Buying an angle grinder

Post by **polo2k** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 7:15 pm

I find the performance pro from B&Q pretty abuse resistant, Ive had mine 18 months and used it "thououghly!" only now are the bushes starting the get a bit iffy. Quite night and fair amoint of grunt

Another tip is that most DIY places sell 115MM discs which is handy to know for sunday afternoon tinkering! lol

Post by **IaininTenbury** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 11:35 pm

I bought a Bosch one for work about 5-6 years ago and its still going strong. Had to rewire the cable once as it worked loose, and the springs gone on the switch so you have to be careful with it, but it gets serious use most days of the week... Think it cost about £55 - £60 Had other cheapies from time to time to save on tool changes and they've lasted between 1day and 6 months so yes you do get what you pay for...

Post by **paulhumphries** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 11:00 am

Makita make the SITE brand sold by screwfix.
I've got one of their cordless drills and other than colour / badges is same as Makita branded.
The SITE angle grinder is on offer -

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/76326/Pow ... inder-110V

Paul H

Post by **honda90** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 10:25 pm

Aldi have an offer on this Sunday for a 1020W Angle Grinder £18 with 3 year warranty http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/2867_9154.htm

Post by **bmcecosse** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 10:29 pm

The 'grinding kit' looks good too! http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/2867_9165.htm

Post by **IaininTenbury** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 11:22 pm

May try and get one of those grinders as a backup for the aged Bosch. Getting lazy again on tool changes, but it'll be worth its weight if and whe the other one packs in. The grinding set is less tempting, if you look around the cheap tool stalls at shows, the twisted wire brushes can be picked up for 3 for £5 and I've never really liked the flap wheels - too slow and not flexible enough for my taste.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 11:47 pm

I've used similar flap wheels - I found them excellent!

Post by **jonathon** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 8:35 am

Iain, not sure how many 1mm cutting dics you use, but we buy 100 at a time and a Bosch grinder comes with it free of charge.
I really like the laminated flap wheels, available in many usefull grades.Just bought some 4" fibre wheels, superb at paint removal and very hard wearing.

Post by **paulhumphries** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 8:58 am

IaininTenbury wrote:May try and get one of those grinders as a backup for the aged Bosch.

After spending just under £100 many years ago on a Bosch angle grinder only to have the spindle locking mechanism break just out of guarantee I decided to try the cheap (£10) ones available.
Not as smooth as the Bosch but not as bad as you'd expect. If you buy from the German supermarkets you normally get a 3 year "no quibble" guarantee. I've rang to say an item is faulty only to have a brand new one delivered next day after they have received a copy of the original receipt.
I tend to have several around with grinding, cutting, wire bush and sanding discs to save having to keep on changing over. There is always at least one brand new and boxed sitting on the shelf ready for when one dies.
I only use them for DIY but find 10 x cheap from Aldi, Lidl or Netto at £9.99 ( had good service - couple of years, out of one costing £6.99 from Screwfix clearance) better value (for me) than one Bosch at £100.
To be fair though my old Bosch is over 15 years old and other then spindle lock still works find - as does a 30 year old 4" B&D.

Paul H.

Post by **IaininTenbury** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 9:02 am

jonathon wrote:Iain, not sure how many 1mm cutting dics you use, but we buy 100 at a time and a Bosch grinder comes with it free of charge.

That sounds pretty good, I get through loads of those. Where do you get that deal from?

jonathon wrote: I really like the laminated flap wheels, available in many usefull grades.Just bought some 4" fibre wheels, superb at paint removal and very hard wearing.

I've always used flat fibre abrasive discs on a flexible backing pad - very good for going round the contours of a panel as it conforms to the shape - say two parts of a wing thats been welded together. I use 36 grit for paint removal and smoothing off mig welds, and 60 grit for finer panel prep and smoothing a gas welded seam out. Just personal preferance really, its what was used at both panel making companies I've worked for in the past so its just what I'm used to.

Post by **jonathon** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 1:31 pm

Iain, we use a local industrial tool supplier Grange GTI 01789 731741.
The discs are 114mmx1mm Classic cutting discs and the free grinder is Bosch GWS8-115 240V.
I'll look out an invoivce for the trade price.

Post by **MacQuigley** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 6:45 pm

In the last 10 years, Ive gone through 5 angle grinders. The shortest lived was a Bosch and the longest Homebase's own. They all have been well used on a Minor and 2 land rovers and many other things from cutting slabs to 10mm plate steel.

Im still using the Homebase one and a B&Q one which I bought 2 years ago for £30 including 50 disks!

Generally I work on the principle you get what you pay for but in the case of power tools I make an exception.

And just to add to that £30 for a Homebase's own brand 18v battery drilling machines (with 2 batteries) and you cant go wrong. My first finally gave up after 4 years (though the mistake I made was letting the wife use it for 1 job!). Bought a second almost identical machine so now I have 4 batteries but this time it comes with a 13mm 15 speed chuck.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 10:50 pm

Welcome to the Forum MacQ - you are about 5 miles from me !
I got an amazing bargain drilling machine from Aldi a few months ago - huge capacity, and didn't cost much at all! My two grinders were each ~ £10 - and both still going strong.

Post by **MacQuigley** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 12:49 pm

Thanks for the welcome. Im not absolutly new as I had a previous logon but thanks to a number of factors (work needing done on the house and the aqusition of 2 ex military Land Rovers) I dropped my Minor resteration and everything surounding it.

However, mainly thanks to the Land Rovers getting me interested in old cars again and meeting a lat at the Biggar show last year Ive finally started my resteration again after 9 years of a break!

Fortunatley most of the hard work is done so my angle grinder doesnt have anything to worry about (from the Moggie thats is! Its yet to see what Ive got planned for the Lightweight!!)

Need to get my MMOC membership up and running again.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 9:20 pm

Good - I'll look out for you at Biggar then this year!

Post by **IaininTenbury** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 9:07 am

jonathon wrote:Iain, we use a local industrial tool supplier Grange GTI 01789 731741.
The discs are 114mmx1mm Classic cutting discs and the free grinder is Bosch GWS8-115 240V.
I'll look out an invoivce for the trade price.

Thanks!

Post by **Phil-tq** » Thu May 14, 2009 9:28 am

First buy a pair of welding gauntlets. These are the heavy duty gloves that come past your wrists. Cheap as chips. Go to a welding supplier and pick up a welders head cap. These are cotton and protect your head from sparks. Get a nice snug fit.

Always hold with both hands - even a small grinder will kick like a 12 bore if it snags.

Full face mask and ear defenders. Look for a make called Oregon. made by Blount UK Ltd. Basically ear defenders with a clip on polycarb screen. Think they are designed for the guys that use industrial grass strimmers.

Might sound over the top but when you are on your back under the car with the floor pan 6 inches from your nose, getting covered in sparks, you'll understand why I use the above.

As far as grinders are concerned, I've always gone for Bosch. Plenty of repair places around if you need spares.

Post by **tingo** » Thu May 14, 2009 5:21 pm

Thanks for the advice on safety kit. I've bought a mid-range grinder for £25. I use gauntlets and ear defenders, but have just got a pair of safety goggles at the moment. I can see that a cap and face mask would be useful for working under the car so I will try to get them.

Post by **alainmoran** » Thu May 14, 2009 7:18 pm

Slightly off topic - but for removing the black gunky underseal I've found that GUNK (umm I think its called suds oil really - engine degreaser) brushed on and worked in, then wiped off with an old towel/sweatshirt works wonders ... you may have to do it a couple of times, but it's a LOT easier than trying to wire-brush it off.