Including with the highly informative videos, the softer aspects of life makes this channel seem more like a father advising his kids on how to effectively work hard with a quiet reminder that the hard work is for the ones we love and they are of higher ultimate value than the tools we use and the work we do.
lol Yep. Then too I find I need 2 or 3 of any tool just so I can find ONE when I need it... lent, "borrowed", hiding. Darn things just won't stay put when I put them down ;-) ...oh, and with cordless you can't braid at all, and they tend to wander even further lol
Been metal working over 20 years. The last grinder I bought was a Bosch with variable speed. Total game changer. I'll never go back. It's super nice not to have everything spinning 12k rpm. I love it. Great videos sir 👏 thank you
How can the engineers not have chosen to have Variable speed? I didn't know angle grinders have that. When my DeWalt gives up I'll look for variable speed
To further Matthew's point about Essential Craftsman being a fatherly figure, ECs views are one of the primary reasons I invested in my own woodshop when I had no tools. 3 years later, I'm working as an electrician and thankful for the knowledge and inspiration gained from EC and other YT channels. Just yesterday, I struck my first arc, laid my first welds, and completed my first project. Thanks in part to Essential Craftsman's YT channel. Keep doing God's work, EC!
40 years ago, when I was 18, I hired in to a weld shop. My boss said fill these drill holes, and grind them flush. It was a huge plate, sitting on short horses. Filled all the holes, grabbed an angle grinder and dug in hard, it kicked and promptly ran across my leg, just above my kneecap. Right through my jeans and long johns, and kind of melted an 1/8" channel, 4" long. Instant respect for that tool. Thankfully, an older coworker showed me where to make first contact with a spinning wheel, how to aim the flow of sparks, etc. I've wore out a few grinders since then. I always enjoy your videos. Thanks.
Having more grinders don't cost much at all in the long run since you are probably going to get always same amount of hours out from each one in the end. The more you have the longer they last.
Yes and no... You can actually save money owning multiple grinders if you buy junkers for the junk projects that you know will burn them up fast. A grinder running a wire wheel should cost no more than $40, ever, unless you a need a 7" because you're stripping a dump truck or something.
This is my argument to people who don't want to buy snow tires. You can buy one set of tires that are ok in summer and terrible in winter and replace them every four years. Or you can buy snow tires and summer tires, both far better when you actually use them, and since you use them half as much they last twice as long. Roughly the same cost...you just have to swap tires twice a year.
@Drew Why stop there? Just get a couple thousand horsepower of air compressors and media blast it. Done in a jiffy! @Garrett McEwen Except it's extremely hard on tires to be mounted and dismounted over and over again. I subscribe to your philosophy, but I have 2 sets of rims too.
Posting this because I feel it was missed. If you're leaving the cutting tool on the grinder (especially cut off wheels), flip the grinder upside down to prevent the weight of the tool from cracking your cut off wheels. You will also notice dewalt builds them with a flat resting edge so you can do so.
that's only if you don't have the guard on. And good quality cutting disks are both flexible and tough enough to take a fair bit of abuse without shattering. It's all about the adhesive used. usually, disks made for stainless steel are much better quality, albeit a little more expensive.
Noone in my yard uses guards on their grinders. nor do i, most of the time you're rushing and putting to much weight on the disc and it shatters. inexperience kills more often than not.
Your wife might tell you that if you change your wheels every few times you use the grinder, it doesn't tighten up too hard, and you can usually remove the wheel with your bare hand. Just make sure you don't press the trigger while you're at it! Edit: and make sure you only tighten it by hand, that's important. Sounds like bullshit but it works for almost everything. Only exception is if your grinder has a really fast brake on it and the wheel is really heavy, like a big wire wheel cup or something. In that case, they'll sometimes spin themselves off when the grinder is slowing down. Usually not a huge problem cuz it'll be slowed down, but it's inconvenient. In that situation, tighten it up properly with a wrench.
If she ever sees them and asks, just tell her “well this one here is a left angle grinder, this one’s a right, this other one is a 90 degree grinder...etc
@@keithklassen5320 yeah okay I don't know what kind of grinder you use ???? But the tightening mechanism whatever it maybe is 99.9% always reverse of the rotation of the grinder..
Speaking from experience, as a former fabricator and current tool mechanic, i think the best combination for angle grinders is as follow : 1 big (9 to 12") dedicated to cutting, 1 small (5") with speed variator for heat sensitive stuff and finer grits and however many of the regular 5" as you like for the other stuff. Of course, always use your guard and the handle, whenever possible because it is much safer. And if you can't or are directly showered by the sparks, use a faceshield. Taking a fragment of abrasive that managed to bounce directly in your eye is the worst experience i ever had and it happened quite a few times despite the safety goggles. Those things are also very good at starting fires, both on the junk you are working next to and your own clothes.
I've done stone work professionally for the past 15 years and I don't know what I'd do without my 5" Variable Speed 13 amp Makita and Metabo grinders.... perfect size along with a LOT of power. Cutting, precision grinding and polishing all with one tool. Highly recommend either one. Unbelievably versatile!!!
Hi! Nice tool, have some of them. We're in Russia some times extend this tool life by covering air intake by thin tissue, for example - cutted sock. Good luck, thanks for the content.
I bought the same grinder last year and it has been excellent. The guard has 8 different positions and is easy to remove and reattach. Great video as always.
I love my little Dewalt angle grinder! its at least 8yrs old and does everything I need it to. From wood working to metal working. No complaints. No doubt the most universal tool in my entire garage!
Thanks Scott, I don't use them as much anymore but have a few, 8 or 9 I think, around just in case ! 😊 The one I've had the longest, 25 years, is the ol mankiller, a nine inch Dewalt. It has taken all the abuse and keeps on going ! Thanks for sharing and take care. 👍
Hands down angle grinders are one of my favourite tools. I've had so much use out of them. Used them to cut slate slabs, cut into old steps and tarmac, cut angle bead precisely, cut blocks and bricks, cut angle iron. My second go to tool surprisingly is a Hoover or a broom, keeping site clear of debris helps you see where you are at.
And it will keep you from falling too. I work on a smooth concrete floor in the shop, after a day with a lot of grinding you can skate around on your safety boots just bcs of the sheer amount of metal dust on the floor. I also wipe the floor every day to avoid this 😂 sometimes a few times a day if its a grinding day lol
I have found cutting off about 10 degrees of the guard can really give you that added versatility you need to get into tight spaces. When doing fine detail grinding and cutting I noticed only a small amount of the gaurd was giving me trouble and no matter what position I put it in it would still be in the way. It has saved me some time and if you have any spare guards I really think it comes in handy.
Assembled....kinda like most anything else made here and abroad. Globally sourced parts. th-cam.com/video/RzxT9pVniPY/w-d-xo.html Kudos to Dewalt for making an effort
There is a letter from the owner of Maglite bemoaning the made in USA standard because he presently cannot source all of his parts in the US, so he has to use some imported parts. maglite.com/maglab/made-in-california-but-not-the-usa/#.XBVbf81MHtQ
@@nathanmuenks4805 I think there are some made in the USA lights, but instead of $19.99-$39.99 at Walmart they're $100-$200+ and not in big box stores.
I’ve been a welder professionally and now a hobbyist. You won’t find many welders or fitters that don’t prefer the dewault 4 1/2”. For the reasons you said, it’s all about the switch. Another tip for newer users, don’t grip it so tight, you’ll wear your hand muscles out fast, be loose but controlled.
I've had a D28402 for 15 years. It's my smallest grinder and is used the most. I've often commented that I can't believe I spent most of my life without one. I've got an uncounted number of tools but the little grinder is the handiest. Whether I'm doing woodwork, concrete work, forging or some steel fab it's always near.
I have 2 Makitas with the on/off switches on them and they will not turn off until it runs out of power, wishing I had bought the paddle switch versions for safety, I have already had 2 accidents with them over the years
@@gertv6777 give dewalt 11 amp 4.5" a try. it's nice that the safety toggle on the paddle switch is still easy enough to operate with welding gloves on i've had only 2 accidents with grinders i was injured in neither one, but still, twice using wire wheels one time i had headphones on and was grinding under a tank and set it down on my shirt while it was still ramping down and it ripped a 5 inch hole... another time i think i was grinding on a trailer the wire wheel cought my shirt clam up the front of my shirt andhalf way down my back ripping a hole the entire way LOL.
same. none of the other brands will last as long as the metabo will. that being said, i own two grinders, the metabo has no guard (the lugs sheared, i rescued it from the dumpster) and is for doing actual ironwork, the dewalt has a guard and gets used when a guard is needed (rarely) or i'm going to plunge it into grease and nastiness (far more often).
When I started my 1st welding job just out of weld school I purchased a 4-1/2” B&D Professional. I must say back then B&D built some of their power tools tough. It is still working today despite a broken spindle lock pin 37 years later. Nowadays I would agree with your choice or Milwaukee, Mikita or Dewalt, as long as it has a paddle switch or pull trigger switch.
Perfect, the voice of logic and reason as like you I keep several grinders configured to support specific tasks. This rational holds true for so many other tools which makes life so much easier and less stressful. I am showing this to my wife as she always asks why I have so many of the same tools and she is not buying my highly technical answer ... Ha-Ha. Thanks, your neighbor in Brookings :)
I started off with a $20 grinder from the local Hazard Freight, that lasted right up until I spent five hours grinding plate for welding school. Decided 'the hell with this', went down to Lowe's and got a D43113. Double the power, way more torque, a vastly higher speed, better handling, and way less vibration going up my arms. Worth every penny.
Angle grinders are amazing tools: I've used them for cutting steel, smoothing steel, taking paint off of steel and wood, smoothing wood, cutting concrete, stone, and brick, smoothing concrete, sharpening drill bits, cutting tile, shaping curves on pavers, clearing out mortar joints for tuck pointing, the applications are endless. As you say, they are anything but a life-long investment, they take more of a beating than most people's tool collections put together, Bosch has always been a good soldier for me, but no amount of engineering can sustain that kind of punishment indefinitely. My least favourite trigger mechanism has got to be the slide switch: whatever you're using it for, grinders kick up a ton of particulate; particulate gums up mechanisms, over time leaving you with a hair trigger sensitivity over time; I prefer to know my spinning death wheel contraption is well and truly off when I set it down.
