The WEN has been added to our running list of tools that don't suck: www.amazon.com/shop/torquetestchannel While the Milwaukee.... has not. Being upstaged by the cheapest tool on Amazon is not a good look, perhaps Milwaukee has moved on from continually improving all tools like they do with cordless, and consider these "legacy" tools that they will keep making as long as people buy them. Hopefully we can continue to provide enough objective data to send those types of tools off into retirement a bit quicker and help the cream to rise to the top.
I love Milwaukee but they definitely do seem to rest awful heavy on their laurels at times. It's particularly frustrating when some of their cordless stuff is the best on the market and other tools are badly overshadowed by cheaper brands.
@@barrylinkiewich9688 at my shop we use the milwaukee corded 1/4" die grinders and when mine broke, i swapped it out for a new one and immediately noticed how easy it was to bog it down compared to the older one i used to use. we also apparently broke a corded drill from them within like a month. seems like they only really care about their cordless products these days.
DWE402 - 4.5" 11 amp compact paddle switch. This is my favorite grinder I have ever used and I would love to see it tested. I have not used all the grinders out there, but I would be shocked if this one did not put down some serious numbers. This specific model made me have a healthier respect for angle grinders, especially with a cup brush.
Agree. If you're putting hours on one of these things that really starts to matter. I have Dewalt, Makita, Hercules and yes, that same old $8 Drill Master (I think I got mine for even less on sale!) and the Hercules and Makita both feel similar while the drill master not only has far less power but buzzes your hands to death and just feels unpleasant to use.
Will do. Preliminary testing shows you need to do it in a static supported hand with a disc attached otherwise its much higher or lower in some brands. Knowing vibration with no disc attached seems of not much use
@@TorqueTestChannel I was referring to corded tools. I have lots of experience running them & not all are created equal! The best we’ve found are the rear trigger dewalts I think 12amp steal requires weekly disassembly & cleaning out! But we’ve actually ordered new brushes to keep them going.
Yes please include vibration measurements as well. As well as the actual tool teardowns. Now that AvE has really slowed down with his BOLTR reviews, and Tool Teardown channel all but dissappeared, we really need someone to step in to the fold and give us these teardown comparisons.
@@DarkFiber23 I love AVE for all my anti-vax rants, gun-nut libertarian nonsense, detailed guides on how to break endmills and swear at a CNC you don't know how to operate, and using poorly-repaired farm equipment incorrectly then getting angry when it breaks.
Thanks for the bonus Sunday episode. I know how you feel about your old Drillmaster - I have a Bosch angle grinder my dad got in the mid-nineties that I inherited when he passed away. While I hate the switch on it, that tool performs better than anything else I’ve used. Being a pro mechanic/neighborhood handyman/amateur blacksmith, I own/have owned dozens of angle grinders, but the first one I reach for is the ancient Bosch. I hope your Drillmaster got cleaned and greased for its next 20 years of service.
I also would love to see vibration ratings. Not only is vibration a durability concern, but a fatigue concern. If I know one brand is a little down on power but runs much smoother, then that is what I want for those few days where I am grinding my project 4+ hours
If you are grinding 4+ hours do yourself a favor and look at the Makita 9005B 5” grinder. It has the rat tail that is easier to grab and a side handle for better control. It is like a small 7-9” grinder.
I'm curious to know if the vibration frequency affects how the tool feels. I'm hoping the TTC will include both the frequency and magnitude of the vibrations.
We use Makita grinders exclusively at work and they get run hard (metal fab shop), we've never had a motor fail in 20+ years. It's always a switch failure or power cord getting pulled, cut or otherwise damaged. For home use I just took a couple grinders that the boss didn't want to repair, popped in a new switch or cord into and kept using, I've even given a few away to friends. My oldest is probably 20 years old and objectively still runs just as hard as the new ones.
Agreed. My corded Makita HP2051 drill is now 15 years old, and it's been through quite some stuff. Still runs like new, could use a new chuck though. Makita just knows how to build good motors, but then again, it would be embarrassing if they didn't, as they originally started with building and repairing electric motors.
I do maintenance at a beef plant, and at work we have Milwaukee and dewalt angle grinders. The corded dewalt has been kicking for years, and it gets overused and beat on. The milwaukee grinders feel more torque-y and powerful, but ive seen two get burned up in 2 years. Now the cordless ones... our dewalt cordless grinder sucks. No balls, battery dies in no time. Mulwaukee one kicks ass. At home I use a HF bauer corded grinder, and it feels powerful like the mulwaukee ones. I'm not rough on it, so ive not managed to hurt it after a year of use. Im a milwaukee fanboy for most things like drills and impacts, but HF has been impressing me lately with some of their power tools.
I too have a 15-16 year old HF grinder. I have repaired the cord twice. It still runs and runs circles around the newer HF one i bought... not as a backup but as an extra with either a flap wheel or wire wheel while the other has a cut or grind wheel on it. Saves time. I can not tell you the hours i have on the old HF but i have build 2 hotrods and restored a rusted full size Blazer and that old HF grinder was all i had at the time. Its still going to this day. ❤
I've had the Wen. It lasted one day. Just putting a 7" grinding disc on the Wen caused it to overheat, just spinning in the air, without touching the work. I've had the warrior for 6 months, and it works fine.
Measuring vibration would be incredibly valuable. I absolutely hate vibration in both gas and electric tools and it can cause long-term nerve damage. It's a reason I've not been crazy about the Flex brand of tools despite their power. Just for the heck of it I clicked the link and bought the Wen you tested. For a price that low it's a handy thing to keep around for occasional use.
I purchased Chicago 8 dollar grinders for a project in our shop 20 plus years ago. One still is in service after 20 years. It has outlasted Porter Cable, Dewalt and Metabo
Yes, we always want to include the vibration specs. I'd also like to know what tools are "acceptable" in that category. They all make your hand numb eventually, but what is the threshold where it is too much?
