Best Angle Grinders
Metabo WEB 15-125 Quick
Best Grinder on market WEV 10-125 Quick – Wow This is one of the best grinders on the market, I have used Hitachi,Makita ,Dewalt etc for over 20 years but this Metabo thing just keeps going… Read more
and going. I have been through at least 4 sets of brushes in this grinder, I use it day in day out for about 4 hours a day , I thought it would have burnt out months ago but it has a temperature protection circuit that shuts it down to stop it getting burnt out from overheating, best thing ever that was put into a grinder as all the other brands just won't cop hard punishment.
You can buy this brand with confidence, yeah it is double the price of the China junk but you will get more than double your moneys worth at least.
Ozito AGS4050
Very good just noisy – Great units bought 2 from bunnies , use them both often one grinder and one for cut off wheel lead maybe a bit short minor issue I guess under some circumstances Show details
Best Grinder I have ever Used! – One of the Best professional Angle Grinders I have ever used. German made...I am a welder by trade so have tried many Angle grinders and this one… Read more
beats them all hands down. It has a huge cutting depth like a large angle grinder with dia of 230 mm; has got very little kick back compared to other grinders and very slim design, fits perfectly in hand. Very fast brake system. Long battery life 3 yrs battery warranty. One of my best investments. Overall would not use any other grinder apart from Metabo.
Festool AGC 18V Cordless Angle Grinder
Worth having in your tool kit – Can't fault the tool, but only had 14 cuts into a paving brick before the battery had to be recharged. I was lucky that's all I needed to do, will just have to get more batteries. Show details
Ryobi 125mm angle grinder EAG1518GSP – Is a reasonable 125mm for the money and with 4 years warranty, I find the this Ryobi 125mm grinder is not as good as my Makita 5" which can be easily… Read more
used one handed where needed. Also the guard clamp protrudes to far out not allowing to use full disc.
metabo average – Good strong working power but inferior bearings ( no sealed bearings just o ring to keep dust out which perish with heat) and very bad service in… Read more
South Africa and spares too expensive to consider repairs.This was not on a grinder but on the rotary hammer drill KHE 2851 i am very disapointed and will rather go for another brand in future
Makita GA5030KX
makita GA5030 720w grinder – from new the locking mechanism was hard to engage so i could remove the disks it was like playing russian roulette will it work or not , it was… Read more
returned to makita to be inspected and repaired it came back only slightly better and not long after the locking device completely jammed, worst makita grinder ive ever owned .
Great buy – The 18v grinder comes with a 18v/36v battery and a charger all ($179 delivered) for less than the price of a battery. The grinder has plenty of… Read more
grunt for cutting (haven't used it for grinding or sanding). Being a brushed motor it's a fair bit noisier than the 36v brushless I already owned. Because the battery is both 18v and 36v I can use it with all my other Hikoki cordless tools.
Ryobi 18V One+ RAG18X
Very good for a cordless grinder – This version (bought late 2022) is great!!...Stay on switch makes using it easy. Quick change blade nut....with spanner inside the handle if needed.… Read more
Also a revolutionary click..move guard!!...this is new to me. Never seen it on any of the European and USA models!....you just press down on a button and swivel the guard to a better position....its easy. Battery life, like all these big tools isnt the greatest!!...but to have it on call for a quick cut....is great. I never had a stoppages or cut outs and I've cut tiles, reo bar, cement board. I would recommend this version. I'll never buy an expensive European cordless again!
Bosch GWS 12V-76 Professional
Small angle grinder for difficult situations – I bought a few other tools to replace very old 18v gear down sizing to 10.8 volts. Then later I needed an angle grinder. I was a bit suspicious that… Read more
this tiny angle grinder would perform due to it's size. Since I had bought a few other tools and was impressed how good these 10.8v tools were compared to 18v from a decade or more earlier, I thought I would give it a go.
The angle grinder was great for cleaning back archbars overhead. Just so much easier on the arms! Also being so small getting into corners was a bonus. Due to its light weight and no kickback (I have a 2000w beast) you can precisely guide the grinder. I still have more archbars to do, but in the meantime have cut threaded M6 stainless rod and cut a few other parts. It is not quick, but for its size it is very impressive, and this is the key point, its size! I have had it for over a year and would be happy to buy another one if I lost it. Discs come in a pack of 5, so if you have days of work get a couple of packs. Additionally the other cutting disc that came with the tool has been handy as well.
