Here’s the list of products reviewed. More details in the video description. Thank you! Metabo: amzn.to/3GcxdCs Black & Decker: amzn.to/3GByFQc Porter-Cable: amzn.to/3ClF13B Ridgid: amzn.to/3ImAjGL Ryobi: amzn.to/3WMtm6m DeWalt: amzn.to/3Gaq7hX Metabo: amzn.to/3QeCj5L Milwaukee: amzn.to/3vyUvgT Makita: amzn.to/3jI9EK9 Hilti: Available at Home Depot Warrior: Available at Harbor Freight DeWalt Cutoff Wheels: amzn.to/3GBqNOz 3M Grinding Wheel: amzn.to/3VHA6B1
I am committing all of my time to watching EVERY SINGLE video from Project Farm. I'm recovering from surgery right now. And I'm so thankful for your channel.
Best wishes from a strangely Sunny London (first sun for at least a Month). I hope you feel better soon; I was there last year - not fun. Give time time.
@@jbuch66koop yeah the 5” grinders are definitely the top dawgs and they do just fine with 4.5” discs as well, although the head of the grinder takes up more usable cutting diameter of the wheel as well. But then again they are heavier and more expensive, too. Would be interesting to repeat the test with 5” models and see if the brands stack up in the same order.
Good to see a corded tool review, I think there is still a place where corded is the better choice , not only in price but also function (circular saw)
Yeah, slight problem with batteries is the tool only lasts as long as the battery they make. My battery on a drill had to be replaced and I had a lovely surprise that they no longer made them, and the companies that did was charging more than it would be to buy a new drill, which I did with a cord.
you are a national treasure. these videos are quick, precise, unbiased and immensely useful to the average consumer. your format is consistent and you never fail to make quality content every time!
I think, as the scar on my leg attests, startup torque is very important. Especially later in the day when your hands and arms get tired from heavy work. Thanks Todd.
I've had a 13 amp Makita SJS II variable speed angle grinder for almost 8 years and like your Makita in this test, it is an absolute beast. The power and smoothness of it make extended use so much more pleasant and arguably safer. I splurged on the variable speed model to allow for more controlled sharpening of tool blades and removal of old paint and other finishes with a flap disk.
@@janeblogs324 if you're referring to actual power draw, in the final test it draws nearly 20 amps. So yeah. Not even close. Waaay more powerful than advertised. 12:07
I got that Makita grinders on sale 4 years ago for 60 bucks. Used it for cutting plaster walls open with tuck point vacuum adapter. Even used it to wet cut concrete when we needed to run conduit. Still working great. Totally worth it
Yea, my makita Grinder is over 10 years old. In the first half of its life, it was a work tool & heavily used. Since then, I've had it at home for odd jobs & is in great shape.
I would love to see more of the German Metabo tools included. I run original metabo for all my cordless tools and they’re Festool quality at red/yellow price.
I find that Bosch are a good brand..... used them most of my life and not had any rwgrets from them...... my washing machine is also a Bosch, not needed any parts in over 10 years and baught second hand 🙂
I was not disappointed. I knew the Makita was going to do well in this test. Their grinders are always very smooth and seem to out last any other grinder I have used.
Ridgid has a 15AMP angle grinder. Makita has a 6 amp too. Would love to see a revisit of this video in the future with low and high amperage angle grinders seperately tested.
I'd also like to see Bosch represented. I currently have 4 Bosch grinders in 4.5 inch. I'd like to know where they fall in the ranks when it comes time to replace them.
In my experience, the 2 things that break the most in the shop are snap ring pliers and air compressors. Seeing either of those tested would be awesome. Thanks for your videos!
I truly appreciate all the work that goes into these videos and the lengths you go to to be as data driven as possible. I do also love that you give your more subjective opinion.
Thank you for adding more descriptions to your graphs. I always appreciate "Lower is better" "higher is better" because qualitative numbers can be vague at times. Great video!
I don't use tools to change attachments on angle grinders unless I've managed to burn a disc down to nothing. If there's still diameter there it's plenty to twist off with. But I will put a glove on a wire wheel. Those wires can stick right in me.
I have the 4.5 Makita Grinder/Cutter on order with the X-Lock. 7.5 Amp to start off with. My first Makita, as I have always been Team-Red in the past. 🤔😂. R. Flare.
between you and TTC I know exactly what to buy. I cant thank you enough. I've been watching your videos for years. You have saved me from making some poor choices.
Your intricacy with thorough testing examination is superb. Hell, I didn't even think to compare or consider a lot of the aspects you brought up in this test. Another amazing video! 💪Thank you!🙌
My first grinder was a Black and Decker, and maaaan, that thing is such an absolute workhorse!! Have put it through heavy grit and grime for 4 years now and it still runs like a champion.
Great video, thank you. I have 8 of the harbor freight warrior grinder, each set up for specific purposes and all are still going strong. Very happy with their performance to date.
When choosing Harbor Freight tools it might be helpful to add some of their other "tiers". In this case, the Bauer angle grinderis advertised to be $49 with an 8 Amp motor, 11,500 RPMs and a paddle switch.
Are there really any "better" grade tools at Harbor Fright (intentional misspelling)? Or just less worse? I've had several bad experiences with power tools there. Some hand tools seem OK, I found that some of them are made in India rather than Chy-na.
I would be Interested in the Bauer as well (I have both the bauer and the warrier). The bauer definitely has more power and is heavier. I've found harbor freight grinders to be up to the task, so long as you don't really lean into them. Seems like their gearboxes sound like gravel in a garbage disposal though. I usually take the gearbox cover off and replace the craptacular grease with high temp wheel bearing grease. Seems to help a little bit.
I really love and appreciate the viewer interaction you take time to do. I’ve made probably 6-7 suggestions on this video alone, and another 10-12 on other various videos. Means a lot
Bosch tools are for occasional home use only. If you're okay with it dying at any moment, you can buy it. Don't get me wrong, it's fine and all. But if you want something better, your choice is Metabo and Hilti (and maybe Makita too, but they're too inconsistent, their cheaper tools are pretty sad, and at higher prices you can have Hilti).
@@KeksimusMaximus i've used a bosch in a professional business for almost ten years. grinding, cutting, sanding grit 36-120, aggressive wire brush, both mild and S.S.
Thanks a lot for more corded reviews! My budget does not really allow me to get good battery tools and cords aren't a big problem for me, so it's nice to see something like this! I hope more will come. Shame not all brands are available here, but at least I can see the big ones being compared.
@@Rudy97literally had a job that revolves around using a cordless grinder with a cutting wheel. I had something like 7 batteries. I’d go through 2 while 1 was charging.
This was a review I had suggested and it definitely didn’t disappoint. I’ve been extremely happy with every tool I’ve purchased based on your reviews. My money well spent and I appreciate it. I recommend you to all my friends and people I talk to about tools, etc. Keep it up!!!
For as often as I use an angle grinder, maybe several times a year at this point, I bought a HF Drill Master. It's holding up pretty well. Thanks for the showdown.
My experience working in various metal shops over the years has concluded that metabo, with all the different options they have available, is the go to grinder for industrial metal working
Yeah I love my metabo. We’ve tried Milwaukee but they didn’t last and the switch was uncomfortable. Dewalt was ok but my metabo is more comfortable. I burn up about a grinder a year. I’m a fitter for heavy weldments.
Do you feel like Metabo HPT is diluting the brand? Online searches return both brands and I feel like they made a mistake by giving the prosumer Hitachi brand the same name as the professional Metabo brand
-Multibit screw driver non ratcheting -side cutters -rechargeable double a’s -logger style work boots -extension ladders -tire changer -portable air compressors (lots of new types out there) Been a subscriber for years. Love your videos keep up the good work!
I just bought the Dewalt last weekend and the deciding factor was how it felt in my hand. I do a lot of one handed cutting and the others were too big to get a good single handed grip. As always, a great video. Thanks once again
Really surprised to not see Bosch, we need to see another round including more metabo, and Makita models, as well as Bosch. Bosch has long been the standing king of grinders up there with hilti, matabo and Makita
I appreciate all the effort put forth nut I would have to agree about being surprised over not having a Bosch. I own A lot of these brands this tends to be for me a "you get what you pay or tool".
Bosch and Makita sell lots of cheap, unimpressive grinders. Hilti focuses on rotary hammers for general contractors, their grinders are terrible. In my opinion professional metal fabrication companies use grinders the most, some guys have expensive Metabo & Fein grinders which have a lot of features.
I have a corded DeWalt with a paddle switch (DWE402). Has a lot of torque starting up and seems to take forever to stop but it is a workhorse. I would love to see how it compares to the DeWalt you tested. Great video as always, Todd! I trust your test results and always consult the ProjectFarm channel before buying anything from a big box store.