I had a lot of old pipes and rebar to cut up and from what I read th-cam.com/users/postUgkxPDBfLu68o58Aw85O_J-zIFfjJARBhp-3 this would be the tool for the job. Since I had never used one, I watched a couple of youtube videos and I'm so glad I did. Some really good safety tips, which I followed, and this tool did a splendid job. One good thing to know is the weight of the tool puts just about the right amount of pressure on the metal I was cutting, so I didn't have to use a lot of pressure, which is more likely to jam the tool. It made fast work of my job.
best 4 1/2" angle grinder hands down is Makita we use them at my work and we are a heavy steel company and just last hours on end and Milwaukee as you said are like using an auto f balance wheel, they vibrate like hell and thats after 4 replacement units 👍
I still have a old hf and its in my tool box. I have upgraded to paddle switch grinder and a few cordless. But that little guys still work and will always be my back up.
The fact his 20 year old HF drill master is still going strong tells you all you need to know. Just go to HF buy the best warrior model you can afford and be good to go for along time. They just released a 6 amp model with paddle switch for $24 so with coupon $20 and I bet it’s a beast probably similar or better then his drill master. Side note I have an old black drill master that’s at least 10 years old and it’s a beast and won’t die as well.😂
Vibration testing would be nice. I use grinders to dry cut porcelain tile with a diamond blade. You need a smooth running grinder. If it vibrates too much it will break the tile. My 2 old dewalts cut smooth for awhile then started to vibrate. My makita has ran smoother longer than the other 2 combined. I tried the first original dewalt cordless(brushed). Huge Vibration with very little run time. Used 3 times and has since collected dust for past 14 or so years.
Absolutly include vibration, since that can cause white fingers desease over extended use. Concerning power rating: The motor efficancy of corded grinders may varry so it would be nice to see, what difference this makes.
Wow, I remember my dad using a Wen pad sander 50 years ago... not fancy but got the job done and was built solid. Nice to see they still make decent stuff.
Wen doesn't make anything these days. They're a zombie brand and very hit or miss. That said, as seen with this grinder, their hits are the real deal. I have an ancient Wen rotary polisher that just keeps going. I'm pretty sure it's older than I am, and I'm 44.
Interesting to see, that the old stuff really lasts and it's not only subjective. I mean, it looks like there is almost no grease left in you 8$ beauty (at least compared). It hurts to see expensive brands cheap out on stuff like bearings.
While that one has lasted, that isn't an indicator of build quality of the rest of those grinders. That could literally be the only one that lasted longer than a year, and it could be from a fluke of production. It's like when people say "people don't build houses like in the old days - look at the Coliseum, that's still standing", while completely ignoring that there aren't any 2,000 year old houses anywhere.
@@MrMartinSchou That makes all these test anecdotal anyways as with every tool your mileage may differ. But it is an average indication of how well a tool may or may not perform. However I agree with the statement of the old days were better are taken with a mountain of salt.
@@MrMartinSchou I have a dozen of those HF Drillmasters, purchased in 2001. All but one are still working. I believe that one has the lock mechanism jamming it and would probably be repairable in 5 minutes if I bother. Bonus is that HF didn't charge shipping to U.S. military APO box overseas. No tax either. I got them for $9 each. They also came with spare brushes. I use them often, and have swapped out the brushes on some. Best tool bang for the buck ever. BTW, they don't build houses as well as they used to.
Definitely yes on the vibration testing. Great video as always! I bought a drill master angle grinder in probably 2012 for $10. I used that thing for years. On more than one occasion, I had it so hot I had to use my welding gloves to use it- it never gave up tho. Ended up giving it to someone once I got my 13amp Dewalt 4.5” angle grinder.
I got a harbor freight angle grinder as a gift about 2 years ago, worth $15 maybe. It's never failed me through lots of projects. It shakes a lot, has a stiff on/off button but gets the job done in layman terms.
Project farm recently did a corded grinder test. But was more aimed at the 15 minute use in dads shed crowd. Thank you for this one. My go to will always be my selection of overworked and beat to death but still not dead dewalts. 2 paddle switch 4.5s, a 5", a couple 7" and a 9" monster we grind tires with! But i need some for employees to use and the Wen may fill that spot!
I have a really old drill master angle grinder and it's still a beast and it lives on the front porch most of the time in the elements it was like 12 bucks I think out the door mines not 20 years old probably ten I'll send it to u to test if u want
I’ve been using a similar Wen grinder for about 5 years now and I’ve had no complaints. Mostly used for auto restoration and grinding down my subpar welds, its worked flawlessly
Fascinating video! My harbor freight is Central Electric, bought a few years after yours for around same price. As it's main function is cutting and sharpening every once in a while it does fine.
At this point in time, Milwakee, DeWalt, and all the other major tool manufacturers are going along on their name alone. They don't need to make the best quality anymore, because people will automatically assume they're great tools because they HAD a great reputation. But, videos like this which test the tools prove all those tool manufacturers have now is just that old reputation, because their quality went out the window years ago. Thank you for putting the time and effort to test things out for us.
I'm glad to see the Drillmaster grinder do so well. I have some videos on my channel showing this grinder cutting steel. Side note: My son bought the Bauer corded grinder for a project. It sounded so bad we returned it.
Pretty impressed by how the Wen does and its build quality actually looking decent too. Maybe endurance speaks a different story? Because it seems like the Milwaukee you are mostly paying for the brand name in this instance.
So I had bought the $10 harbor freight grinder to use for 1 project. It didn't even make it half way through before dying. Replaced it with another harbor freight grinder (the Bauer corded one) because I guess I was looking for trouble. 3 years later I still have it and just used it to make a lot of cuts on 3/8" rebar. Still going strong. I highly recommend it.
