German-Made, USA available, Angle Grinder selection opinions welcomed...

jacko9 · May 30, 2013

I have used the Metabo and it's quite comfortable to use. I actually borrowed it from my neighbor who's a metal door, gate and fence installer and he has 5 of them that his crew uses every day.

Jack

Kev · May 30, 2013

Well ... here's the 230 Protool cutting kit in it's bigger than SYS Maxi case, with all of the bits connected.

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JoggleStick · May 31, 2013

Hey Kev, does the rear handle pivot? On the Atlas Copco I can pivot the rear handle 90deg for horizontal or vertical use?... Very nice!

Kev · Jun 1, 2013

JoggleStick said:
Hey Kev, does the rear handle pivot? On the Atlas Copco I can pivot the rear handle 90deg for horizontal or vertical use?... Very nice!

YEP ! It pivots - I'm pretty certain it's the same animal as yours.

The combo weighs a ton [eek]

... luck it runs on a track!

Holz-Her · Jun 2, 2013

Steve Rowe said:
Holz-Her said:

i have a couple... [smile]

Click to expand...

This has to be the understatement of the year ;D

;D

neeleman said:
You have much experience compared to the number of grinders and must have some favourites by it's disc dimension.
Can you make a list?

Alex said:
[blink] Holy guacamole, Holz-Her, why do you have so many? Do you have a need for them or is it just for the fun of collecting? Nice collection, btw.

Which one of them do you prefer the most? What's your opinion on Fein's quick change system?

I don´t really have one single favourite, they all have their pro´s and cons...
I bought some just for collecting because they look nice and to try out different brands and to learn more about them...and also to support my favourite companies hence 10 of the pictured grinders are made in Germany

I´m also a bit lazy so i use several grinders at the same time so i don´t have to change the discs all the time because it´s annoying. [laughing]
The Fein quick Change System is nice but not a must have since you can´t use a standard backing pad for example and wire wheels with thread so i would take a regular (Fein) grinder with M14 (5/8") spindle if you plan to buy only one tool.

some close ups:

Hitachi G12 SR2 (green/black) nice single-Hand grinder due to the slim motor housing and also good for tight spots because of one of the most compact gear cases on the market (Makita + Hitachi seem to have the grinders with the smallest gear cases). Next are 2 Fein models one with 10.000 rpm (WSS 14-125) the other with 2500 rpm to 7000 rpm (WSG 13-70E / variable Speed). The WSS is for bigger tasks where the Hitachi is not powerful enough mostly for cutting and grinding, the WSG with slower speed is for 3M cleaning discs, "SC" (surface conditioning) discs, grinding stainless steel etc. Next is a 1000 Watt Makita 9565, i have a wire wheel attached on that one, for more powerful tasks....

...then there is my Bosch GWS 14-125 CE, i think my most powerful tool with 1400 Watt (13 amps) which i use for everything since it also has a slim housing, even slimmer than less powerful competitors models. It quickly remove welds, cuts through steel etc. because of the "Constant electronic" feature. Next to the Bosch are 3 "Suhner" tools, 2 small ones with 10.000rpm (UWC 10) and the other with 7.000 rpm (UWC 7 ). Basically single hand tools which i bought because they look cool

and to have a lighter version of the Fein WSG and a German version of the Hitachi

The rat tail Suhner is a UWF 10 which i only bought because it looks old school and i got a good price

Last bunch: Atlas Copco AGV 16-125. Comfortable rat tail grinder for grinding longer periods. With "Autobalancer". Very low vibration, since i had/have problems with my hands i bought this one. Still sold as "Milwaukee" in Europe. Metabo W8-125: solid machine, good toolless guard adjustment, but i don´t use it that often since it only has 800 Watt (7 amps). Should have bought the 1450 Watt Metabo

...Last but not least: Flex L 1109 FE. I wanted to have this one because it looks old (my favourite design = old

) and it was discontinued in 2012 so i had to have this one, also since the brand "Flex" is synonymous with "angle grinder" like "Hilti" and "rotary hammer" or "Karcher" and "pressure washer". Users of the Festool PS1 jig saw might want to take a closer look at the Flex

Kev · Jun 7, 2013

What's the power lead situation with that Atlas ? Does it have a "plug-it" like connection ?