I am a industrial maintenance and repair tech. I work for a company in Belgium that does revisions, repairs, maintenance and even tailor makes machinery and entire production lines for the customer. Arcelor Mittal, Volvo, Coca Cola and the ministery of defense are among our customers. We often work on massive, heavy and expensive gear. So it can be quite a demanding job at times. As we often have to improvise and work in very awkward positions in places we don’t know (yet). While still being careful and vigilant to not get crushed, electrocuted, fall or damage the equipment. (Like aligning a massive electric motor to its gearbox on a 45m high tower while I can’t hear myself think thanks to wind and rain lol) Angle grinders along with impact wrenches, drills and a corded hammer drill are part of our daily used standard equipment, often we have to dislodge broken or badly cared for equipment to get it out of there. I have done a lot of grinding both on side and in the shop when working on a part for the customer. Sometimes even from 7-4 that I’ve grinded an entire day. My 2c, Bosch sucks ass. If you wanna spend money on a EU tool brand, buy Metabo. They make way better grinders. We buy Bosch professional tools, the standard model we use is the 125mm, 1700W “heavy duty” model. I have on one instance thrown out 4 of these in 2 months. Yes they suffer and work hard. But so do our Metabo’s and Makita’s. And they don’t die at nearly the same rate as our Bosch tools. They seem to be not as well-balanced as the Metabo’s either and they have cheaper, shorter cords. My Metabo for home use is a 1300W paddle switch one, it has a 4m cord of H07 class cord. Which is good, Bosch uses H05 (lower protection class) on some of their grinders. The cords are also something that tends to break down quickly on these. They are not terrible, but Metabo is imo better and similarly if not slightly higher priced. Fein is excellent but very expensive. We have a few specialist tools from them and they last very well. Lastly, a thumb switch or as we call them a “suicide switch” is practical and easy as you don’t have to depress it constantly. But then again if you fuck up and that thing is tearing in your flesh at 10.000rpm you want it to shut off when you let go. As you might no longer have the presence of mind to flick the switch. I prefer paddle switches, however they can be tiresome if you are grinding for many hours. A rat tail is ideal. If you buy a larger one (230mm blade) plse get one with a dead mans switch that will shut off when released. A colleague of mine almost lost a leg to one of these while working in the basement of a nuclear plant. We carried him outside and put pressure bandages on his leg to stop the bleeding. At the ER they told us that if he had cut 3cm further he would have hit his artery and been dead before he left the basement. They won’t fire up on their own, thats not something to worry about. Nice thing about the thumb switch ones is that you can put them in a vise and use them as a makeshift bench grinder, if you intend to buy a grinder for that purpose I would take a thumb switch. If not, nope. Paddle switch or rat tail. (Boss keeps buying the blue stuff, but we have told him many times to go with Makita or Metabo. But hey, its his money 🤷♂️)
@@claudyfocan731 I particularly like the suicide thumb switch, because it allows me to grip the angle grind in such a way that commands most control. With paddle or rat tail switches, you're limited to where your hand is by the switch, where I can safely grip the thumb switch one close to head for precision work. Also, it's was easier for one handed applications we all do, even though the OSHA doesn't approve. Although, my angle grinders do work way less and it's a much easier job, basically just cutting thin metal tubing and plates no thicker than 10mm. I've found blue Bosch is good enough for professional use, and their warranty is impeccable. My place will take the broken tools basically no questions asked, and either they fix it or you get new ones, all within a week maybe. So after 2 years of warranty, they've paid off completely.
@@lazar2175 i agree to the switch part, it is more practical and works a lot easier in some situations. But I still care a great deal about my personal safety lol, regardless of my job. We found out that Blue Bosch just doesn’t cut it for heavy industrial use.
@@claudyfocan731 The Metabo/Hitachi is the king in my opinion, it's slightly more expensive in the beginning but it's so worth it. German and Japanese engineering at it's finest. Both are made by the same guys from what I've gathered, as Metabo is owned by Hitachi. Aside from them, Milwaukee is also making killer tools. The only reason I'm not using them is because they are incredibly hard to get in Europe, and also very expensive. I can buy 2-3 Makita/Bosch tools for the price of a single Milwaukee tool sold by resellers.
I've had a Dewalt grinder like that for probably nine years and it's a great tool. At work, I have four angle grinders all with different wheels. Thanks for the word on guards. Because of some close calls I've had, I absolutely always keep a guard on any grinder I'm using with a cutting disc.
I personally own 3 corded and 2 cordless. When you are running different tasks, being able to switch between different attachments, sizes, power level, or mobility on the fly is remarkably helpful at times. I wouldn't start with several, but if your work calls for a time is money mentality, it can pay off. Especially when, not if, one or more decide to bite the dust in the middle of crunch time on an overnight project... That there is a nightmare.
Since buying my cordless, I find myself switching wheels out rather than going back to any of the several corded ones. Which of course means obviously I need another one!
@@bradley3549 Makes a lot of sense. The only times I really go back to the corded are when I need the power of the 7" Makita, or I am running it hard with a wire wheel or twisted cup. Even the nice 60V (54V) batteries will start getting pretty warm with that kind of heave, sustained use.
Knowing what I know now, I would have absolutely started with 2. One for a wire wheel (cheapo) and one for whatever else (better). My wire wheel is almost never off of a grinder because I just constantly need it, but it's fairly rare for me to need a cut off wheel AND a grinding disc at nearly the same moment. Might just be me.
About a year ago I bought my first angle grinder, a cheap 4 1/2 Ryobi. Over the years I've known a lot of guys that did serious, hard work with angle grinders and as mostly a DIYer the seemed a more serious tool than what I needed. Man do I wish I'd bought one about 40 years ago! It's my favorite electric tool, and I've used it for about everything except working on an anvil (we can dream). But the story is the best part. I had to use one to finish the install of an under-sink instant water heater - a complication - and went into The Home Depot to rent it for $25/half day. But first I ran into the tool department, where I had the fortune of meeting a new employee who had just spent 10 years doing hardcore metal work. I described my predicament to him, and he handed me the box with the Ryobi in it and said "after taxes, this will cost you $10-15 more than the rental. You'll end up getting the rental here late, and it will be $10 less than what your real rental will be. And ignore the tool reviews - this Ryobi is great - I have five of them." And so I bought it, and it was one of the best decisions I've made. And the Ryobi is frankly more reliable than all the DeWalt, Milwaukee, Makita, Bosch, Craftsman (old school), Stihl, and many other tools I own. That's not a brand fanboy, but if you don't have an angle grinder - go get one!
Normally it only has to be the last manufacturing stage that its completed in the country claiming manufacture. This can be simply putting the thing into its final packaging sadly. I think it's just more marketing. Personally I'd like to see the origin of products stated as where the majority of the job was done. Then we'd be able to buy appropriately.
@@davidquirk8097 Check this video. I know most of the component are still made in China, but a lot of the assembling and the quality control is happening in the US. th-cam.com/video/emIIip1FTIM/w-d-xo.html It's a shame we don't have a DeWalt factory in The Netherlands.
@@davidquirk8097 "Normally it only has to be the last manufacturing stage that its completed in the country claiming manufacture. " It's a bit more complicated than that amigo. www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/complying-made-usa-standard
Thin metal cutting wheel: Best advice I got from TH-cam about cutting vinyl siding to length. Way easier than the tin snips recommended to me. Also, the lines are so smooth, you couldn't tell which side was cut, so I could install the cut side on the outside. Also also, I could use the wheel to grind off just a bit for the angles pieces in the gable, making them fit perfectly. I have a 15 year old angle grinder from my dad (Skil brand). It's seen lots of use. Here's to another 15 years.
The immediate throwing away of the owners manual/instructions is the most American thing about this video and is absolutely hilarious and golden. Keep being a legend
People that love you like the stuff at 8:45. Never cower never try to make you tube happy and we will ALWAYS support you. Honesty has long left You Tube in all fields.
A word to any angle grinder newbies here, keep your head out of the line of fire of those cut off wheels if you go without the guard. I saw a picture of a pair of safety glasses with shrapnel from one of those stuck about a quarter inch into it. They are no joke!
Yep. I enjoy Scott's videos. And while I'm just a semi-handy DYI-er, I also have a Dewalt angle grinder, which I like (and one is all I'll ever need). But I'm guessing that Scott and I would agree: My grandkids are my real treasure.
My latest addition to the kit this year was a makita cordless 7inch grinder with a mild wood carving blade !!! By far my go to tool for planeing walls.... planer does 80% but top n bottom of stud and internal corners the grinder is king!!!! Try it you will be amazed!!
An angle grinder is a tool we all take for granted, but without them we would be severely hindered! They do so much, as you expressed in your video, they are so versatile. I really don’t know how many grinders I have in service at the moment, but if I had to guess, it must be 10 or 12, mostly 4 1/2”, a couple of 5” and several 9”. Bosch have always been the weapon of choice around here, although there are now a few Makita grinders in the fold. I have become a Makita convert with most power tools, but I still like the Bosch grinders. They have served us well over the years and been good value for money. Bosch had the quick release guard, like your new DeWalt, 20 years ago. Unfortunately the more recent versions do not, I suspect they are trying to reach a price point. But I’m sure the last Makita I bought has something similar. And I’d go side position thumb switch all day long on a 4 1/2-5” grinder, as I use them one handed often. ........you can never have too many grinders! 😉👍
Agree with you on switches and Bosch grinders only weakness on one of my Bosch grinders is the power cable loosening in the housing causing it to cut out, cable has been replaced about 3 times over the 5 ish yrs I have had it. Bosch are king off 4 1/2 grinders .
When I was a teenager I had a 4" cut off wheel grenade and put a 2-inch tear in my chest. It felt like I got punched by Mike Tyson. After patching up my chest and changing my Underpants, I put the guard back on and left it that way. When I do use a grinder without a guard, which is more often than not, I always remember that incident and pucker Factor is always lingering. I still have that old girl :-) plus four or five others all wearing different attachments
Wow lol, I was reading this and when you said you still use it without the guard I thought to myself “this guy is an idiot!”. Then I see you are a roofer and i could help but to laugh out loud.
@@benjaminblake6821 he wrote: "I put the guard back on and left it that way. " But there are times when using an angle grinder without the guard is the only way possible. That's what safety gear is for.
terry Sullivan Correct you are. The only way I'm willing to use a thin cut off wheel without a guard now is welders gloves, full-face shield, and my welding jacket on :-) if that piece of blown up wheel had hit my neck instead of my chest, the outcome could have been a whole lot different
It's also always wise to keep your face, and anything else you hold particularly dear, out of the line of the wheel. Your cut will be plenty straight enough with your head 1" off the center line.