Love to see you toss the ryobi grinders, especially the $22 cordered model, at this test. I needed one for cheap and bought it as a expendable tool for a job...several years ago. It still has a place in my truck box when I need a grinder that will last all day and not give me grief.
wish you had dewalt here too. i got a mower shop and though i got dewalt, porter cable and bosch angle grinders, past 4 years i been using my drill master grinder that was $10 on xmas coupon special few years ago. got mad 1 day and threw it across shop. bent guard. still runs like new. less vibration than older porter cable. easy to use 1 handed. for the price it cost a penny per mower blade sharpened. I get $10 a blade. so 1 blade paid for it. maybe my dewalts would last 80 years vs the drill master 40 years or whatever it may be. but if you aint gonna be running a grinder non stop all day the drill master will last most people a lifetime. even if you do use it all day and it wears out in a year. it was $10! go spend another $10 for another year of non stop use! a meal at mcdonalds is $10! better than $100 upfront and hope it lasts 10 years to come out the same!
Please YES! We love to have the vibration data and we are loving the teardowns. And this bonus episode?! You have made our Sunday, Torque. Thanks again! 🐺🔧
I love my makita corded (rated 6a, nice and compact, powerful) for most things. Torquey little bugger! That said, the dustier and nastier the job, the more likely I am to break out the cheap yard sale porter cable.. I see it like you do the HF. Still been a great grinder.
Please, please, please test 11-13 amp grinders next. Particularly interested in the Hercules 13 amp corded rat tail, its competition from Dewalt also a 13 amp corded rat tail. As well as similar powered corded grinders from Makita and Metabo. If you're gonna buy the tools urself, the Hercules 13 amp rat tail is currently on sale for $69. Thanks!
Btw I mean Metabo proper, not necessarily Metabo HPT (though it's fine if you include those also). I hear the true Metabo grinders are really good...though not cheap.
A few years back I wanted to grind down some tree roots that were a tripping hazard. I didn't want my Makita grinder filled with dirt so I bought a Drill Master from HF for $10, complete with grinding disc. To my surprise the Drill Master survived the job and I still have it.
I buy those Warrior grinders every time I see them on sale. I tend to destroy grinders long before I wear them out or they disassemble themselves. Plus the Warrior has another advantage, if I loan one out and not get it back I don't really care. I may have to pick up the WEN, just to see how the rich folks grind. lol
Thanks for this! My second hand cordless grinder crapped out when I needed it. Luckily the battery it came with is worth the price paid. Since most of my usage will be in my shop, that little WEN with suit me just fine.
@@ddegn It was a 24V Kobalt, but I'm not sure how much use it had prior to my owning it. It looked well used but came with a 4ah battery for $40. I've had good success with other tools in the 24v lineup.
@@dougcutler4948 my coworker had to replace a new 24v kobalt drill that crapped on him, they replaced it. vie used my bauer drill for driving 3 inch wood screws drilling metal drilling concrete and it doesnt quit.
Walter grinders are the best in my opinion, they are the top tier metabo if I remember correctly. They juste power through any task. I still own one that’s about 30 yo, it’s a big 7in 15A model that’s feared by any untripped circuit breaker!
I have some Makitas and some cheep harbor freights, when doing body work it’s much easier to have one with a grinding wheel, one with a flap disc, and one with a cut off wheel. Instead of changing the disc every time. Yes they don’t have the same torque but they work and have for years. For some tasks you don’t need the best most expensive tool.
I have a few of the $9 grinders from harbor freight. I use them around the house. I think over the years I think one of them stopped working but I took it apart and cleaned it up and it started working again. I used it for a few more years until the cord got cut. I had another one that lasted a long time and I just had it stop working after using it very hard. It might be salvageable yet. I have 2 or 3 new ones that I picked up over the years. I never expected them to last as long as they have. They really don't owe me anything. Would I use it as a daily grinder? Once in a while maybe but I bought a more expensive higher quality one from mac tools to use at work. I think it's probably a Dewalt. Not sure who made mac tools stuff in the 1990. It is still working to this day. Great video guys!
Corded is the way to go, unless you have lots of spare cash to throw away. I bought a Skil brand corded grinder back in the 1990's at a flea market for $10. It still works just fine. Doesn't get hot (does get warm), vibration isn't enough to make me stop using it, and is strong enough to get any job done. Buy corded. You can use it all day. No wait to recharge batteries.
Love reviews like this because it lets us know when a company is trying to make extra cash from its name by selling a cheaply made product. It's unfortunate but I'm glad guys you are here to put them on display. Only way to try and keep em honest.
For welders who buy many angle grinders to avoid swapping accessories cheap corded grinders are VERY handy. If you added a flex coupling (perhaps durable hose like Gates Barricade fuel injection hose) to the connection between grinder and dyno would the sufficiently decouple the dyno for long endurance runs?
WEN for the WIN. I feel like the big brands gave up updating and improving their corded tools years ago. Not sure if it was suggested, but"d love to see the Ryobi PBLAG01B in the cordless angle grinder mix.
I got a metabo 750 watts in 2006. It died last year,because a brush snapped and took a piece of winding with it. My brother bought a makita this year,one month after the start button popped off because of dust. They are poorly made today.
Been using a skil for nearly 20 years that i picked up on sale for around $15. It has had a hard life in steel fab and never failed. Sorry but the skil is the greatest ever made.
While you are tearing things down, the area of brush contact is also interesting. Assuming the brush spring pressure isn't stupid high or stupid low, a larger brush contact area should result in less brush wear and a little less heat generated in the brushes and commutator. This is important for longevity, since having the brushes burn out has (in my experience) been the most common cause of corded tool failure.
It is important and it isn't. Brushes are a wear item. And there's compromises that are made there- harder brushes last longer, but they wear the commutator bars out faster. Soft brushes tend to have better contact, and while they wear out fast, the commutator doesn't get destroyed. You can buy brushes for a couple bucks, and it takes just minutes to change them. You can get the brushes from the tool maker, or if you have a decent independent hardware store, they'll have a bin with all kinds of replacement brushes. Hell, my 7-amp Hercules grinder actually came with a set of replacement brushes! As far as I'm concerned, brushes are like brake pads on a car. They're meant to be replaced now and then. Ultimately, I'd much rather have softer brushes that don't destroy the commutator. But people just throw shit away these days when it stops working all too often, so manufacturers have taken to using super hard brushes that last longer but take the tool with them when they fail.
