I have 2 angle grinders, one with a slide switch, one with a paddle switch. After about 2 years, the one w/ the paddle started getting hard to get it to go. I discovered the paddle had bent so that when I squeezed it, it wasnt getting enough pressure on the switch to make it go. I used some wire & epoxy & reinforced the paddle& it has worked perfectly since. I like the paddle switch grinders a lot. I have one grinder setup w/ a metal cutoff blade, the other has a grinder on it. The "El Cheapo" grinder disks at Harbor Freight arent very good, wear oput fast & sling all kinds of junk as they disintegrate. I use Norton or some other name brand for the cut off disks & grinders.


The el cheapo DVM for $1.99, I have one, along with one Ive had for almost 20 years I got @ Radio Shack. Its good to have one you can toss around.


The flashlight is a good light, & its really free.

Quote:
The "El Cheapo" grinder disks at Harbor Freight arent very good, wear oput fast & sling all kinds of junk as they disintegrate.
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This is very true, and I believe this is one place where the law should set standards. Those wheels can hurt you !

Ive never had one break, they just wear so fast they are a steady stream of tiny bits. They are `rated to a certain RPM. Yea, they can break. People shouldnt use one if its chipped or if its been dropped hard.
The cheap grinders are pretty dependable. Maybe not Makita dependable, but, they cheap enough & dependable enough for the hobbyist. If I was a welder, making a living welding, I wouldnt have the HF grinder. For my needs & my pocketbook, I call HF a good place to shop.

I've been using HF grinders and air tools for years. Think of it like this,
Tht is about the same price you would pay to rent one for a day and it is brand new.  I ave also noticed that if I loan one out it always comes back where'as my makita never was returned and a month later the guy moved away.
I once paid 80 bucks for an Ingersol Rand 90 degree air grinder. It crapped the bed on the second use.  Chicago Pneumatics ( the brand HF) sells will last for years if you lube them properly.
another affordable brand is Grizzley or Enco. I have purchased lathes and milling machines from them. No complaints.

Phelonius

Phelonius

hmmmmm ....  

slogans vs the words of those who have used the stuff  ....




$99.99 Makita vs $9.99 Makita rip off

oh, what to do?  what to do?

oh, what to do with the other $90

that I didn't have to spend

to get the same look-pretty-much-alike

(but maybe not perform exactly alike)

4 1/2" grinder

for what I saved I can buy a $79.99 compound miter saw


(I always wanted me one of those)


oh, what to do, what to do?

Ive got a 200$ bosch hammer drill that burned up after 1 USE.  They would not refund it or fix it or anything. I tried a HF hammerdrill and have had no problem with it after 2 years of hard abuse.

I Buy their cut off wheels cause I cant see spending 5 bucks on one thats gonna last a few minutes anyway.

Ive used the angle grinders but never owned one. Ive got a Hilti, 2 Bosch's, and 2 Makita's  and the only trouble I have had out of them is the cords wearing out.

Most of the HF stuff is crap, but some stuff works well.