Die Grinder Recommendations
- Thread starter JC Daniel
- Start date
https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200655238_200655238 Good compromise between the very expensive ones and all the cheap junk out there. Light and powerful. Much cheaper elsewhere.
sprint_9
Rookie
I bought a Sanborn 90 degree one from Menards when I started my truck. I mainly used it and occasionally another older Snap On and Mac one. That Sanborn would run circles around the other two, used a lot less air too, not sure if its just because it was new or what. I feel like I used it a lot and I loved it. I did have to take the head off it once to clean out the gears as it had locked up from a piece of debris, I cleaned and lubed it and its been running like a champ since.
I noticed the Sanborn looks like a new design now so it might not be as good as what I have. I also would be tempted by an IR like TK shared.
I noticed the Sanborn looks like a new design now so it might not be as good as what I have. I also would be tempted by an IR like TK shared.
I gotta be honest here, my mac tool cut off wheel broke a few months back so in a pinch I went to china freight to get a new one. Not a die grinder, but a cut off wheel that wont bog down. I saw that they had a new "chief" brand, well I snagged up a few of those tools and couldn't be anymore happy with the performance to price value. Very surprised actually.
www.harborfreight.com
Harbor Freight Tools – Quality Tools at Discount Prices Since 1977
Harbor Freight buys their top quality tools from the same factories that supply our competitors. We cut out the middleman and pass the savings to you!
www.harborfreight.com
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Jim C
Oldtimer
you know i have had quite a few harbor freight air tools over the years and i have to say that while not the most powerful, they have lasted quite along time for the price. my angle grinders i had from them would last me about 4 years of daily use with no oil. at maybe 20 bucks you really cant beat that. with that said, if you are looking for a tool that has some balls then i would not go that route. i have one of their 2" 90deg orbital sanders. that thing is great. we use it here every day. super for getting into tight spots or small items. looks like an angle grinder but has a 2" pad.
Chris_Hamilton
Trying to be the best me, I can be
Sioux is a pretty good brand. Used to be made in USA but now in Taiwan, but still good quality. Sioux is part of the SnapOn family so they aren't junk. I have several including a big one like the Desoutter MP&C posted. 1hp. Big one has so much power it wants to rotate out of your hand when you start it. 
Sioux stuff has held up well for me over the years. I do oil my stuff but just a drop. Marvel AIr tool oil, never had any contamination issues. CP and IR have also held up well for me. But the plastic bodied Sioux are my go to ones nowadays.
Sioux stuff has held up well for me over the years. I do oil my stuff but just a drop. Marvel AIr tool oil, never had any contamination issues. CP and IR have also held up well for me. But the plastic bodied Sioux are my go to ones nowadays.
metalman
Oldtimer
Sioux is the best straight die grinder I own, used it very often for over 20 years, still strong. That said I have 1 Husky (Home Depot) rt angle that been working for about 10 years that I didn't expect to last that long. Problem with HD is I think they change manufacturers a lot and I wouldn't expect the same again.
Air saw (reciprocating) is another story. Years ago I bought CP's best unit ($$$) and really didn't use it often or that hard. It broke and couldn't be fixed due to obsolete parts. So I went cheap with a HF unit, thought might be ok for the occasional light things I need them for, NOT.
The HF air saw ended up inside the wood stove last winter. Found out I can melt Chinese aluminum in there, good to know.
I replaced it with an Aircat. time will tell on that but it does have some ballz.
Air saw (reciprocating) is another story. Years ago I bought CP's best unit ($$$) and really didn't use it often or that hard. It broke and couldn't be fixed due to obsolete parts. So I went cheap with a HF unit, thought might be ok for the occasional light things I need them for, NOT.
The HF air saw ended up inside the wood stove last winter. Found out I can melt Chinese aluminum in there, good to know
.I replaced it with an Aircat. time will tell on that but it does have some ballz.
Chris_Hamilton
Trying to be the best me, I can be
Another thing, IMO you want to get a plastic bodied one if you are going to use it for extended periods of time. Especially in cool/cold weather. All metal bodied ones will literally ice up on the body of the tool when used for any length of time. Especially near the exhaust. Even with gloves on using one like that starts to get very uncomfortable.