I own the small 4.3 and the bauer paddle switch, im planning on getting the hercules paddle and one or both larger warriors. The 4.3s aren’t worth shit unless you need 10 of them for different types of discs. the Bauer paddle is so far holding up well while running the wire wheel, has enough power and is comfortable to hold. Remind me in a month or so and I’ll tell you about the others
I have the Hercules 7-amp side switch grinder. I've had it for a few years, since shortly after it first came out, and I beat on it fairly regularly. It's a solid tool. It even came with a set of replacement brushes, though I've not needed them yet. When I first got it, I did a teardown and found it to be well made- nicely machined gears, lots of epoxy on the windings, nice beefy brush holders, etc. I do find it lacking in power sometimes, and I'm not necessarily a fan of the switch design. I think I'll eventually get either the 11 amp paddle switch Hercules or the rat-tail one that can be converted to 6".
Thanks for testing these! Sick to be featured. I think I can stretch the budget for the Wehn when my Warriors bite the dust, might take a few years though. They are cheep but they last surprising long.
Fun vid. Just fun, funny lines too. I too have a DoIt Best hardware special from about ‘05 or so. 4-1/2” with a trigger switch and switch lock. Just feels the best and keeps grinding till there’s nothing left, of either the metal work or me.
If you want a heavy duty 4 1/2" angle grinder from Harbor Freight, buy their 11 amp Atlas model. At that power level, it's making just under 1 HP and you can 'hog' it hard as you want and it won't overheat or stall. Get into the 7 AMP models or less and you're getting a grinder that will work, but doesn't produce much power and won't last too long. Of course, you'll pay the price, I think I paid around $60-$70 for mine.
Fun fact: adjusting for inflation, the old and new cheap grinders are almost the same price ($15 new vs. $15.98 old). The quality is not the same, though…
I bought a Hitachi angle grinder for like 40 bucks for the kit like 20 years ago. I had to fix it once, by having to redo the handle end wiring from wire flexing the wires had come off the terminals.
I bought that $15 Warrior on sale for $9.95. But the only thing I use it for are 2” Roloc disks which don’t require much power, so little stress. It’s great for that as it’s small and weighs little. But the top slide switch has a spring that can wear your thumb out quickly. I really wouldn’t recommend this for anything else other than a quick grind once in a while. I’ve seen guys on TH-cam burn it out using it the way I would use my Dewalts.
Another interesting factor would be to run the angle grinder under high load close to 4000rpm for a few minutes. btw. The cheapest and shittiest orbital grinder I bought in a pinch was really great. Man I sanded so many cars with it. After some time it didn't work so I changed the brushes and it was great again. Well after some time the brush holder broke and it was just totalled afterwards. May it rest in peace
I've been using my red Walmart brand (can't remember the actually name) for 8 or so years and it gets stored outside. Little rusty but still works perfectly with very little vibration. Although seeing inside yours tells me I should open mine up and regrease it.
I got a $20 metabo from a lowes Black Friday sale a few years back that I’ve always told people it punches above its weight class. It’s nice to know I’m not the only one that finds cheap angle grinder better lol.
I also have a cheapo rattler around for sketchy tasks - sometimes it is good if it isn't super powerful. And one (or now more than one) higher quality grinders. I like Flex the most.
The WEN has been added to our running list of tools that don't suck: www.amazon.com/shop/torquetestchannel While the Milwaukee.... has not. Being upstaged by the cheapest tool on Amazon is not a good look, perhaps Milwaukee has moved on from continually improving all tools like they do with cordless, and consider these "legacy" tools that they will keep making as long as people buy them. Hopefully we can continue to provide enough objective data to send those types of tools off into retirement a bit quicker and help the cream to rise to the top.
I love Milwaukee but they definitely do seem to rest awful heavy on their laurels at times. It's particularly frustrating when some of their cordless stuff is the best on the market and other tools are badly overshadowed by cheaper brands.
when you will test the little Vessel Gas impact gun GT-3500GE-V ? :)
@@barrylinkiewich9688 at my shop we use the milwaukee corded 1/4" die grinders and when mine broke, i swapped it out for a new one and immediately noticed how easy it was to bog it down compared to the older one i used to use. we also apparently broke a corded drill from them within like a month. seems like they only really care about their cordless products these days.
DWE402 - 4.5" 11 amp compact paddle switch. This is my favorite grinder I have ever used and I would love to see it tested. I have not used all the grinders out there, but I would be shocked if this one did not put down some serious numbers. This specific model made me have a healthier respect for angle grinders, especially with a cup brush.
@@l8rn3rds Yes so you can buy more batteries that wear out after a few years. I have like 1500$ in batteries.
Yes on vibration testing
Agree. If you're putting hours on one of these things that really starts to matter. I have Dewalt, Makita, Hercules and yes, that same old $8 Drill Master (I think I got mine for even less on sale!) and the Hercules and Makita both feel similar while the drill master not only has far less power but buzzes your hands to death and just feels unpleasant to use.
Will do. Preliminary testing shows you need to do it in a static supported hand with a disc attached otherwise its much higher or lower in some brands. Knowing vibration with no disc attached seems of not much use
@@TorqueTestChannel vibration is arguably more important than overall power! If you was to run one for 10hr you’d agree.
@@jpoplin1were talking cordless. You gotta have like 12 batteries cycling for that
@@TorqueTestChannel I was referring to corded tools. I have lots of experience running them & not all are created equal! The best we’ve found are the rear trigger dewalts I think 12amp steal requires weekly disassembly & cleaning out! But we’ve actually ordered new brushes to keep them going.
Yes please include vibration measurements as well. As well as the actual tool teardowns. Now that AvE has really slowed down with his BOLTR reviews, and Tool Teardown channel all but dissappeared, we really need someone to step in to the fold and give us these teardown comparisons.
