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  1. #1
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    Default angle grinder - can cordless one be a long lasting workhorse

    Hey all.
    I have 3 big jobs for an angle grinder, but the site only has a small solar/battery power capacity. Enough to charge Li-ion batteries though.
    Are any current/new cordless angle grinders also grunty, long lasting workhorses?
    I hate waste, and refuse to buy throwaways.
    Have cordless grinders gone up enough in tech/quality to be a site workhorse that lasts a few years?

    Thanks for your comments, in advance
    Cheers,
    Clinton

    "Use your third eye" - Watson

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

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  3. #2
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    Brushless cordless are pretty good ie gutsy and have a long lasting battery life than non-brushless but they are not cheap.
    However my experience is that they are still not as gutsy as corded versions.

    [quotE]I have 3 big jobs for an angle grinder[QUOTE]
    It depends what you means but "big", so more detail is needed - grinding/cutting/time period you expect to run for
    If you expect to operate for some length of time you would need and extra 1 or maybe 2 batteries.

    I would only get a corded angle grinder if I wanted to be constantly mobile with it, ie had to take it to different places for short work session multiple times a day .

    By the time you factor all the above, the total cost will be about the same for a small genset and a $100 corded angle grinder.
    Then you can use ANY corded power tool with the genset.
    I usually take my corded Bosch angle grinders and a small gen set with me for mobile jobs ie nature playgrounds, which require maybe 1-2 days work.

  4. #3
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    I kind of agree with BobL, but I don't think I've met anyone doing site work who hasn't already invested in some cordless tools even if it's just a drill. If you're already invested in a battery system then adding a grinder skin isn't a big cost. If you're not, then there's a big cost.

    one of the main drivers behind the popularity of cordless tools is the OHS requirements of job sites and test and tag regulations. Tradies would rather be earning than having to have all their power tools, leads and rcd's tested every 3 months, carry around stands to lift leads out of walkways etc. It's extra expense and inconvenience. If you're using it commercially, then cordless is preferable. The pro tools are good enough to replace corded now.

    Im seeing a lot of tradies switching over to Dewalt Flexvolt for their power, the 54v grinder is as good as corded from what I've been told. The ability for the batteries to work with 18v and 54v tools helps. But any of the known brands work pretty good. My BIL was using a borrowed Hitachi 18v brushless building yards and stables on his property, cutting cattle rail to length with the grinder, and the runtime on a 5ah pack was pretty good. The only thing I noticed was the rpm is lower on cordless, no load speed is 8000rpm not 10,000 like my corded grinders.

    an alternative is air grinders run from a petrol compressor, but you need a pretty decent compressor for that.

  5. #4
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    I love my battery grinder and gets used 90% or the time but they don’t have the grunt and rpm of a corded version so it really comes down to what you are doing with it as to suitability between the two

  6. #5
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    i agree with Beardy. You need both. (Other than for occasional work).

  7. #6
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    What I have found is that I am more likely to pull out my (5" or 125mm) cordless angle grinder (or jigsaw if the job dictates) than get out the corded version.
    I notice that the fitter at work, in the workshop will also prefer the cordless tool over the corded version.
    Yes, the cordless version may not have quite the power of the corded, but if worked accordingly it will still get the job done. A large battery (4 or 5 Ah) will get the job done and if it is a larger job a spare and charger. The big plus is there is no cord to get damaged from the disc or hot metal. No cord to trip over or get caught under doors or material. No cord that will get damaged from wheels or objects falling on it, and no need to string the lead off the ground.

    So unless you are in a workshop, or have a lot of use for the angle grinder, cordless is the way to go.

  8. #7
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    When using cordless power tools you cant force them like corded tools so just let them work at their comfort load level and they will do the job admirably all day every day, also its surprising to not that blades last longer when not forced and you also think twice about what you are going to do because you hate the thought of running the battery flat before your finished and don't have anymore charged ones on hand. A lot of the latest smart batteries will shut down if you force them and they get hot, its a self preservation thing for the battery.
    The person who never made a mistake never made anything

    Cheers
    Ray

  9. #8
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    I too have had a cordless angle grinder for a number of years and it gets pulled out regularly for what I would call small jobs.