As usual, a very nice, informative video. I went with the Makita for purchase but chose the battery-operated version for portability in power outlet free situations. Your videos rea ly assist in my buying decisions. Thank you sir!
There is a reason why pretty much every contractor I've worked for in industrial metal working uses Makita grinders. Specifically its almost always the GA6020Y with SJS and electric brake. They work great and just wont die even with a 200lb gorilla leaning on them 12 hours a day.
@@artsmith103 Buy once cry once. But yea in the end if you don't use it at least 50 hours a year, it's not worth it. If you do, it's worth the money. Not for the speed of cut or durability, but lower vibration. High vibration rating tools are the worst if you use them more than 30 minutes sessions. That's when you start hating the cheap stuff.
If you're pro and make a living out of the tool, sure. But if you're a DIY and don't expect to use the tool more than once (for your project) or twice (to lend it to your neighbor), you can't beat the HF at $15. LOL If it was cordless, one should consider which battery system one wants to commit money into. For corded... if you want a bit more reliability, the Porter-Cable is a no brainer.
I’ve used all kinds over the years, the Makita corded is the best I’ve owned, hands down, besides the iffy slide switch. Cool to see it wasn’t all in my head. Thanks for a great comparison Todd!
Great comparison as always. I really enjoy your tool tests, those are fun and exciting. My suggestion for a video would stem from your other videos on chainsaws. You tested a variety, from gas to battery operated chainsaws. As someone that uses a chainsaw on my property, I realized that sometimes good quality protective gear costs far more than chainsaw on its own. Some good topics would be to compare different brands of chainsaw chaps, as well as mask/helmet/headphones combinations. You have a variety of inexpensive online options, all the way up to Husqvarna and Stihl options. Then you have Pfanner Protos that can get up to $300 for head protection. I think it will also be a great educational moment for how much damage a chainsaw can make when it hits a test piece and how that compares with the gear. Appreciate all you do, Todd!
Thanks for doing a corded review! For angle grinders I don’t even have/want a cordless one. Glad you finally started including hilti in the tests since I’ve been a huge fan of them for years. I run one of their 5 inch grinders all the time and love it! Sad to see the one in this test underperformed so poorly. Hope to see more in the future! Thanks and keep up the great work!
The slowmo on the rigid was classic.👍 I have a 11a dewalt with paddle switch for grinding if I don’t want to use an old heavy 7”, and 3 hitachi 7a for cutting, sanding and wire brushing. At $30 each on close out it was worth it not to always be changing blades.
As always, another great review! I missed seeing Bosch in the lineup. Had one that survived several floods and heavy farm use before giving up the ghost after about 15 years. Next time, see about adding the RPM meter to the cut-off test. No-load versus load.
@@MatthRrrr Ryobi and Milwaukee are both made by TTI. TTI also makes Hart and Rigid tools too. Although oddly TTI won't cop to making Rigid on their website. Not sure what's going on there.
Great review, thanks. I have a few of those cheap $15 angle grinders, not quite the same as the one you tested, but for home use I've found them perfectly adequate. They are so cheap you can just have 2 of them, one with a cutting disc and one with a grinding disc. For heavy work I have a large Bosch angle grinder.
For light to moderate use, especially intermittent non-professional, the cheap angle grinders seem to be good enough. Having multiple cheap ones may be more practical than having one better one. I almost always have 3 in arm's reach: one with a cutting disk, one with a hard/grinding wheel, and one with a flap disk. No time wasted in changing disk, just grab the other grinder. However the cheap ones do vary from unit to unit in vibration and gear lash.
Thanks for your hard work and time doing these videos! Please keep up the hard work! I’ve been looking for a Porter Cable replacement in battery powered tools, and seeing Milwaukee brand consistently in the top 3 to 5 I’m making a decision to buy their M18 brand based on your tests. No bias, no sponsors, just balls out tests until something starts smoking! Love it!
I've asked for this test and happy to see it! Thanks. One thing is missing though. If you grind or cut for longer periods of time the tool can get pretty hot to hold. I would be nice to see the tool temp after the thicker blade cutting through the rebar. Great test still.
Makita was a good brand. It is a little frustrating that at least the older ones weren't standardized to a 5/8" grinding wheel nut, and are largely unsupported today.
Their switches have always been the same awful and obstinate design though, including the cordless. That finally changed with the brushless 18V which is a night and day improvement.
Another great test - I've been using Makita grinders (on my second one over 20 years) for tilework mostly. I agree that they perform wonderfully except for the trigger design - the three iterations I have tried (two owned personally) over the years have gotten slowly worse on trigger design and they feel a bit chintzier but they are still really good tools, holding up to a fair amount of daily abuse over the years.
Glad to see RIDGID finish in one of the top spots. The other brands should follow Milwaukee and Hilti with an anti start feature if power button is engaged before plugging it in. After the Ryobi (not Ryobi) burn out you should try a warranty claim series and see which one are worth the hassle or just better to replace the tool.
i have a feeling the one time you forget it is on will be the one time you dont want it to turn on automatically. my vacuum cleaner has already have me like 5 heart attacks.
Video idea: adjustable parallel-jaw pliers, sometimes called plier-wrench. I believe knipex, klein, craftsman and icon (harbor freight) offer 10" pliers in this category. Thanks for all the great reviews!
Awesome review, I knew the Makita was a pretty amazing grinder and the backs that up. That being said, if you are in a pinch or want a disposable one for someone that Warrior sounds like a deal too!
Great video. I never would have guessed that the Rigid would be so good. I have five of the Warriors at $10 each (coupons). three Bauers at $20 each (coupon), one Ryobi at about $50. That's nine grinders for about $160. I have them hanging up with a different disk in each one, super convenient and efficient to work with, I figure each one get's a portion of the work so they should last a long time.
I was a little surprised to see the Ryobi have such a struggle with the weighted cutting of the rebar. But, I've always known Makita kicks ass in this specific tool area.
Yeah I use makita tools, not always the best, but their grinders have been top of the class for decades. Nice to know that hasn't changed. Even approved by aVe.
Thank you for testing for tool vibration. As I'm getting older, I'm finding my fingers less able to deal with the vibrations of power tools, so this information is something I'm always looking for.
Usually grinder performance is rated off from amp draw. The higher the better such as 11-13 amps. They typically run cooler which usually equals longer grinder life and much nicer for the user. A temp rating would have been a nice addition to the ratings. I would have much rather seen more grinders with the same amp ratings. Maybe two tests with homeowner and contractor grade models. Thanks!
The only way more amps could possibly lead to cooler temps would be if the increased power kept the tool from bogging down which would keep the cooling fan spinning. Otherwise more amps means more power to dissipate. Fans in tools are designed to spin at specific speeds. There's just not a lot of latitude in the product to allow for variability. Beyond that we do not know how manufacturers rate their products. There's no governing body that dictates methods. Is the rating no load or loaded? So those ratings are meaningless.
@@1pcfred When a tool is rated for more amps it won't always draw that for smaller jobs but the cooling fan rpm is direct coupled to the shaft to stay cooler at less amp draw. From my amateur perspective, I'd rather have a smaller tool that can get into tight spots and just not push too hard for bigger jobs. ~4.5 amps.
@@artsmith103 when you exceed the power of a tool then the tool will lose RPM. We saw it happen in this video and saw the tool burn up as a result. But there's another factor at play there. That would be the gauge of the magnet wire. That's why the current is so low to begin with. The winding wire is thin. That causes greater electrical resistance to current flow. Thin wire also burns up easier. Though one motor seemed to suffer a brush failure. That's often due to how the brushes are held. They can't handle the heat. The brushes are in thin metal holders held by the plastic body of the tool. That melts and causes issues.
Great tests! I've always owned DeWalt power tools, both privately and professionally. In my experience they just take a beating and keep going. The thing I require on an angle grinder is a lock on switch. The paddle switches are just too inconvenient in 90% of the ways I need to use a grinder.
Great video. All the malita grinders I’ve used have been very pleasant. I would like a video on pellet gun pellets. Things like accuracy, how much it deforms when it hits something, how similar the pellets are to themselves, things like that. Thanks!
@@chrishyde7798 yes. My dad who is older wants a better 1 easier to see (eyesight is going) without a difficult to cock back like most options we see.
@@ProjectFarm that would b much appreciated. Pellet or bb gun . Always the challenge of CO2 (some take 2, some use big 1's which can add up) also so it should be an interesting test for cost wise consumers especially if just using for pests & it sits around between uses. Thx!
A problem is that some pellet guns shoot better with one brand over another, just like some rifles shoot better with different brands of ammo, different weight of bullet, etc.