Batteries, at the time I bought the 2.5AH batteries as they were the largest capacity available, anything smaller I was simply not interested in. The 2.5AH don't have a enough capacity for a worthwhile length of time and due to the small size they sort of run out of steam. Soon after the 4.0AH became available, the larger capacity makes all the difference and I bought 4 of them. A vast improvement, much better than the additional 1.5AH capacity would suggest. If I didn't have so many I would now buy the newly available 6.0AH.
If you need to get in and knock off jobs quickly this is not the right tool, but if the job requires precision and or saving your arms in difficult positions then I think you will be pleasantly surprised how good the tool is. Get the 6.0AH battery, don't muck about with the smaller capacity batteries.
The various manufacturers are renaming all the 10.8v tools as 12v, it is the same thing, they still have 3 batteries in series. I just wish they left it as 10.8v as this is the usable battery voltage, it's NOT 12 volts, just marketing BS!
Dewalt 54V XR Flexvolt 125mm DCG414N-XJ
A powerful and versatile grinder – I bought this saw as part of a five piece kit in June 2020, when I finally decided on DeWalt as the tool brand I would buy into, after some research… Read more
and asking various friends. In hindsight I think I made the right decision, and I wish I’d taken the plunge into the DeWalt cordless tools sooner!
This angle grinder was a significant upgrade from a corded Ozito model that someone gave me. An angle grinder is a handy tool for a range of applications. I’ve used mine for grinding metal, cutting metal, brushing metal with a wire brush and sanding and shaping wood with a flap-disc. I can’t fault the performance. The grinder has plenty of power and seems to be of quality construction. It’s also pretty light-weight, maneuverable and comfortable to hold. Battery life isn’t amazing, but seems reasonable - it’s just the nature of a high-powered tool. From memory I was getting about ten to fifteen minutes on a 6 Ah battery while running it constantly with a wire brush. It’s neat that the grinder has a brake to stop the disc quickly when you release the trigger. The adjustable guard and ability to attach the handle either side is also neat.
There’s just a few niggles I’ve found with the tool. Firstly, sometimes the clamp nut which holds the disc in place is a little tight to undo by hand, though this could be to do with me gumming up or wearing down the grip on the nut. At any rate, I sometimes need to reach for the multi-grips to undo it. Still, I can usually unscrew it by hand, which makes for much quicker disc change-overs than Ozito which requires a wrench.
Secondly, the spindle lock button on my grinder is difficult to press. I usually need to gradually rotate the spindle to find a spot where the button can be depressed and lock the spindle. I’m not sure if this is due to poor technique on my part, a design flaw, or a manufacturing fault in my tool. Nonetheless, it’s only a minor issue on what I’ve found to be a well-made high-quality and powerful grinder.
GMC NLE50AG
Excellent – Very solid angle grinder, you should buy one if you are always cuting up metal to use for any job. I love the amount of RPM this angle grinder has,… Read more
the faster the better, but u need to be in control when using this grinder because it tends to move alot when cuting metals, i also like the fact that it comes with a cary case and 50, thats right, 50 grinding and cutting discs. This angle grinder should be in most builers budget, i only paid a total of $30 for the set including the discs. nothing, this angle grinder is beautifull for any job, it even cuts through stainless steel with no problems.
Milwaukee AGV15-125XE
Milwaukee AGV 15-125 XE – This is a variable speed grinder. Great for delicate or heavy work. The speed for me is great. High Watts you have to be careful they don't spin to… Read more
fast. 11000 rpm is perfect down to a minimum of 2800. It is simply one of the best 125mm grinder out there. I love the snap lock guards. Adjustable in seconds. Length is important to. Don't want them to long that they restrict access. And cutter head height is nice and low for access.. Power is great at 1550 Watts. A market leader. Money well spent for a premium product.
Bosch GWS 6-100 Professional
This relatively cheap tool won't stop. I recently had to remove 20mm of bark and sapwood from a 1500mm long log. Just 1 of many jobs completed with this tool turning this log into the pictured didgeridoo
Metabo WEPBA 19-180
Best 7" inch angle Grinder – Best 7 inch Angle Grinder I have used so far. Very Powerful and has a lot of features such as paddle switch, 2 sec fast brake, Autobalancer, soft… Read more
start or restart protection, which is what you would expect for German Made tools. Its the lightest Angle Grinder in all the corded 7-inch grinder I have used compared to Makita, Bosh, Milwaukee 180 mm or even their 230 mm Grinders. Its has very good ergonomics and very good grip and handling for all metalworking jobs. It has a cutting depth of 60 mm which is what I used to get from my previous Makita 230 mm Angle Grinder. Metabo claims to get twice the service life on their Marathon-motor with new cooling and carbon brush system which I will have to test and see. But overall I would say the best quality in the 7-inch angle grinder range overall with features and handling.
