If you’re going to be doing metal work, wood carving, masonry, or vehicle fabrication, then you’ll need a power tool or two, one of them being an angle grinder. The choice of angle grinders depends mainly on its cutting or grinding performance and what wheel fits your needs and budget. Once the wheel meets the material, you need it to complete your task.
We’re going to take a look at corded, cordless and air angle grinders and help you find the best angle grinders in each category and decide which angle grinder is right for your project and your budget.
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Best Angle Grinder Categories
Best 4.5 inch Power (Corded) Angle Grinder
BOSCH 1375A Corded 4-1/2-Inch 6 Amp Angle Grinder
Our Pick
Pros:
compact size and lightweight at 3.5 pounds
powerful 6.0 amp motor produces 11,000 no load RPM
small field diameter for ease of use
ergonomic two position side handle
epoxy coated tool and a sealed power switch to protect from dust and metal debris
good longevity
affordable price
Cons:
cord can limit movement and relies on power source
one speed
Best 4.5 inch cordless angle grinder
Our Pick
DEWALT 20V MAX* Angle Grinder Tool, Tool Only (DCG413B)
Pros:
lightweight at 3.75 pounds
20 V motor
Kickback break stops grinder stops grinder quickly and powers off in event of bind-up or pinch
2 stage trigger for safety
brushless motor
9,000 RPM
portable and versatile for sites with no power
3 year warranty
Cons:
pricier than corded angle grinders- requires purchase of battery and charger separately
heavier than corded angle grinders
Best 7 inch/ 9 inch Power (Corded) Angle Grinder
Our Pick
DEWALT Angle Grinder Tool, 7-Inch/9-Inch, 5.3-Horsepower
Pros:
15 amp, 5.3 HP motor with 6.000 RPM has overload protection to deliver higher operating speeds under load
rotating rear handle and 5 position side handle
low profile for work in tight places
includes 7 inch and 9 inch guards
automatic shut down features
epoxy coated for protection from dust and metal debris
Cons:
heavy at 16.7 pounds
cord can limit movement and relies on power source
Best 7 inch/ 9 inch cordless angle grinder
Our Pick
Milwaukee 2785-20 M18 FUEL 7 in. / 9 in. Large Angle Grinder
Pros:
First angle grinder with 18 V brushless motor with 6,600 RPM
Battery powered while generating 15A corded power
7 inch or 9 inch grinding wheel
lighter than other large angle grinders
100% tool free accessory changes or guard adjustments
dual action trigger
Compatible with M18 battery system
Cons:
battery and charger cost extra
Best Air angle grinder
Our Pick
Air Angle Grinder with 4-Inch Wheel Capacity, Right Angle Die Grinder Tool for Grinding and Polishing Surface, 3/8-Inch-16 Spindle Thread, 14,000 RPM Grip Air Die Grinder SXJ100-90°
Pros:
light angle grinder at 3.75 pounds
Powerful 14,000 RPM motor
U- shaped cover for safety
adjustable rubber handle
safety trigger
includes tools for adjustments
less than $100
Cons:
smaller wheel capacity than other small angle grinders
- requires air compressor and power
Best Budget Power Angle Grinder
Our Pick
Angle Grinder 7.5-Amp 4-1/2 inch with 2 Grinding Wheels, 2 Cutting Wheels, Flap Disc and Auxiliary Handle AVID POWER (Red)
Pros:
7.5 amp motor with speeds up to 11,000 rpm
slim, lightweight design
2 position side handle
protective wheel guard and safety trigger
includes 2 x Metal grinding wheels, 2 x Cutting wheels, 1 x Flap discs
inexpensive
Cons:
on and off switch difficult to reach
noisier than other similar grinders
Best Budget Cordless angle grinder
Our Pick
Litheli 20V Cordless Angle Grinder, 4-1/2 Inch Cordless Grinder
Pros:
20V motor
3 position adjustable, anti-vibration handle
2 step start for safety
light weight at 3.5 lbs
fast heat dissipation
includes 4.0Ah battery and 1 hour fast charger (works with all Litheli 20V tools)
includes grinding and cutting guard, 5 grinding wheels and 5 cutting wheels
Cons:
lower RPM than other angle grinders at 8250 RPM
complaints that battery doesn’t last long
Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Angle Grinder
Below you can view the purchasing considerations that are important in your decision to choose the best angle grinder for any future project you need.
Angle Grinder Features
We’re going to look at common features of angle grinders and help you decide what features will work best for your project.
Power Source
Angle grinders are most commonly available in corded models or cordless models. You can also find a few pneumatic. angle grinders on the market.
