropped it in water (least I think it was water, it was wet)

[Slunnie]

Makita. We have a heap of them that get flogged day in day out by school students, and they just keep on going.

[AFeral]

If you can find one, Fein grinders are the absalute best I have used par none. I picked one up of Ebay for $200 alas there are none for sale at the moment. They cost close to $450 new, If you can find one cheap or are willing to splash the cash they last a very long time.

[yamaha__308]

'Nother one for Makita.

Mac.

[tanz-e]

grinders are grinders!
hitachi, makita, bosch. there all the same.
worx= FAIL! motors so big and chunky it only ever cuts half of anything
Protools (festool)= WIN!!! good size. 7'' i think. big enough to get onto/into tricky spots but still small and maeuverable

[pozman]

yeah my last one was a gmc, honestly i was fairly happy with it, its had a hard life, but im sure i good one would still be going

makita and bosch are at the top of my list.

thanks for the help, just need to find a descent price now

paul

[shanfab]

I've used hi end Bosch Metarbo constatly over the past 10 years . both are realy good if you buy the trade quality ones .
the one's that have the soft start and variable speed typically F@$k up first as there a little bit more electronics in them .
But it really comes down to buget

[Jeff80]

Can't remember what I paid, but my Rupes 230mm has been to hell and back and still going strong.

And my 125mm Makita is great too...


Edit: I'm a big believer that if you intend to use a tool alot, buy once & buy quality.

[dogbreath_48]

Blue Bosch might be out of your budget though.

My hitachi has done a bit of work with no issues - nice to work with, too. Just doesn't have the power if the old mans bosch.

[5inchgq]

My vote is for hitachi 5". I've had one for about two years so far and given it hell and its still going.

[the_king]

Don't laugh, but a BEST BUY from Supercheap. I have several myself and given them shit for about 2 years now.
I cut/grind concrete as a job, and we use BEST BUY grinders for doing edges and what not where a normal concrete grinder can't get to. They get given hell and never die. You can drop them, jam them, run them through 100 metres of leads with no problems at all.
I don't work for them or have anything to do with Supercheap, I just believe that they are the best grinders made, and they are only $24 currently (I got mine for $17 on special). Go buy 10 of them for the price of one Makita.

[Weiner]

I got a Bosch 4" and 9" and love them, as said about the Dewalt, the switch is in a crap position right on the end.

[swamp]

I have flogged my 100mm makita for 13 years and its still going.
The 125 metabo variable speed got repaired twice in 6 years , but very good to use .The new 125mm blue bosch is six months old and going well.
My vote goes to Makita.

[ludacris]

Makita/ Hitachi

Metabo is good but the variable switch on them seems to be the first thing to quit.

Cris

[Shadow]

Ive got a Makita 9" and 4"

They get used very hard, cutting concrete anf FC sheet alot, aswell as alot of steel. My 9" is probably 2 years old, and replaced a 1year old Hitachi which would lock onto the blade all the freaking time, Even if you use 3 of those paper washers each side of the blade!!!!!!!!!!!! and you will break your tool trying to get the blade off! no such problem with the Makita.

The 4" was cheap as, i think $97 from tradetools and it goes great. Mostly does Fibro and FC cutting (soffits, blue board, 15mm FC sheet etc). Over 2 years old and gets used alot.

[hillbilliywheelchair]

metabo or hitachi
i've manage to kill everything else
even went thro 4 makiitas in one day and 1 boshes in the same

[Evski]

Another vote for the Supercheap grinders. I've been rocking a Supercheap grinder for 6 years without being able to kill it, and lord how I have tried. Even left it out in the rain once and it still works like new... Cant explain why considering it cost $28

[woznme]

i use grinders nearly every day.. like most of my tools i am a big bosch blue fan. though i have a couple of makita grinders that really haven't had a problem. i have a lot of hitachi tools also that had been pretty good. I think most of the better brand tools are pretty much the same quality. I just prefer bosch blue and buy them for most things though you do pay more for bosch blue then most other brands.

[Gwagensteve]

I seem to go through a 4" grinder about every two years. I've killed a dewalt and a Bosch Blue. I currently have two Bosch Blue 4".

I've just grabbed one of these:

http://www.sydneytools.com.au/shopexd.a ... 3174&bc=no" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and I'm very happy with the performance. The inability to turn the guard without removing it is a major PITA though. It's very slim and amazingly powerful though.

Ps I was actually a fan of the rear switch on the Dewalt - it was much harder to accidently knock the switch on or off.

I keep telling myself to step up to a 5" grinder one day, but whenever I kill a grinder I seem to have a box of 4" blades to use up.. so I buy another 4".

5" is the smallest size you can get the soft start Bosch grinders, and they seem awesome - no kick on startup.

This is what you really want if you need a 5" grinder- almost TWICE the power of the most powerful 4" grinder.

http://www.sydneytools.com.au/shopexd.asp?id=1217&bc=no" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Steve.

[tanz-e]

the hitachi and makita BATTERY opperated grinders are awesome... Well, handy anyway!

not very powerfull but good enough for nicking nails and choppen mild steel... great for plasterers building cielings and bulk heads!! just so handy.
just the other day i was loading the truck with some 50mm x 3-5mm flat. bloody floppy and like 10 mtrs long, so i couldnt get it on the racks.- ''dont worry ill just cut it''! -run inside and grab the battery grinder. back out and grrrrrriiiinnnnnd, ya done!!!
didnt have to FIND a lead, RUn a lead, go back and UNSTICK the lead from under something, PLUG it in and faarrrrk around!

GREAT!!

Another time i was 4x4ing through the high county after newly fitting 35's under a 2'' lift. Got too some FLEXY flex where i found my wheels were still hitting the gaurds a little in spots. ''Dont worry, ive got a BAttery grinder in me draw"! grab that and gggggrrrrriiiiinnnnnndd, ggrriiindd, grind and -FIXED!

GREAT. love it!

[V8Patrol]

I have flogged my 100mm makita for 13 years and its still going.....

My 9" hitachi is over 20years old
Its survived a couple of swims, a w/shop fire, and a few falls.... even one off of the truck @100kph !

yep she's battered n bruised...... but still goes as good as the day I took her out the box



I have three corded 4" grinders

GMC .... its about 4 years old & so far so good ( bought it on special with 50 discs and a case for $59 .... cant go wrong )
Makita ... 7years old and only issue has been the rubber on the disc flange

Bosch .... 2 years old....... no issues as yet...... this grinder gets a floging compared to the other 2




worst grinder I've owned......

Ryobi

infact they are the worst everythings..... drills, grinders, etc etc etc


Kingy

[pozman]

Thanks for the help guys. Went to a tool shop today a bought a new Bosch (blue) gws profesional. Got it for 249. So a little more than I originally wanted to spend but I thought I better get something good for a change.

Haven't used it yet but it got some good gear on it. Anti vibration handle and quick adjust guard.

Paul