Is A Harbor Freight $10 Angle Grinder Any Good?
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- Опубликовано: 5 сен 2024
- I use both the Bosch and the Drill Master angle grinder side by side to see if the Harbor Freight angle grinder is even comparable to a $60 Bosch angle grinder. Truth is that is very usable and works just fine. I wouldn’t fill my shop with these but I would keep one around for lending to neighbors and friends or give to my teenager who is interested in tools or certain projects.
This $10 angle grinder has motivated me to do some projects. And motivation is priceless.
*I keep a box of these $10 grinders to lend my neighbors. I wait thirty days and when they can't find it I say "Well I'll just take these snap on wrenches instead".*
@@1nvisible1he isn’t lying. I lost my new Wera Kratform Rapidaptor with internal bit storage to him for one one the $10 HF Grinders….
That grinder is pretty awesome though, so intangibles included I’d say even swap. (Trying to borrow some guy-off discs from him now, but I rlly do like my Commercial Plasma Cutter too…
Great video! I am a general contractor with a focus on steel work. My general rule is if I need it every day, I invest in a better tool. If it's a once in a while use tool, or if I have proven backup to guarantee project success, I don't mind going with cheap "cannon fodder."
Interesting to hear! I agree with your general rule!
I got mine with a coupon for $5 and have had it for about 7 years. Have used it for all the plumbing in the house cutting bricks and concrete and grinding concrete. Another RUclipsr recommended opening the gear case and adding more grease, which I did, as there isn't really enough in it from the factory. At this price, it's money well spent.
Having it for 7 years for $5 is probably the best tool you ever bought.
@lesd40 special grease? Or just standard, basic grease? Thanks.
@@mikeike7114Hello. I shall answer your question as Lesd40 couldn't be bothered. Any bearing or gear grease will work well 👍🏼
I bought one of these when I couldn't find my regular grinder. It cut the metal struts to do the job and still works! Worth it just for that. Everything from now is just gravy.
Good deal! My father in law bought one in a similar situation, still has it years and years later
I have several of these 10.00 grinders with different wheels . The first thing I did on each one is remove the grease in the gear box and replaced it with a generous amount of high pressure molly grease , it will run smoother with a lot less gear noise . There are two versions , one with the lock button on the side that you tested and one with the lock button more centered , this is the better built one with needle bearings supporting the large gear and larger bearings all around the grinder. The one you tested has a bronze bushing and smaller bearings all around and a smaller armature , I have both versions and they seem to be holding up well some of them are over two years old still working with no issues , not bad for 10.00 dollars each !
Ed Pontiff No kidding! I actually recently watched the tool teardown video on these grinders with the different items numbers so I now see that one item number is significantly better than the other. As for greasing, I actually just did this last week. I only used general purpose but I packed it with tons of it and it’s running much quieter now. The reason I decided to do that was because it sounded like it was just going to explode at high RPMs. It’s not a “good grinder”, but it is a good grinder for $10. Thanks for watching!
Do you have a video on removing the grease?
@@DiannaAtherton I don’t have any videos of clearing out the grease from the housing where the gears run . I just clean them out the best I can with shop towels and probing tools to get at all the crevices and repack them with high pressure moly grease . I still have the same grinders mentioned 3 years ago only changing brushes on 2 of them and still running find . I use them a lot and only paying 10 dollars they have lasted longer than I thought they would . I have a lot of harbor freight tools and they work fine just take care of them and they will last .
@@edpontiff8448 hey thanks for replying. I bought 2 at harbor freight 6 years ago and another 2 just to store as back up. They work just fine. If one dies (funeral at 11) I just grab another.
I'm a homeowner who uses an angle grinder maybe once or twice a year. I bought this grinder 4 years ago and it does everything I ask of it and then some. I always say, "if you're not a professional, why pay for professional tools?" I buy every power tool I own from harbor freight and can honestly tell you that I've never had a problem with one. For the cost, these tools can't be beat.
These days especially, HF power tools are a good buy. The older stuff... Meh.. Glad they worked for you.
Great review and good job "finding the value" there.
Lots of value, Bear! Thanks for coming to watch my video.
@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects how is it fare to compare a 10.00 grinder to a 60.00 dollar grinder .
@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects I will never take the guard off. You are just asking for and accident to happen.
Rickey Bullington It’s not *Fair* and it wasn’t meant to be. In the video I showed a few ways they are cutting costs to make it $10 and how even though it’s only $10 it’s a pretty decent buy especially if it lasts a reasonable amount of time.
Also, I’m so glad your really safe when using an angle grinder. Good for you buddy.
