advice on angled die grinder

[firstgear]

need to get an angled die grinder, but don't know the first thing about them....are there any on EBay that look good? what kind of specs would I look for in order to judge a better one over the others? price isn't always the indicator...sometimes the name commands the price.....anyone have photos or model numbers of what they use or consider a good one?

thanks!

[John Mcgraw]

Herb,
Just go to harbor freight and buy the cheapest one you can find! They regularly have them on sale for about $15. I have ones that I have used for at least 4 years that are still running strong! I have at least a half dozen of both straight and angled die grinders, and keep different abrasives in each tool so that I don't have to constantly change them. With a little oil every now and then, these cheap grinders will last many years.

Regards, John McGraw

[Tom Bryant]

About the only diff between the cheap ones and the expensive is sometimes the expensive ones use less air volume. At least that is what I've heard. I have never bought an expensive one. The cheap ones have never let me down yet and I have never wore one out. Now if you were going to use one daily on your job then I would suggest a higher quality.

I do my head porting with a cheapo and it works perfect.

Tom

[gmjunkie]

Originally Posted by John Mcgraw

Herb,
Just go to harbor freight and buy the cheapest one you can find! They regularly have them on sale for about $15. I have ones that I have used for at least 4 years that are still running strong! I have at least a half dozen of both straight and angled die grinders, and keep different abrasives in each tool so that I don't have to constantly change them. With a little oil every now and then, these cheap grinders will last many years.

Regards, John McGraw

junk!!

[Kid_Again]

Yup, Harborfreight and sometimes WalMart also has the same brand pretty cheap. I think the brand that's most widely available is "Communist Chinese Manufacturing Victory Over The Imperialist Dogs" brand. Catchy name. Sad but true.

[bossvette]

Originally Posted by Kid_Again

Yup, Harborfreight and sometimes WalMart also has the same brand pretty cheap. I think the brand that's most widely available is "Communist Chinese Manufacturing Victory Over The Imperialist Dogs" brand. Catchy name. Sad but true.

one shop I worked at wouldn't let you use anything but an ARO or Dotco both high end and at one time made in Bryan Ohio. I have both ARO and Ingersall Rand (mid range) and even one Harbor Freight. The ARO's were picked up used, they will last a lifetime or two

[John Mcgraw]

Well, I have 3 harbor freight angle grinders and 1 Ingersoll Rand one. The IR grinder casts about 3 times what the HF ones do when they are on sale, and I can't tell any operational differences in them. I am not a causal user but use them almost every single day. While I would allow that the IR grinder is maybe a little better finished, I think that both will outlast me! I am not adverse to buying expensive tools when it makes sense, but not when it does not. I buy Dynabrade belt grinders, because nobody else makes a grinder that comes close, even though they cost almost $400. I also buy SATA spray guns because I can justify the high cost of these guns in their performance. I can't quantify any difference in the angle grinders, and I still say that the inexpensive ones give great value in additon to low cost. I put a few drops of oil in my tools every day, and expect all of them to last many years longer than I will ever use them. A good portion of my air tools are more than 20 years old, and the only air tool that I have ever had to replace was a ratchet that I could not get a rebuild kit for any longer.

Regards, John McGraw

[studiog]

I have 2 die grinders and an air chisel from CH. I got them at Walmart. They were cheap and they have held up well for the past 4 years.