The only grinders I have are battery powered but my last 2 projects taught me that nothing can replace a corded angle grinder. It fits in a much tighter spaces and they weigh a lot less so they are easier to free hand.
This is perfect! I use the HF ones I go through one of them a year. This year I’m on my 3rd and now considering a better brand. Was going to go with Milwaukee by nature but it’s seems that makita take the cake! Appreciate these as always
I suggested this videos a while back and it was well worth the wait! Having used most of the mainstream grinders in this video, I find myself totally agreeing with your findings, it reassuring to see how good your tests are at simulating the real world too! Bosch make a nice grinder too, less powerful than the Makita, but smaller and lighter, good for tight spaces and reaching out.
Love the video! If you like the rat-tail style of the Ryobi, Makita makes most of their different power levels in a rat-tail version. It's personally my favorite style. Gives you more leverage over the tool if it kicks.
@@aftertheelectrike1847 Exactly. My, in many other ways veeery, ace whole dad did some things right, and I was allowed to use all his tools and machines (except the stationary round saw), from I was 5. Sure - I cut my fingers deeep with his razor sharp carving knives and got hurt other ways, but kids heal fast. So I have also been in close contact with angle grinders a couple of times, and they don't stop for anything human.. :D But the wound didn't bleed much, bcz of the heat, I guess.. I remember as a kid, first time I used an angle grinder, where the trigger could be locked, and even as an "invinceble 12 year old", I was shocked over, anyone making something rhat dangerous.. Sue them...
Todd, PF testing is awesome. Your methods are fabulous and real life conditions. I have a Bosch angle grinder and was surprised it wasn’t included being a “name brand”. Why was it not included? Again thank you for all you do!
I use a Bosch slim everyday trimming cow hooves and love them. So easy to run 1 handed. Although they get abused and I usually burn through 1 a month they're my go to
Great comparisons as usual. I believe Ridgid also has a lifetime warranty. The Horrible Freight grinder appears to be a disposable tool as are much of their line.
Harbor Freight power tools are junk. With rare exceptions. I can think of three I've had which I thought were OK. I've had a lot more than 3 of them. More like dozens. Well, 4 now that I'm thinking about it. Their multitool I have of theirs isn't bad. Definitely not a pro tool though. The blade change on it sucks.
Great test, I've been using Makita angle grinders for decades, and although they're expensive I would not even consider to buy another brand. Makita corded tools is A+, whereas some of their battery tools still need some development/improvement to catch up with the competition in the high end market.
Makita is usually slower to release new updated tools, most of the tools they are compared to are newer models, but when they put out a new tool it usually is close to top of the line
Makita cordless tools, especially drills and saws are far superior to the other 2 big brands. Way more ergonomic, less vibration, next to zero runout on the chucks. The other brands are the ones that have a long way to go to catch up. All out power isn't everything in a tool.
Who knew angle grinders could be so intense? 😅 I'm loving the comparisons between these different brands. The Makita's impressive speed definitely caught my attention! Has anyone tried other brands not mentioned here? Let's keep the discussion going! 💪
Hey PF, great comparison as always! I have a video suggestion. I think a comparison of engine degreasers would be beneficial to many people. I know I’m always wrenching on something that’s greasy or grimy and brake clean does an ok job but it’s pretty harsh. I know there are specialty products from CRC, Gunk, etc. especially marketed for this and some products that may not be marketed for this that might do a better job. Thank you for your dedication and hard work!
Good test! I was particularly surprised by the Ryobi letting the smoke out after only a couple of seconds. Might have been faulty out of the box, but regardless, this shouldn't have happened. I'd definitely go for the Makita, as it just has heaps of power, and I think it also has a constant electronic. But the paddle switch design on the Milwaukee looks really comfortable as well.
The old "Made in Germany" Metabo angle grinders are the best grinders known to man. I worked in a precision sheet metal shop and they were used 60hrs a week for finish grinding and the only thing that ever wore out on them was the cord. They had new cords installed and kept using them for years. They were well balanced and had smooth operation for making flawless finish grinds.
It may seem sad, but to me, one of the best features, and a good reason to buy it, is the tool storage in the handle of the Ryobi. One of the most frustrating things with any tool is trying to find the accessories when you need to make adjustments.
Why would you need a tool? There are many options that don't need it like the tool less nuts on the Metabo and the new X-lock standard witch has no nut at all.
I get this on some other tools, but I can't remember the last time I used a wrench on a grinder instead of just grabbing whatever I have chucked up to tighten or loosen the tool.
I love these videos, the time and attention put into the testing is amazing and refreshing in a world where quality of work has become an after thought. I do wish you would've use the Bauer with the paddle trigger, I have it and it's fabulous. Keep it up!!
Nice and I actually bought the Harbor Freight one for sharpening lawnmower blades. However, used it well for cutting one of the rusted nuts / bolts of stabilizer links (which took awhile as you tested). Even if it breaks, definitely worth it as I do not expect to use it more than once a year at best🙂
I've had two Chicago electrics for almost a decade now and one of them just died about 3 months ago when I started working on a trailer restoration project that involved a lot of heavy grinding. I'd say that's a pretty good return on investment for a $20 grinder.
I've had my warrior grinder for close to 15 years now, passed it along to friends to use, chopped all the metal in a couch, cut up an entire dishwasher for recycling, and used it on just about anything I can. It's quite the trooper and the $10 I paid long ago was such a bargain. Glad to see it in this review.
Video idea: It would be really interesting to see a test of tools where you pit a model from one brand against itself to see if there is consistency between each unit or if you have some that perform markedly better and others significantly worse even though they are from the same company. One of the things I question when I see a video of yours where the cheap tool outperforms the expensive ones is that maybe you just happened to get a winner and that maybe not all samples from that brand would perform so well. It would be neat to see if that notion is worth considering, or just my bias against cheap things 😅
Same here, I'm finishing up welding school and bought one of the warrior grinders to keep a wire wheel on. It's held up great so far, not quite as powerful as my Dewalt DWE402 grinder, but it's still been shockingly good for the $15 I paid for it.
You didn't mention the most important feature of the Makita - variable speed. Great for polishing and stainless. I'm a big fan of mine; it's too expensive to use as a daily driver, but a must have for more specialist jobs. Its only competition is the discontinued Bosch Inox low speed grinder.
they're great for a business that grinds a lot, and the var speed is a great feature. we use them all the time in our stone shop. we have 5 in daily use, and only need to replace one about every year and a half or so. it's overbuilt and overpriced for a home-use tool though, although you likely won't need to replace it if you do get one.
@@nobody8717 That's the thing, my grinders aren't for home use, they're for construction use, and I don't see the point of giving a 1400W variable speed tool to a guy that's gonna spend a week removing rust with a wire wheel.
It is trivial to speed control any universal motor. You can use a phase fired chopper. Which is a fancy way of saying light dimmer. But you need an inductive rated one. You need a snubber across the triac. Or you can just use snubberless triacs. They cost about 50 cents on the open market.
Yup, Ryobi is the most ergonomic.... paperweight. Can't believe it burned itself out without even being moderately abused. About 2 years ago, decided to standardize on that brand for all of my cordless power-tools needs. One charger, couple of different batteries to fit the few Ryobi cordless power-tools I have. Well, thankfully when it comes to _corded_ power-tools, to heck with pragmatic brand loyalty. For the price and everything else I've seen in the video above, I'm liking that Porter-cable angle grinder.
I've been working with makita & metabo and dewalt for 7 years. After all these years I can say metabo is extremly expensive but it is best. we purchased AEG 13 sxe 2 mounths ago. İt is also cool
Project Farm is my go to source before buying any tool. Imagine my surprise when I discovered you've never covered "laser Levels"... (like the popular? - 2D - 3D green beam cross line self-leveling lasers from Huepar). Today will be my first new tool purchase in many years without relying on guidance from Project Farm. Hopefully he'll be covering them in the near future.
Please do more corded tool videos like this! Would love to see a corded circular saw video soon-especially a rear handle saw. Is Skilsaw still living up the reputation? Please let us know!
They Ryobi definitely seems best for light home use, having the lightest vibrations, being one of the quietest, best ergonomics, and being decently cheap at $60. Edit: christ almighty if I knew a throwaway TH-cam comment made before even finishing the video would cause this sort of sperg out, I would've bet money on the stupidity of humanity before making it.
Well, it was the only one to burn out, so I would pick another option. Even for light homework use, I would like my powertools to last for more than a split second.
