So I'm looking to get an angle grinder (not too much$$) since I don't have air in the garage. What options should I look for and are there pros-cons to different diameter wheels?
I'm looking to do basic grinding and cutting of various auto body parts/panels.
Thought I'd post here before hitting the Lowe's/Home Depot.
Thanks....

I have a 4 1/2" DeWalt that I use for my flap discs ... and a Harbor Freight one that I keep a grinding wheel on.

4 1/2 Milwaukee electric. Hands down! I have been beating the **** out of mine for 10+ years. Still works fine. On many occations I had to wear my welding gloves because I got her so hot I could burn my hands. :metal:

Just my personal experience, not meant to be a slam on any one company.


I just sh!t canned my $55 Dewalt 4.5" grinder, it lasted a little more than a year. I now have a $19.99 Harbour Freight special that so far is holding up pretty well. We'll see where I am in a year...

i've got an old craftsman for about 15years or so can't kill it

don't expect to be cutting too many body panels with a 41/2 inch grinder for anything more than a real rough crude cut// you'll be better of getting an inexpensive jig saw to cut and fit body panels with any type of presision

think where lucky here theres a company selling real cheap tools the small and big grinder would be 40 dollar here together even put in extra brushes for the motor .
i have the habbit when i need a tool and cant find it in my shed fast enough to go out and buy another one just to safe time

I have also found it easier to have 2 grinders, one with my cutoff wheel and one with the grinding wheel. Saves alot of time and aggravation from having to swap them back and forth. Just my 2 cents.

We actually have 3 different grinders not counting the die grinder or the air cut-off tool. We have a chicago Pnumatics air grinder that is about as old as me that still runs like a top, but you need electric. For that we run a makita that we have had for years that we just can't kill, its only like a 3 amp or something but its a hard worker and then we have a dewalt 9 or 10 amp I think that we bought last year, the dewalt puts the makita to shame, but it should, I just don't know about the reliability on the dewalt, haven't had it long enough yet. I do know that with a wire wheel on it it can take a heck of a chunk out of your thumb!

I have a Dewalt 4.5", a Hitachi 4.5" and a Makita 4", and they are all good. I keep a cutting disk on one, a grinding flap disk on another, and a wire wheel on the third. The Makita is the oldest and hasn't given me any trouble and the Dewalt seems good enough, but I really like the Hitachi. Nothing really specific, just a matter of taste.