I have a 4 1/2 Dewalt that has been faithful for 13 years. I also Have a 4 inch Makita, that is lighter and user friendly if I have a long but light job. Or accuracy driven jobie sharpening something. I keep about 40 different type of flap wheels on hand. Get old sample wheels from pal in the abrasive business.
 
I have a Hitachi 4 1/2 actually 2 of them. One I've had for like 5-6yrs used very heavily at work was so impressed I bought another for home if you watch menards the are around 40 bucks
 
For my money ridged makes the best power tools. I have a 18 volt cordless set and a grinder. Cannot beat the guarantee. It is kind a pain registering the tools but pays off with a lifetime warranty. Even on cordless batteries.
 
The maintenance department I retired from only bought Metabo, the 4.5 that I have is good but the bigger (5) had an overload switch that shuts them down just when you get going good. I have some cheap ones that work well but you wouldn't want to push them very hard for very long. I would recommend one good one for regular grinding and a few cheap ones for specialty work and leave the attachments right on them. I have heard of people buying 5 $10 grinders at HF and getting the extended warranty on one of them, The one that fails first!
 
My large one is Hitachi and my smaller one is DeWalt. Hitachi is better built... but the Dewalt is good. It's a very smooth little grinder. Much moreso than the old B&D I had or any of the other cheap ones.

Rod
 

I just buy the $20 ones at HF.
Seem to last 3-5 years or so each.

Now if I used them daily on my job I would get a higher quality one.
 
Metabo or Fein but they are a fair bit more money. Metabo's have a slip clutch. Hitachi are pretty good as well as other brand names. What's hard on a grinder is using oversize discs or applying too much pressure. Don't try to do a job that needs a 7" grinder with a 4 1/2" or 5" grinder.
 

I am on my second Dewalt. I can't remember what I had before that. The first Dewalt stripped it's gears after about a year.
 
I just saw on our flyer this month that Metabo are on sale for $59.00 each(4.5) I am sure we are not the only ones with that price.
 
As far a value for the money it's gonna be pretty darn hard to beat the $9.00 made in China 4 1/2" grinder I bought on close out at Woodworkers Wharehouse about 15 years back. I;m pretty sure Harbor Freight sells the same type thing., I've simply abused the heck out of that thing and it refuses to die.

2nd place has to be my Black and Decker 9" grinder that my FIL bought used in 1964. I just put a set of brushes in it a couple years back.

New stuff? Got me. I've always had good luck with Makita.
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top