@@rickeybullington68 Actually an angle grinder is the perfect tool to compare name brand vs cheap. Angle gingers are not complicated tools. They spin a disc that does the work provided the motor is strong enough. I would NEVER buy a cheap jigsaw, cordless drill or router. Angle grinder....why not? I've been using a cheap Chinese angle grinder as my backup for tears now and it's still going strong.
Great video and commentary. You came in with an open mind and it shows. Sometimes cheap tools have their place, especially for weekend warriors like me who don't need professional grade.
I have like 5-6 of them. Wire wheel, wire brush, sanding disk, cut off disk, grinder, all ready to go
Good Deal! How long have you had them? Obviously you have multiple so it seems like you would have a good opinion of them, but what are your thoughts on them after having and using 6 of them?
Same here, I've had several of these and some older ones for over 10 years and don't actually remember a failure. Seems they sometime walk off too so others must think they are worth using. If one did fail, just buy another for a $9.99 coupon.
That's a bad dude, right there!!!
@@lonnieblackwell5107 damn. They can walk too. That's impressive. 😂
@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects no answer I see. But if you did have 6 with a different attachment on it would be the same price and each one would get used less often, and should last longer in my opinion. I just bought one and it does the jobs I need it do. With aluminium.
I ended up by buying 3 of these - grinding and flap disc, then mounted and modded one with a diamond disc for a dedicated TIG electrode grinder. I have a good Makita for my cutoff wheels. They're noisy, but my oldest one (12 y/o) is still plugging along!
Good to hear! It’s not my favorite grinder to pick up but it’s also not my least favorite. I hope to get at least that much life out of it.
I have one of those and it has worked great so far!
I’m glad I’m not the only one who noticed how close she figures get when using this thing. I just held on tighter with less fingers further away. It’s a little dicey. No matter what.
Definitely.
My angle grinder came from the supermarket 😎 Aldi had a 5” grinder with variable speed for $30 in Australia. It’s great had it a year so far. I have a few cheap grinders for that very reason of not changing discs ect. In general they don’t CUT the best but for wire wheels,flaps ect they work fine.
Yep. In my experience including beyond this video, that $10 grinder even grinds pretty good too. If doesn’t beat a good 7, 8, or 11 amp grinder but it’s pretty darn good considering what it costs.
Supermarket grinder went bye bye back in May ... while I was cutting 😂 Bought a Makita 5”. The slide switch is fucked already after light use. Replace? Nope send in for “repair”. Not sure if that’s a Makita thing or the tool shop I bought it from. Did expect a swap or return. Shopping for a new grinder think I’ll just go with the local big box home brand. They have 3 year return & swap policy
Well I guess for a angle grinder from the super market that’s pretty decent lol. However on the Makita, I’m surprised your having issues already, I’ve not owned a Makita grinder but I have used a couple and thought they were good, as you’d expect from Makita. Oh well, do what you can!
I was looking for this exact type of video. Thank you!
I have several angle grinders but I bought the Drill Master for a specific task. I had a lot of tree roots that I wanted to grind flat with the lawn so I wouldn't hit them with the mower. I didn't want to use a good angle grinder getting it full of dirt and sand so I figured if the Drill Master lasted for one job I got my monies worth. It was slow, but even after I beat it up pretty good it is still working. I had thought of buying another one but I already have several other grinders - then again, it's only $10.
For sure, if it works it works. I probably won't buy another but its a good lender tool or like what you used it for, to beat it up and mistreat it, so you don't ruin a good pricey one.
I got a cheap angle grinder about $20 CAD maybe 4 years ago. I only use it a few times a year & it's a 5.5 amp one. Works legit perfectly for me when I need it, & for the frequency I need that tool for it'll last me probably 30 years. The thing is still in very clean condition after 4 years.
Awesome! Definitely not a bad tool for the cash.
I do a lot of masonry and use an angle grinder with a diamond wheel to cut brick, artificial and natural stone. I found myself on a job and didn’t bring my Dewalt so I bought an angle grinder from Harbor Freight at the beginning of the year and I am duly impressed with it. I have yet to kill it and at $14.99, won’t matter much if I do!
Exactly! Thanks for watching!
@Collin Nelson Hi. So the 5 Amp definitely cut CEMENT, with a diamond wheel? How about the 4.3 Amp one as well? Completely safe? Thanks.
Kids in my welding class would get the Drill Master angle grider. They used it daily for a long time. And while it didn't last anywhere as long as more expensive angle grinders but when one kids when out he got new brushes or little parts that run the motor and replaced it in 30 minutes and then had to till her left the class. He left out into the world so I don't have an update on his fix but they didn't do bad on the angle grider.