Metabo 2400W 230mm Angle Grinder WE24230MVTQ
METABO WE24230MVTQ 2400W 230MM Angle Grinder. Great grinder! Loads of grunt! – I have a number of smaller 100mm and 125mm angle grinders I use routinely, but found I needed a much large grinder as I have some sheets of 40mm… Read more
thick hard steel plate I needed to cut up, and had already burnt out my old and trusty but small Ryobi grinder trying to cut it.
Metabo makes good tools so I settled on their 230mm grinder after looking at the various offerings around. I'm glad I went with this model as this is a really great grinder. It's amazingly powerful while still being easy to hold and control. I was able to cut up the slab into smaller sections cleanly and without any drift, all while using a single cutting disc.
Whereas some grinders have quite large and bulky heads, the sleek angled head on this unit also makes it easier to get into spots, very useful indeed. The grip is good, as is the balance. The motor also sounds reasonably smooth in use.
Having now used it extensively over the last year, overall I couldn't be happier with the performance, power and usability of this grinder!
Highly recommend it!
Ryobi 18V One+ R18AG4115
Ryobi angle grinder 18v – Ryobi 18v angle grinder lacks power I wouldn't trust it it cut a padlock off buy a rip-off makita for $40AUD 1/5 the price and dubble the duty cycle. Show details
Makita DGA505Z
Makita cordless bearing failure – ive used Makita tools most of my working life this is the first time ive had bearing failures first was the bottom bearing on the grinder now the needle roller in the impact gun has disintegrated very disappointed Show details
Good – I would recommend this grinder, I have used them alot in trade use and they very rarely fail. Besides the switch and heat issue there biggest con is… Read more
probably there price but there build quality is one of the best. A quality built grinder that isn't to big but more than powerful enough for trade use, the clutch adds a bit of safety for the user, They tend to get hotter than other grinders which doesn't seem to affect the performance but they eventually get to hot to hold, the top mounted switch can be hard to reach in some positions,
Thought that this had a plunge capability, but it doesn’t and I really will need to work out how to use it for my application but up to the usual Festool good standards and quality
Ryobi RAG80125-S
Not very user frendly – Main issues I have with this grinder is the clunky operation button that you have to push down flat and requires excessive force to operate. The… Read more
reason I bought this was to use to cutoff, unfortunately the lever lock on the guard protudes into half the radius of the disc, thereby giving you even less cut than a 100mm grinder. This is an absolutely absurd design and comparing it with the Bosch 100mm grinder I already had it's pretty much useless. The clearance at BDC of guard is 24mm of cutting disc, what a joke. This will be going back to Bunnings.
Just a piece of Junk – Purchased a Rockwell RD2923.9 18v 115mm Angle Grinder from the local Home Hardware store and it kept stopping all the time. I purchased another… Read more
battery so I could keep using it but guess what?.... Yes that was the same, so I put it down to being a faulty grinder, rang Rockwell and was told to take it all back to store for replacement. Local store replaced the whole lot and I used it today (26/11/2020) and it's no better. Both Batteries were fully charged before using it and it still stops after around one minute of use. This is NOT satisfactory and I think all items that do not operate as they should, should not be allowed to be sold to the Australian Public. Will I purchase another Rockwell product ? ..... Answer is very clear ..... NO.
What is an angle grinder?
An angle grinder owes its name to a cutting head that’s positioned at a 90-degree angle to the drive shaft. It works using a rotating disc that’s usually around 4-5.5 inches in diameter, though some can be larger. This disc spins at high speeds to perform a variety of metalwork and masonry jobs.
What can you do with an angle grinder?
You can do plenty with an angle grinder. While its primary purpose is grinding, other angle grinder uses include cutting, polishing, finishing, deburring, stripping and sanding. Thanks to the ability to swap out different attachments to go in the cutting head, you’re able to use one versatile tool for a wide range of jobs.
These jobs include, but aren’t limited to: cutting and grinding metals - like cutting through PVC pipe and steel sections, polishing metals, cutting concrete, bricks and tiles, scoring tiles, removing paint, and removing rust from steel.