    For big jobs I'd go with a corded one, and given lack of mains power, a rented or borrowed generator

  10. #9
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    I have a Milwaukee 18v 125mm cordless grinder, paired with a 5ah battery. It cut 12 out of the 13 200mm cement/stone pavers, including finessing shavings and other ancillary cuts . . . I am happy with it.
    Pat
    Work is a necessary evil to be avoided. Mark Twain

  11. #10
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    Hey all.
    I let this run a while to see what options came up.
    So, from top to bottom...

    I only have solar and a battery bank, and I really don't want to run a generator. I don't want to put a high discharge load on the battery, or run a stupidly long cord length.
    I need to do rust removal on a 8x10' trailer, do rust removal on a heap of steel I got which is enough for the structure of the house and shed, and I intend to cut the steel to length with the grinder as I build. Plus general odd jobs, and grids and yards down the track.
    Handy jack - could you ask the fitter why they prefer the cordless, and if they had to upgrade personally, would the go cordless? I've a suspicion its because they think the cordless does the job, and they can't be bothered with the cord.

    The trend with other comments seems to be that the higher end range of brushless cordless, from a good brand, are workers, you just need to weigh up the power pack amps vs weight, and also consider recharge times. ?

    As always,
    Thank you for your valued input.
    Cheers,
    Clinton

    "Use your third eye" - Watson

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

  12. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by Clinton1 View Post
    I need to do rust removal on a 8x10' trailer, do rust removal on a heap of steel I got which is enough for the structure of the house and shed, and I intend to cut the steel to length with the grinder as I build. Plus general odd jobs, and grids and yards down the track.
    Those kinda jobs I'd rather be doing with a corded AG.

  13. #12
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    Metabo do a battery 9" grinder if you want to get really serious- https://www.metabo.com/us/enus/tools...e-grinder.html

  14. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by Clinton1 View Post
    Hey all.
    I let this run a while to see what options came up.
    So, from top to bottom...

    I only have solar and a battery bank, and I really don't want to run a generator. I don't want to put a high discharge load on the battery, or run a stupidly long cord length.
    I need to do rust removal on a 8x10' trailer, do rust removal on a heap of steel I got which is enough for the structure of the house and shed, and I intend to cut the steel to length with the grinder as I build. Plus general odd jobs, and grids and yards down the track.
    Handy jack - could you ask the fitter why they prefer the cordless, and if they had to upgrade personally, would the go cordless? I've a suspicion its because they think the cordless does the job, and they can't be bothered with the cord.

    The trend with other comments seems to be that the higher end range of brushless cordless, from a good brand, are workers, you just need to weigh up the power pack amps vs weight, and also consider recharge times. ?

    As always,
    Thank you for your valued input.
    Are you also planning on building a house and shed? From what you have described you want to do and only want to buy one tool I think it should have a lead on it and buy a cordless one as an add on if you can justify the outlay.
    Wont you be needing a generator to build the house anyway?

  15. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by Clinton1 View Post

    Handy jack - could you ask the fitter why they prefer the cordless, and if they had to upgrade personally, would the go cordless? I've a suspicion its because they think the cordless does the job, and they can't be bothered with the cord.
    Work has a 4" and 9" corded angle grinders. I bought the cordless as there was a job where there was no power outlet.
    For myself, I am probably using the cordless just because of the convenience of not running a cord and it will still do the job. You do need to be a bit more gentle or else it will cut out on overload. If you need to de-rust a trailer, depending on how bad it is, the run time may exceed a battery's charge so a second battery or meal brake for recharging will be required.

    Convenience without a cord is a big plus with most power tools. What tradie these days would use a corded drill (or driver) if they had the choice. Same with recip saws, jigsaws, etc etc.

  16. #15
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    Plus one for the Milwaukee 125mm M18 grinder,
    though as RWBUILD says you shouldn't drive a cordless tool like a corded tool....

    The general rule of thumb when I was at work was if using a grinder or hammer drill hard; run it load free for 30sec to a minute once the task is completed to help cool the windings.

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