It's kind of a shame.
I still love watching AvE, but his BOLTR videos really brought his channel to prominence.
@@DarkFiber23 I love AVE for all my anti-vax rants, gun-nut libertarian nonsense, detailed guides on how to break endmills and swear at a CNC you don't know how to operate, and using poorly-repaired farm equipment incorrectly then getting angry when it breaks.
@@Jamvan001 Well said, @Jamvan001
His eclectic mix is great to watch over a beer.
@@Jamvan001 his engineering degree has really started showing with age
@@DarkFiber23 you've badly misinterpreted my comment
Thanks for the bonus Sunday episode. I know how you feel about your old Drillmaster - I have a Bosch angle grinder my dad got in the mid-nineties that I inherited when he passed away. While I hate the switch on it, that tool performs better than anything else I’ve used. Being a pro mechanic/neighborhood handyman/amateur blacksmith, I own/have owned dozens of angle grinders, but the first one I reach for is the ancient Bosch. I hope your Drillmaster got cleaned and greased for its next 20 years of service.
Stone and brick masons love the cheap grinders. Stone dust is very hard on them and the cheap ones last just as long as the expensive ones.
I also would love to see vibration ratings. Not only is vibration a durability concern, but a fatigue concern. If I know one brand is a little down on power but runs much smoother, then that is what I want for those few days where I am grinding my project 4+ hours
If you are grinding 4+ hours do yourself a favor and look at the Makita 9005B 5” grinder. It has the rat tail that is easier to grab and a side handle for better control. It is like a small 7-9” grinder.
I'm curious to know if the vibration frequency affects how the tool feels.
I'm hoping the TTC will include both the frequency and magnitude of the vibrations.
We use Makita grinders exclusively at work and they get run hard (metal fab shop), we've never had a motor fail in 20+ years. It's always a switch failure or power cord getting pulled, cut or otherwise damaged.
For home use I just took a couple grinders that the boss didn't want to repair, popped in a new switch or cord into and kept using, I've even given a few away to friends. My oldest is probably 20 years old and objectively still runs just as hard as the new ones.
My makita motor failed. It did take it 20 years though.
Agreed. My corded Makita HP2051 drill is now 15 years old, and it's been through quite some stuff. Still runs like new, could use a new chuck though. Makita just knows how to build good motors, but then again, it would be embarrassing if they didn't, as they originally started with building and repairing electric motors.
I have burned two of those makita blue grinders up in the shop before. Blowing smoke and all
I do maintenance at a beef plant, and at work we have Milwaukee and dewalt angle grinders. The corded dewalt has been kicking for years, and it gets overused and beat on. The milwaukee grinders feel more torque-y and powerful, but ive seen two get burned up in 2 years. Now the cordless ones... our dewalt cordless grinder sucks. No balls, battery dies in no time. Mulwaukee one kicks ass.
At home I use a HF bauer corded grinder, and it feels powerful like the mulwaukee ones. I'm not rough on it, so ive not managed to hurt it after a year of use. Im a milwaukee fanboy for most things like drills and impacts, but HF has been impressing me lately with some of their power tools.
The video is out since 15 min and the WEN is already out of stock, well done sir
I too have a 15-16 year old HF grinder. I have repaired the cord twice. It still runs and runs circles around the newer HF one i bought... not as a backup but as an extra with either a flap wheel or wire wheel while the other has a cut or grind wheel on it. Saves time.
I can not tell you the hours i have on the old HF but i have build 2 hotrods and restored a rusted full size Blazer and that old HF grinder was all i had at the time. Its still going to this day. ❤
I've had the Wen. It lasted one day. Just putting a 7" grinding disc on the Wen caused it to overheat, just spinning in the air, without touching the work. I've had the warrior for 6 months, and it works fine.
Measuring vibration would be incredibly valuable. I absolutely hate vibration in both gas and electric tools and it can cause long-term nerve damage. It's a reason I've not been crazy about the Flex brand of tools despite their power.
Just for the heck of it I clicked the link and bought the Wen you tested. For a price that low it's a handy thing to keep around for occasional use.
This is the first time I'm hearing a blue HF tool with so much PRAISE.TTC just sold a bunch of Wen grinders this Sunday.
I purchased Chicago 8 dollar grinders for a project in our shop 20 plus years ago. One still is in service after 20 years. It has outlasted Porter Cable, Dewalt and Metabo
Yes, we always want to include the vibration specs. I'd also like to know what tools are "acceptable" in that category. They all make your hand numb eventually, but what is the threshold where it is too much?
I've had a $10 angle grinder from harbor freight tools for over 20 years and it's still going strong!
I had a lot of old pipes and rebar to cut up and from what I read th-cam.com/users/postUgkxPDBfLu68o58Aw85O_J-zIFfjJARBhp-3 this would be the tool for the job. Since I had never used one, I watched a couple of youtube videos and I'm so glad I did. Some really good safety tips, which I followed, and this tool did a splendid job. One good thing to know is the weight of the tool puts just about the right amount of pressure on the metal I was cutting, so I didn't have to use a lot of pressure, which is more likely to jam the tool. It made fast work of my job.
best 4 1/2" angle grinder hands down is Makita we use them at my work and we are a heavy steel company and just last hours on end and Milwaukee as you said are like using an auto f balance wheel, they vibrate like hell and thats after 4 replacement units 👍
I still have a old hf and its in my tool box. I have upgraded to paddle switch grinder and a few cordless. But that little guys still work and will always be my back up.
How does this channel not have more subscribers?
Well we have about 10X as many as we expected to ever have, so I think we're okay! :D
Yes in vibration testing and including it on the rankings @Torque Test Channel
The fact his 20 year old HF drill master is still going strong tells you all you need to know. Just go to HF buy the best warrior model you can afford and be good to go for along time. They just released a 6 amp model with paddle switch for $24 so with coupon $20 and I bet it’s a beast probably similar or better then his drill master.