“ I pretty much reserve this wheel for resurfacing anvils”. I’m willing to bet I’ll never hear those words ever spoken again. Love your podcast for all of its valuable content and the range of information that I pickup from each episode . I could sit and watch all day long .
Strongly agree w this advice. I've got three DeWalts, 1 with wire brush cup, 1 with cutoff wheel, 1 with grinder wheel. One of the best workshop productivity hacks.
As a 25 year tile , stone and marble setter this is one of my most used power tool with the 1/2 mixing drill coming in first. I use the 4 1/2 slim Bosh with burst control. No doubt the angle grinder is a versatile tool used in most if not all trade's.
For the hobby guys and general repairman like myself who aren't going to need more than one grinder... Buy a Lenox diamond wheel. They are strong enough not to fly apart when you make a mistake and get it in a bind, they last a long time, they cut like nothing else, and they can even be used shape metal like a fat wheel would usually be used for (against best judgement perhaps but I've done it successfully a lot). The wheels are expensive, about $15 a piece here, but get one!
Absolutely right, old machinists might not be as familiar with diamond cutting wheels, but they have been getting cheaper and are so much safer than standard abrasive disks. I wish EC would do an episode just on diamond disks.
Lenox cutting blades and wheels always perform great. See the Project Farm youtube channel for all sorts of head to head competitions between cutoff wheels recip blades etc.
I use 6" wheels (greater reach and edge speed) and my Lenox is extremely useful for the tough task of cutting truck and car tire wire beads when stripping off old tires at home. I weld steel rims together self-service salvage style to support vehicles and other work and don't care to pay to demount than many old tires. I cut the sidewalls with a Diablo carbide tooth recip saw blade (one blade has done about 15 tires so far, much cheaper than paying someone) and sever the wire beads with the Lenox. That level of ruggedness is impressive since the side loads easily snap abrasive discs and a toothed metal saw blade would immediately overheat because rubber doesn't conduct heat well.
I am a 22 year old electrician. Only 30% of my job has to do with electricity. The rest of it is engineering and fabrication to accomplish whatever the task may be. I love your videos because they help me think outside the box amd explore new avenues to get the job done. Keep on please. Your videos are great for a young guy like me. And guards are great but they qre theyre for people who aren't skilled or who are completely green
Dang it... you mentioned an image of a guy with part of a wheel in his chin and don't ya know I just had to go and google it. I think I'll be putting the guards back on all of my grinders now.
Yep. Only remove it if you absolutely have to and even then, you can probably just use a safer option tool wise. I've had grinding rocks and cutting discs just blow up on me randomly. Luckily it was always at work and I had safety glasses and a face shield on, but little particles of the rock and disc still cut my neck pretty good from impact. Not always, but most of the time when a disc or rock explodes, it is because someone has left it out in the weather and it is wet, or someone threw it in the bottom of a tool box and it got slightly damaged from other tools being thrown on top of them. It makes them very brittle when they get too wet and even the smallest amount of damage or chunk taken out of them can make them come apart when they get up to full speed. Once they are wet just toss them. Unless you have a bad gambling addiction, then your good. Lol.
Oh, and always store your grinding rocks/discs and cutting discs in a dry place away from possibly getting wet, smashed or damaged by other tools being thrown on top of them.
I like to attach the arbor tool.to the end of the cord so I always have it amd also unplug it to work on it at the same time. I've got about 5 but the single dewalt I have is worth swaping tools on if you only need one.
Angle grinders are the routers of the metal world. I have over 20 routers across several jigs and tables. I’ve got 4 compact routers that I keep set up permanently with edge forming bits. It’s amazing but not surprising how much more productive you are when you don’t have to stop and change bits. I love having multiple tools. I’ve got 5 impact drivers and 5 drills for the same reason!
I've only used this once to sharpen my mower blade th-cam.com/users/postUgkxPDBfLu68o58Aw85O_J-zIFfjJARBhp-3 but so far very happy with it. I've never used one of these so took me a bit to figure out how to set it up but once I figured it out it did the job just fine. This is likely a single purpose tool for me to use on my mower blade and possibly the occasional axe sharpening so didn't see any need to spend a lot....this will do just fine!
I'm a DIY'r, I bought the same Dewalt 4.5 just like this one for my first and only angle grinder and I've been extremely impressed with all the work I've been able to accomplish I have fairly large hands but with all my gear including leather gloves this device fits very nicely. I do like the guard and that you can move it and I wanted a different guard than the one that came with it for cutting and I was disappointed because i couldn't get one from dewalt even though they have it listed with a model number. I appreciate all your videos and I thank you for sharing and teaching this old man. 👍✌
Not quite sure how to say this other than I wish you were my neighbor or family. You have so much wisdom and kindness that people can learn from. Thanks for doing these you tube videos.
I welded a bolt to a 6" long piece of angle iron that threads into the hand grip threads. You can clamp the angle iron in your vice and work with it like you are doing and then quickly remove it.
Scott and Nate, Howdy! My name is Tim Rorer from Kentucky. I haven't comment on a TH-cam video in probably a year. But somehow I am so passionate about angle grinders that I felt the need to ramble for a bit. I am a 45 year old industrial maintenance technician (working in a titanium extrusion mill), own a mobile sandblasting company (that is supposed to be my retirement plan though I never lately have time from my day job to take on new blasting customers), farmer (though my farm is a soupy mess from beavers right now), and a general tinkerer. I spent probably 10 hours this last summer shopping around for my 5th angle grinder (not counting the Chinese pneumatic one). I am very partial to DeWalt products, though lately I've taken a shining to Milwaukee products as that's what my employer uses. And yes, I've got a Black and Decker that believe it or not has last through heavy use for almost a decade. I debated the whole paddle versus trigger vs switch question (and switches to me are best for less fatigue on longer grinding tasks and when you are going to chuck the thing up i a vise for easy on/off). But what it come down to for me-and yep, it's so trivial, I went with a Porter Cable product just because it came with a hard case. I work out of my home (except for the day job) and am between workshops (how this farm didn't have a workshop is beyond me). So all my rolling tool boxes and my utility shelving full of power tools, parts, and hardware are my wife's bane/eyesore on our enclosed back porch. So because space is limited, I like tools that come in cases for finding them easily and stacking as neatly as that sort of thing can be. It's getting hard to find companies that make tools in cases anymore so this was the nicest, heaviest duty, grinder that came with case. I have found this brand to be my new favorites brand of power tool because of it. Now, much to my wife's dismay, I am thinking of buying a cordless angle grinder. I didn't think much of cordless tools beyond drills due to a couple of bad experiences a decade ago involving a DeWalt cordless impact wrench (almost $400 of money wasted) and a cordless Black and Decker circular saw but apparently 1) they are much more powerful today and batteries hold their charge longer than they did then and 2) it's just not as convenient to pack around that little 900 watt mini generator to the furthermost points of where I seem to find my tasks (especially in a JLG snorkel lift at the ceiling of a factory or on the roof of a 1/4 mile long manufacturing facility or the back 40 of my farm. As an 11 year veteran of the US Army in my youth, I know that I had not a clue of what I wanted to do "when I grow up" and spent a lot of my time firing mortars and shooting rifles for the first decade of my adult life and feel, sometimes, that the guys that started in the various hands-on trades at 18 or 19 seem to have a leg up on me in their knowledge so I try to soak up every little tidbit of knowledge I can from where ever I find it and I feel your wide range of skills and stuff that you know a bit about, is always teaching me new things. Please keep up the good work and your camera man is doing a great job as well!!!!
@@horacerumpole6912 Generally, I think highly of German made things (spent 2 years there and know it's just part of their culture) but I think I've settled on Milwaukee because most of their tools come in cases or at least there is a case available even if you have to purchase it separately and that will also allow me to have a common battery for the cordless items. But I still purchase Knipex hand tools!!!
Have you ever looked into modular tool boxes? I use Dewalt tstak boxes because I'm a jobsite carpenter so I always need a way to stack tools in my truck and then stack them in storage when they're not needed. I keep 2 makita cordless grinders in tstak boxes too so I usually look for a tool I like and not think about a case it comes with. Milwaukee packout system seems to be a really good upgrade, they're tough, water resistant and the footprint of them are 16" X 22" and come in various heights. I may start buying those because the Dewalt tstaks can't hold cordless nailers and I'm pretty sure the Dewalt tough system can't either because they're 13" X 22"
The Pastoral Voice for The Gospel of Trades & Craftsmanship. The message this man heralds will save you and those who depend on you financially and practically. Scott you are national treasure. Thank You, Perry Comas Pastor
If I'm using a corded ginder with a stone it needs to be a trigger and I only like Makita grinders for corded ones. If I'm using a zip disc or flap wheel I only use grinders with a thumb switch on the top so I can lock it on and do detailed work. I don't like or recommend paddle switches. And I only like Makita for corded grinders and Milwaukee for cordless. I've burnt up harbor freight grinders and DeWalt and black and Decker's are just not at the same level.
You are ABSOLUTELY correct sir, the switch makes or breaks the deal for me as well. I have never owned a slide switch grinder, nor will I ever! I have a 1987 B&D Professional 4-1/2” angle grinder with a no fangle paddle switch that still works well to this very day. These were the days when B&D put quality into their power tools IMO.
I bought a Harbor Freight angle grinder almost 10 yrs ago for $9.99. I have heavily used it for work, cutting and grinding and wire brushing. My teenage son also used it for months cutting and grinding. It has been so hot that it would drag and go really slow but after it cools down it always goes back to normal. I bought a spare to keep behind the seat of my work truck as a spare when this dies. It's still there in the box. It is blue with a thumb switch and no guard. Also no need to tighten the collar I just loosely hand tighten and the direction of rotation will tighten the collar. I did just buy a Dewalt 20v grinder and it's much bigger and doesn't get into tight spaces like my old HF grinder but it is cordless!
I removed it from one of my grinders ,reason was explained in video,tight spot for cutting ,and that extra cm i could get by removing guard it helped me to finish get the job done.If u know how to hold grinder while working,plus using thick gloves ,doesn't matter u have guard or not ,if disk shatters to peaces nothing will happen to you.
Never take the guard off. Ever. I'm a welder and known too many people use it without a guard and it decapitates them. Yes it get in the way, yes it slows you down, but a chunk of a cut off wheel in your throat will slow you down alot more. Dont be a goober.
I usually have the guard off for grinding, and have it on for cutting. Have never seen a grinder wheel/flapper disc/sanding disk explode. I can get in places alot easier without a guard and can control the direction of sparks alot easier when grinding near windows etc on site. Since swapping to freud cutting wheels I very very rarely have one explode, but usually have the guard anyway for a precaution
@@oystercovecraftsman9219 Grinding wheels can explode too, but if it's not a crib death you can usually see it coming. Just keep an eye on how it's wearing and throw it away when you get a bad gut feeling. I still wouldn't use a 20 year old grinding wheel which had been stored under water.
