Need a good electric die grinder...

[Hohn]

My general opinion:

The faster is spins, the better.

The higher the amperage, the better.

The thinner the end is, the better.


I like the Bosch I looked at, but how does it compare to Milwaukee and DeWalt units? I like my Red tools, and the only Yellow I have is a saw.

Any recommendations? My air compressor is too small to run a d. g. for extended periods (head porting), and it's cheaper for my to get an electric d. g. than to upgrade to a bigger compressor that I really don't need.

thanks.

Justin

 

[Nate]

I didn't know they made electric die grinders. I have a Craftsman air one, was like $90.

 

[Hohn]

I don't have the space or money for the size compressor it takes to truly use a die grinder non-stop. Heck, most 80 Gal compressors can BARELY sustain a die grinder under load indefinitely. Forget 60gal.

Never mind my cheapie little Lowe's compressor. It does pretty well for short term usage, though.

jh

 

[RKerner]

I have a Makita, circa mid eighties, that gets the job done. For the most part, it's the bits that are the most important part, then how many bearings are on the end of the shaft. Better bits mean less pressure on the bearings and then the grinder lasts longer.

 

[Hohn]

I have a Makita, circa mid eighties, that gets the job done. For the most part, it's the bits that are the most important part, then how many bearings are on the end of the shaft. Better bits mean less pressure on the bearings and then the grinder lasts longer.

If I'm using the ~$25 carbide burrs from Eastwood, am I going to have problems? They seem like decent burrs. The worked well modding my turbine housing.

 

[Nate]

Yeah I have a 30 gallon compressor and it works fine with the die grinder. If I'm running it continuous for a while I have to let the compressor pump up, but I'm not in a rush or anything.

I don't have the space or money for the size compressor it takes to truly use a die grinder non-stop. Heck, most 80 Gal compressors can BARELY sustain a die grinder under load indefinitely. Forget 60gal.



Never mind my cheapie little Lowe's compressor. It does pretty well for short term usage, though.



jh

 

[nickleinonen]

i've got several cheap air die grinders [2 sub compact ones, one regular compact one and a 90° compact one] they were all purchased from a discount tool place [$11. 99cdn each for the subcompact ones] and they work pretty well for the abuse i give them. when it breaks, toss it and get another one. my 60gallon comp runs them very well, and my old 25 gallon ran them ok, but did need to let the comp recover every so often

 

[bkroupa]

I look at it this way, electric 1/3 to 1/5 hp vs a 5hp air compressor running WFO,,no contest

I have a Makita that's 15 yrs old & it's been worked. My dad has the Sears Craftsman that's at least 30 yrs old that he & I both used until I moved out & got my own. It's still runnng strong. The Makita has a slightlt slimmer neck.

 

[JOdell]

I use my ROTO-ZIP as a die grinder. it is variable speed. It works real good. -Jason

 

[WCPoe]

Bosch OK

Hohn, I have a Bosch. Had it a long time. I don't recall my model number but it looks like their current one in the link below.



http://www.boschtools.com/tools/tools-detail.htm?H=175975&G=58940&I=55012



The carbide burrs have worked great on steel for me but load up on aluminum.



Just my 2 cents.

 

[EBung]

I have a Makita it works real good with carbide burrs when grinding cast(head porting) or aluminum.

 

[Nate]

Oh so your looking for a dremel basically then? I was thinking more like this:

http://froogle.google.com/froogle_c...=Search+Froogle&oi=froogler&scoring=mrd&hl=en

 

[nickleinonen]

Oh so your looking for a dremel basically then?

i think more or less yes, but in the 1/4" varity and more power than a dremel

 

[Hohn]

Well, sort of a dremel. That's basically what an ELECTRIC die grinder is-- a big rotary tool.

Ever tried head porting with a Dremel?

I have two AIR die grinders, and they work well for what they are. But my compressor can't handle using them continuously for porting cast iron at high loads. They're fine for using Scotch Brite wheels or 2" or 3" sanding wheels and even some actual grinding. After all, I did my turbo with an air die grinder.

But an electric is better suited to what I want. For one, it's heavier and more stable, and will produce better results when head porting and carving in general. The longer neck on an electric unit allows you to use a shorter burr and still have good reach into the ports.

You can't get that with an air unit; instead you have to use a 6" burr which is terribly unstable and wobbles like a... ... thing that wobbles really bad.

So what I want is a LONG THIN necked electric rotary grinder with variable speed and lots of power.


I was REALLY impressed with THIS makita from Tool Barn:
http://www.toolbarn.com/product/makita/GD0800C/

Justin

 

[Nate]

It is possible to get one of those that accepts dremel bits? My Dremel is starting to crap out (sparks and won't spin fast), I'm sure because I've been to "heavy duty" with it.

 

[RKerner]

You should be able to get an 1/8" collett to allow using Dremel bits in a 1/4" mandrel.



1/8" Milwaukee collett

 

[nickleinonen]

... The longer neck on an electric unit allows you to use a shorter burr and still have good reach into the ports.



You can't get that with an air unit...

sorta like this??

-



costs about the same as electric...

 

[Hohn]

You should be able to get an 1/8" collett to allow using Dremel bits in a 1/4" mandrel.

1/8" Milwaukee collett

That's not the problem.

The problem is trying to use 1/4" Burrs in a Dremel. . which can't be done.


Nick, I saw some pneumatic long nose die grinders like the one you linked, but most seem really cheaply made, regardless of price.

Eastwood has a cheapie Astro Pneumatic that's STILL ~$100.

I figure I could get quality AND eliminate compressor shortcomings by going electric.

 

[LesStallings]

For years I used an electric die grinder. Eventually the bearings go out and the windings tend to get hot. Metal filings get in the motor and play havoc. Air grinders are by far the better way to go, but I understand the compressor limitations.



Three suggestions regardless of the motive force:



1) Be sure that when using a cutoff wheel that the wheel is rated for the speed of the grinder.



2) Frequently dip the burr in ATF when working on aluminum. That will keep the burr from loading up.



3) Always wear hearing protection when grinding. I now have a slight hearing loss in the high frequency range. I'm a positive it is due to the many, many hours over many years of porting cylinder heads. Do yourself a favor and stick those ear plugs in!

 

[LEggers]

I am a purchase agent for a large company in the Seattle area. We use the Dewalt model DW887

We go through allot of them but my guys beet the crap out of them. Many times in the past we have tried other brands. They failed allot faster and in some cases cost more.

We always ended up going back to the Dewalt product because it seams to last longer for what we use it for.

#ad




If you have any specific questions let me know.