Side note I have an old black drill master that’s at least 10 years old and it’s a beast and won’t die as well.😂
Vibration testing would be nice. I use grinders to dry cut porcelain tile with a diamond blade. You need a smooth running grinder. If it vibrates too much it will break the tile. My 2 old dewalts cut smooth for awhile then started to vibrate. My makita has ran smoother longer than the other 2 combined. I tried the first original dewalt cordless(brushed). Huge Vibration with very little run time. Used 3 times and has since collected dust for past 14 or so years.
I was really impressed with my WEN belt sander so I had bought the WEN grinder for my father for Christmas and it worked a treat. Great value tools!
Absolutly include vibration, since that can cause white fingers desease over extended use.
Concerning power rating: The motor efficancy of corded grinders may varry so it would be nice to see, what difference this makes.
Glad to see the Wen performed well. Would love to see 7 inch corded angle grinders tested that have 10-15 amp motors.
Wow, I remember my dad using a Wen pad sander 50 years ago... not fancy but got the job done and was built solid. Nice to see they still make decent stuff.
Wen doesn't make anything these days. They're a zombie brand and very hit or miss. That said, as seen with this grinder, their hits are the real deal. I have an ancient Wen rotary polisher that just keeps going. I'm pretty sure it's older than I am, and I'm 44.
Interesting to see, that the old stuff really lasts and it's not only subjective. I mean, it looks like there is almost no grease left in you 8$ beauty (at least compared).
It hurts to see expensive brands cheap out on stuff like bearings.
For the cost of that Milwaukee that bearing feels like an insult!
While that one has lasted, that isn't an indicator of build quality of the rest of those grinders. That could literally be the only one that lasted longer than a year, and it could be from a fluke of production.
It's like when people say "people don't build houses like in the old days - look at the Coliseum, that's still standing", while completely ignoring that there aren't any 2,000 year old houses anywhere.
It takes years to build a reputation and seconds to destroy it. Milwaukee will lose out in the long run.
@@MrMartinSchou That makes all these test anecdotal anyways as with every tool your mileage may differ. But it is an average indication of how well a tool may or may not perform. However I agree with the statement of the old days were better are taken with a mountain of salt.
@@MrMartinSchou I have a dozen of those HF Drillmasters, purchased in 2001. All but one are still working. I believe that one has the lock mechanism jamming it and would probably be repairable in 5 minutes if I bother. Bonus is that HF didn't charge shipping to U.S. military APO box overseas. No tax either. I got them for $9 each. They also came with spare brushes. I use them often, and have swapped out the brushes on some. Best tool bang for the buck ever. BTW, they don't build houses as well as they used to.
Definitely yes on the vibration testing. Great video as always!
I bought a drill master angle grinder in probably 2012 for $10. I used that thing for years. On more than one occasion, I had it so hot I had to use my welding gloves to use it- it never gave up tho. Ended up giving it to someone once I got my 13amp Dewalt 4.5” angle grinder.
I’d love to see Bosch, makitA, dewalt,and rigid tested ! Thanks
I got a harbor freight angle grinder as a gift about 2 years ago, worth $15 maybe. It's never failed me through lots of projects. It shakes a lot, has a stiff on/off button but gets the job done in layman terms.
Project farm recently did a corded grinder test. But was more aimed at the 15 minute use in dads shed crowd. Thank you for this one. My go to will always be my selection of overworked and beat to death but still not dead dewalts. 2 paddle switch 4.5s, a 5", a couple 7" and a 9" monster we grind tires with! But i need some for employees to use and the Wen may fill that spot!
Very good! Hope to see more on 4 1/2 corded grinders. They are such a useful tool.
Can't wait to see the high end angel grinders compared. Love these tests
I would love to see the "smaller brother" of the 11A DeWalt angle grinder review. I find it very compact and well made.
The milwaukee is a high end angle grinder.
I have had a WEN brand rotary tool for almost 5 years now. best rotary tool i have ever used. smooth and inexpensive.
I have a really old drill master angle grinder and it's still a beast and it lives on the front porch most of the time in the elements it was like 12 bucks I think out the door mines not 20 years old probably ten I'll send it to u to test if u want
I’ve been using a similar Wen grinder for about 5 years now and I’ve had no complaints. Mostly used for auto restoration and grinding down my subpar welds, its worked flawlessly
still using a $70 black and decker we got from walmart when i was about 12, so around 21 years now. still works awesome!
I bet you had a tear in your eye like a proud father when your dear old tool out revved the others ! 😊
Fascinating video!
My harbor freight is Central Electric, bought a few years after yours for around same price.
As it's main function is cutting and sharpening every once in a while it does fine.
At this point in time, Milwakee, DeWalt, and all the other major tool manufacturers are going along on their name alone. They don't need to make the best quality anymore, because people will automatically assume they're great tools because they HAD a great reputation. But, videos like this which test the tools prove all those tool manufacturers have now is just that old reputation, because their quality went out the window years ago.
Thank you for putting the time and effort to test things out for us.
I'm glad to see the Drillmaster grinder do so well. I have some videos on my channel showing this grinder cutting steel.
Side note: My son bought the Bauer corded grinder for a project. It sounded so bad we returned it.
20 years ago I bought a Harbor Freight $5 grinder is still working it is honestly the best grinder I ever had in my whole life
Wow at the Build quality of the wen
Pretty impressed by how the Wen does and its build quality actually looking decent too. Maybe endurance speaks a different story? Because it seems like the Milwaukee you are mostly paying for the brand name in this instance.
Yes. Vibration and start up torque jerk are two of my most important metrics for an angle grinder.
Those blue Drill Master grinders were great. We had them in high school shop class and they were un-killable.
So I had bought the $10 harbor freight grinder to use for 1 project. It didn't even make it half way through before dying. Replaced it with another harbor freight grinder (the Bauer corded one) because I guess I was looking for trouble. 3 years later I still have it and just used it to make a lot of cuts on 3/8" rebar. Still going strong. I highly recommend it.
