Which die grinder?

[visor_down]

Hi all
Looking for a die grinder and was hoping for some advice.

I was going to go for air as they are more compact and I have a compressor. Do the mains ones have any significant advantage other than no need for a compressor?

Can anyone recommend any particular air die grinder?
Was looking on eBay, prices vary a bit, are they all much of a muchness? Saw some clarke / draper ones but guessing these are just rebadged China jobbies?
Is 1/4 the best size to go for ?
It will be hobby use so won't be used day in day out

Cheers

 

[Wallace]

They are killers for air consumption even @ 90psi, if you have a 14cfm compressor an electric one will be far cheaper to run.

 

[brightspark]

i have an old cp air one and -it hardly uses much air. what i have found-is the -cheapo ones use a lot more

 

[marlinspike]

I bought an electric Makita one after reading a few threads on here. It was about £80 and is very well made, but a heavy and fearsome bit of kit. The air ones are so much cheaper but it seemed like you needed a very big compressor so that was no good. You might get a cheap electric one on eBay if you lucky.

They are a useful bit of kit though as long as you are careful - they can remove a lot of material very quickly.

 

[balmerchris]

I have a metabo variable speed 110 volt and an Ingersoll rand air one. The air die grinder doesn't seem to use too much air as my 14cfm compressor seems to cope alright with it plus it is the perfect size for my hand. The metabo electric one is much too big and heavy to use in the workshop and it is harder to get into tight spots and seems to "catch" the carbide burrs and vibrate more than the air one.

 

[T0rnado69]

i was looking for some carbide burrs and found people moaning about an ebay seller,
selling these burrs as snap on when they wasn't.

i spoke to my local snap on dealer about the burrs and he told me the 4 piece kit was £90

he then said they are doing a deal at the moment
buy the die grinder and get the 4 piece burr kit for free.
£135 for the die grinder, but take off the £90 for the burrs,

your be hard pushed to get a good die grinder for £45.

dunno if they still doing that deal.

 

[brightspark]

garryson burs are better than-snapon and nowhere near that over inflated price

http://www.mega-power.com.hk/download/Garryson Burr Catalogue_pdf.pdf

 

[galooph]

I've got an Ingersoll Rand one and it works fine on my 14cfm compressor. Great for removing rusted nuts in tight spaces with a carbide burr.

I fitted a whip hose on mine so that I could fit the exhaust air ducting. Certainly stops your hands getting as cold!

 

[T0rnado69]

i used mine to cut throu 3 rounded off exhaust manifold nuts on my nieces car.
so i could take the manifold off and replace it. as it was cracked right near the sensor.
and throwing out the exhaust emissions on the MOT.

garage quoted my niece £550 to sort it.
said would have to remove engine as studs will more then likely snap.

 

[jinjahbiscuit]

I have an Evolution die grinder that came with a set of three burrs and some other bits and pieces. It also came with two collets, 1/4" and 6mm which are the common sizes. I've had it about a year or so, It works perfectly alright, maybe a little heavy, but OK. About £80.00 new, 240v.

 

[jinjahbiscuit]

Oh yeah, don't buy cheap burrs off the Bay of Dismay, get some good quality ones from a proper tool outlet.

 

[GordonC]

If your going to buy an air one then spend a bit extra and get a decent one. The cheap ones are so loud it makes you not want to use it lol

 

[Jim Davey]

Electric are usually far more torquey and can allow for faster stock removal. On the downside they don't stall easily or safely (they try to twist out of your hands) if you overdo it which an air one will but the drawbacks are increased size and lack of manoeuvrability. I tend to find them less likely to skip because of the increased weight but that can make it more difficult when trying to make a light cut, I do use both though and seem to naturally gravitate to one or the other depending on what I have to do.

 

[AndersK]

Have you got Ampro tools?
I have a coupple of their air tools and like them.

The die grinder is roughly 30 pounds, with a lifetime warranty. ( I always ask the seller whos life, mine or the tool? )

 

[visor_down]

Cheers all some useful pointers. What would be considered a half decent brand for these can't afford snap on money !

 

[Maker]

I've got a variable speed Metabo, it gets a lot of use for persuading stuck car bits (Most recently to destroy a broken Saab rear door lock) I would thoroughly recommend it if you can afford it, I don't know what they cost (I was given mine) but I doubt it's cheap.

 

[ronan]

I got a chicago pneumatic one somewhere for nothing, it seems a good bit of kit, but i prefer the electric one made by stayer. Makita do a nice small electric one. Another point is don't wear gloves when using one, i have seen a couple of accidents with die grinders and flappy glove cuffs.

 

[Jim Davey]

I'd say wear the right gloves as the tiny metal splinters that come off a double-cut burr are evil.

 

[ukracer]

I bought an electric Makita one after reading a few threads on here. It was about £80 and is very well made, but a heavy and fearsome bit of kit. The air ones are so much cheaper but it seemed like you needed a very big compressor so that was no good. You might get a cheap electric one on eBay if you lucky.

They are a useful bit of kit though as long as you are careful - they can remove a lot of material very quickly.

What's the model number of the makita one chap ?

 

[ukracer]

I got a chicago pneumatic one somewhere for nothing, it seems a good bit of kit, but i prefer the electric one made by stayer. Makita do a nice small electric one. Another point is don't wear gloves when using one, i have seen a couple of accidents with die grinders and flappy glove cuffs.

What's the model number of the small makita one Ronan?