I like DeWalt tools, I have quite a few but, in my honest opinion when it comes to grinders Metabo is the king of the heap. I've got a 6" I've used daily for 8 yrs and aside from having to replace the cord it still runs as good ad the day i got it.
I love my 4 1/2" Makita. Although, I purposefully got the one with the locking thumb switch. Let's me keep it running without touching it, so I can use it in a vice or not have my hand cramp from holding the paddle the entire time.
Of my five 4 1/2 inch grinders I like the Makita best with two acceptations. The handle doesn't mount at 90 degrees to the body. I made a bracket that realigns the handle to 90 degrees. The other thing was the thumb switch was so long I kept bumping it off. I trimmed the trailing edge of the switch to get it out of the way.
Great video as always Scott, I would like to add some info. At the 3:40 mark you talked about the paddle switch. You informed that one would not want to lay the grinder down and have it fly away. I was taught to ALWAYS place the grinder down with the wheel, brush, or stone facing up... with or without a guard. We are creatures of habit, we WILL perform under pressure what we practice at rest. Build the muscle memory so this becomes natural. The user will thank themselves and so will anyone nearby. Thanks again for the great content.
Scott your channel is a wonderful bright spot in my life I thoroughly enjoy every piece of content you produce and hope we can meet someday. Greetings from Kansas! Hope you have a great Christmas and a happy new year !
My welding school included that same dewalt grinder upon enrolling in the tool kit. That grinder has thousands of hrs on it and it still works! Thousands of hrs of hard use too! Its still on my welding rig and used daily. That poor thing just won’t quit.
I use a macabo grinder at work at the thumb switch, its a fantastic grinder, because the shop I work at supplied it, however I gate to admit having a wire wheel bounce up and catching your T shirt is not fun, you cant shut the thing off fast enough, I will say the few times that has happened have been in my earlier days working steel, I wont say im smarter now, but I think subconsciously I pay more attention so things like that dont occur anymore. most of my grinders at home are paddle switches, they are awkward at first but you get used to them, I have the same Dewalt and absolutely love it, its a work horse.
I have had the same DeWalt grinder for a few years and really like it. There is a big difference between a quality grinder and one that comes from Harbor Freight. They are so much smoother. There isn’t much need for multiple grinders in a home shop. It only takes a few seconds to change grinding disks. Don’t get three cheap grinders. Get one good one.
I'm with you except for the gloves. Just my opinion, but I don't wear gloves around rotating tools. If the wheel catches that glove, it'll tear the flesh off your hand faster than you can blink. If you're looking for nightmare fuel just google images of "degloved" or de-gloving accidents...
@@TheBrokenLife You shouldn't have your fingers near the wheel and gloved should fit reasonably close the finger so catching fingers is a tard move ...brushing a knuckle against a wheel happens since most like myself use no guard and that shouldn't wrap a finger in a wheel, and a real set of gloves will give you protection from being skinned ... The cheap ranchers leather gloves you get 3 to a pack for $4 bucks aren't the gloves to have a nice thick cut resistant welding gloves will save your skin from that mild knuckle brush. I am welding using these tools so I always have the heavy stuff on not cheap gloves you use to hang chicken wire fence with .
Just bought a 4 1/2" PC marked down to $19.00 at our local big box store. Could not walk out without it. It doesn't have a paddle switch but for the money, I'll put it to work. Love your videos.
I enjoy your videos overall because of your years of experience and thorughness in your descriptions. I also enjoy your use of the English language and descriptive turns of phrase. You probably could have had a good career in radio or television if you had gone in that direction.
A thumb switch is the only way to go so you can one hand them, would never buy a paddle switch. I dont understand how anyone can like them... Talking about the 115-125mm (4"-5") ones not the big 180+.
One handing is just not a good idea IMHO, same with the thumb switches. Paddle gives a much quicker on/off, which I like. I think the issue with paddles really depends on the quality though.
@@mercMADCommando With what I do, two hand operation would take me at least four times longer to accomplish the task at hand. I don't have that much time to waste. Edited for spelling correction.
That is fair. With sanding disks or wire brushes I wouldn't be as concerned but with cutoff wheels and to a lesser extent grinding disks, it's just a no-go for me.
@ 12:23 "Have I broken it?" No, DeWalt just couldn't conceive of a case where you would have the portion of the grinding wheel closest to your trigger hand exposed.
I’m getting good use out of my grinder - I’m a retired DIY guy who can’t justify the expense of having three of the same tool. I can see how professionals or well-off frequent users can benefit from redundancy, but for me one is enough and I don’t mind changing wheels. Because it sure beats not having a grinder at all and I can afford it. Thanks for the overview and perspective!
Can't wait for someone to develop a quick release head for the wheels. Never seen or heard of such a thing, just an idea. But it would have to be an ingenious design to not fail. Somebody take this idea and run with it please! Just give me a word of credit lol.
@@RememberTheSlapFilms Seen those, used those, Not much faster anyway. In fact if your spindle screw threads aren't all crapped out, you can much faster just give the disk a little hit in the right direction and it screws itself off almost by itself while with that contraption you have to unlock the nut first.
@@RememberTheSlapFilms Yes! That's pretty cool! I've never seen one. I like the simplicity, however I'm concerned about wether that gets it tight enough. When I put mine on with a wrench I really torque it down tight. Idk if maybe I'm getting it way tighter than necessary or not, I don't have years of experience yet with a grinder. However, I have yet to break anything getting it as tight as I do and have never had it come loose. Long story short, I'll just have to try this Milwaukee nut. Thanks!
You really only need the nut on the wheel to be hand tight as the way the grinder spins is the opposite of how the nut is screwed on so its tightening on itself. The only way for the nut to come off when in use would be if the grinder was running in the wrong direction which won't happen
I have used DeWalt grinders for years. After burning them up every 6 months, I tried out a metabo grinder. 4 years of daily use in a welding shop, it is still running strong.
Including with the highly informative videos, the softer aspects of life makes this channel seem more like a father advising his kids on how to effectively work hard with a quiet reminder that the hard work is for the ones we love and they are of higher ultimate value than the tools we use and the work we do.
You need at least 3. That way you can braid the cords together as you work. Just twisting 2 cords together isn’t quite enough.
lol
Yep. Then too I find I need 2 or 3 of any tool just so I can find ONE when I need it... lent, "borrowed", hiding. Darn things just won't stay put when I put them down ;-)
...oh, and with cordless you can't braid at all, and they tend to wander even further lol
👏🤣
Plus your air hoses tied in with them :(
I guess i need to return my cordless Milwaukee
@@robekstrom2736 Yep, cordless is cheating.
Of course we'd love to see how you made that vice grip addition!
I could watch you watch paint dry as long as you talked about the paint.
Absolutely true lol!
Looks like a simple wooden jig with 2 adjustable clamps that he simply tightens in a vice. Clever and simple. :)
Definitely make rhe jig vid please!
What he said
I second the paint drying sentiment. Please make a video.
Been metal working over 20 years. The last grinder I bought was a Bosch with variable speed. Total game changer. I'll never go back. It's super nice not to have everything spinning 12k rpm. I love it. Great videos sir 👏 thank you
How can the engineers not have chosen to have Variable speed? I didn't know angle grinders have that. When my DeWalt gives up I'll look for variable speed
@@86Raxor no paddle. Just a off on switch. Not as safe.
I bought a 3 foot long dimmer cable for $3 and control my speed with that. Works on fans, saws, grinders, lights, and anything else you can imagine.
@@nevinkuser9892some shit don’t like that
To further Matthew's point about Essential Craftsman being a fatherly figure, ECs views are one of the primary reasons I invested in my own woodshop when I had no tools. 3 years later, I'm working as an electrician and thankful for the knowledge and inspiration gained from EC and other YT channels. Just yesterday, I struck my first arc, laid my first welds, and completed my first project. Thanks in part to Essential Craftsman's YT channel. Keep doing God's work, EC!
40 years ago, when I was 18, I hired in to a weld shop. My boss said fill these drill holes, and grind them flush. It was a huge plate, sitting on short horses. Filled all the holes, grabbed an angle grinder and dug in hard, it kicked and promptly ran across my leg, just above my kneecap. Right through my jeans and long johns, and kind of melted an 1/8" channel, 4" long. Instant respect for that tool. Thankfully, an older coworker showed me where to make first contact with a spinning wheel, how to aim the flow of sparks, etc. I've wore out a few grinders since then. I always enjoy your videos. Thanks.
Having more grinders don't cost much at all in the long run since you are probably going to get always same amount of hours out from each one in the end. The more you have the longer they last.
Bingo that is a great point!
Yes and no... You can actually save money owning multiple grinders if you buy junkers for the junk projects that you know will burn them up fast. A grinder running a wire wheel should cost no more than $40, ever, unless you a need a 7" because you're stripping a dump truck or something.
@@TheBrokenLife thats what a 9in grinder and wire wheel is for
This is my argument to people who don't want to buy snow tires. You can buy one set of tires that are ok in summer and terrible in winter and replace them every four years. Or you can buy snow tires and summer tires, both far better when you actually use them, and since you use them half as much they last twice as long. Roughly the same cost...you just have to swap tires twice a year.
@Drew Why stop there? Just get a couple thousand horsepower of air compressors and media blast it. Done in a jiffy!
@Garrett McEwen Except it's extremely hard on tires to be mounted and dismounted over and over again. I subscribe to your philosophy, but I have 2 sets of rims too.
"Do as I say, not as I do". One of my grandfather's favorite adages. You remind me of him in many (good) ways.
Posting this because I feel it was missed. If you're leaving the cutting tool on the grinder (especially cut off wheels), flip the grinder upside down to prevent the weight of the tool from cracking your cut off wheels. You will also notice dewalt builds them with a flat resting edge so you can do so.
Good tip!!
that's only if you don't have the guard on. And good quality cutting disks are both flexible and tough enough to take a fair bit of abuse without shattering. It's all about the adhesive used.
usually, disks made for stainless steel are much better quality, albeit a little more expensive.
Noone in my yard uses guards on their grinders. nor do i, most of the time you're rushing and putting to much weight on the disc and it shatters. inexperience kills more often than not.
No shit. Thanks for saying!