On Saturday night I started my little dump trailer build and I cleaned up all the rust and paint off 12 feet of that pipe that I have and it took me 40 minute to clean it all and I used the drill mast the whole time running it for almost 40 minutes straight. It really impressed me. I think I’ll always have one of those things in the shop.
I bought a 7" Chicago Electric from Harbor Freight about 5 years ago for a welded steel door replacement. Had expectations of it maybe getting through the project. Since then, I have done 9 or ten door replacements with it. It sounds uglier than a tiger with crabs, but I can't kill it.
"It sounds uglier than a tiger with crabs" LOL
Last year I bought a 230 mm angle grinder for 40 €. I intended to use it very few times but I had a home work to do. The grinder done exactly the work needed (less about 20 cm in cutting a wall) before the head gears fail. I activate the warranty and in the end the seller gave me the 40€ credit😃. When we go cheap the luck factor has big weight.
After our local Harbor Freight had been open for a couple years, the phrase commonly heard was, "If it gets you through the job or project you bought it for, you got your money's worth!"
I bought this grinder 8 years ago, and it is still kicking! So it's all just gravy from here on out. I bought another 10 dollar one last year along with a new Bauer rat tail grinder. Have nothing but good experiences with either the Chicago Electric cheapos or the Bauer. Now I keep one with a flap disc, one with a grinding wheel, and one with a cutting wheel. I may get one more for a wire wheel in the future. I highly recommend these if you cannot afford the high end brands.
Heck ya, I have the rat tail Bauer too. GREAT grinder. I really like the higher end stuff that HF is putting out. Pretty good value in all the Bauer stuff, corded or cordless.
@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects make sure you keep high-temlture gress in it .
Rickey Bullington what?
@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects keep hight temp grease in it and it should last a long time .I just got one . They are 14.99 now .and I will put some grease in it .
I see what your saying. I have packed mine with grease, was just general purpose but it’s doing the job!
Purchased the Same $10 grinder at home depot, didn't even last out a simple aluminum job. Did some cutting and grinding with it and it took a dump halfway through the job. Finished with a good Metabo.
Ya sometimes these unreasonably cheap products are total duds, sometimes they are a gem. Just hit or miss. Can't go wrong with Metabo though for sure.
I've had two of these. Both burned out fairly quickly. OTOH, the Herc grinder is very good and a bargain for $35 with a coupon. Totally worth the money. Your comments are understandable; if someone uses an angle grinder for a short time every once in a while this tool may fit the bill.
I have the Hercules Grinder and the newer Bauer grinder. They are beasts and I am really enjoying them. I don’t think I’ll buy anything else! Maybe a DeWalt some time just for comparison but I am absolutely satisfied with the Herc and Bauer so far. My favorite grinders. As for the drill master, it’s still going. I mainly use it for wire brush applications but when it goes I’m going to replace it with another herc.
Nice comparison. 👌
In Germany we have such cheap grinders too. Years ago I had bought two of them but after a short using both of them were broken.
That is what I am expecting to happen to this one but I want to see. Hopefully I will be pleasantly surprised and it will last a long time!
U r a good son to your father. Meaning your ways of fixing things and wanting to learn to fix rather than your dad. I'm similar like your dad and my son is like u. Thanks on the grinder vid. I will purchase.
I appreciate that. He works on his own stuff and fixes it, but he tries to do everything as cheaply as possible. Often times he ends up buying twice instead of spending a little more to start with a decent product (depending on whatever it is) to begin with.
I bought a Black and Decker 30 years ago and have literally beat it to death.....The knotted wheel caught my sweat shirt the other day and I used up one of 9 lives keeping that away from my belly...lucky I lost those extra pounds a year back..
Haha! Nice. Gotta love a long lasting good tool. I have been using this Drill Master pretty heavily since I made this video and it still sounds like death but it keeps chugging along. Thanks for watching. Hope you get 30 more out of your Black and Decker. Please consider subscribing!
@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects subscribed thanks for the update...sounds like I need one just for the purpose of not changing the wheel back and forth.
Yeah they are nice to have if you use them a lot for the purpose of putting a wheel on there and leaving it. Thanks for the sub!
Yeah I too have some B&D and Ryobi tools from 30 years ago.
No B&D tool you buy today will last 30 years
I got one a sale about 6months ago. Used it and beat it hard with a grinding wheel and wire wheel. Ground a entire truck frame and cut a bed off and much more! Great for the price, cheap who cares if it breaks. Angle grinders live a hard life having a cheap one to beat on is nice.
Amen Dude! I like having a good beater grinder for taking paint off and stuff like that. Sounds like you definitely got your 10 dollars worth.