Not a bad option, I have one at home slightly cheaper and it is ok for home use. I also use ridgid grinders at work and they are good enough to make money from them. I’d only pick a high end model if I was going to do very specific jobs like cutting a sink or polishing a granite slab
Another great and extremely useful video. I really appreciate you conduct so various and informative tests, so everyone can make own conclusion about what brand is worth to be purchased. Great job!
Missed hearing where each of the grinders were made! You've pretty much made a video covering every tool that comes to mind, I would appreciate a longer outro on your vids though. Hearing your opinion on which tools you liked is good, but I'd like to hear more about things we can't get from your video and tests, like how the tool feels, balance of it, some examples of times you've had and used the particular types of tools, etc.
@@rogerwilcojr exactly. Thanks to PF we know the limits. Home gamer situations, or light duty but long all day use this is good option to have in the kit. And since corded it's not like you're locked into buying only Ryobi like the battery versions.
If there’s ever a part 2, I’d be really interested to see how the Walter brand stacks up. I’ve got one, and I love it; but it’s pretty high in the price range, so I’m really curious if it makes that much of a difference
@@Wil_Liam1 They are commonly available through major welding gas suppliers in Canada. Air Liquide, Praxair and Messer all carry them or can order one. I can't speak for outside of Canada. They are made in Germany. They also make awesome abraisives. Metabo is their low grade brand. I have beaten up a few of them over the years as a welder/fabricator and they are very tough. Makita is good but they break down. Only thier higher end 6" grinders are any good to me personally. De-Walt has a U.S. made 5"/6" that is great if you use it as a 5" for "light" grinding.
One of the thing I have used my grinder for is cutting hardie or even tile and rock. The dust is a killer on the slide button and prefer the paddle switch. Some of the designs pull in more dust than others reducing the life of the motor.
I'm committing all of my time to watching every video from Project Farm for the second time. I'm recovering from massive boredom while working my dead end job. The only thing more entertaining than time thieving my employer are all of the videos on Project Farm. 😊
Happy to finally see a Hilti tool. Your model choice is a bit odd because it's the weakest one Hilti has for the 5" disks, but I assume it's based on "Was Available" instead of "Is the best one has to offer". I'm also very surprised how well some of the cheaper ones performed. And as always, amazing test and review, please never stop doing them.
I was thinking "all I care about is performance, and the ridgid was in second for 60 bucks" and then here comes a chart for people like me. This guy is freaking on it. He is a higher level youtuber than he can get credit for.
I found a 4 1/2” cup brush at a odd lots store - found the adapter I needed to mount it on a “left behind” Ryobi 4 1/2” grinder…..let me tell you this turned out to be one of the most useful pairings I’ve ever encountered. Fantastic for painting prep on wrought iron and even PT wood posts; cleaning under mowing decks, pre-and-post welding treatment, smoothing out cut surfaces on sheet metal - I think the cheapest grinder would work just fine although the trigger/handle design of the Ryobi tested here would lend more control. Put on a full face shield and try it, you won’t be disappointed.
Another worthwhile piece of information. The 4.5 inch angle grinder is one of the most useful pieces of shop equipment. Getting a good one makes it even better. Have a good tool is worth a lot to a craftsman.
Here’s the list of products reviewed. More details in the video description. Thank you!
Metabo: amzn.to/3GcxdCs
Black & Decker: amzn.to/3GByFQc
Porter-Cable: amzn.to/3ClF13B
Ridgid: amzn.to/3ImAjGL
Ryobi: amzn.to/3WMtm6m
DeWalt: amzn.to/3Gaq7hX
Metabo: amzn.to/3QeCj5L
Milwaukee: amzn.to/3vyUvgT
Makita: amzn.to/3jI9EK9
Hilti: Available at Home Depot
Warrior: Available at Harbor Freight
DeWalt Cutoff Wheels: amzn.to/3GBqNOz
3M Grinding Wheel: amzn.to/3VHA6B1
I am committing all of my time to watching EVERY SINGLE video from Project Farm. I'm recovering from surgery right now. And I'm so thankful for your channel.
Thank you very much! It means a lot to me!
Hip surgery is rough for sure!!
Best wishes from a strangely Sunny London (first sun for at least a Month). I hope you feel better soon; I was there last year - not fun. Give time time.
Speedy recovery and best wishes to you.
I think I were to binge watch these videos I'd have to play them at half speed in order to relax.
I am kind of a Milwaukee guy, but I do listen to reason and this channel.
Thank you!
I've come to learn that listening to reason and listening to this channel are pretty much the same thing
I've got the 13 amp Milwaukee grinder. It's a beast, kinda let down because that's the top model, not the 11 amp.
Well it's actually a 5 inch grinder, I forgot.
@@jbuch66koop yeah the 5” grinders are definitely the top dawgs and they do just fine with 4.5” discs as well, although the head of the grinder takes up more usable cutting diameter of the wheel as well. But then again they are heavier and more expensive, too. Would be interesting to repeat the test with 5” models and see if the brands stack up in the same order.
Good to see a corded tool review, I think there is still a place where corded is the better choice , not only in price but also function (circular saw)
Great point!
With a studio style stationary shop this is great info!
Some day I'm gunna make a mini gas generator so I can have a corded tool anywhere
Yeah, slight problem with batteries is the tool only lasts as long as the battery they make. My battery on a drill had to be replaced and I had a lovely surprise that they no longer made them, and the companies that did was charging more than it would be to buy a new drill, which I did with a cord.
@@CheeseMiser Maybe a solid state "generator" would meet your needs.
you are a national treasure. these videos are quick, precise, unbiased and immensely useful to the average consumer. your format is consistent and you never fail to make quality content every time!
Thanks so much!
International* I’m from Brazil and these kind of videos help me a lot
International x2 I'm from Venezuela and I always watch this amazing videos
I think, as the scar on my leg attests, startup torque is very important. Especially later in the day when your hands and arms get tired from heavy work. Thanks Todd.
You are welcome! Thanks for sharing.
I've had a 13 amp Makita SJS II variable speed angle grinder for almost 8 years and like your Makita in this test, it is an absolute beast. The power and smoothness of it make extended use so much more pleasant and arguably safer. I splurged on the variable speed model to allow for more controlled sharpening of tool blades and removal of old paint and other finishes with a flap disk.
I have the same one. It's definitely a beast and will buy the same thing when it's time.
Didn't you watch the video? The makita isn't a 13amp grinder
@@janeblogs324 It says right on the tool, 13 amp. 6:08
@@atfsgeoff so back to my question, so you didn't watch the video?
If you did you'd notice its not even close to 13amp
@@janeblogs324 if you're referring to actual power draw, in the final test it draws nearly 20 amps. So yeah. Not even close. Waaay more powerful than advertised. 12:07
I got that Makita grinders on sale 4 years ago for 60 bucks.
Used it for cutting plaster walls open with tuck point vacuum adapter. Even used it to wet cut concrete when we needed to run conduit. Still working great. Totally worth it
Thanks for sharing!
Yea, my makita Grinder is over 10 years old. In the first half of its life, it was a work tool & heavily used. Since then, I've had it at home for odd jobs & is in great shape.
I would love to see more of the German Metabo tools included. I run original metabo for all my cordless tools and they’re Festool quality at red/yellow price.
Thanks for the suggestion.
German metabos, also Japanese Makitas. But you wont find Japanese Ryobi because Ryobi and milwakee are now the same Chinese Company.
Also Bosch is missing
@@kiyoshim9593 German metabos still exist we run them at work. You have to search around the metabohtp brand now tho.
I find that Bosch are a good brand..... used them most of my life and not had any rwgrets from them...... my washing machine is also a Bosch, not needed any parts in over 10 years and baught second hand 🙂
I was not disappointed. I knew the Makita was going to do well in this test. Their grinders are always very smooth and seem to out last any other grinder I have used.
Thanks for the feedback.
Metabo outlives them all. In Europe we use them a lot in the metal industry
@@utvc3687 Yes, Metabo is the premium choice in Europe
@@utvc3687 the problem is that there's almost 0 distribution centers in North America. In Canada the brand disappeared.
@@ProjectFarm I would realy like to see more european tool manifactures like "fein" in your videos.
I've had a Makita for about 10 years and works great for everything I've used it on. Keep up the good work.
Thanks, will do! Thanks for sharing.
Yep, Makita is number one if you do actual work. For once a year home use the cheapest one is fine tho.
I have an 8in makita thats 20 years old still works great.
Makita are the Toyota of tools, they just don’t wanna die, especially the older ones
I didn't need an angle grinder until now. My garage is looking more like Todd's every week. Keep up the great work, we love your channel.
Awesome! Glad the reviews are helping you select great tools!!
Watch out… tools are addictive.
Buy 4 or 5 of them at garage sales. Keep a diferent wheel or brush in each.