Availability and convenience of power outlet access is something to consider. If you’re having to connect the power cord to multiple extension cords, you might consider going with a cordless option.
Also, the length of time you’ll be using the angle grinder is something to consider, as well. If you’ve got hours of grinding or cutting to do, a battery-powered angle grinder might not cut it, unless you have extra batteries charged and available. Battery life is important to consider when choosing the best angle grinder for you.
Angle Grinder Disc Size (Diameter)
You can find angle grinders with a disc size varying between 4″ to 9″ The larger the disk size the more depth the angle grinder will be able to cut through.
The disc size also corresponds with the weight, power output of the tool. and how long the discs will last. A 4.5 inch angle grinder will be lightweight and easier to handle. However, due to the increased revolutions per minute, the discs will wear out more quickly than the discs on a 7″ or 9″ angle grinder. Keep all of that in mind when choosing your angle grinder disc size.
Angle Grinder Disc Type
There are a variety of different disks available for your angle grinder. Some angle grinders include certain discs with them, while others require that you purchase them separately. You’ll need to decide what kind of disc or blade is required for your project.
Cut-off- discs
Thin discs used to cut metal. It’s important to get a well-made cut-off disc, as a cheap one might shatter if it is accidentally bent when using.
Grinding discs
Grinding discs are used for grinding metal or stone to smooth the materials. Much like sandpaper, they have a specific grit, with a lower number grit being a rougher material. The more course the grit, the more sparks it will create and the less smooth the material will be after grinding.
Flap discs
A flap disc is similar to a grinding disc, as it is measured in grit. The difference is that flap discs are smoother and are used to finish a material after it has been grinded with a grinding disc.
Wire wheels
A wire wheel is commonly used for rust removal or for removing old surface paint. The abrasiveness of a wire wheel is determined by the thickness and twist of the wire bristles, with thicker and more twisted bristles being increasingly abrasive.
Polishing pads
Used for polishing a material, such as metal on a car to achieve a shiny, smooth look.
Diamond blade
These blades get their name from the diamond shapes cut around the circumference of the blade. They are the strongest blade you can purchase for your angle grinder and are often used for masonry, such as cutting granite or quartz.
Wattage
The higher the wattage, the more power the angle grinder has. If you’re going to be doing heavy duty cutting of materials such as granite or thick steel, you are going to want to have plenty of power, so look for an angle grinder with a high wattage.
Amperage/ Voltage
In corded models of angle grinders, the power output is measured in amps, with larger, more heavy duty angle grinders having a higher amperage than a smaller model.
Cordless angle grinders are measured in the volts produced by the battery and can range anywhere from 7 volts to 24 volts. The models we recommended were 18 or 20 volts.
Speed
The speed of an angle grinder is measured in RPM (revolutions per minute). Angle grinders with a smaller disc size (4inch- 4.5 inch) operation at a higher speed or RPM than angle grinders with a 7 inch or 9 inch disc size.
Safety features
There are several safety features to consider when choosing the best angle grinder:
Hand guard
This is a non-negotiable. It is there to keep the user safe from the blade and from flying debris during the cutting or grinding. Some angle grinders have adjustable hand guards while others have fixed hand guards. You should never operate an angle grinder with the guard removed.
Fixed hand guard- The benefit of a fixed hand guard is that they are more durable and less likely to come loose during use. A drawback is that they might not work well for left-handed users.
Adjustable hand guard- The benefit of an adjustable hand guard is that they work well for left- handed or right handed users. They can also be adjusted to help avoid shavings or debris that might come flying up. The drawback is that these hand guards can come loose. Always doublecheck that they are tight before operating the power tool.
Safety trigger
A paddle switch angle grinder is one with a safety trigger to power it on and off. Instead of a typical on/off switch, it requires the user to hold down the power trigger to keep the tool running. So, if the operator begins to lose control of the tool, the angle grinder automatically powers down. While inconvenient and uncomfortable if you’ll be using it for a long period of time, it is much safer, especially for angle grinder beginners.
Automatic shut-down
Some angle grinders have an automatic shut-off feature if the blade gets in a bind or becomes too worn down.
PPE
While not included with an angle grinder, it is important that you take PPE seriously and wear safety goggles and leather gloves when using an angle grinder for tasks such as cutting metal.
Wrap-Up
Choosing the best angle grinder is definitely dependent upon the work you’ll be doing, the material you’ll be grinding or cutting, the location of you’ll be working in, and your budget. But as with all power tools, make sure you’re also looking through the lens of safety features when making a purchase decision for your new angle grinder.