Holz-Her · Jun 7, 2013

Kev said:
What's the power lead situation with that Atlas ? Does it have a "plug-it" like connection ?

yes, called "Quik-Lok"

neeleman · Jun 16, 2013

Kev said:
Well ... here's the 230 Protool cutting kit in it's bigger than SYS Maxi case, with all of the bits connected.

[attachimg=#1]

[attachimg=#2]

Hi Kev,

Why doesn't the DSC-AGP 230 fit in a SYS MAXI, a SYS 5 or the latest SYS-Midi?
How large is this "weird case" then?
It's a pity it doesn't fit a Classic or T-Loc systainer.
Even when it's taken in separate pieces?

I'am also considering this type of grinder.
Am I right that the AGP 230-26R grinder can be used separately as a normal grinder as well?
Does it come with a normal disc cover as well?

Kev · Jun 18, 2013

Just some other pictures of the big Protool and it's non systainer case (64x46x22cm)

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neeleman · Jun 18, 2013

As I can see from the 2 T-Loc's on top of the DSC case the machine should fit a Systainer Maxi or Max 3 as Protool calls it.
Although I cannot see the necessary height.
Can you measure the height of the original case for me, because it's not listed on the Protool website.

AlexThePalex · Jun 18, 2013

I'm pretty sure the grinder + head is too big for the Sys Maxi.

Kev · Jun 18, 2013

neeleman said:
As I can see from the 2 T-Loc's on top of the DSC case the machine should fit a Systainer Maxi or Max 3 as Protool calls it.
Although I cannot see the necessary height.
Can you measure the height of the original case for me, because it's not listed on the Protool website.

The case height was in my pm to you, 22cm - and it's a very snug fit inside. If you remove the handle you could steal a little back. I believe it'd sit within the largest sys maxi without and padding - unfortunately I don't have one to test fit it.

All said - my fear is this case has been used because the maxi wasn't appropriate.

Kev.

Kev · Jun 18, 2013

Alex said:
I'm pretty sure the grinder + head is too big for the Sys Maxi.

Yeh, I think you're right Alex - looking at it again, the diagonal length is going to be the issue, not the height.

neeleman · Jun 18, 2013

Today I have ordered the DSC diamond grinder and it will be in the house at Friday.
I already have a SYS MAXI from my BS 75 belt sander.
So when I receive the grinder I will try it in the SYS MAXI.

I think Alex is right about the size, otherwise Protool should already have sold it in a SYS MAX 3 (=SYS MAXI).
The height of this SYS MAX 3 is 210 mm. And I think this is an internal measurement.

Kev · Jun 18, 2013

neeleman said:
Today I have ordered the DSC diamond grinder and it will be in the house at Friday.
I already have a SYS MAXI from my BS 75 belt sander.
So when I receive the grinder I will try it in the SYS MAXI.

I think Alex is right about the size, otherwise Protool should already have sold it in a SYS MAX 3 (=SYS MAXI).
The height of this SYS MAX 3 is 210 mm. And I think this is an internal measurement.

Spending more time looking ... if the power cable came out sideways or if it had a plug-it connection, I think it would have been ok in the Maxi - shame!

neeleman · Jun 21, 2013

As expected the DSC doesn't fit a MAXI systainer!
That's a pity because now I'm stuck with a strange looking case instead of all my T-Loc's, some Classics and a Maxi.

Kev · Jun 21, 2013

neeleman said:
As expected the DSC doesn't fit a MAXI systainer!
That's a pity because now I'm stuck with a strange looking case instead of all my T-Loc's, some Classics and a Maxi.

That's a shame - I was really hoping you'd come back with a positive story!