If you only have one power tool an angle grinder is a good one to have. It'll cut, grind or sand just about anything.
Ridgid has a 15AMP angle grinder. Makita has a 6 amp too. Would love to see a revisit of this video in the future with low and high amperage angle grinders seperately tested.
Thanks for the suggestion.
I'd also like to see Bosch represented. I currently have 4 Bosch grinders in 4.5 inch. I'd like to know where they fall in the ranks when it comes time to replace them.
yeah. i have the dewalt DWE4357 1700W brushless and would love to see how it measures up..
Yes! Please do more of the corded tools.
Thank you!
In my experience, the 2 things that break the most in the shop are snap ring pliers and air compressors. Seeing either of those tested would be awesome. Thanks for your videos!
Please please air compressors!
Second snap ring pliers
Thanks for the suggestions.
@@ProjectFarmthird for snap ring pliers, they always break on me!
Snap ring pliers for sure
I truly appreciate all the work that goes into these videos and the lengths you go to to be as data driven as possible. I do also love that you give your more subjective opinion.
Thanks so much!
Thank you for adding more descriptions to your graphs. I always appreciate "Lower is better" "higher is better" because qualitative numbers can be vague at times. Great video!
Thanks and you are welcome!
I am a Bosch guy and I have a 5” German-made grinder and a 4 1/2” X-Lock, which is also darn good and is great for toolless wheel change.
Thanks for sharing.
I don't use tools to change attachments on angle grinders unless I've managed to burn a disc down to nothing. If there's still diameter there it's plenty to twist off with. But I will put a glove on a wire wheel. Those wires can stick right in me.
I have the 4.5 Makita Grinder/Cutter on order with the X-Lock. 7.5 Amp to start off with. My first Makita, as I have always been Team-Red in the past.
🤔😂. R. Flare.
between you and TTC I know exactly what to buy. I cant thank you enough. I've been watching your videos for years. You have saved me from making some poor choices.
Great to hear! Thanks!
Your intricacy with thorough testing examination is superb. Hell, I didn't even think to compare or consider a lot of the aspects you brought up in this test. Another amazing video! 💪Thank you!🙌
Thanks and you are welcome!
My first grinder was a Black and Decker, and maaaan, that thing is such an absolute workhorse!! Have put it through heavy grit and grime for 4 years now and it still runs like a champion.
Thanks for sharing!
Hold on. It still hasn't met me 😀
Great video, thank you. I have 8 of the harbor freight warrior grinder, each set up for specific purposes and all are still going strong. Very happy with their performance to date.
Great feedback on the Warrior!
That's the way to go! Those "disposable" grinders definitely have their place! 😎✌️
Junk
It literally got the worst score. Did you even watch?
@@LitheInLitotes Yes, but it's also $15
When choosing Harbor Freight tools it might be helpful to add some of their other "tiers". In this case, the Bauer angle grinderis advertised to be $49 with an 8 Amp motor, 11,500 RPMs and a paddle switch.
Are there really any "better" grade tools at Harbor Fright (intentional misspelling)? Or just less worse?
I've had several bad experiences with power tools there. Some hand tools seem OK, I found that some of them are made in India rather than Chy-na.
Bauer is rubbish, with rubbish customer service, even worse than anything from HF
@PeteHemdem harbor freight has some pretty good generators and welders for the price.
I would be Interested in the Bauer as well (I have both the bauer and the warrier). The bauer definitely has more power and is heavier. I've found harbor freight grinders to be up to the task, so long as you don't really lean into them. Seems like their gearboxes sound like gravel in a garbage disposal though. I usually take the gearbox cover off and replace the craptacular grease with high temp wheel bearing grease. Seems to help a little bit.
I was wondering the same thing about the Bauer and Hercules line.
I really love and appreciate the viewer interaction you take time to do. I’ve made probably 6-7 suggestions on this video alone, and another 10-12 on other various videos. Means a lot
Thanks and you are welcome!
Would love to see how Bosch angle grinders go in this comparison! I bought one simply for the X-Lock fast wheel change (and love it).
Is it that good? I'm not ready to pay extra for every wheel I need to buy
@@lopincol yeah this isn't a "feature" I'm interested in either.
i've been in a professional metal finishing industry for over 16 years and bosch has been the best brand I've seen so far.
Bosch tools are for occasional home use only. If you're okay with it dying at any moment, you can buy it. Don't get me wrong, it's fine and all. But if you want something better, your choice is Metabo and Hilti (and maybe Makita too, but they're too inconsistent, their cheaper tools are pretty sad, and at higher prices you can have Hilti).
@@KeksimusMaximus i've used a bosch in a professional business for almost ten years. grinding, cutting, sanding grit 36-120, aggressive wire brush, both mild and S.S.
Thanks a lot for more corded reviews! My budget does not really allow me to get good battery tools and cords aren't a big problem for me, so it's nice to see something like this! I hope more will come. Shame not all brands are available here, but at least I can see the big ones being compared.
Cordless is good but a grinder will eat batteries faster than you can charge them.
You are welcome!
@@Rudy97literally had a job that revolves around using a cordless grinder with a cutting wheel. I had something like 7 batteries. I’d go through 2 while 1 was charging.
This was a review I had suggested and it definitely didn’t disappoint. I’ve been extremely happy with every tool I’ve purchased based on your reviews. My money well spent and I appreciate it. I recommend you to all my friends and people I talk to about tools, etc. Keep it up!!!
Thanks, will do! Thanks for suggesting this video idea!
Oh great now I’m going to have to go look at my old Ryobi and think about this when I cut some steel plates this weekend. Love the channel!
Thanks! Thanks for sharing.
For as often as I use an angle grinder, maybe several times a year at this point, I bought a HF Drill Master. It's holding up pretty well. Thanks for the showdown.
I don't use my angel grinder much either, but it's nice to have one when needed, I also went cheaper and bought a $50 Bosch
You are welcome!
Oil filters, automatic transmission fluid, and paper plates too would be interesting to see. Keep the awesome videos coming!
Thanks, will do! Thanks for the suggestion.
Oh yeah, the ATF one definitely should be done!
Paper plates, what a genius idea. That would be interesting.
Project farm is a great channel even when he decides he couldn't make a test setup to evaluate the performance of ATF accurately!
I would like to add: transmission fluid anti slip additives test. Also, the Bruce Jenner fluid test is a great idea!
My experience working in various metal shops over the years has concluded that metabo, with all the different options they have available, is the go to grinder for industrial metal working
Yeah I love my metabo. We’ve tried Milwaukee but they didn’t last and the switch was uncomfortable. Dewalt was ok but my metabo is more comfortable. I burn up about a grinder a year. I’m a fitter for heavy weldments.
@@G.Davis67 i work in a welding shop myself, and I'd say the metabo grinder we have is my favorite
Do you feel like Metabo HPT is diluting the brand? Online searches return both brands and I feel like they made a mistake by giving the prosumer Hitachi brand the same name as the professional Metabo brand
Thanks for the feedback.
Justin, you are flipping WRONG. Metabo did not TEST nearly as well and those are FACTS. Not stupid anecdotes
-Multibit screw driver non
ratcheting
-side cutters
-rechargeable double a’s
-logger style work boots
-extension ladders
-tire changer
-portable air compressors (lots of new types out there)
Been a subscriber for years. Love your videos keep up the good work!
Thanks, will do! Thanks for the suggestions.
I just bought the Dewalt last weekend and the deciding factor was how it felt in my hand. I do a lot of one handed cutting and the others were too big to get a good single handed grip. As always, a great video. Thanks once again
they are terrifying!
Thanks and you are welcome!
Makita handles are rly good for one handed use, but for safety please use both hands. That tool has more power than you can hold.
Really surprised to not see Bosch, we need to see another round including more metabo, and Makita models, as well as Bosch. Bosch has long been the standing king of grinders up there with hilti, matabo and Makita
Thank you for sharing!
@@ProjectFarm I agree, disappointed to not see bosch's 10A offering
I appreciate all the effort put forth nut I would have to agree about being surprised over not having a Bosch. I own A lot of these brands this tends to be for me a "you get what you pay or tool".
Bosch and Makita sell lots of cheap, unimpressive grinders. Hilti focuses on rotary hammers for general contractors, their grinders are terrible.
In my opinion professional metal fabrication companies use grinders the most, some guys have expensive Metabo & Fein grinders which have a lot of features.
Metabo used to be good 10 years ago but since then it's been going down hill with Metabo. Some of their stuff is really low budget rubbish.
I have a corded DeWalt with a paddle switch (DWE402). Has a lot of torque starting up and seems to take forever to stop but it is a workhorse. I would love to see how it compares to the DeWalt you tested. Great video as always, Todd! I trust your test results and always consult the ProjectFarm channel before buying anything from a big box store.