@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects Definitely did!
If anyone is concerned about longevity here is my review as mine just broke, I paid 14 dollars, and it has lasted a little over a year, has done many projects and been used hard and put away wet, hell I've even left it outside every now and then. Overall great tool IMO
Edit, I bought another one and jt came with spare brushed, for shits and giggles j threw the spare brushes in the old one and if works LIKE NEW
because checking the brushes on an old tool is the first thing you do when it stops working. If you don't see smoke and smell burning wire and the gears are fine the fault is most likely in the switch, wiring or brushes.
Great review Derek, We've always avoided that HF angle grinder because we figured that it couldn't be any good but we might pick one up now to keep as a spare.
I certainly wouldn’t rely on it for my first or second grinder but just as lender or if your doing a lot of work to save time you just put one “attachment” on it and leave it. Thanks for watching guys!
Had mine for two years works fine, I have an angle grinder for each wheel; cut off, grinder and cup brush.
Perfect use for this grinder in my opinion.
Thank you for the video, and for the nice comment replies you've done. I got one last week and will re-grease the gears before doing any heavy work with it. 👍
I'm pleased with the performance so far. The only bad; I'm feeding the Chinese economy instead of the USA. Oh well...at $9.99 I couldn't resist.🙂
Robnord1 Well, at least Chinese manufacturing. It still took American shipyard/dock workers, truckers, marketing team members, distribution team members, retail managers, tradesman to build and prepare the store for business, so on and so forth. It was more than just a minimum wage cashier and stock guy/girl you were giving a living at the end of the day. I guess the only thing is that manufacturing jobs are good paying, decent, respectable jobs, but I think you would be hard pressed to find anyone who makes an angle grinder fully here in the US, (no one mention DeWalt because all they do is assemble them here). It’s a pretty decent tool for $9.99, I don’t regret it one bit! Hope it lasts a long time for you!
Unfortunately Milwaukee is made in the people's republic too, can't escape the human rights violation Capitol of the globe no matter which bed you lay in
I bought on of these because I needed to grind down a latch that kept catching at home, one project. Tossed it in the drawer. Ended up using it to cut down a warehouse full of pallet racking because of city codes. Great value
It’s really not a bad grinder.
For 10 bucks, nothing beats it. You are absolutely correct do not take the guard off!!! I made that mistake my finger is completely healed now!! Also would recommend using only for cutting and grinding. The wire cups put an extra strain on the gear housing. That's why you heard the extra chatter.
All I use if for these days is wire brushing, I greased the bearings and gears in the head and it sounds much better now!
I bought 2 of these grinders 1 for my home use as a backup and 1 to keep in the truck for my uncle who always finds a way to blow out more expensive angle grinders, after going through 2 dewalt dwe402w we decided to not let him borrow any more expensive tools, if he blows through it it was only 10 bucks
Q-Pid Avenger couldn’t think of a better reason to have a couple lying around.
I've bought a really cheap ebay set
$12 including shipping
it feels like you're holding a children's bob the builder toy
but it works 🤷🏻♂️ it does the job just fine
I bought it back in 2018 and it still works
The loud gear noise in the harbor freight is lack of grease in the gear head.
Your right, this has been mentioned many times, and I’ve greased it since I made this video, it sounds much better. I need to open up all my grinders and grease the heads.
I agree, HF power tools are a dice roll. However, 3 out of the 4 I've bought I've been pleased. Just remember these are not industrial use tools, but for the guy who needs a grinder for small projects, they work OK.
I bought it to cut two landscape blocks. Used the correct masonry cut off wheel. Lasted perhaps five minutes, stopped, really hot and smokey. I'll see if they replace it. If you are under 85 years old, spend a extra $20 - $50 and get a good one.
Agreed.
i smoked a new hf one cutting 1/4 aluminum w a cut off wheel. let it cool. and it shot out the fan blades and magnets froze stuck. but i forced turned it and still works today
i need one w a lever. not a switch for more safety in tight areas now
Yeah sounds like you better get a different one lol!
They r cheep but they do work Had one a few years expecting it to die. When it finally did i just wound up buying another one cause it lasted longer than expected. The cheap die grinders r even better. Not the cheepest one but the next one up. Like 20 Bucks.
Hey it just dawned on me incase people didnt know i meant die grinder for removing gasket and rust and 10 dollar angle for chopping and paddle wheel. Exc.
I think Ill always keep at least one of these around myself. Its dirt cheap for a reason, but it still works. Thanks for watching!
I did the same.