Love to see you toss the ryobi grinders, especially the $22 cordered model, at this test. I needed one for cheap and bought it as a expendable tool for a job...several years ago. It still has a place in my truck box when I need a grinder that will last all day and not give me grief.
wish you had dewalt here too.
i got a mower shop and though i got dewalt, porter cable and bosch angle grinders, past 4 years i been using my drill master grinder that was $10 on xmas coupon special few years ago. got mad 1 day and threw it across shop. bent guard. still runs like new. less vibration than older porter cable. easy to use 1 handed. for the price it cost a penny per mower blade sharpened. I get $10 a blade. so 1 blade paid for it. maybe my dewalts would last 80 years vs the drill master 40 years or whatever it may be. but if you aint gonna be running a grinder non stop all day the drill master will last most people a lifetime. even if you do use it all day and it wears out in a year. it was $10! go spend another $10 for another year of non stop use! a meal at mcdonalds is $10! better than $100 upfront and hope it lasts 10 years to come out the same!
I've bought a few Wen tools now and I've been pleasantly surprised. Nothing special but they're cheap and work.
Please YES! We love to have the vibration data and we are loving the teardowns.
And this bonus episode?! You have made our Sunday, Torque. Thanks again! 🐺🔧
I love my makita corded (rated 6a, nice and compact, powerful) for most things. Torquey little bugger!
That said, the dustier and nastier the job, the more likely I am to break out the cheap yard sale porter cable.. I see it like you do the HF. Still been a great grinder.
Please, please, please test 11-13 amp grinders next. Particularly interested in the Hercules 13 amp corded rat tail, its competition from Dewalt also a 13 amp corded rat tail. As well as similar powered corded grinders from Makita and Metabo.
If you're gonna buy the tools urself, the Hercules 13 amp rat tail is currently on sale for $69.
Thanks!
Huge +1 to this
Btw I mean Metabo proper, not necessarily Metabo HPT (though it's fine if you include those also). I hear the true Metabo grinders are really good...though not cheap.
A few years back I wanted to grind down some tree roots that were a tripping hazard. I didn't want my Makita grinder filled with dirt so I bought a Drill Master from HF for $10, complete with grinding disc. To my surprise the Drill Master survived the job and I still have it.
I buy those Warrior grinders every time I see them on sale. I tend to destroy grinders long before I wear them out or they disassemble themselves. Plus the Warrior has another advantage, if I loan one out and not get it back I don't really care. I may have to pick up the WEN, just to see how the rich folks grind. lol
Great testing and I like your sense of humor as well. Hats off to your eight dollar grinder. Definitely money well spent.
Thanks for this! My second hand cordless grinder crapped out when I needed it. Luckily the battery it came with is worth the price paid. Since most of my usage will be in my shop, that little WEN with suit me just fine.
What brand of cordless grinder did you use? Any guess on how long it lasted?
@@ddegn It was a 24V Kobalt, but I'm not sure how much use it had prior to my owning it. It looked well used but came with a 4ah battery for $40. I've had good success with other tools in the 24v lineup.
@@dougcutler4948 my coworker had to replace a new 24v kobalt drill that crapped on him, they replaced it. vie used my bauer drill for driving 3 inch wood screws drilling metal drilling concrete and it doesnt quit.
Walter grinders are the best in my opinion, they are the top tier metabo if I remember correctly. They juste power through any task. I still own one that’s about 30 yo, it’s a big 7in 15A model that’s feared by any untripped circuit breaker!
Glad I purchased the WENT. Cheap and practical. Hasn't let me down yet
Im thinking about picking up one of those Wen ones. For 23$ you really cant beat that since it looked like it came with a decent free disk to.
Have the Warrior. Use it lightly but has worked for 3 years and has done everything I’ve tried it on. And I got it on sale for $10
I have some Makitas and some cheep harbor freights, when doing body work it’s much easier to have one with a grinding wheel, one with a flap disc, and one with a cut off wheel. Instead of changing the disc every time. Yes they don’t have the same torque but they work and have for years. For some tasks you don’t need the best most expensive tool.
Yes, I think we'd all like to see more project farm-style videos.
First like! Was literally finishing up the Amazon headlight video when I got this notification 😂👌
Glad these types of teardown reviews exists shows what the tools will hold up to on the inside
I have a few of the $9 grinders from harbor freight. I use them around the house. I think over the years I think one of them stopped working but I took it apart and cleaned it up and it started working again. I used it for a few more years until the cord got cut. I had another one that lasted a long time and I just had it stop working after using it very hard. It might be salvageable yet. I have 2 or 3 new ones that I picked up over the years. I never expected them to last as long as they have. They really don't owe me anything. Would I use it as a daily grinder? Once in a while maybe but I bought a more expensive higher quality one from mac tools to use at work. I think it's probably a Dewalt. Not sure who made mac tools stuff in the 1990. It is still working to this day. Great video guys!
Corded is the way to go, unless you have lots of spare cash to throw away. I bought a Skil brand corded grinder back in the 1990's at a flea market for $10. It still works just fine. Doesn't get hot (does get warm), vibration isn't enough to make me stop using it, and is strong enough to get any job done.
Buy corded. You can use it all day. No wait to recharge batteries.
Wow did not expect the Wen to do that good, Thanks!
Love reviews like this because it lets us know when a company is trying to make extra cash from its name by selling a cheaply made product. It's unfortunate but I'm glad guys you are here to put them on display. Only way to try and keep em honest.
For welders who buy many angle grinders to avoid swapping accessories cheap corded grinders are VERY handy.
If you added a flex coupling (perhaps durable hose like Gates Barricade fuel injection hose) to the connection between grinder and dyno would the sufficiently decouple the dyno for long endurance runs?
Or maybe make a love joy coupler
Good to see the WEN pulling ahead here. Always my favorite company when I need a Chinese tool but want some sort of warranty/reliability guarantee.
WEN for the WIN. I feel like the big brands gave up updating and improving their corded tools years ago.
