Best Angle Grinders - Top Picks, Reviews & Complete Buying Guide

Angle Grinders: The Ultimate Buying Guide

Buying any tool can be troublesome and time consuming, and it is very important to devote enough attention to compare certain measurable parameters, such as performance, size, weight, and compatibility with accessories.

It is also very significant to get acquainted with its quality, durability, and handling and the best knowledge related to all these features can be gotten from the users who had both positive and negative experience with the exact tool.

So, we gathered all the information related to these factors so that you can be sure that you have chosen the best product.

What are the factors to be considered when purchasing an angle grinder?

If you have in mind that an angle grinder is a torque dependent machine, you will know that this rotational force a grinder can exert on the workpiece is a crucial for being able to do the task efficiently.

The unit which delivers more torque has more force, but that is not the only feature of an angle grinder which affects its capability.

Let us show you an example by comparing the Dewalt DWE402 and the Porter Cable PC60TPAG which both operate at a no-load speed of 11,000 rpm.

However, the Dewalt model runs on an 11 A motor and the Porter Cable runs on a 7 A motor.

We can conclude that the Dewalt produces more torque than the Porter Cable.

Prior to purchasing the angle grinder, we want to draw your attention to two points you must remember regarding torque, current rating, and rpm.

For the same current rating, the model with the lower speed would produce more torque.

For the same speed rating, if you have two angle grinders rated at 10,000 rpm, the one with higher current rating would produce more torque.

Additionally, you should look at some other important aspects of the motor and gear assembly besides these factors.

How to know which motor is a good one?

The majority of users who want to buy an angle grinder would not be familiar with the possible issues related to the motor design and mechanical power transmission.

Manufacturers are aware of this so they do not emphasize these features in specifications, but do their best to it improve their motor durability and efficiency.

We can mention Makita angle grinders which have rubber labyrinth rings designed to protect the motor and bearings from debris.

Additionally, the machines have a coat of zig-zag varnish that insulates the winding from particulate matter and the coils made of thick wires.

We also have to mention DEWALT’s trademark Dust Ejection System whose aim  is to increases the durability of the machine by ejecting dust and debris that enter the machine. I

These are the interesting or unique features about a machine’s motor or gear assembly that the manufacturer will definitely emphasize in specification.

If there is nothing said about the motor, you can assume that the mechanism is not good enough.

Overload protection is significant, especially when buying a cordless angle grinder.

What should I know about safety features?

Considering the fact that the angle grinder is one of the most dangerous power tools, you have to think about your safety.

If you use the tool frequently, the grinding wheel wears down and dust and debris fly off the workpiece and the grinding wheel.

It is not so important that it will make a mess in your workshop, but the fact is that those fragments come directly towards you and shrapnel can cause serious injury.

So, firstly you need to make sure you get a wheel guard which can be Type 1 and Type 27.

The difference between these two types is the following: Type 1 wheel guards are used in conjunction with grinding wheels and Type 27 wheels are used in conjunction with cut-off wheels.

Having an angle grinder with an adjustable wheel guard is a great advantage as many people remove it when they need to grind along awkward angles and you should never take the guard off.

What you should get is a machine that allows for tool-less guard adjustment.

What is lock-on and lock-off?

Firstly, we need to explain that lock-on is not the opposite of lock-off.

If that is the truth, every machine that had a lock-on would also have a lock-off.

However, a lock-on switch is there to be pressed when you want your machine to keep running without having to press the switch continuously and this is designed for long-duration tasks.

You have to pay attention to the fact that if you drop your machine while it is locked on, it will continue to work and that can cause a serious safety issue.

A lock-off switch is there to prevent an accidental start and if we take a look at the Dewalt DWE402’s paddle switch at the bottom of the handle you can notice that if you put it on top of something, it might trigger the switch and activate the machine and that is not what you want to happen.

That is when the lock-off mechanism comes into play.

What you need to do is to push the lock-off lever back before pressing the paddle switch or the machine will not start operating.

The type of switch is also thing to be considered and they can be paddle and slide switches.

Paddle switches are easier to use than slide switches as more fingers can be used to push the paddle down, while slide triggers can be pushed with your thumb which can be annoying.

I think I got it, what are my options?

Now, as you have read all the above mentioned facts about angle grinders, we can say that you are ready to decide which one is the best for you.

You can also look for other models not mentioned in our article, and what we suggest is to look for angle grinders produced by Makita, Dewalt, Black + Decker, Hitachi, and Bosch.

Conclusion

What you need to have in mind when buying an angle grinder is that it has to offer good power, be durable and safe to use.

If all these factors are satisfactory, you can be sure that you are not going to waste your money.

The high quality tools usually come at the higher price.

You should be ready to spend over $100 if you want to get a well-made tool.

Those with limiting budgets can find satisfactory tools at the price from $50 to $100.

Tools under $50 are low-end products on the market and not much should be expected from them.

When it comes to durability, you should not think that low cost products will last long, but you can still get a mid-range quality tool at the reasonable price.

However, your safety when using the tool is of the greatest importance and you should not make compromises regarding safety.

We can conclude that there is a he number of angle grinders on the market and since you are now equipped with the information on this guide, you can easily find the ideal angle grinder for your needs.

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