Yepper, i have couple of 'em. Mainly used wire wheel and flap disc not so much a cutting disc. Cutting disc has tendency to bounce around and get off cuts. My B&D grinders are used solely as cutters and heavy grinding. Good enough in a pinch and within reach, lol. I like Bauer blades also and tbe Hercules are good too. Heavy cutting i burn through the warrior blades. Good enough for me and my budget. Good review.😀👍
Thanks man! Yeah I think they are pretty decent abrasive discs. Warriors are cheap but their durability shows it. I’m anxious to get my hands on a Hercules grinder. The $35 one!
@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects oh yea. Cool. Im try get cordless and try it out. Keep on grinding😀👍
"It's worth its weight in scrap metal and plastic" ....awesome!
Mine lasted about 3 years before it crapped out. Well worth the money in my opinion
Ya. Especially for really occasional use. If you use it a little more often, might be good to get a better one.
I’ve had the HF grinder for years no issues, Its done everything I’ve asked it to do.It’s all about the wheel
It is not too shabby for $10!
I got the $17 one and it works like a dream
Aidan Smith Definitely not bad for the price.
I had no idea they were so inexpensive. I have one that is decades-old, black and decker, the metal case is awesome, but of course the rubber is all breaking down and I'm trying to sell it to someone for cheap lol. I hate to throw it away, maybe I'll just give it to somebody.
I like the 10 dollar HF grinders they are light and perfect for many jobs. My 90 dollar Dewalt gets heavy after few minutes.I have few of them and they've lasted for years.
Amen, for $10 it’s definitely worth it.
I've bought a couple Harbor Freight cheap power tools when I need a power tool for one job and may not use it again for years. My drill is a 12 volt Milwaukee on a great sale which I use often.
I have the M-12 Milwaukee line up. I ended up selling all my M-18 tools and buying all the Bauer tools cause my M-18 tools needed new batteries at $100 a piece and wasn’t willing to do that. The M-12 line up is pretty good, just not super powerful compared to a 20v tool. I love my M-12 ratchet. You have the same philosophy as a lot of people do with harbor freight. I suppose it works and isn’t a bad idea to buy the cheapest thing in a pinch, but I like to be a little pro-active and try and buy decent quality tools before I need them, so that I have them for when I need them when I come across a project that needs them sometime. Thanks for watching!
I have bought a lot of the Harbor Freight grinders. Some have lasted a long time and others not long at all. Mostly the cord breaks on the inside or the switch does not work right. I have three set up with different grinding heads. Because of the price, I will probably keep buying them.
Yeah, I could see why people are drawn to them. It’s still chugging a year and a half later but when it dies I won’t be replacing it.
I just had mine turn on its own while I was about 2 ft. away from it! It was sitting on a board, flew off TOWARDS me, then bounced a bit on the ground as I yanked the plug from the wall. I went in to see why a breaker was just flipped.... Nobody did. My only guess is that the on/off switch was close to the middle and slipped into place. I seriously didn't touch it, and haven't used it in days. The only force applied to this bloodthirsty tool is a temperature difference from being cold last night and warm this morning... Maybe plastic expanded... IDK. Unplug when not in use!
Holy crap dude you got lucky! I always unplug mine when I’m not using it.
@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects I wound up here looking online to see if I'm alone. I guess I am... or it's the start to "Maximum Overdrive" like Stephen King predicted. I'm tossing my electric manscaping razor in the trash as we speak. First covid now murderous robots... Walmart will never go back to 24 hours now!
A good rule to use around the shop, everything is unplugged unless it’s in use. No power, no cutty.
I don't even need to watch it... I've bought several of these $10 angle grinders. They are death traps, but the parts you can get from them are great!!!
Just the 2 beveled work gears are worth the $10. The motor is 💩, but it can be used for making all sorts of things.
The on/off switch has a horrible flaw that will prevent you from turning it off. But using a dead foot pedal, and a simple speed adjustment knob with it, and you now have the makings for a mini ... bench grinder, belt sander, lathe, drill press, etc, etc.
So I can't recommend dying early by using it as an angle grinder (especially with a cutoff disc... RIPieces) but the separate items have a value that is greater that the sale item as a whole (and separate their lack of quality control, no longer becomes as dangerous.)
Good luck!
I have been using it and im besting it up. Its head is very much like several others. I also wouldnt buy many tools fron H.F. but it is surprising good...
Definitely not a terrible tool.
I have a Bosch grinder and I absolutely hate the guard, it's such a pain in the ass to adjust it. I seriously can't believe that someone designed it that way, built the prototype, tested it, and said "yeah, this is fine, no need for improvements."
You are the first person to share my feelings completely on Bosch guard. I think someone else admitted it was a pain but didn’t feel like it was as bad as I said. It really is that bad. Thanks for watching.
