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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2001
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    Default New Makita Angle Grinder - Paralised by choice

    Hi All,

    I'm in the market for a new small corded angle grinder after the recent death of an old 4 inch Dewalt. I have a 9 inch Makita so really just need something smaller and easier to move around. Its only for garage use so corded would be the preference. Very basic grinding and cutting tasks. I do use the Arbortec attachments - cutting wheel and sander.

    Anyway I thought it would be a simple matter of selecting the size and being done with it. I am amazed looking at the Makita that there are so many different models - I guess there are exclusive models for different retailers with very similar specs. The compare function of their website sheds little light on the differences to make it useless. I'm happy to spend up to the $130 range and would be looking at the 5 inch simply as I found the wheels didn't last all that long with the 4 inch.

    For those with experience of the Arbortec is the 5 inch "nimble" enough or should I go with the 4 inch?

    Could anybody shed some light onto the differences.

    Cheers

    Stinky.
    Now proudly sponsored by Binford Tools. Be sure to check out the Binford 6100 - available now at any good tool retailer.

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    251

    Default

    115 mm - 4 1/2” is the sweet spot IMHO. Small enough to handle but very common / most common size wheel. Not much ever goes wrong with grinders of reputable brands so get what looks comfortable. Check that the trigger is easy to switch on and off with your thumb - that’s about it I reckon. I’m not sure if you can still get them but I have a replacement disc boss/ nut that you can put on and off by finger tightening which saves messing round with keys.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  4. #3
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Woodstock (Cowra)
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    74
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    3,369

    Default

    I have had Makita, Ryobi and Bosch, Bosch leaves the others for dead, comfy, easy one handed on off
    The person who never made a mistake never made anything

    Cheers
    Ray

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    27,741

    Default

    I have a Makita 100mm, 3 Bosch (2 green and one blue) 125mm, an old Ozito 125mm, and a dedicated arbotech minigrinder.

    The 100mm Makita permanently holds a Industrial Arbortech Woodcarver blade and sure is nice and ergonomic to use with it. The one drawback it has is that when used for long periods, wood chips can occasionally jam the switch in the open position. From memory this Arbortech wheel will not fit on a 125mm grinder but it will fit on a 115mm grinder,

    Power wise the Blue Bosch is the gruntiest and it usually holds a flap sanding wheel or thin kerf metal cutoff wheel. !25 mm wheels are better than the smaller wheels because the thin kerf blades have that bit more reach but the grinder itself is still manageable. The other wheels I use regularly are wire brush, stripit discs and a diamond coated cutting wheel.

    The Ozito has the most vibration of all but despite being treated like dirt for 16 years I have not been able to kill it.

    My next one will be a Makita, brushless battery model. Its quite expensive but I already have the Makita batteries and was really impressed at how well the battery held up when I borrowed one to use on a site without any power.

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
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    Sutherland Shire, Sydney
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    71
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    1,301

    Default

    The switch position and general 'fit' in your hand are the main factors. A 'soft start' grinder would be a must have for me if I were in your position of replacing a grinder. Not all of them come with a side handle, something else to look out for, especially when using an Arbortech disc.

    Alan...

  7. #6
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Gold Coast
    Age
    70
    Posts
    2,729

    Default

    Nobody seems to have mentioned the arbor size. I think the 100 is 16mm and the larger ones are 22mm. When I was doing a bit of paving I found I could swap the worn down discs from my 9" GMC onto my 115mm ozito and keep going until the disc was really worn out. I previously had a B&D 100mm which wasn't really useful when trying to cut pavers. 20 years later the Ozito has almost died and I recently bought a Bosch blue 125 one from Bunnings which is nice and small in the hand, but the guard needs a tool to change position. I was able to swivel the Ozito guard around by hand which I found useful on many occasions.
    Franklin

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Leopold, Victoria
    Age
    65
    Posts
    4,677

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Uncle Al View Post
    A 'soft start' grinder would be a must have for me if I were in your position of replacing a grinder. Not all of them come with a side handle, something else to look out for, especially when using an Arbortech disc.