I have 18 angle grinders because I hate changing wheels. Don't tell my wife. ;)
I Had A Bad Day Wife: "Honey, I don't care that you have 18 angle grinders but it irritates me that you hate changing wheels!"
Your wife might tell you that if you change your wheels every few times you use the grinder, it doesn't tighten up too hard, and you can usually remove the wheel with your bare hand. Just make sure you don't press the trigger while you're at it!
Edit: and make sure you only tighten it by hand, that's important. Sounds like bullshit but it works for almost everything. Only exception is if your grinder has a really fast brake on it and the wheel is really heavy, like a big wire wheel cup or something. In that case, they'll sometimes spin themselves off when the grinder is slowing down. Usually not a huge problem cuz it'll be slowed down, but it's inconvenient. In that situation, tighten it up properly with a wrench.
If she ever sees them and asks, just tell her “well this one here is a left angle grinder, this one’s a right, this other one is a 90 degree grinder...etc
I Had A Bad Day
I’m buying more just for that reason.
@@keithklassen5320 yeah okay I don't know what kind of grinder you use ???? But the tightening mechanism whatever it maybe is 99.9% always reverse of the rotation of the grinder..
Speaking from experience, as a former fabricator and current tool mechanic, i think the best combination for angle grinders is as follow : 1 big (9 to 12") dedicated to cutting, 1 small (5") with speed variator for heat sensitive stuff and finer grits and however many of the regular 5" as you like for the other stuff.
Of course, always use your guard and the handle, whenever possible because it is much safer. And if you can't or are directly showered by the sparks, use a faceshield. Taking a fragment of abrasive that managed to bounce directly in your eye is the worst experience i ever had and it happened quite a few times despite the safety goggles. Those things are also very good at starting fires, both on the junk you are working next to and your own clothes.
I've done stone work professionally for the past 15 years and I don't know what I'd do without my 5" Variable Speed 13 amp Makita and Metabo grinders.... perfect size along with a LOT of power. Cutting, precision grinding and polishing all with one tool. Highly recommend either one. Unbelievably versatile!!!
Hi!
Nice tool, have some of them.
We're in Russia some times extend this tool life by covering air intake by thin tissue, for example - cutted sock.
Good luck, thanks for the content.
Good idea
Joe Palazzo as long as you change your socks before the tool overheats🤪
Yup very good idea. , Add a tube sock over the air intake to reduce gunk in the ..schmoo ?.. motor ! If it gets hot , ditch it .
Works well with nylons it's like a machine air filter....
I bought the same grinder last year and it has been excellent. The guard has 8 different positions and is easy to remove and reattach. Great video as always.
I love my little Dewalt angle grinder! its at least 8yrs old and does everything I need it to. From wood working to metal working. No complaints. No doubt the most universal tool in my entire garage!
Your grand daughter at the end is adorable!!! Seeing you and her together made the video!!!! The is no greater thrill then grand kids. Thanks Scott.
Thanks Scott, I don't use them as much anymore but have a few, 8 or 9 I think, around just in case ! 😊
The one I've had the longest, 25 years, is the ol mankiller, a nine inch Dewalt. It has taken all the abuse and keeps on going !
Thanks for sharing and take care. 👍
It's my most used tool, really it keeps all my other tools going and is the unsung hero of my entire operation.
Hands down angle grinders are one of my favourite tools. I've had so much use out of them. Used them to cut slate slabs, cut into old steps and tarmac, cut angle bead precisely, cut blocks and bricks, cut angle iron. My second go to tool surprisingly is a Hoover or a broom, keeping site clear of debris helps you see where you are at.
And it will keep you from falling too. I work on a smooth concrete floor in the shop, after a day with a lot of grinding you can skate around on your safety boots just bcs of the sheer amount of metal dust on the floor. I also wipe the floor every day to avoid this 😂 sometimes a few times a day if its a grinding day lol
I have found cutting off about 10 degrees of the guard can really give you that added versatility you need to get into tight spaces. When doing fine detail grinding and cutting I noticed only a small amount of the gaurd was giving me trouble and no matter what position I put it in it would still be in the way. It has saved me some time and if you have any spare guards I really think it comes in handy.
"Made with global materials" probably means components are assembled in the US but made overseas
exactly...outsourced materials and so long as the last step is done here they stamp it made in usa. Its an import.
Assembled....kinda like most anything else made here and abroad. Globally sourced parts. th-cam.com/video/RzxT9pVniPY/w-d-xo.html
Kudos to Dewalt for making an effort
There is a letter from the owner of Maglite bemoaning the made in USA standard because he presently cannot source all of his parts in the US, so he has to use some imported parts.
maglite.com/maglab/made-in-california-but-not-the-usa/#.XBVbf81MHtQ
@@nathanmuenks4805 I think there are some made in the USA lights, but instead of $19.99-$39.99 at Walmart they're $100-$200+ and not in big box stores.
I figure on the tape measures that they show up complete from China and they screw the tape clip on here in the USA and say it was assembled here.
I’ve been a welder professionally and now a hobbyist. You won’t find many welders or fitters that don’t prefer the dewault 4 1/2”. For the reasons you said, it’s all about the switch.
Another tip for newer users, don’t grip it so tight, you’ll wear your hand muscles out fast, be loose but controlled.
I've had a D28402 for 15 years. It's my smallest grinder and is used the most. I've often commented that I can't believe I spent most of my life without one. I've got an uncounted number of tools but the little grinder is the handiest. Whether I'm doing woodwork, concrete work, forging or some steel fab it's always near.
I have 2 Makitas with the on/off switches on them and they will not turn off until it runs out of power, wishing I had bought the paddle switch versions for safety, I have already had 2 accidents with them over the years
i have a dewalt 11amp 4 1/2" grinder aswell, one of my favorite tools. use one every day at work.
@@gertv6777 give dewalt 11 amp 4.5" a try. it's nice that the safety toggle on the paddle switch is still easy enough to operate with welding gloves on i've had only 2 accidents with grinders i was injured in neither one, but still, twice using wire wheels one time i had headphones on and was grinding under a tank and set it down on my shirt while it was still ramping down and it ripped a 5 inch hole... another time i think i was grinding on a trailer the wire wheel cought my shirt clam up the front of my shirt andhalf way down my back ripping a hole the entire way LOL.
Metabo is my favorite. I'm an ironworker, and we use these everyday.
Metabo could sell me on the kick-back safety alone...
th-cam.com/video/1qZx6BxSBbY/w-d-xo.html
same. none of the other brands will last as long as the metabo will. that being said, i own two grinders, the metabo has no guard (the lugs sheared, i rescued it from the dumpster) and is for doing actual ironwork, the dewalt has a guard and gets used when a guard is needed (rarely) or i'm going to plunge it into grease and nastiness (far more often).
When I started my 1st welding job just out of weld school I purchased a 4-1/2” B&D Professional. I must say back then B&D built some of their power tools tough. It is still working today despite a broken spindle lock pin 37 years later. Nowadays I would agree with your choice or Milwaukee, Mikita or Dewalt, as long as it has a paddle switch or pull trigger switch.
Perfect, the voice of logic and reason as like you I keep several grinders configured to support specific tasks. This rational holds true for so many other tools which makes life so much easier and less stressful. I am showing this to my wife as she always asks why I have so many of the same tools and she is not buying my highly technical answer ... Ha-Ha. Thanks, your neighbor in Brookings :)
Rationale >< rational
You let your wife know what tools you're buying? You're a madman!
@@TheBrokenLife lol
I started off with a $20 grinder from the local Hazard Freight, that lasted right up until I spent five hours grinding plate for welding school. Decided 'the hell with this', went down to Lowe's and got a D43113. Double the power, way more torque, a vastly higher speed, better handling, and way less vibration going up my arms. Worth every penny.
Angle grinders are amazing tools: I've used them for cutting steel, smoothing steel, taking paint off of steel and wood, smoothing wood, cutting concrete, stone, and brick, smoothing concrete, sharpening drill bits, cutting tile, shaping curves on pavers, clearing out mortar joints for tuck pointing, the applications are endless. As you say, they are anything but a life-long investment, they take more of a beating than most people's tool collections put together, Bosch has always been a good soldier for me, but no amount of engineering can sustain that kind of punishment indefinitely. My least favourite trigger mechanism has got to be the slide switch: whatever you're using it for, grinders kick up a ton of particulate; particulate gums up mechanisms, over time leaving you with a hair trigger sensitivity over time; I prefer to know my spinning death wheel contraption is well and truly off when I set it down.
I am a industrial maintenance and repair tech. I work for a company in Belgium that does revisions, repairs, maintenance and even tailor makes machinery and entire production lines for the customer. Arcelor Mittal, Volvo, Coca Cola and the ministery of defense are among our customers.
We often work on massive, heavy and expensive gear. So it can be quite a demanding job at times. As we often have to improvise and work in very awkward positions in places we don’t know (yet). While still being careful and vigilant to not get crushed, electrocuted, fall or damage the equipment. (Like aligning a massive electric motor to its gearbox on a 45m high tower while I can’t hear myself think thanks to wind and rain lol)
Angle grinders along with impact wrenches, drills and a corded hammer drill are part of our daily used standard equipment, often we have to dislodge broken or badly cared for equipment to get it out of there. I have done a lot of grinding both on side and in the shop when working on a part for the customer. Sometimes even from 7-4 that I’ve grinded an entire day.
My 2c, Bosch sucks ass. If you wanna spend money on a EU tool brand, buy Metabo. They make way better grinders. We buy Bosch professional tools, the standard model we use is the 125mm, 1700W “heavy duty” model. I have on one instance thrown out 4 of these in 2 months. Yes they suffer and work hard. But so do our Metabo’s and Makita’s. And they don’t die at nearly the same rate as our Bosch tools. They seem to be not as well-balanced as the Metabo’s either and they have cheaper, shorter cords. My Metabo for home use is a 1300W paddle switch one, it has a 4m cord of H07 class cord. Which is good, Bosch uses H05 (lower protection class) on some of their grinders. The cords are also something that tends to break down quickly on these.
They are not terrible, but Metabo is imo better and similarly if not slightly higher priced. Fein is excellent but very expensive. We have a few specialist tools from them and they last very well.
Lastly, a thumb switch or as we call them a “suicide switch” is practical and easy as you don’t have to depress it constantly. But then again if you fuck up and that thing is tearing in your flesh at 10.000rpm you want it to shut off when you let go. As you might no longer have the presence of mind to flick the switch. I prefer paddle switches, however they can be tiresome if you are grinding for many hours. A rat tail is ideal.