Thanks! Thanks for the suggestion.
As usual, a very nice, informative video. I went with the Makita for purchase but chose the battery-operated version for portability in power outlet free situations. Your videos rea
ly assist in my buying decisions. Thank you sir!
There is a reason why pretty much every contractor I've worked for in industrial metal working uses Makita grinders. Specifically its almost always the GA6020Y with SJS and electric brake. They work great and just wont die even with a 200lb gorilla leaning on them 12 hours a day.
Those folks need the best. DIY cutting and grinding, Harbor Freight has been great for me.
Plus they are so much smoother. The high frequency vibrations on some just make them unusable.
@@artsmith103 Buy once cry once. But yea in the end if you don't use it at least 50 hours a year, it's not worth it. If you do, it's worth the money. Not for the speed of cut or durability, but lower vibration. High vibration rating tools are the worst if you use them more than 30 minutes sessions. That's when you start hating the cheap stuff.
If you're pro and make a living out of the tool, sure. But if you're a DIY and don't expect to use the tool more than once (for your project) or twice (to lend it to your neighbor), you can't beat the HF at $15. LOL
If it was cordless, one should consider which battery system one wants to commit money into. For corded... if you want a bit more reliability, the Porter-Cable is a no brainer.
How about metabo and walter?
I’ve used all kinds over the years, the Makita corded is the best I’ve owned, hands down, besides the iffy slide switch. Cool to see it wasn’t all in my head. Thanks for a great comparison Todd!
Yeah totally agree. Makita has been my goto for everything for many years.
@@scumbaggo Lookout for the newly "Made in China" Makitas. It it aint made in J-A-PAN, it aint worth the extra money.
You are welcome!
Great comparison as always. I really enjoy your tool tests, those are fun and exciting. My suggestion for a video would stem from your other videos on chainsaws. You tested a variety, from gas to battery operated chainsaws. As someone that uses a chainsaw on my property, I realized that sometimes good quality protective gear costs far more than chainsaw on its own. Some good topics would be to compare different brands of chainsaw chaps, as well as mask/helmet/headphones combinations. You have a variety of inexpensive online options, all the way up to Husqvarna and Stihl options. Then you have Pfanner Protos that can get up to $300 for head protection. I think it will also be a great educational moment for how much damage a chainsaw can make when it hits a test piece and how that compares with the gear. Appreciate all you do, Todd!
Thanks! Thanks for the suggestion.
Thanks for doing a corded review! For angle grinders I don’t even have/want a cordless one. Glad you finally started including hilti in the tests since I’ve been a huge fan of them for years. I run one of their 5 inch grinders all the time and love it! Sad to see the one in this test underperformed so poorly. Hope to see more in the future! Thanks and keep up the great work!
Glad to see you're including Ridgid in this test. They are great tools for the price and worthy of inclusion in your lineup.
Thanks for the feedback.
The slowmo on the rigid was classic.👍
I have a 11a dewalt with paddle switch for grinding if I don’t want to use an old heavy 7”, and 3 hitachi 7a for cutting, sanding and wire brushing. At $30 each on close out it was worth it not to always be changing blades.
Great price!
As always, another great review! I missed seeing Bosch in the lineup. Had one that survived several floods and heavy farm use before giving up the ghost after about 15 years. Next time, see about adding the RPM meter to the cut-off test. No-load versus load.
Hilti is Bosch.
@@dusanmilojevic3017 It's like saying Ryobi is Milwaukee.
Thanks! Thanks for the suggestion.
@@MatthRrrr Ryobi and Milwaukee are both made by TTI. TTI also makes Hart and Rigid tools too. Although oddly TTI won't cop to making Rigid on their website. Not sure what's going on there.
Thanks for taking the time to do the unit conversions in all of your great videos!
You are welcome!
Great review, thanks. I have a few of those cheap $15 angle grinders, not quite the same as the one you tested, but for home use I've found them perfectly adequate. They are so cheap you can just have 2 of them, one with a cutting disc and one with a grinding disc. For heavy work I have a large Bosch angle grinder.
For light to moderate use, especially intermittent non-professional, the cheap angle grinders seem to be good enough. Having multiple cheap ones may be more practical than having one better one. I almost always have 3 in arm's reach: one with a cutting disk, one with a hard/grinding wheel, and one with a flap disk. No time wasted in changing disk, just grab the other grinder. However the cheap ones do vary from unit to unit in vibration and gear lash.
Thanks for your hard work and time doing these videos! Please keep up the hard work! I’ve been looking for a Porter Cable replacement in battery powered tools, and seeing Milwaukee brand consistently in the top 3 to 5 I’m making a decision to buy their M18 brand based on your tests. No bias, no sponsors, just balls out tests until something starts smoking! Love it!
Thanks and you are welcome! Thanks for the suggestion.
I've asked for this test and happy to see it! Thanks. One thing is missing though. If you grind or cut for longer periods of time the tool can get pretty hot to hold. I would be nice to see the tool temp after the thicker blade cutting through the rebar. Great test still.
Thanks! Thanks for the constructive feedback.
Good point, and heat really comes into play when you’re at the end of a grinding disc and need to swap it out 👍
My 30 year old Makita still works almost as good as the one you tested, great tool. Thanks for the comparisons!
Nice! You are welcome!
Makita was a good brand. It is a little frustrating that at least the older ones weren't standardized to a 5/8" grinding wheel nut, and are largely unsupported today.
Ditto. My 30 year old Makita is only used on steel. Still going strong.
Their switches have always been the same awful and obstinate design though, including the cordless. That finally changed with the brushless 18V which is a night and day improvement.
I wish they were built the same way they were 30 years ago. I've personally burned up 4 makitas in my 12 years of welding.
I always favored makita over dewalt. Thank you for confirming!
You bet
Let's compare a 170$ Dewalt grinder and see which one you favor.
And I like the cool blue Makita color over banana yellow DeWalt. 😄
@@MrArcticPOWER probably still the makita :) I don’t like the yellow banana tools 🍌
If there's anything you should learn from this channel, it's that no one brand is the best at everything.
Another great test - I've been using Makita grinders (on my second one over 20 years) for tilework mostly. I agree that they perform wonderfully except for the trigger design - the three iterations I have tried (two owned personally) over the years have gotten slowly worse on trigger design and they feel a bit chintzier but they are still really good tools, holding up to a fair amount of daily abuse over the years.
yeah. i think its a safety feature. My old bosch har a really positive switch, but its really easy to switch on inadvertently. Still makita FTW
Glad to see RIDGID finish in one of the top spots. The other brands should follow Milwaukee and Hilti with an anti start feature if power button is engaged before plugging it in.
After the Ryobi (not Ryobi) burn out you should try a warranty claim series and see which one are worth the hassle or just better to replace the tool.
i have a feeling the one time you forget it is on will be the one time you dont want it to turn on automatically. my vacuum cleaner has already have me like 5 heart attacks.
Thanks for the suggesiton.
I'd love to see a review of different carpet stain removers. Keep up the good work 👍
The Vacuum Wars channel got you covered
Thank you for the video idea!
Video idea: adjustable parallel-jaw pliers, sometimes called plier-wrench. I believe knipex, klein, craftsman and icon (harbor freight) offer 10" pliers in this category.
Thanks for all the great reviews!
Awesome review, I knew the Makita was a pretty amazing grinder and the backs that up. That being said, if you are in a pinch or want a disposable one for someone that Warrior sounds like a deal too!
Thanks! Thanks for the feedback.
Great video. I never would have guessed that the Rigid would be so good. I have five of the Warriors at $10 each (coupons). three Bauers at $20 each (coupon), one Ryobi at about $50. That's nine grinders for about $160. I have them hanging up with a different disk in each one, super convenient and efficient to work with, I figure each one get's a portion of the work so they should last a long time.
I was a little surprised to see the Ryobi have such a struggle with the weighted cutting of the rebar. But, I've always known Makita kicks ass in this specific tool area.
Yeah I use makita tools, not always the best, but their grinders have been top of the class for decades. Nice to know that hasn't changed. Even approved by aVe.
Thanks for the feedback.
Personally I just use the warrior for wire wheels just cause I’m too lazy to have to keep switching wheels, works great!
Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for testing for tool vibration.
As I'm getting older, I'm finding my fingers less able to deal with the vibrations of power tools, so this information is something I'm always looking for.
You are welcome!
Usually grinder performance is rated off from amp draw. The higher the better such as 11-13 amps. They typically run cooler which usually equals longer grinder life and much nicer for the user. A temp rating would have been a nice addition to the ratings. I would have much rather seen more grinders with the same amp ratings. Maybe two tests with homeowner and contractor grade models. Thanks!