    Alan...
    Are you sure about the side handle Al? I would have thought they were mandatory.
    Soft start is a good feature though.
    Dallas

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2018
    Location
    Nsw
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    I have 4 or 5 grinders including a Makita battery one. I can’t help you with the arbortech side of things but the 4 inch are too small for other things and stay in the cupboard the most 115 or 125 are much better to use
    a 125 1mm blade still fits in a 115 grinder with the guard on. Brand I don’t think is as important as finding one that is comfortable to use

  10. #9
    FenceFurniture's Avatar
    FenceFurniture is offline The prize lies beneath - hidden in full view
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    Quote Originally Posted by BobL View Post
    My next one will be a Makita, brushless battery model. Its quite expensive but I already have the Makita batteries and was really impressed at how well the battery held up when I borrowed one to use on a site without any power.
    Which model is that Bob? I have a Makita BGA452 cordless, but it is gutless really. Far too easy to make it stall (but I really like cordless cutting tools - having cut the lead on a circ saw about 35 years ago....)
    Regards, FenceFurniture

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  11. #10
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    Feb 2006
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    Perth
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    Quote Originally Posted by FenceFurniture View Post
    Which model is that Bob? I have a Makita BGA452 cordless, but it is gutless really. Far too easy to make it stall (but I really like cordless cutting tools - having cut the lead on a circ saw about 35 years ago....)
    I think you might mean a DGA452 which is a 115mm machine. The one I was using was a DGA508 brushless and it's double the price of the 452.

  12. #11
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    Def BGA but that may have been because it was part of a Kit.

    Maybe there's been a change and I need to search again, but it's really aggravating that power and torque specs never seem to be available for (almost all?) cordless machines.
    Regards, FenceFurniture

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  13. #12
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    Feb 2006
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    Perth
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    Quote Originally Posted by FenceFurniture View Post
    Def BGA but that may have been because it was part of a Kit.

    Maybe there's been a change and I need to search again, but it's really aggravating that power and torque specs never seem to be available for (almost all?) cordless machines.
    Yep that will be a kit.

    I could measure the Power and Torque on my home made HP rig. I'd have to find a way of hold the tools down and make up some 125mm flywheels to mount on the tool spindles.

  14. #13
    FenceFurniture's Avatar
    FenceFurniture is offline The prize lies beneath - hidden in full view
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    Don't worry (unless you want to). It wouldn't be able to be compared.
    Regards, FenceFurniture

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  15. #14
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    Apr 2018
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    Default

    The big win with the cordless is the versatility but they don’t have the power of a corded unit
    Mine gets a lot of use with 1mm cutoff wheels but if using a flap disk or cutting a lot of steel the corded unit comes out.
    Personally I think you are better getting a corded unit and a battery one as a second unit if you wanted one.
    You should have no trouble finding a 5 or 6 inch brand name one for around $100

  16. #15
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    Sep 2010
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    Port Sorell, Tasmania
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Sir Stinkalot View Post
    Hi All,

    I'm in the market for a new small corded angle grinder after the recent death of an old 4 inch Dewalt. I have a 9 inch Makita so really just need something smaller and easier to move around. Its only for garage use so corded would be the preference. Very basic grinding and cutting tasks. I do use the Arbortec attachments - cutting wheel and sander.

    Anyway I thought it would be a simple matter of selecting the size and being done with it. I am amazed looking at the Makita that there are so many different models - I guess there are exclusive models for different retailers with very similar specs. The compare function of their website sheds little light on the differences to make it useless. I'm happy to spend up to the $130 range and would be looking at the 5 inch simply as I found the wheels didn't last all that long with the 4 inch.

    For those with experience of the Arbortec is the 5 inch "nimble" enough or should I go with the 4 inch?

    Could anybody shed some light onto the differences.

    Cheers

    Stinky.
    Greetings brave knight.
    I purchased a 5 inch makita (GA5020 I think) about 12 months ago and like it very much. It is the same design as the large grinders with a handle out the back with a trigger type switch on it. Its bulkier and heavier than a 4 inch but is way better to use for heavier jobs. Out of interest I tried my Arbotec wheel on it today and it does fit. There is a plastic bush to use with the 4 inch grinder. The extra weight would probably be significant for work requiring a light touch such as the Arbotec but it comes into its own for slightly tougher jobs.

    Tony
    You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have. ~Oscar Wilde

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