My dewalt angle grinder is a beast. The harbor freight grinder a guy at work has bogs down really bad when you lean on it to make it bite more. My dewalt, not so much.
DeWalt is hard to beat when it comes to angle grinders.
I have high end and low-end tools and really like some Harbor Freight Tools. For a hobbyist, Low-End Tools will get the job done, but if you rely on tools for your income... *Spend the money on higher end tools!* 😁
I agree! Thanks for watching!
Good review! normally, I don't buy the cheapest or the most expensive power tools, regardless of whether it is made in China, USA, Germany, Japan, or Taiwan. It is the company that outsourced its products to be made cheaply to a price point; hence, giving the product or country of origin a bad name.
I bought a 4-ton floor jack (made in China) from Harbor Freight, and it is great. I love it. I also own and use a lot of DeWalt cordless tools (made mostly in China), and they are great.
Rule of thumb in buying tools - any tools. If you are using them regularly, buy a better tool. If you only use it once or twice in half-year or a year or longer, then buy the cheap one.
I agree. I definitely am not using my tools every day, but I use them fairly often, so I think a good middle of the road tool (not the drill master) is a good option for me. It will last years, and I still saved a few bucks. Thanks for watching!
Hey Derek, Nice vid. I have an older HF Chinese angle grinder that I bought in the early 90's. It's always had that cheapo clunky sound but still worked great. Just found out that if you take the gear box off and clean that cheap Chinese grease out of it and replace it with Lucas Red and Tacky grease (awesome stuff), that noise all but disappears. So there's another project for ya.
Thanks man, I actually did pack the gear housing shortly after making this video, definitely sounds better and will probably last longer. Thanks for the suggestion though, never hurts to say anything. Clunky is a much better description of the sound lol.
Got one to cut some nails off of a trailer and it lasted 5 minutes. Exchanged it and that one has been going for years
Ya its a pretty good grinder for what it is my friend!
My drillmaster angle grinder is like a reliable junky craigslist car. It does the job well. Smokes a few times but it kept going. Wire snapped but I just use 2 wire nut twist it back together and it kept going. Got my $10's worth out of it. I'm hoping it'll die soon so I can upgrade to an 8+amp one.
Thats a Geat review, very useful tool for DIY and professional multi grinders with different discs.
I only have these super cheap grinders. Got three of these. Why? because secret to longevity for these cheap grinders is not to overheat them - which means I rotate usage of my three el-cheapo grinders, never over-heating any of them. Plus I got very long handle from home depot - just get long bolt which fit into the handle socket and create a nice long comfortable handle from that.
Awesome idea man, I like it. I also think a good greasing of the gear head will help keep it a little cooler and obviously slow wear. I cake all purpose grease in the gear head a couple times a year. Thanks for watching!
I got this grinder when I first got into tools because I wasn't sure how often I'd need a grinder and it has served me well for what I do. I got another one recently as a loaner since my uncle is notorious for borrowing tools and either never returning them, or returning them damaged so with this if he breaks or keeps it I'm only out 10 dollars haha
Amen man! It’s a good grinder for that. It’s just a good grinder all the way around for a whoooing $10. I’m sure every now and again you’ll get a dud but most are probably going to work pretty well for a while. Thanks for watching. Maybe consider subscribing. I appreciate it!
Great video. Good helpful information and good comparison and use for money.
Thanks for watching!
I saw a video on the harbor freight grinder and this guy took it apart only to find out that it didn't have that much grease to keep the gears lube up really good. so if mine heats up alot I propbably take it apart and clean it up and pack it up with more grease.
I agree. I grease it up every now and then. Thanks for watching!
I had one for a couple of years and it burnt up a while back. It sure did not owe me anything when it died. I now have 3 of them , plus I bought my brother in law one. I think they are great for the money.
Honestly, they could be one of the best $10 gifts out there. If I opened one up I’d be pretty ecstatic. I should have mentioned one that!
Good review, rock on bro!
Home depot sells a great 7amp angle grinder for $20 made by WEN.
Do they sell it in store or online only?
@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects All of the WEN product are sold online only. WEN makes quality tools.
I’ve used a free standing drill press from WEN seemed like a decent machine. I have heard positive things about them.