If you buy a larger one (230mm blade) plse get one with a dead mans switch that will shut off when released. A colleague of mine almost lost a leg to one of these while working in the basement of a nuclear plant. We carried him outside and put pressure bandages on his leg to stop the bleeding.
At the ER they told us that if he had cut 3cm further he would have hit his artery and been dead before he left the basement.
They won’t fire up on their own, thats not something to worry about. Nice thing about the thumb switch ones is that you can put them in a vise and use them as a makeshift bench grinder, if you intend to buy a grinder for that purpose I would take a thumb switch. If not, nope. Paddle switch or rat tail.
(Boss keeps buying the blue stuff, but we have told him many times to go with Makita or Metabo. But hey, its his money 🤷♂️)
@@claudyfocan731 I particularly like the suicide thumb switch, because it allows me to grip the angle grind in such a way that commands most control.
With paddle or rat tail switches, you're limited to where your hand is by the switch, where I can safely grip the thumb switch one close to head for precision work. Also, it's was easier for one handed applications we all do, even though the OSHA doesn't approve.
Although, my angle grinders do work way less and it's a much easier job, basically just cutting thin metal tubing and plates no thicker than 10mm.
I've found blue Bosch is good enough for professional use, and their warranty is impeccable. My place will take the broken tools basically no questions asked, and either they fix it or you get new ones, all within a week maybe. So after 2 years of warranty, they've paid off completely.
@@lazar2175 i agree to the switch part, it is more practical and works a lot easier in some situations. But I still care a great deal about my personal safety lol, regardless of my job.
We found out that Blue Bosch just doesn’t cut it for heavy industrial use.
@@claudyfocan731 The Metabo/Hitachi is the king in my opinion, it's slightly more expensive in the beginning but it's so worth it. German and Japanese engineering at it's finest. Both are made by the same guys from what I've gathered, as Metabo is owned by Hitachi.
Aside from them, Milwaukee is also making killer tools. The only reason I'm not using them is because they are incredibly hard to get in Europe, and also very expensive. I can buy 2-3 Makita/Bosch tools for the price of a single Milwaukee tool sold by resellers.
I've had a Dewalt grinder like that for probably nine years and it's a great tool. At work, I have four angle grinders all with different wheels. Thanks for the word on guards. Because of some close calls I've had, I absolutely always keep a guard on any grinder I'm using with a cutting disc.
I personally own 3 corded and 2 cordless.
When you are running different tasks, being able to switch between different attachments, sizes, power level, or mobility on the fly is remarkably helpful at times.
I wouldn't start with several, but if your work calls for a time is money mentality, it can pay off. Especially when, not if, one or more decide to bite the dust in the middle of crunch time on an overnight project... That there is a nightmare.
Since buying my cordless, I find myself switching wheels out rather than going back to any of the several corded ones. Which of course means obviously I need another one!
@@bradley3549 Makes a lot of sense.
The only times I really go back to the corded are when I need the power of the 7" Makita, or I am running it hard with a wire wheel or twisted cup. Even the nice 60V (54V) batteries will start getting pretty warm with that kind of heave, sustained use.
Knowing what I know now, I would have absolutely started with 2. One for a wire wheel (cheapo) and one for whatever else (better). My wire wheel is almost never off of a grinder because I just constantly need it, but it's fairly rare for me to need a cut off wheel AND a grinding disc at nearly the same moment. Might just be me.
About a year ago I bought my first angle grinder, a cheap 4 1/2 Ryobi. Over the years I've known a lot of guys that did serious, hard work with angle grinders and as mostly a DIYer the seemed a more serious tool than what I needed. Man do I wish I'd bought one about 40 years ago! It's my favorite electric tool, and I've used it for about everything except working on an anvil (we can dream). But the story is the best part. I had to use one to finish the install of an under-sink instant water heater - a complication - and went into The Home Depot to rent it for $25/half day. But first I ran into the tool department, where I had the fortune of meeting a new employee who had just spent 10 years doing hardcore metal work. I described my predicament to him, and he handed me the box with the Ryobi in it and said "after taxes, this will cost you $10-15 more than the rental. You'll end up getting the rental here late, and it will be $10 less than what your real rental will be. And ignore the tool reviews - this Ryobi is great - I have five of them." And so I bought it, and it was one of the best decisions I've made. And the Ryobi is frankly more reliable than all the DeWalt, Milwaukee, Makita, Bosch, Craftsman (old school), Stihl, and many other tools I own. That's not a brand fanboy, but if you don't have an angle grinder - go get one!
"Made in USA with Global Materials" means that some or all of the components were manufactured out of country, then shipped to the US for assembly.
Normally it only has to be the last manufacturing stage that its completed in the country claiming manufacture. This can be simply putting the thing into its final packaging sadly. I think it's just more marketing. Personally I'd like to see the origin of products stated as where the majority of the job was done. Then we'd be able to buy appropriately.
@@davidquirk8097 Check this video. I know most of the component are still made in China, but a lot of the assembling and the quality control is happening in the US.
th-cam.com/video/emIIip1FTIM/w-d-xo.html
It's a shame we don't have a DeWalt factory in The Netherlands.
@@davidquirk8097 "Normally it only has to be the last manufacturing stage that its completed in the country claiming manufacture. " It's a bit more complicated than that amigo. www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/complying-made-usa-standard
@@KamfaKing thanks for that, I'll have a proper read later. I'm always happy to learn more, to correct my misunderstanding.
Just say it.... china...
Thin metal cutting wheel: Best advice I got from TH-cam about cutting vinyl siding to length. Way easier than the tin snips recommended to me. Also, the lines are so smooth, you couldn't tell which side was cut, so I could install the cut side on the outside. Also also, I could use the wheel to grind off just a bit for the angles pieces in the gable, making them fit perfectly. I have a 15 year old angle grinder from my dad (Skil brand). It's seen lots of use. Here's to another 15 years.
The immediate throwing away of the owners manual/instructions is the most American thing about this video and is absolutely hilarious and golden. Keep being a legend
People that love you like the stuff at 8:45. Never cower never try to make you tube happy and we will ALWAYS support you. Honesty has long left You Tube in all fields.
A word to any angle grinder newbies here, keep your head out of the line of fire of those cut off wheels if you go without the guard. I saw a picture of a pair of safety glasses with shrapnel from one of those stuck about a quarter inch into it. They are no joke!
I resently used my little Angle grinder for cleaning up old cast iron pans. Thank you for the time you have in all your videos Sir. 👍
Cute Grandkid Scott!!!
My daughter delivered my first last week!!!
Yep. I enjoy Scott's videos. And while I'm just a semi-handy DYI-er, I also have a Dewalt angle grinder, which I like (and one is all I'll ever need).
But I'm guessing that Scott and I would agree: My grandkids are my real treasure.
My latest addition to the kit this year was a makita cordless 7inch grinder with a mild wood carving blade !!! By far my go to tool for planeing walls.... planer does 80% but top n bottom of stud and internal corners the grinder is king!!!! Try it you will be amazed!!
An angle grinder is a tool we all take for granted, but without them we would be severely hindered! They do so much, as you expressed in your video, they are so versatile.
I really don’t know how many grinders I have in service at the moment, but if I had to guess, it must be 10 or 12, mostly 4 1/2”, a couple of 5” and several 9”. Bosch have always been the weapon of choice around here, although there are now a few Makita grinders in the fold. I have become a Makita convert with most power tools, but I still like the Bosch grinders. They have served us well over the years and been good value for money.
Bosch had the quick release guard, like your new DeWalt, 20 years ago. Unfortunately the more recent versions do not, I suspect they are trying to reach a price point. But I’m sure the last Makita I bought has something similar.
And I’d go side position thumb switch all day long on a 4 1/2-5” grinder, as I use them one handed often.
........you can never have too many grinders! 😉👍
Agree with you on switches and Bosch grinders only weakness on one of my Bosch grinders is the power cable loosening in the housing causing it to cut out, cable has been replaced about 3 times over the 5 ish yrs I have had it. Bosch are king off 4 1/2 grinders .
Thanks for the video!!!!!
I’m in the process of getting another one. Wasn’t sure if I could justify it. But your video help me make the decision.
When I was a teenager I had a 4" cut off wheel grenade and put a 2-inch tear in my chest. It felt like I got punched by Mike Tyson. After patching up my chest and changing my Underpants, I put the guard back on and left it that way. When I do use a grinder without a guard, which is more often than not, I always remember that incident and pucker Factor is always lingering. I still have that old girl :-) plus four or five others all wearing different attachments
Wow lol, I was reading this and when you said you still use it without the guard I thought to myself “this guy is an idiot!”. Then I see you are a roofer and i could help but to laugh out loud.
Benjamin Blake
Thanks for your kind words. I hope you have a blessed day :-)
@@benjaminblake6821 he wrote: "I put the guard back on and left it that way. " But there are times when using an angle grinder without the guard is the only way possible. That's what safety gear is for.
terry Sullivan
Correct you are. The only way I'm willing to use a thin cut off wheel without a guard now is welders gloves, full-face shield, and my welding jacket on :-) if that piece of blown up wheel had hit my neck instead of my chest, the outcome could have been a whole lot different
It's also always wise to keep your face, and anything else you hold particularly dear, out of the line of the wheel. Your cut will be plenty straight enough with your head 1" off the center line.
“ I pretty much reserve this wheel for resurfacing anvils”.
I’m willing to bet I’ll never hear those words ever spoken again.
Love your podcast for all of its valuable content and the range of information that I pickup from each episode .
I could sit and watch all day long .
Yeah, not a lot of people have a need to resurface even one anvil one time in their life.
SCOTT, yes I would love how you made this very simple vise jig for the DeWalt in the vise! thank you
Strongly agree w this advice. I've got three DeWalts, 1 with wire brush cup, 1 with cutoff wheel, 1 with grinder wheel.
One of the best workshop productivity hacks.
I have a similar filing system for all my tool instruction booklets.
I store all my important paperwork in my trash can. Very efficient.
I don't read them, but do file them with a copy of the purchase receipt. You may want a replacement part or warranty repair someday.
As a 25 year tile , stone and marble setter this is one of my most used power tool with the 1/2 mixing drill coming in first. I use the 4 1/2 slim Bosh with burst control. No doubt the angle grinder is a versatile tool used in most if not all trade's.
For the hobby guys and general repairman like myself who aren't going to need more than one grinder... Buy a Lenox diamond wheel. They are strong enough not to fly apart when you make a mistake and get it in a bind, they last a long time, they cut like nothing else, and they can even be used shape metal like a fat wheel would usually be used for (against best judgement perhaps but I've done it successfully a lot). The wheels are expensive, about $15 a piece here, but get one!
