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  1. #16
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    May 2004
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    Sth. Island, Oz.
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    I've been using cordless grinders for the past decade or so. They have varied wildly in usefulness from the utterly useless (Makita) to the brilliant (Bosch). Over time, their overall performance has improved but as yet I've never personally encountered any that truly approach the power, versatility, stamina & longevity of their mains powered equivalents.

    Only the very best cordless grinders are realistically worth considering as a possible substitute for a corded grinder. The new(ish) 36V/2 x 18V Metabo 230mm/9" & 7" grinders are worthy alternatives to their mains tools, but overall in mini-grinders just about any pro-grade mains grinder will run rings around even the best & most expensive cordless version. Unlike most of my cordless tools, which tend to be "cordless alliance" tools from Mafell, Metabo, Collomix & Rothenberger which share a common battery platform, I still personally prefer the simply superb Bosch mini-grinders (& the Bosch SDS hammers) despite utilizing a different & incompatible battery platform. The Bosch motor is no better or worse than Metabo's EC motor, but the Metabo's battery swivel mount tends to get loose & floppy over time & intensive use. The fixed Bosch battery mount stays rigid & firm over the tools' lifetime.

    Generally, any EC motored grinder will outperform any 2 or 4 pole cordless grinder in charge life and stalling performance. Nevertheless, those new ultra-thin cutting & grinding discs are better suited to the cordless grinders' lower torque characteristics. In my experience the newer EC cordless grinders from Bosch & Metabo have far superior stalling performance than the far Eastern manufacturers the likes of Hikoki, Milwaukee, Makita et. al. Generally, the Asian tools will be significantly cheaper, but the generally poor stalling & cutout performance of the Japanese manufacturers & abysmal service life of the Chinese Milwaukee "Fuel" EC motors makes their cost savings extremely dubious at best. Quality (as usual) costs a premium.

    Pleas note that I've personally only used pro-grade grinders as I used them professionally. Nevertheless, I doubt that the relative performance of hobby or DIY grade machines will differ greatly either.

    The cheapest, best performing & best "valued" grinders will just about always be mains powered.
    Sycophant to nobody!

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  3. #17
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Millmerran,QLD
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    My impression is that professional carpenters tend to use cordless tools for the simple reason that they don't have to get them tag and tested under many site requirements. This tends to work well with the likes of drill and drill drivers, the latter is just superb, but with other tools there is usually some sort of payoff. For example the cordless circular saws are of a small diameter and the blade is very thin to lessen the load. The angle grinder is a tool that is abused and frequently heavily loaded. I have to say that I have only limited use with a cordless grinder. I had several 14V Panasonic batteries for my drill and drill driver and decided to buy an angle grinder skin.

    This turned out to to be one of the worst buys I have ever made. I am a big fan of Panasonic, although I think in recent years the other manufacturers have caught up and are probably as good. Panasonic offered their angle grinder as a dual voltage machine in that it could run on either 14.4V or 18V: My batteries are 14.4V. I think I only have to look at it hard and the grinder stops. Maybe it would be different on the 18V battery.

    I would suggest that only the higher voltage cordless grinders would be successful for most tasks. In corded tools I have one 100mm Bosch grinder and two 125mm Bosch grinders. I can hardly fault any of them. One of the 125s is a lower powered machine ( 800W I think, but still a blue one) I bought for sanding the weatherboards on the house and I chose it because it was lighter and more suited to vertical work. The 100mm grinder (a green one) is for the same purpose but getting further into corners and other awkward spots. Neither have missed a beat. The other 125 (blue) is 1400W and I use it for heavy or protracted cutting. I particularly like the ease of rotating the guard, which is a factor frequently overlooked.

    I have other grinders, but find I don't use them much. The air powered grinder needs a better generator than I am using and the 7" and 9" machines I only grab for heavy grinding work.

    I think the work anticipated by Clinton would be best suited to corded machines.

    Regards
    Paul
    Bushmiller;

    "Power tends to corrupt. Absolute power corrupts, absolutely!"

  4. #18
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    South Africa
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    950

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    Quote Originally Posted by Bushmiller View Post
    My impression is that professional carpenters tend to use cordless tools for the simple reason that they don't have to get them tag and tested under many site requirements.
    I suspect that the other issue driving professional use is that of battery life. In my experience, the batteries don’t last indefinitely even when not being used, and if you’re a professional using it daily, you’ll get your money’s worth out of the system. For a part-time or amateur user, my grinder will stay in its box for months (or possibly even years) until I need it for something specific, and I suspect that if I’d bought a cordless one, the batteries would have died by now and it would be ready for scrapping, even though the grinder itself has been lightly used. My corded grinder on the other hand will carry on working perfectly for occasional jobs for the rest of my life. And because it’s not a primary tool for me, I don’t mind the hassle of having to drag an extension cord out on the times that I need it.

  5. #19
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
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    Sydney
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    I have a cheap gutless Makita cordless grinder. (Is this a 12 step program?)
    I wouldn’t dream of using it to replace a corded grinder but it makes a pretty decent replacement for hand tools. With a 1mm cutoff wheel instead of a hacksaw or cup wheel brush instead of a wire hand brush. For small jobs, the lighter and cordless grinder is much nicer tool than the corded. The significantly less torque makes it easier to cut a straight line in thin material.

  6. #20
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    3,095

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    Beardy, it may not be sensible, but I don't want a genny as part of the scene. The only real need for a genny is when I intend to get a welder in anyway. They'll have to deal with the genny issue, as I wouldn't be wanting a welder capable genny running just to support hand tools anyway.

    As usual, a range of considered responses, which is what makes this forum great. I'll cogitate for a while.
    Thank you all.
    Cheers,
    Clinton

    "Use your third eye" - Watson

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/clinton_findlay/

  7. #21
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
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    battery jobbies are used by burglars and thieves..great for removing locks....
    I would love to grow my own food, but I can not find bacon seeds

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