Mine had a short in the wire and it'd still work but only if I bent the wire right. They are cheap and junk but it ran for years
Easy to fix a short too.
my boss would go to the states and buy those cheap grinders from harbor freight and they'd let the smoke out after about a week or 2. i got fed up with them so i bought 4 of those bosch ones for about $200 canadian, so far they've all survived more than year of abuse (rain, snow, freezing weather, 1" thick steel I beams, concrete, tile, you name it).
i agree the guard on the bosch is a pain in the ass. the guard will go to other positions, i have mine at a 45, but it has detents it has to rest/fall into so, as you said, it's not infinitely adjustable. if you actually do adjust the guard, unless you have an allen/hex key that fits the screw, you have to take the disc off because the wrench that comes with the bosch has a short allen/hex attached to it, but it doesn't clear the disc, so you can only loosen it 1/2 to 1/8 turn at a time depending how the guard is angled, and because it has the detents, you have to back it out quite a bit before it will actually move.
The cheap grinder isn't great, but it works for me. The Bosch has good power, and is comfortable to use, but that is about it. You can notice a quality difference, but the cheap grinder for someone who uses it on the weekends or whatever is really a steal of a deal.
If i use a tool for hours and hours continuously, no matter if it's two times a year, i'd buy a brand name tool. If i use a tool for an hour or so ocassionally, i'd buy a cheap tool. First thing after buying a new grinder is to look if there is enough grease. If not, add more.
this $10 grinder is now $15. I notice it is 4.3 amp, where all the other cheap grinders are 6 amp, maybe 7. WEN makes a $21 7 amp grinder. HF is not worth it any more. Especially with no coupons for anything!
I think it still goes on sale for $10 once in a while? It is not a great grinder but I like it for $10. I'd never buy another though.
I have an older makita grinder that I dont have the guard for, i am a bit uneasy to use it with a cutoff wheel. I have used it for a grinding wheel. It was my grandpas so maybe he took it off and it's somewhere in the garage buried away somewhere..
Was thinkin bout gettin the drillmaster just for the hell of it.
Definitely not a bad tool to get just for the hell of it.
Great review man! You just got yourself a new subscriber!
Awesome, thank you!
I got a Harbor Freight $10 grinder and I have done more work with that thing. I have built more projects.
I was skeptical at first but I figured $10 ? I've lost that much in pocket change before.
My only complaint is the spindle lock for changing discs. I have arthritis and have a little trouble pushing it in all the way
Other than that, I couldn't ask for more for $10!
That was one of the things that cross my mind with it. I thought "I've just completely wasted more money than that before!"
I'm so envious of people that have hands that can fit into gloves. 😞
Oh boy, mine are getting close to being too big!
i have one about 15€ looks exactly the same as this, from europe, shape and color very similar like 95%. used it more than 50 times about 10-20s burst every time, also had bad reviews about smoke and fire after first use, well if people press the button for 3 minutes its normal the poor thing will just catch fire, these plastic handles dont have much ventilation and even after first use it smells hot plastic so... as long as you dont over-use it, it will last. i also let it cool down, i built a simple tiny cutoff stand, so small and funny, planning to buy a few more of these for building various stands and no need to swap blades for grinding brushing, or whatever.
They work pretty good for what you plan to do with them. Thanks for watching/commenting!
Derek , .... Thank you very much for your Research and Evaluation on the Grinder . Looking into getting my first Grinder at 52 yrs of age hahahaha. Did a Grinder Rating search on RUclips ...and tuned into your Chann. AWESOME .. Actually, Harbor Freight was the first place in mind to got to !! Didn't want to jump into investing on something Over priced for being my first Grinder purchase . $ 10. BUCKS !!! I'm Down for the price and for what I intend to use it for. Way!! w/ in my Budget... and then some... if it survives!! Thanks Again ....Off to H.F. From S.Calif. ...Liked & Subscribed... checked & checked ! :)
Hope it survives haha! Good luck! We all start somewhere.
Thank you for this video!! I hate buying more tool$. I just need it for one job; to cut bellhousing from old VW transmission case. I wonder if this will do the job 😬🙄
Let me know how it did!
The cheap option is great for someone who is not going to use the tool that much.
If you the tool often the more expensive option can bring more value.
I agree. Not personally a big fan of the Bosch but I do agree... thanks for watching.
@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects Thanks for making such a good video :D
Save the carbon brushes that came in the box I have my for 6 years and I used on the weekends a lot, suddenly stopped working, opened notice one brush completely gone, replaced both & back to life,
I've still got them, I save all those little brushes, HF is good at including them, even with the more premium brands they carry now.
Hi. Can the Harbor Freight 5 Amp definitely cut CEMENT, with a diamond wheel? How about the 4.3 Amp one as well? Thanks.
Thank you
The fact if it makes it, early crib death. I live away from big cities driving back cost me time and money. I got four grinders oddly one is Chicago electric i bought for 10 bucks got 15 years so far light duty... buddy bought 3 and all died early. My others are higher end dewalts... no issues... but had same luck with their reciprocating saws 3 in one afternoon, I was 3 hours from home helping a friend... I have a bosch and 3 dewalts of that again one over 15 years old still kicking... I hate it's such a gamble....