Not sure if it was suggested, but"d love to see the Ryobi PBLAG01B in the cordless angle grinder mix.
I got a metabo 750 watts in 2006.
It died last year,because a brush snapped and took a piece of winding with it.
My brother bought a makita this year,one month after the start button popped off because of dust.
They are poorly made today.
I've had the Wen grinder and a Wen demo saw for several years and both used regularly.
Yes for adding vibration
Been using a skil for nearly 20 years that i picked up on sale for around $15. It has had a hard life in steel fab and never failed. Sorry but the skil is the greatest ever made.
Walter makes grinders in Europe. I try to avoid supporting slavery. I'd like to see vibration comparisons and innards comparisons as well.
While you are tearing things down, the area of brush contact is also interesting. Assuming the brush spring pressure isn't stupid high or stupid low, a larger brush contact area should result in less brush wear and a little less heat generated in the brushes and commutator. This is important for longevity, since having the brushes burn out has (in my experience) been the most common cause of corded tool failure.
It is important and it isn't. Brushes are a wear item. And there's compromises that are made there- harder brushes last longer, but they wear the commutator bars out faster. Soft brushes tend to have better contact, and while they wear out fast, the commutator doesn't get destroyed. You can buy brushes for a couple bucks, and it takes just minutes to change them. You can get the brushes from the tool maker, or if you have a decent independent hardware store, they'll have a bin with all kinds of replacement brushes. Hell, my 7-amp Hercules grinder actually came with a set of replacement brushes! As far as I'm concerned, brushes are like brake pads on a car. They're meant to be replaced now and then.
Ultimately, I'd much rather have softer brushes that don't destroy the commutator. But people just throw shit away these days when it stops working all too often, so manufacturers have taken to using super hard brushes that last longer but take the tool with them when they fail.
Would be cool to see the full spectrum of HF 4.5 inch grinders. Pretty sure they have 5 or 6 different price points for them.
This is exactly what I was hoping to see as well
I own the small 4.3 and the bauer paddle switch, im planning on getting the hercules paddle and one or both larger warriors. The 4.3s aren’t worth shit unless you need 10 of them for different types of discs. the Bauer paddle is so far holding up well while running the wire wheel, has enough power and is comfortable to hold. Remind me in a month or so and I’ll tell you about the others
I have the Hercules 7-amp side switch grinder. I've had it for a few years, since shortly after it first came out, and I beat on it fairly regularly. It's a solid tool. It even came with a set of replacement brushes, though I've not needed them yet. When I first got it, I did a teardown and found it to be well made- nicely machined gears, lots of epoxy on the windings, nice beefy brush holders, etc. I do find it lacking in power sometimes, and I'm not necessarily a fan of the switch design. I think I'll eventually get either the 11 amp paddle switch Hercules or the rat-tail one that can be converted to 6".
@@puckcat22679 im very happy with my 11 amps Hercules, it came with spare brushes as well
Love this kind of testing/breakdown. You found a real good tool for a good price here. Excellent work!
Thanks for testing these! Sick to be featured.
I think I can stretch the budget for the Wehn when my Warriors bite the dust, might take a few years though. They are cheep but they last surprising long.
3:29 ‘it’s the best tool ever made” Got me laughing!
Sweet a two fer this week
Fun vid.
Just fun, funny lines too.
I too have a DoIt Best hardware special from about ‘05 or so. 4-1/2” with a trigger switch and switch lock. Just feels the best and keeps grinding till there’s nothing left, of either the metal work or me.
If you want a heavy duty 4 1/2" angle grinder from Harbor Freight, buy their 11 amp Atlas model. At that power level, it's making just under 1 HP and you can 'hog' it hard as you want and it won't overheat or stall. Get into the 7 AMP models or less and you're getting a grinder that will work, but doesn't produce much power and won't last too long. Of course, you'll pay the price, I think I paid around $60-$70 for mine.
I have had the Walmart angle grinder their cheapest one for a couple years now no issues
I’ll keep my vintage corded makita. Gotta love a hand me down in a world of throwaways.
Very revealing assessment with no BS. Liked and subscribed!
You should include vibrations, yes. It contributes to hand fatigue, and while it may not be a make or break stat, it's still nice to know.
Fun fact: adjusting for inflation, the old and new cheap grinders are almost the same price ($15 new vs. $15.98 old). The quality is not the same, though…
I bought a Hitachi angle grinder for like 40 bucks for the kit like 20 years ago. I had to fix it once, by having to redo the handle end wiring from wire flexing the wires had come off the terminals.
Wow at the wen taking out them all
I bought that $15 Warrior on sale for $9.95. But the only thing I use it for are 2” Roloc disks which don’t require much power, so little stress. It’s great for that as it’s small and weighs little. But the top slide switch has a spring that can wear your thumb out quickly. I really wouldn’t recommend this for anything else other than a quick grind once in a while. I’ve seen guys on TH-cam burn it out using it the way I would use my Dewalts.
Another interesting factor would be to run the angle grinder under high load close to 4000rpm for a few minutes.
btw. The cheapest and shittiest orbital grinder I bought in a pinch was really great. Man I sanded so many cars with it.
After some time it didn't work so I changed the brushes and it was great again. Well after some time the brush holder broke and it was just totalled afterwards. May it rest in peace
Wen for the win! Very surprising for that price point. Excellent video thanks for sharing!
I've been using my red Walmart brand (can't remember the actually name) for 8 or so years and it gets stored outside. Little rusty but still works perfectly with very little vibration. Although seeing inside yours tells me I should open mine up and regrease it.
XD, finding that spindle still rattling around inside that drill master was priceless.
I got a $20 metabo from a lowes Black Friday sale a few years back that I’ve always told people it punches above its weight class. It’s nice to know I’m not the only one that finds cheap angle grinder better lol.
I also have a cheapo rattler around for sketchy tasks - sometimes it is good if it isn't super powerful. And one (or now more than one) higher quality grinders. I like Flex the most.