Thanks for the constructive feedback.
For the home DIY, sometimes bigger does not fit in the job. Up to 3/16", I think the Harbor Freight model delivers.
The only way more amps could possibly lead to cooler temps would be if the increased power kept the tool from bogging down which would keep the cooling fan spinning. Otherwise more amps means more power to dissipate. Fans in tools are designed to spin at specific speeds. There's just not a lot of latitude in the product to allow for variability. Beyond that we do not know how manufacturers rate their products. There's no governing body that dictates methods. Is the rating no load or loaded? So those ratings are meaningless.
@@1pcfred When a tool is rated for more amps it won't always draw that for smaller jobs but the cooling fan rpm is direct coupled to the shaft to stay cooler at less amp draw. From my amateur perspective, I'd rather have a smaller tool that can get into tight spots and just not push too hard for bigger jobs. ~4.5 amps.
@@artsmith103 when you exceed the power of a tool then the tool will lose RPM. We saw it happen in this video and saw the tool burn up as a result. But there's another factor at play there. That would be the gauge of the magnet wire. That's why the current is so low to begin with. The winding wire is thin. That causes greater electrical resistance to current flow. Thin wire also burns up easier. Though one motor seemed to suffer a brush failure. That's often due to how the brushes are held. They can't handle the heat. The brushes are in thin metal holders held by the plastic body of the tool. That melts and causes issues.
Great tests! I've always owned DeWalt power tools, both privately and professionally. In my experience they just take a beating and keep going. The thing I require on an angle grinder is a lock on switch. The paddle switches are just too inconvenient in 90% of the ways I need to use a grinder.
Thank you! Thanks for sharing.
Great video. All the malita grinders I’ve used have been very pleasant. I would like a video on pellet gun pellets. Things like accuracy, how much it deforms when it hits something, how similar the pellets are to themselves, things like that. Thanks!
Maybe a best pellet gun video is a good idea too.
@@chrishyde7798 yes. My dad who is older wants a better 1 easier to see (eyesight is going) without a difficult to cock back like most options we see.
Thanks! Thanks for the suggestion.
@@ProjectFarm that would b much appreciated. Pellet or bb gun . Always the challenge of CO2 (some take 2, some use big 1's which can add up) also so it should be an interesting test for cost wise consumers especially if just using for pests & it sits around between uses. Thx!
A problem is that some pellet guns shoot better with one brand over another, just like some rifles shoot better with different brands of ammo, different weight of bullet, etc.
The only grinders I have are battery powered but my last 2 projects taught me that nothing can replace a corded angle grinder. It fits in a much tighter spaces and they weigh a lot less so they are easier to free hand.
Thanks for the feedback.
This is perfect! I use the HF ones I go through one of them a year. This year I’m on my 3rd and now considering a better brand. Was going to go with Milwaukee by nature but it’s seems that makita take the cake!
Appreciate these as always
Thanks! Thanks for sharing.
I suggested this videos a while back and it was well worth the wait! Having used most of the mainstream grinders in this video, I find myself totally agreeing with your findings, it reassuring to see how good your tests are at simulating the real world too! Bosch make a nice grinder too, less powerful than the Makita, but smaller and lighter, good for tight spaces and reaching out.
Love the video! If you like the rat-tail style of the Ryobi, Makita makes most of their different power levels in a rat-tail version. It's personally my favorite style. Gives you more leverage over the tool if it kicks.
Thanks! Thanks for sharing.
I don't get locking triggers for electric tools. You drop one, and you have a big problem at your feet.
@@CONEHEADDK especially grinders like this, they can damage stuff or possibly hurt someone very badly
@@aftertheelectrike1847 Exactly. My, in many other ways veeery, ace whole dad did some things right, and I was allowed to use all his tools and machines (except the stationary round saw), from I was 5. Sure - I cut my fingers deeep with his razor sharp carving knives and got hurt other ways, but kids heal fast. So I have also been in close contact with angle grinders a couple of times, and they don't stop for anything human.. :D But the wound didn't bleed much, bcz of the heat, I guess.. I remember as a kid, first time I used an angle grinder, where the trigger could be locked, and even as an "invinceble 12 year old", I was shocked over, anyone making something rhat dangerous.. Sue them...
Todd, PF testing is awesome. Your methods are fabulous and real life conditions.
I have a Bosch angle grinder and was surprised it wasn’t included being a “name brand”. Why was it not included?
Again thank you for all you do!
Thanks! Thanks for the suggestion.
Love my Bosch, forget how much it costs but its much smaller compared to others Ive had and has lasted me several years of occasional use
Great feedback on the Bosch. Thank you
Bosch was the (imo) only mfg missing from the lineup.
I use a Bosch slim everyday trimming cow hooves and love them. So easy to run 1 handed. Although they get abused and I usually burn through 1 a month they're my go to
Great comparisons as usual. I believe Ridgid also has a lifetime warranty. The Horrible Freight grinder appears to be a disposable tool as are much of their line.
A cheap grinder is better than nothing. Good enough for a home owner.
Harbor Freight power tools are junk. With rare exceptions. I can think of three I've had which I thought were OK. I've had a lot more than 3 of them. More like dozens. Well, 4 now that I'm thinking about it. Their multitool I have of theirs isn't bad. Definitely not a pro tool though. The blade change on it sucks.
Thanks!
Great test, I've been using Makita angle grinders for decades, and although they're expensive I would not even consider to buy another brand. Makita corded tools is A+, whereas some of their battery tools still need some development/improvement to catch up with the competition in the high end market.
Makita is usually slower to release new updated tools, most of the tools they are compared to are newer models, but when they put out a new tool it usually is close to top of the line
Thanks! Thanks for sharing.
Yeah most of Makitas latest tools are out in Japan first for a while before making it to the US
Cordless Makita tools aren't always the best but they will last (but don't buy the cheap brushed models)
Makita cordless tools, especially drills and saws are far superior to the other 2 big brands.
Way more ergonomic, less vibration, next to zero runout on the chucks. The other brands are the ones that have a long way to go to catch up. All out power isn't everything in a tool.
Time and again this channel has determined what tool I purchased to last and do the best job possible, Thanks PF!
You are welcome! Thanks for sharing.
Who knew angle grinders could be so intense? 😅 I'm loving the comparisons between these different brands. The Makita's impressive speed definitely caught my attention! Has anyone tried other brands not mentioned here? Let's keep the discussion going! 💪
Hey PF, great comparison as always! I have a video suggestion. I think a comparison of engine degreasers would be beneficial to many people. I know I’m always wrenching on something that’s greasy or grimy and brake clean does an ok job but it’s pretty harsh. I know there are specialty products from CRC, Gunk, etc. especially marketed for this and some products that may not be marketed for this that might do a better job. Thank you for your dedication and hard work!
Thanks and you are welcome! Thanks for the video idea.
Good test! I was particularly surprised by the Ryobi letting the smoke out after only a couple of seconds. Might have been faulty out of the box, but regardless, this shouldn't have happened. I'd definitely go for the Makita, as it just has heaps of power, and I think it also has a constant electronic. But the paddle switch design on the Milwaukee looks really comfortable as well.
Thank you! Thanks for the feedback.
The old "Made in Germany" Metabo angle grinders are the best grinders known to man. I worked in a precision sheet metal shop and they were used 60hrs a week for finish grinding and the only thing that ever wore out on them was the cord. They had new cords installed and kept using them for years. They were well balanced and had smooth operation for making flawless finish grinds.
Thanks for sharing.
It may seem sad, but to me, one of the best features, and a good reason to buy it, is the tool storage in the handle of the Ryobi. One of the most frustrating things with any tool is trying to find the accessories when you need to make adjustments.
Agreed.b The other manufacturers could take a lesson from RYOBI here.
makes me nuts when there isn't onboard storage for stuff like that. I have the ryobi and love that feature.
Why would you need a tool? There are many options that don't need it like the tool less nuts on the Metabo and the new X-lock standard witch has no nut at all.
I get this on some other tools, but I can't remember the last time I used a wrench on a grinder instead of just grabbing whatever I have chucked up to tighten or loosen the tool.
100% agree
I love these videos, the time and attention put into the testing is amazing and refreshing in a world where quality of work has become an after thought. I do wish you would've use the Bauer with the paddle trigger, I have it and it's fabulous. Keep it up!!
Thanks, will do!
Nice and I actually bought the Harbor Freight one for sharpening lawnmower blades. However, used it well for cutting one of the rusted nuts / bolts of stabilizer links (which took awhile as you tested). Even if it breaks, definitely worth it as I do not expect to use it more than once a year at best🙂
Thanks! Thanks for sharing.