I totally get where your coming from. I think it is BEST to just get the a DeWalt, Milwaukee, or another name brand tool if you can afford it and have a need for it. Sometimes, just don’t have a choice financially but to take the gamble. The good thing is that usually if these things break, it’s within your first few uses. Sometimes it’s just after the 90 day warranty which suck. But that’s why, in my opinion, whether you need the tool right away or not, it’s best to just use it hard to make sure it’s not going to die over on you.
At the end of the day, should anyone really be trusting a $10 grinder to be their work horse? No. But is it fun just to pick one up cause it’s $10 and if it lasts, it’s awesome, if it doesn’t, your only out $10.
Thanks for watching! Hope your grinder works for years to come.
My china freight 14$ angle grinder finally gave out, 10 years of moderately used with various wheels. It was used 4x a month if not more, it came with a set of extra brushes which got put in 6 years ago.
I have a 2nd one bought at same time still going strong, a third one is big heavy craftsman one, it gets used very little because its heavy.
Of course the brush bogs them down worse, has more contact points.
Makes sense.
most time you can just put the good grease in it and it will run just fine.
Yessir I have packed it with just general purpose grease and it runs much smoother and quieter.
You'll notice that many, if not most/all, products at HF have multiple item numbers. After looking into this a bit I found that if the reviews start to slip on a product they'll change the item number. Bam, bad reviews are gone.
Handle? Guard? Gloves ? Safety glasses? What is that?
What do you mean?
dude you sound exactly like John Reily lol
also thanks for the speed comparison that was smart
Thanks man, and the Step Brothers John Reilly?
I don't use handle or the gaurd full send lol
Yeah in some situations you just gotta get rid of them. But I try to leave them on when I can.
Use it with out the clamshell
that's probably the most dangerous way i have seen anybody use their grinder.. Never cut with the top side of the wheel, if it kicks back the grinder flies straight at you.. Also not using a handle on this barrel type grinders is asking for trouble, they are super shady to hold and don't provide good enough grip. That's why i never buy a barrel type grinder either with the slide button or the paddle switch. the only type i ever use is a rat tail, because they provide TONS of grip, are way safer and the rat tail switch is a great dead man's switch which will save your ass. If somebody says they can't use the grinder with the guard or handle because it gets in the way, you're using the wrong tool for the job.
use that one with a wjrewheel as a toothbrush
It's that "would you rather have a glock or 5 hipoints" kind of deal, for myself I think I'll get some craptacular ryobi shit or whatever for a dedicated flapper/wire wheel
That’s a really good way of putting it, it’s not a bad grinder at all, but I guess much like a hi point I probably wouldn’t wanna be stuck in a situation where it’s the tool I’m relying on. Thanks for your comment and view!
I dont know why bosch very smooth sound.
The HF grinder sounds like it has no grease on the gears ..Buy 2 incase one fails!
I have since packed it with grease, it did have a little in it when I opened it up. What grease do you think should be packed in the head?
@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects Well what ever is in there is going to fly around a bit...so probably something light...white grease will probably fade quickly..but some stickier moly grease might do the trick...like high speed wheel bearing grease..worth a try any way...up here in Canada we don't have Harbour Freight..we have Princess Auto instead...but most of their stuff is pretty good and their return policy is excellent.
Stahodad Yep, your not the first Canadian neighbor to tell me about Princess Auto. Harbor Freights pretty good, they just fall a little short on warranties in my opinion.
I just used general purpose grease last time. I didn’t know if I should be using something else,
I’m sure it’s not the best choice for it but it’s been working for a least a few hours of grind time OK.
You can change the gard😊
I had one that burned up after two years of heavy use and im on my second thats still working after a year... Somehow
Cause for $10 it’s a pretty dang good tool.
Thanks for the review! Too bad we dont have harbor freight in Europe yet...
I’ve spoken with someone from Germany on a few occasions. He said he had stores like it.
@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects did he mention which ones? I've not yet found one that lives up to the high standards set by the harbor freight yet.
Dmitri Ivanov man I would have to go way back and look, his channel is “sams workshop diary” and he does a lot of tool videos and projects. Really great guy. I can’t remember if he specified any name of a store. I think you might could have pretty good luck online... hmm... I wish I could help you but I’m one of those Americans who doesn’t really stick his head outside of the US much so I wouldn’t even know lol.
I bought one of them for each wheel I have
Good reason to have them.
Graet video. Thank's a lot !!