Absolutely right, old machinists might not be as familiar with diamond cutting wheels, but they have been getting cheaper and are so much safer than standard abrasive disks. I wish EC would do an episode just on diamond disks.
Lenox cutting blades and wheels always perform great. See the Project Farm youtube channel for all sorts of head to head competitions between cutoff wheels recip blades etc.
I use 6" wheels (greater reach and edge speed) and my Lenox is extremely useful for the tough task of cutting truck and car tire wire beads when stripping off old tires at home. I weld steel rims together self-service salvage style to support vehicles and other work and don't care to pay to demount than many old tires. I cut the sidewalls with a Diablo carbide tooth recip saw blade (one blade has done about 15 tires so far, much cheaper than paying someone) and sever the wire beads with the Lenox. That level of ruggedness is impressive since the side loads easily snap abrasive discs and a toothed metal saw blade would immediately overheat because rubber doesn't conduct heat well.
You know we all want to see the vice clamp addition for the grinder. Keep up the great videos!
Throws the box over his shoulder!! 😁
All around great channel for those of us in the trades and the average diy-er.
I am a 22 year old electrician. Only 30% of my job has to do with electricity. The rest of it is engineering and fabrication to accomplish whatever the task may be. I love your videos because they help me think outside the box amd explore new avenues to get the job done. Keep on please. Your videos are great for a young guy like me. And guards are great but they qre theyre for people who aren't skilled or who are completely green
Dang it... you mentioned an image of a guy with part of a wheel in his chin and don't ya know I just had to go and google it. I think I'll be putting the guards back on all of my grinders now.
Or you could wear proper full face guard.
Guards are there for a reason
Yep. Only remove it if you absolutely have to and even then, you can probably just use a safer option tool wise. I've had grinding rocks and cutting discs just blow up on me randomly. Luckily it was always at work and I had safety glasses and a face shield on, but little particles of the rock and disc still cut my neck pretty good from impact. Not always, but most of the time when a disc or rock explodes, it is because someone has left it out in the weather and it is wet, or someone threw it in the bottom of a tool box and it got slightly damaged from other tools being thrown on top of them. It makes them very brittle when they get too wet and even the smallest amount of damage or chunk taken out of them can make them come apart when they get up to full speed. Once they are wet just toss them. Unless you have a bad gambling addiction, then your good. Lol.
Oh, and always store your grinding rocks/discs and cutting discs in a dry place away from possibly getting wet, smashed or damaged by other tools being thrown on top of them.
@@yerwrngBut that's PPE as such the last line of defence. I appreciate that the comment is a decade old
Delighted you spent time discussing the blade shield issue. I agree with both sides of the argument...leaning towards the "keep the guard side".
I like to attach the arbor tool.to the end of the cord so I always have it amd also unplug it to work on it at the same time. I've got about 5 but the single dewalt I have is worth swaping tools on if you only need one.
Angle grinders are the routers of the metal world. I have over 20 routers across several jigs and tables. I’ve got 4 compact routers that I keep set up permanently with edge forming bits. It’s amazing but not surprising how much more productive you are when you don’t have to stop and change bits. I love having multiple tools. I’ve got 5 impact drivers and 5 drills for the same reason!
I've only used this once to sharpen my mower blade th-cam.com/users/postUgkxPDBfLu68o58Aw85O_J-zIFfjJARBhp-3 but so far very happy with it. I've never used one of these so took me a bit to figure out how to set it up but once I figured it out it did the job just fine. This is likely a single purpose tool for me to use on my mower blade and possibly the occasional axe sharpening so didn't see any need to spend a lot....this will do just fine!
I'm a DIY'r, I bought the same Dewalt 4.5 just like this one for my first and only angle grinder and I've been extremely impressed with all the work I've been able to accomplish I have fairly large hands but with all my gear including leather gloves this device fits very nicely. I do like the guard and that you can move it and I wanted a different guard than the one that came with it for cutting and I was disappointed because i couldn't get one from dewalt even though they have it listed with a model number. I appreciate all your videos and I thank you for sharing and teaching this old man. 👍✌
It's a pleasure to listen you explaining things. You could read the phonebook and I would watch you doing it. :)
Not quite sure how to say this other than I wish you were my neighbor or family. You have so much wisdom and kindness that people can learn from. Thanks for doing these you tube videos.
I welded a bolt to a 6" long piece of angle iron that threads into the hand grip threads. You can clamp the angle iron in your vice and work with it like you are doing and then quickly remove it.
That's a great idea!!
I have two of these small dewalt angle grinders and really love them. Plenty of power for metal work and for wood carving. Great video!
Scott and Nate,
Howdy!
My name is Tim Rorer from Kentucky. I haven't comment on a TH-cam video in probably a year. But somehow I am so passionate about angle grinders that I felt the need to ramble for a bit.
I am a 45 year old industrial maintenance technician (working in a titanium extrusion mill), own a mobile sandblasting company (that is supposed to be my retirement plan though I never lately have time from my day job to take on new blasting customers), farmer (though my farm is a soupy mess from beavers right now), and a general tinkerer.
I spent probably 10 hours this last summer shopping around for my 5th angle grinder (not counting the Chinese pneumatic one). I am very partial to DeWalt products, though lately I've taken a shining to Milwaukee products as that's what my employer uses. And yes, I've got a Black and Decker that believe it or not has last through heavy use for almost a decade. I debated the whole paddle versus trigger vs switch question (and switches to me are best for less fatigue on longer grinding tasks and when you are going to chuck the thing up i a vise for easy on/off). But what it come down to for me-and yep, it's so trivial, I went with a Porter Cable product just because it came with a hard case.
I work out of my home (except for the day job) and am between workshops (how this farm didn't have a workshop is beyond me). So all my rolling tool boxes and my utility shelving full of power tools, parts, and hardware are my wife's bane/eyesore on our enclosed back porch. So because space is limited, I like tools that come in cases for finding them easily and stacking as neatly as that sort of thing can be. It's getting hard to find companies that make tools in cases anymore so this was the nicest, heaviest duty, grinder that came with case. I have found this brand to be my new favorites brand of power tool because of it.
Now, much to my wife's dismay, I am thinking of buying a cordless angle grinder. I didn't think much of cordless tools beyond drills due to a couple of bad experiences a decade ago involving a DeWalt cordless impact wrench (almost $400 of money wasted) and a cordless Black and Decker circular saw but apparently 1) they are much more powerful today and batteries hold their charge longer than they did then and 2) it's just not as convenient to pack around that little 900 watt mini generator to the furthermost points of where I seem to find my tasks (especially in a JLG snorkel lift at the ceiling of a factory or on the roof of a 1/4 mile long manufacturing facility or the back 40 of my farm.
As an 11 year veteran of the US Army in my youth, I know that I had not a clue of what I wanted to do "when I grow up" and spent a lot of my time firing mortars and shooting rifles for the first decade of my adult life and feel, sometimes, that the guys that started in the various hands-on trades at 18 or 19 seem to have a leg up on me in their knowledge so I try to soak up every little tidbit of knowledge I can from where ever I find it and I feel your wide range of skills and stuff that you know a bit about, is always teaching me new things. Please keep up the good work and your camera man is doing a great job as well!!!!
German-made Metabos + a good steel case. Not chi-com junk!
@@horacerumpole6912 Generally, I think highly of German made things (spent 2 years there and know it's just part of their culture) but I think I've settled on Milwaukee because most of their tools come in cases or at least there is a case available even if you have to purchase it separately and that will also allow me to have a common battery for the cordless items. But I still purchase Knipex hand tools!!!
Have you ever looked into modular tool boxes? I use Dewalt tstak boxes because I'm a jobsite carpenter so I always need a way to stack tools in my truck and then stack them in storage when they're not needed. I keep 2 makita cordless grinders in tstak boxes too so I usually look for a tool I like and not think about a case it comes with. Milwaukee packout system seems to be a really good upgrade, they're tough, water resistant and the footprint of them are 16" X 22" and come in various heights. I may start buying those because the Dewalt tstaks can't hold cordless nailers and I'm pretty sure the Dewalt tough system can't either because they're 13" X 22"
I loved my makita .. I used the hell out of it for years and I finally killed it a month ago .. will be buying another when my pocket book allows
“Thanks for watching, keep ur DeWalt in a vise”
Don't you mean DeWilt?
@@bradcavanagh3092 it's a saying that you tuber AVE uses at the end of his videos but uses a different word than DeWalt
@@a-carpenter9229 I know. I making a play on how he calls tool brands by different names.
Good tie in, AvE fan.
Always run into you scumbags down here in the comments of EC, TOT and abom Vijayos. How's it going my friends in low places?
The Pastoral Voice for The Gospel of Trades & Craftsmanship. The message this man heralds will save you and those who depend on you financially and practically. Scott you are national treasure.
Thank You,
Perry Comas
Pastor
If I'm using a corded ginder with a stone it needs to be a trigger and I only like Makita grinders for corded ones. If I'm using a zip disc or flap wheel I only use grinders with a thumb switch on the top so I can lock it on and do detailed work. I don't like or recommend paddle switches. And I only like Makita for corded grinders and Milwaukee for cordless. I've burnt up harbor freight grinders and DeWalt and black and Decker's are just not at the same level.
You are ABSOLUTELY correct sir, the switch makes or breaks the deal for me as well. I have never owned a slide switch grinder, nor will I ever!
I have a 1987 B&D Professional 4-1/2” angle grinder with a no fangle paddle switch that still works well to this very day.
These were the days when B&D put quality into their power tools IMO.
I have a 25 year old one just like that and it is still going strong mine has a metal box to store it in.
Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Thanks Scruffy!! Merry Christmas to you and your tribe!
Yeah, it's seems that the old saying still comes to pass "The old uns are the best", unfortunately in this day and age seems to be true 😬😠.
I bought a Harbor Freight angle grinder almost 10 yrs ago for $9.99. I have heavily used it for work, cutting and grinding and wire brushing. My teenage son also used it for months cutting and grinding. It has been so hot that it would drag and go really slow but after it cools down it always goes back to normal. I bought a spare to keep behind the seat of my work truck as a spare when this dies. It's still there in the box. It is blue with a thumb switch and no guard. Also no need to tighten the collar I just loosely hand tighten and the direction of rotation will tighten the collar. I did just buy a Dewalt 20v grinder and it's much bigger and doesn't get into tight spaces like my old HF grinder but it is cordless!
As a fabricator I run a grinder every day and I can't figure out why people insist in taking the guard off.