I've had two Chicago electrics for almost a decade now and one of them just died about 3 months ago when I started working on a trailer restoration project that involved a lot of heavy grinding. I'd say that's a pretty good return on investment for a $20 grinder.
If your like me I only use an angle grinder once or twice a year the warrior is fine.
I've had my warrior grinder for close to 15 years now, passed it along to friends to use, chopped all the metal in a couch, cut up an entire dishwasher for recycling, and used it on just about anything I can. It's quite the trooper and the $10 I paid long ago was such a bargain. Glad to see it in this review.
Thanks for the feedback.
Video idea: It would be really interesting to see a test of tools where you pit a model from one brand against itself to see if there is consistency between each unit or if you have some that perform markedly better and others significantly worse even though they are from the same company.
One of the things I question when I see a video of yours where the cheap tool outperforms the expensive ones is that maybe you just happened to get a winner and that maybe not all samples from that brand would perform so well. It would be neat to see if that notion is worth considering, or just my bias against cheap things 😅
I've had like 5 of the warrior angle grinders, in my experience, as long as they don't fail immediately fail, they keep working just fine
What a dumb statement. These tools are all made with the same parts. Each part has QA. There isn't much variation
For wire wheels and such, I bought 6 warrior grinders when they were on sale for $9 each. I use a rigid for cutting. Great test, Todd!
Thanks! Thanks for sharing.
Me Too !!!!!!
Same here, I'm finishing up welding school and bought one of the warrior grinders to keep a wire wheel on. It's held up great so far, not quite as powerful as my Dewalt DWE402 grinder, but it's still been shockingly good for the $15 I paid for it.
You didn't mention the most important feature of the Makita - variable speed. Great for polishing and stainless. I'm a big fan of mine; it's too expensive to use as a daily driver, but a must have for more specialist jobs. Its only competition is the discontinued Bosch Inox low speed grinder.
They have a paddle version to feather the speed too.
they're great for a business that grinds a lot, and the var speed is a great feature.
we use them all the time in our stone shop. we have 5 in daily use, and only need to replace one about every year and a half or so.
it's overbuilt and overpriced for a home-use tool though, although you likely won't need to replace it if you do get one.
@@nobody8717 That's the thing, my grinders aren't for home use, they're for construction use, and I don't see the point of giving a 1400W variable speed tool to a guy that's gonna spend a week removing rust with a wire wheel.
@@nobody8717 greetings from one stonemason to another^^
It is trivial to speed control any universal motor. You can use a phase fired chopper. Which is a fancy way of saying light dimmer. But you need an inductive rated one. You need a snubber across the triac. Or you can just use snubberless triacs. They cost about 50 cents on the open market.
Yup, Ryobi is the most ergonomic.... paperweight.
Can't believe it burned itself out without even being moderately abused.
About 2 years ago, decided to standardize on that brand for all of my cordless power-tools needs. One charger, couple of different batteries to fit the few Ryobi cordless power-tools I have. Well, thankfully when it comes to _corded_ power-tools, to heck with pragmatic brand loyalty. For the price and everything else I've seen in the video above, I'm liking that Porter-cable angle grinder.
I’m always impressed by the black and decker power tools. It’s crazy how inexpensive they can be yet durable.
I've been working with makita & metabo and dewalt for 7 years. After all these years I can say metabo is extremly expensive but it is best. we purchased AEG 13 sxe 2 mounths ago. İt is also cool
Ah... the angle grinder probably my most used tool
It's a must have tool for me too
Project Farm is my go to source before buying any tool. Imagine my surprise when I discovered you've never covered "laser Levels"... (like the popular? - 2D - 3D green beam cross line self-leveling lasers from Huepar). Today will be my first new tool purchase in many years without relying on guidance from Project Farm. Hopefully he'll be covering them in the near future.
Please do more corded tool videos like this! Would love to see a corded circular saw video soon-especially a rear handle saw. Is Skilsaw still living up the reputation? Please let us know!
Thanks for the suggestion.
They Ryobi definitely seems best for light home use, having the lightest vibrations, being one of the quietest, best ergonomics, and being decently cheap at $60.
Edit: christ almighty if I knew a throwaway TH-cam comment made before even finishing the video would cause this sort of sperg out, I would've bet money on the stupidity of humanity before making it.
Well, it was the only one to burn out, so I would pick another option. Even for light homework use, I would like my powertools to last for more than a split second.
Found the SHILL
Not a bad option, I have one at home slightly cheaper and it is ok for home use. I also use ridgid grinders at work and they are good enough to make money from them. I’d only pick a high end model if I was going to do very specific jobs like cutting a sink or polishing a granite slab
Compared to the $15 machine it is expensive and did not last.
All these people getting genuinely angry over Ryobi... Tell us, where did the power tool hurt you?
Another great and extremely useful video. I really appreciate you conduct so various and informative tests, so everyone can make own conclusion about what brand is worth to be purchased. Great job!
Thanks and you are welcome!
I have had a Makita for 35 years that I bought used! Just can't beat that!
Nice!
Missed hearing where each of the grinders were made!
You've pretty much made a video covering every tool that comes to mind, I would appreciate a longer outro on your vids though. Hearing your opinion on which tools you liked is good, but I'd like to hear more about things we can't get from your video and tests, like how the tool feels, balance of it, some examples of times you've had and used the particular types of tools, etc.
China :D
Having used the ryobi before, it is an extremely comfortable grinder to run for extended periods.
I thought the Ryobi not Reeobi was doing pretty good until it went up in smoke.
"comfortable" does in NO way make up for being a "broken piece of junk"
@@MoneyManHolmes Yeah, but not really fair using a grinding disc on a brute cut off test like that.
@@rogerwilcojr exactly. Thanks to PF we know the limits. Home gamer situations, or light duty but long all day use this is good option to have in the kit. And since corded it's not like you're locked into buying only Ryobi like the battery versions.
Thanks for the feedback.
If there’s ever a part 2, I’d be really interested to see how the Walter brand stacks up. I’ve got one, and I love it; but it’s pretty high in the price range, so I’m really curious if it makes that much of a difference
Thanks for the suggestion.
Say Hokie,wth does one get a Walter from as I've never heard of,read about nor seen that brand before your mention..
@@ProjectFarm as well as Metabo
@@Wil_Liam1 DeWalt maybe?
@@Wil_Liam1 They are commonly available through major welding gas suppliers in Canada. Air Liquide, Praxair and Messer all carry them or can order one. I can't speak for outside of Canada. They are made in Germany. They also make awesome abraisives. Metabo is their low grade brand. I have beaten up a few of them over the years as a welder/fabricator and they are very tough. Makita is good but they break down. Only thier higher end 6" grinders are any good to me personally. De-Walt has a U.S. made 5"/6" that is great if you use it as a 5" for "light" grinding.
One of the thing I have used my grinder for is cutting hardie or even tile and rock. The dust is a killer on the slide button and prefer the paddle switch. Some of the designs pull in more dust than others reducing the life of the motor.
Thanks for sharing.
The 4.3amp Warrior is $15 at HF, but the 5amp model is only $5 more. Wish you tested that one as well because that may be the better buy!
Great point!
I'm committing all of my time to watching every video from Project Farm for the second time. I'm recovering from massive boredom while working my dead end job. The only thing more entertaining than time thieving my employer are all of the videos on Project Farm. 😊
Thanks for watching!
Happy to finally see a Hilti tool. Your model choice is a bit odd because it's the weakest one Hilti has for the 5" disks, but I assume it's based on "Was Available" instead of "Is the best one has to offer".
I'm also very surprised how well some of the cheaper ones performed.
And as always, amazing test and review, please never stop doing them.
Thanks and you are welcome!
I was thinking "all I care about is performance, and the ridgid was in second for 60 bucks" and then here comes a chart for people like me. This guy is freaking on it. He is a higher level youtuber than he can get credit for.
Thanks!
I found a 4 1/2” cup brush at a odd lots store - found the adapter I needed to mount it on a “left behind” Ryobi 4 1/2”
grinder…..let me tell you this turned out to be one of the most useful pairings I’ve ever encountered. Fantastic for painting prep on wrought iron and even PT wood posts; cleaning under mowing decks, pre-and-post welding treatment, smoothing out cut surfaces on sheet metal - I think the cheapest grinder would work just fine although the trigger/handle design of the Ryobi tested here would lend more control.
Put on a full face shield and try it, you won’t be disappointed.
Thanks for the feedback.
Another worthwhile piece of information. The 4.5 inch angle grinder is one of the most useful pieces of shop equipment. Getting a good one makes it even better. Have a good tool is worth a lot to a craftsman.
Thanks! Good Point!