Can you cut wood with an angle grinder?
Angle grinders are best suited to working with hard materials, like metal, stone and concrete. While an angle grinder can cut wood because wood is a soft material, there are more suitable power tools for cutting wood. These include circular saws. There is also less potential for kickback using a circular saw, as it’s made for woodworking.
However, you may be set on using your angle grinder for woodwork if you don’t want to shell out on two separate tools. In this case, your angle grinder will need a special disc for cutting wood, such as a wood carving disc. It also requires a specific cutting technique and cutting angle for you to apply, in order to work with wood effectively and safely.
Types of Angle Grinders
Electric angle grinders
These are corded angle grinders that have a power rating measured in watts. You’ll need access to a power supply in your home garage or on your worksite to be able to operate this kind of angle grinder.
They’re typically lighter than cordless models, as they won’t be weighed down by a battery. However, you will have a wire trailing behind you, which may get in the way for certain projects.
Battery-powered angle grinders
An angle grinder that’s cordless is a better option if you don’t always have access to a power outlet. These are portable and convenient, making them an attractive option if you’re constantly going to different worksites, where access to electricity is not always guaranteed.
While cordless angle grinders were once considered less powerful than their corded counterparts, this is no longer the case. Innovations in technology like the use of brushless motors and lithium-ion batteries contribute to a significantly longer runtime for battery-powered grinders, without a loss of power.
Pneumatic grinders
Also known as air tool grinders, pneumatic grinders are the least common of the three grinder types. They work using an air compressor, by setting the power to the right PSI and letting the power build up until the tool is ready to use.
Pneumatic grinders provide an impressive power-to-weight ratio - they are lightweight without compromising on power, and often have a high power output.
Angle grinder attachments
Cutting discs
Also known as cut-off wheels or cutting wheels, these are thin angle grinder discs made from an abrasive material bonded with resins and a fibreglass reinforcing net, to make them harder than the metal you’re cutting.
Here are some of the most popular types of metal abrasives used in cutting discs, for the purpose of abrasive cutting.
- Zirconia: This is often considered the best go-to abrasive to cut metal and steel with, and can be used for medium to coarse applications.
- Silicon carbide: This has a sharp grain with a medium toughness, and can be used for cutting soft, non-ferrous metals like aluminium and copper.
- Aluminium oxide: This softer metal can be used for cutting harder metals like stainless steel and bronze alloys, as well as softer materials like brass.
- Diamond blades: These have an abrasive diamond grit on the outside of a metal cutting wheel. They’re considered longwearing, and are suited to cutting concrete, granite and tiles.
Don’t use a cut-off wheel for anything other than cutting. They don’t have the strength for side grinding or deburring. The wheel can break when the material you’re working with cuts the reinforcing fibreglass.
A safety warning about thin cutting wheels
These can be dangerous If they’re not attached securely enough to the spindle, or the safety guard is not properly positioned at the correct angle. When thin cutting wheels spin at incredibly high speeds, they can fly off the spindle, shatter and turn into sharp metal projectiles that can badly injure you or anyone else nearby.
As well as making sure the wheel is securely locked into place, a steady hand and skill is needed to ensure a thin cutting wheel doesn’t become dislodged if you lose your balance or accidentally twitch while using the grinder.
Grinding discs
A grinding wheel is typically thicker than a cutting disc. A grinding wheel has thousands of abrasive grains on it, distributed over the surface over the wheel to efficiently move over material for stock removal tasks.
A grinding wheel can be used for tasks like weld grinding, pipe notching, cleaning cuts made with a cutting wheel, and bevelling.
Sanding attachments
These are suitable for high-powered sanding tasks using an angle grinder. They include sanding discs - suitable for sanding wood and other fine to coarse sanding tasks; and flap discs - which are suitable for sanding metal.
Wire brush wheels
These highly abrasive attachments are suitable for removing rust, paint or burrs from roughly cut metal surfaces. Thick, twisted bristles are best for fast removal of paint and rust.
Other factors to consider when buying an angle grinder
Size
Wheel diameter
Angle grinders are classified by the size of a grinding wheel that can fit inside it. They’re available in sizes ranging from 2 inches to 9 inches, however the most common sizes are 115mm (4.5 inches) and 125mm (5 inches).
The size of the angle grinder you choose depends on your purposes. Anything smaller than 230mm (9 inches) should be more than up-to-scratch for DIY tasks and anything other than large-scale cutting or grinding projects or construction work.