I removed it from one of my grinders ,reason was explained in video,tight spot for cutting ,and that extra cm i could get by removing guard it helped me to finish get the job done.If u know how to hold grinder while working,plus using thick gloves ,doesn't matter u have guard or not ,if disk shatters to peaces nothing will happen to you.
Never take the guard off. Ever. I'm a welder and known too many people use it without a guard and it decapitates them. Yes it get in the way, yes it slows you down, but a chunk of a cut off wheel in your throat will slow you down alot more. Dont be a goober.
Same here. I do modify em , I keep em about 270 degrees and about 1/4 " tall !
I usually have the guard off for grinding, and have it on for cutting.
Have never seen a grinder wheel/flapper disc/sanding disk explode. I can get in places alot easier without a guard and can control the direction of sparks alot easier when grinding near windows etc on site.
Since swapping to freud cutting wheels I very very rarely have one explode, but usually have the guard anyway for a precaution
@@oystercovecraftsman9219 Grinding wheels can explode too, but if it's not a crib death you can usually see it coming. Just keep an eye on how it's wearing and throw it away when you get a bad gut feeling. I still wouldn't use a 20 year old grinding wheel which had been stored under water.
I like DeWalt tools, I have quite a few but, in my honest opinion when it comes to grinders Metabo is the king of the heap. I've got a 6" I've used daily for 8 yrs and aside from having to replace the cord it still runs as good ad the day i got it.
I love my 4 1/2" Makita. Although, I purposefully got the one with the locking thumb switch. Let's me keep it running without touching it, so I can use it in a vice or not have my hand cramp from holding the paddle the entire time.
Of my five 4 1/2 inch grinders I like the Makita best with two acceptations. The handle doesn't mount at 90 degrees to the body. I made a bracket that realigns the handle to 90 degrees. The other thing was the thumb switch was so long I kept bumping it off. I trimmed the trailing edge of the switch to get it out of the way.
Your channel is now one of my favorite. I wish I could work on a few projects with you. You are just full of valuable knowledge.
Great video as always Scott, I would like to add some info. At the 3:40 mark you talked about the paddle switch. You informed that one would not want to lay the grinder down and have it fly away. I was taught to ALWAYS place the grinder down with the wheel, brush, or stone facing up... with or without a guard. We are creatures of habit, we WILL perform under pressure what we practice at rest. Build the muscle memory so this becomes natural. The user will thank themselves and so will anyone nearby. Thanks again for the great content.
The plus side of a thumb switch: you can lock it “on” and then the reach to the switch doesn’t matter...Thanks for the great videos.
I own a DWE4212 1200w and it's a beast. Really similar to the one you have. 6 years and still running through metal, concrete, wood, bricks etc.
Scott your channel is a wonderful bright spot in my life I thoroughly enjoy every piece of content you produce and hope we can meet someday. Greetings from Kansas! Hope you have a great Christmas and a happy new year !
My welding school included that same dewalt grinder upon enrolling in the tool kit. That grinder has thousands of hrs on it and it still works! Thousands of hrs of hard use too! Its still on my welding rig and used daily. That poor thing just won’t quit.
Me: TH-cam says I need 4 or 5 grinders! Wife: When are you going to use the 1st one?
Im 28 and do custom tile work I use a wet saw and angle grinder almost every day. My Makita is 6 years old I love it
If it slips out of your hand, it'll become a
*Black & Decker pecker wrecker*
Thanks for posting! I can think of of so many ways I have used a grinder over the years and appreciate the opportunity to see a new one!
DeWalt and Makita make good equipment! Nice to see you wearing a mask Scott! Thanks you for sharing !!!
I’ve used a 4/ 4.5 inch makita for about 15 years, best tool I’ve ever owned!
Locking thumb switch is the way to go.
Do know why you don’t like them
I agree. You couldn't give me a grinder with a paddle switch, they are too awkward to work with.
I use a macabo grinder at work at the thumb switch, its a fantastic grinder, because the shop I work at supplied it, however I gate to admit having a wire wheel bounce up and catching your T shirt is not fun, you cant shut the thing off fast enough, I will say the few times that has happened have been in my earlier days working steel, I wont say im smarter now, but I think subconsciously I pay more attention so things like that dont occur anymore. most of my grinders at home are paddle switches, they are awkward at first but you get used to them, I have the same Dewalt and absolutely love it, its a work horse.
Definitely prefer the thumb switch
Paddle switch is much safer for most things. It shuts off if you let go.
I have had the same DeWalt grinder for a few years and really like it. There is a big difference between a quality grinder and one that comes from Harbor Freight. They are so much smoother. There isn’t much need for multiple grinders in a home shop. It only takes a few seconds to change grinding disks. Don’t get three cheap grinders. Get one good one.
Did the Geriatric Boys Club finish Cy’s barn addition?
The roof is on & tight and the siding is up and tight. Trim& details left to go. Cy is mostly doing the rest.
The Geriatric Boys Club needs their own t-shirt.
Yea dudes...lets see that addition go up!!!
Lou Pecci They are The Tress Centinarian Boys Club.
The geriatric boys need a youtube channel!
I've had a Milwaukee 4 1/2 angle grinder for years great tool, works like the day I took it out of the box.
Wear face shields, safety glasses, long sleeves, and gloves.
I'm with you except for the gloves. Just my opinion, but I don't wear gloves around rotating tools. If the wheel catches that glove, it'll tear the flesh off your hand faster than you can blink. If you're looking for nightmare fuel just google images of "degloved" or de-gloving accidents...
Don't use gloves, if your finger gets introduced to the blade it's better to cut yourself than have a glove catch and break your fingers
My brother had 3 fingers cut off. A man I know had his nose slashed in half. don't underestimate the power of cut off blades. @@noah_9886
A glove wouldn't have made any difference in either of those cases, Julie. Except maybe make it worse...
@@TheBrokenLife You shouldn't have your fingers near the wheel and gloved should fit reasonably close the finger so catching fingers is a tard move ...brushing a knuckle against a wheel happens since most like myself use no guard and that shouldn't wrap a finger in a wheel, and a real set of gloves will give you protection from being skinned ... The cheap ranchers leather gloves you get 3 to a pack for $4 bucks aren't the gloves to have a nice thick cut resistant welding gloves will save your skin from that mild knuckle brush. I am welding using these tools so I always have the heavy stuff on not cheap gloves you use to hang chicken wire fence with .
Just bought a 4 1/2" PC marked down to $19.00 at our local big box store. Could not walk out without it. It doesn't have a paddle switch but for the money, I'll put it to work. Love your videos.
Just my 2 cents but I never run an angle grinder without eye protection. Great video I need to buy a new grinder soon.
That’s common sense yet I see folks not using any face and eye protection. Those are the same folks that are missing a finger or two
I enjoy your videos overall because of your years of experience and thorughness in your descriptions. I also enjoy your use of the English language and descriptive turns of phrase. You probably could have had a good career in radio or television if you had gone in that direction.
A thumb switch is the only way to go so you can one hand them, would never buy a paddle switch. I dont understand how anyone can like them... Talking about the 115-125mm (4"-5") ones not the big 180+.
Gürwald
I have a thumb switch one and a paddle type. Paddle type is far superior in my opinion. I operate it one handed all the time.
Hate thumb switches...
One handing is just not a good idea IMHO, same with the thumb switches. Paddle gives a much quicker on/off, which I like. I think the issue with paddles really depends on the quality though.
@@mercMADCommando With what I do, two hand operation would take me at least four times longer to accomplish the task at hand. I don't have that much time to waste. Edited for spelling correction.
That is fair. With sanding disks or wire brushes I wouldn't be as concerned but with cutoff wheels and to a lesser extent grinding disks, it's just a no-go for me.
Yes, like to see a video about using the angle grinder in a vise. I have the same model.
Be careful where the sparks go. I once caught a trash can full full of debris on fire while beveling a 6" pipe.
Once I destroyed a computer monitor with sparks coming off an angle grinder. Who knew them tubes had a plastic coating on them?
I've ruined many t-shirts with the many fairy sparkles from my weld-corrector
Ok. Saw this video early this morning and Amazon put this DeWalt in my hands a couple hours ago and I LOVE IT! That switch is PERFECTION.
You might have mentioned that in addition to the hazzard of wheels flying apart, you can also cut into flesh very quickly with one.
I've seen 4 cut tendons in the last month from them. Sometimes severe disability to the arms /hands. Grinders deserve extreme respect
Of all the cuts and bruises I have given myself over my long career ... the angle grinder has been the number 1 enemy !
They don't take prisoners.
This Dewalt gave me 7 stitches,if it weren’t for the paddle it may have been more
I have two of these and they’re great. I also have a 7 amp one I bought almost 20 years ago, and it’s still working very well.
@ 12:23 "Have I broken it?"
No, DeWalt just couldn't conceive of a case where you would have the portion of the grinding wheel closest to your trigger hand exposed.
I’m getting good use out of my grinder - I’m a retired DIY guy who can’t justify the expense of having three of the same tool. I can see how professionals or well-off frequent users can benefit from redundancy, but for me one is enough and I don’t mind changing wheels. Because it sure beats not having a grinder at all and I can afford it. Thanks for the overview and perspective!
Can't wait for someone to develop a quick release head for the wheels. Never seen or heard of such a thing, just an idea. But it would have to be an ingenious design to not fail. Somebody take this idea and run with it please! Just give me a word of credit lol.
Something like this? th-cam.com/video/4IWCvtT9QoQ/w-d-xo.html
@@RememberTheSlapFilms Seen those, used those, Not much faster anyway. In fact if your spindle screw threads aren't all crapped out, you can much faster just give the disk a little hit in the right direction and it screws itself off almost by itself while with that contraption you have to unlock the nut first.
@@RememberTheSlapFilms Yes! That's pretty cool! I've never seen one. I like the simplicity, however I'm concerned about wether that gets it tight enough. When I put mine on with a wrench I really torque it down tight. Idk if maybe I'm getting it way tighter than necessary or not, I don't have years of experience yet with a grinder. However, I have yet to break anything getting it as tight as I do and have never had it come loose. Long story short, I'll just have to try this Milwaukee nut. Thanks!
You really only need the nut on the wheel to be hand tight as the way the grinder spins is the opposite of how the nut is screwed on so its tightening on itself. The only way for the nut to come off when in use would be if the grinder was running in the wrong direction which won't happen
I have used DeWalt grinders for years. After burning them up every 6 months, I tried out a metabo grinder. 4 years of daily use in a welding shop, it is still running strong.