[14muddn]

I have burnt through HF grinders and decided to spend a little more and got a 6 amp makita that worked fine for a couple years. Then last week the spindle lock broke trying to get the cutoff disk out.

I saw rigid makes a cordless angle grinder which I already have the 18v lithium ion batteries for. I feel like grinding down welds or cutting through thick metal would eat through a full charge in no time. Am I rong?

After googling it seems like Metabo makes a good grinder. For the occasional hobby fabrication, cutting bolts, and sharpening mower blades is it worth paying a little more than another home depot grade tool?

Also, I have always bought 4 or 4 1/2" grinders... Are the pros of having a 6" grinder relevant for occasional use or do I just have a higher risk of separating one of my digits from my hand?

 

[cwise737]

I had to use my 4 1/2 cut off my buddies rear track bar. I was surprised my HF actually cut through the 1/4" wall no problem. For a specific and small case like that a 6" would have not worked because it would have cut the exhaust. I work in a fab shop and all we use is 6" metabos they take a beating and last forever

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[chadcooper55]

Don't get a cordless for fab work. Metabos are hands down the best grinders. I'm a pipe welder and use a 6" for grinding and a 4.5" for a wire wheel every day. I usually get 3 years out of a metabo which is 2 lifetimes worth of abuse for the average person.

 

[Rob the plumber]

Metabos rule. And being a pipe welder would be awesome. That's a skill that will always keep you working.

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[bigbchevy]

I have three metabos in my shop and love them! I have one with a flap disk one with a cut off and one with a old school grinding wheel lol

 

[I suck cocks. Lots of them.]

You can use 6" wheels on a 4.5" grinder...

My craftsman lasted me close to ten years with heavy use, it just died. I replaced it with a $59 Milwaukee. So far, so good.

 

[Lousypirate]

the welding shop only buys hitachi's now. They seem to get a long time out of those as well as the corded milwaukee's.

I have never found a grind shield at the shop though.

 

[lgottler]

Good posts above, we use 3 metabo's and 1 Milwaukee. I had two of the metabos repaired for under 50 bucks, heavy all day cutting, thousands of on off, production grinding etc. I use a dewalt at home, higher end one, no issues.

Cutting discs make a difference too. Hf ones are crap.

 

[lepp1892]

I had some 8/8.5 amp 4.5" grinder I bought from TSC for $30 and it had more nut and could cut through just about anything. It was pretty durable for the 4 years of beatings I put it through. I let a friend borrow it and it died on him. I don't know if it died from him using it or if it was actual product failure. It was great but I could not find the same replacement. I replaced it with a cheapo ryobi but i haven't used it much.

 

[chadcooper55]

You can use 6" wheels on a 4.5" grinder...

My craftsman lasted me close to ten years with heavy use, it just died. I replaced it with a $59 Milwaukee. So far, so good.

You can also put 44" tires on a dana 30.........

 

[bigbchevy]

You can also put 44" tires on a dana 30.........

:sonicjay:

 

[chadcooper55]

Metabos rule. And being a pipe welder would be awesome. That's a skill that will always keep you working.

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Welding pipe isn't awesome, it sucks. :Sonicjay: it will keep you working but it can be some miserable work.

 

[ajmorell]

Maybe he confused welding pipe with laying pipe

 

[Rob the plumber]

When I worked for Severstal at the Rouge complex I loved "helping" with pipe welding. I thought it was awesome, and every local was trying to scoop up good welders.

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[chadcooper55]

When I worked for Severstal at the Rouge complex I loved "helping" with pipe welding. I thought it was awesome, and every local was trying to scoop up good welders.

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If you are a good pipe welder you will always have a good paying job, I'm glad that I picked my trade for a career. It is very hard on your body and I don't like being buried under a hood all day though. I prefer doing layout and fitting so I can actually use my brain. After a while you get sick of being a circus performer hanging from your toes welding in a mirror.

 

[CheapThrillB2]

Been very happy with my dewalt 4.5"

 

[I suck cocks. Lots of them.]

You can also put 44" tires on a dana 30.........

:blah:

 

[fordbronco]

Where does everyone buy their metabos? We've had good luck with dewalt and Milwaukee.

 

[chadcooper55]

I would start with amazon.com.

 

[chadcooper55]

If you got the extra cash I would get the 6". The larger wheel is very nice.