For these, a 9-inch grinder will have the cutting depths you require (working with a thick disc 1.6-2.5mm). They will generally offer more power - but may operate at a lower speed/RPM. However, 9-inch grinders may be banned at some worksites, as they can cause injury and even death due to the extreme kickback. A high level of skill and experience are needed to safely operate them.
Arbor diameter
Also make sure your grinder attachments have a centre hole that will fit into the arbor/ hole of your grinder’s spindle.
Power
An angle grinder’s power is measured by wattage, amp rating, and - for cordless grinders - voltage.
Wattage
This can be between 900W - 2, 400 W. The higher the wattage, the more suitable a grinder is for heavy-duty jobs and the more it can maintain a higher speed under load.
Amps
Most grinder tools have 5-9 amps of current. Smaller angle grinders used for more lightweight jobs may have 3-4 amps, while powerful grinders can have up to 15 amps.
Voltage
- For corded angle grinders: the voltage can be either 110V or 240V. There isn’t much difference between them, except that 110V is considered a safer type of electricity that reduces the risk of electric shocks. 240V should be compatible with the power supply/ breaker you’re using, or it could overload the circuit.
- For cordless grinders: Voltage can range from 18V - 36V. The 18V is sufficient for projects at home, but if you’re using a grinder for industrial purposes, the higher the voltage the better.
Speed
Speed is measured by manufacturers as RPM, or revolutions per minute. This refers to how many times a wheel turns in a minute without an attachment fitted to it - a ‘no-load speed.’
As a point of note, a larger grinder may have a slower RPM than a smaller one, because it is heavier. However, in terms of overall force/torque the larger angle grinder will still have more power.
Check that the RPM of the grinder is suitable for the task you’re doing. For example, with grinding tasks, you need an RPM of 5 - 8, 000 RPM.
Comfort Level
Ergonomically friendly tools are much more comfortable to use. Comfort is an important factor if you’re using an angle grinder for heavy-duty tasks or large-scale projects. Feeling the weight of a potential angle grinder as well as how it physically feels in your hand before purchasing it can help, to avoid pain and injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome.
Price
You can easily nab an angle grinder for $100, with some as cheap as $30, making this an inexpensive power tool for all the versatility it offers.
However, since they have specific requirements in terms of the kind of attachments they can accommodate, it’s more important to check that a grinder you buy is suitable for the discs you need.
Is an angle grinder dangerous?
Yes, using an angle grinder can be dangerous. It’s a powerful tool, and with this comes a lot of noise, vibration and potential for kickback. If you’re using an angle grinder for cutting tasks, it can emit sparks, send debris flying around and overheat, all of which are potentially dangerous to the operator.
Here are some safety tips to help ensure the safe use of angle grinders.
Check the maximum RPM of your grinder and any attachment
Any wheel or disc you use will be marked with a maximum RPM (revolutions per minute). Make sure that the attachment’s maximum RPM is not lower than the maximum RPM of your angle grinder is capable of. Otherwise the grinder will spin too fast than the attachment can handle. This can can cause the wheel to fly off the spindle.
Always wear Personal Protective Equipment
Since an angle grinder gives off sparks and debris, wearing protective equipment is necessary to save yourself from very real injury. These include goggles, ear muffs, a dust mask and gloves.
Angle any sparks and debris away from you
While different applications and attachments require different angles that the grinder makes with the material, it’s always a good rule of thumb for safety to angle the grinder in a way that makes any sparks or debris fly away - rather than towards - your face and body.
Look for Safety Features
Here are some of the common safety features you should look for on an angle grinder:
- Kickback detection: Stops the grinder wheel from spinning if kickback is detected.
- Anti-restart: Prevents the grinder from starting up again once it’s been turned off.
- Two-stage trigger: Requires you to manually flick the safety switch off before powering up the grinder again, which adds an extra element of protection.
Avoid taking shortcuts
No matter how much of a rush you’re in, following proper safety procedures is a worthy use of your time. Always turn the grinder off before changing a battery or adding an extension cord. Once you’ve switched the grinder off, wait until the wheel has stopped spinning completely before placing it on a table, as even a slowly spinning wheel can do damage to items and can grab onto loose clothing.
The bottom line
Angle grinders are useful and versatile power tools to have in your metalwork or masonry arsenal. It's important to always make sure you have the right attachments for your angle grinder, and the right attachments for your workpiece. This not only leads to better work performance but also helps keep you safe.