How to choose a grinder: the most important tool features, ratings and reviews
An angle grinder (angle grinder), consisting of a motor and an abrasive wheel, appeared in the USSR in the 1970s. The instrument was supplied by the Republic of Bulgaria, so the name “Bulgarian” was assigned to it among the people. Modern angle grinders are used wherever hard materials are required: leveling concrete and stone, cutting metal and asbestos cement, sanding wood and plastic. What are the parameters to choose the right tool for work at home and in the country?
What parameters are important when choosing a grinder
Working disk size
The diameter of the disc is the main indicator of the grinder's ability to perform certain operations. The larger the size of the cutting wheel, the more powerful and faster the grinder should be. The diameter of the hole in the circle (landing size) is standard: 22.2 mm.
For angle grinders, five standard types of discs are produced, differing in size:
- Disc with a diameter of 115 mm. Designed for cutting materials of small thickness, for processing (grinding, polishing) small surfaces. The maximum cutting depth is approx. 30 mm.
- Disc with a diameter of 125 mm. One of the most popular sizes for home use. The cutting depth is about 40 mm. Under this size, a large number of various nozzles and additional equipment are produced.
- Disc with a diameter of 150 mm. Most often used in installation work as an auxiliary tool. Running size for cutting metal and plastic pipes for plumbing and electrical work.
- Disc with a diameter of 180 mm. Semi professional size. Assumes work in the "non-stop" mode. The cutting edge is 50 mm. It is widely used in repair and construction work.
- Disc diameter 230 mm. It is used in professional grinders, with a power of up to 2.5 kW. It is practically not used for domestic needs - the devices are too bulky.
Attention: you can not install a disc of a larger diameter on the grinder spindle than is allowed by the instructions.
There are dozens of circles for sale for various types of work.
Angle grinder motor power
The more engine power, the more force the tool develops, the more dense materials it is able to cut. As the power increases, the weight of the device increases. The industry produces tools with motors from 0.5 to 3 kW. For home and summer cottages, it is recommended to choose an angle grinder with an engine power of 0.8 to 1.2 kW. A more powerful mechanism is more difficult to hold in your hands, it consumes more electricity during operation.
A professional tool is designed for long-term work, it has a higher operational resource. If large-scale construction is planned at the dacha, cutting steel bars, assembling formwork, you can use a tool with a motor up to 1.5 kW.
Disc rotation speed
In grinders, the speed of rotation of the working shaft varies from 2.5 to 12 thousand revolutions per minute. The operating range is in the range from 3000 to 6000 rpm. As a rule, the manufacturer sets the optimal rotation speed for his machine, depending on the power of the motor, and lays this parameter at the design stage.
High-end angle grinders are equipped with a speed control of the working shaft. This adjustment is especially relevant when changing discs frequently. For example, when rotating a disk with a diameter of 230 mm at a frequency of 10 thousand revolutions per minute, it will be very difficult to hold the tool in your hands.
Additional features
Additional features offered by the manufacturer will make working with the grinder convenient and safe:
- Smooth engine start. A very useful feature - the disc spins up to operating speed gently, without an "explosive" jerk at the start.
- Automatic disk balancing. Reduces the vibration of the tool in the hands. Especially helps in work when using unevenly worn disc.
- Number of handles. For household grinders, as a rule, there are two threaded holes and one handle that can be rearranged. This is very convenient if you need to change your hand while working to get to a bottleneck.
- Rotation speed adjustment. The electronic circuit maintains a constant speed of rotation of the motor shaft, regardless of the load on the disk. The work goes faster, the motor and gearbox will last longer.
- Has a dust protection system. An important feature for concrete work - the gearbox and shaft are protected from the ingress of cement particles, increasing the service life of the tool.
- Possibility of connection of the construction vacuum cleaner. Along with personal protective equipment - a respirator, goggles and gloves - it increases the comfort and safety of work. The workplace will remain clean.
- Start button lock. During long periods of operation, such as grinding or polishing, the operator does not need to keep the button pressed in the working position.
- Automatic power off. If the light is turned off during operation, the machine de-energizes the tool so that it does not start itself when the power supply is restored.
A good angle grinder is packed in a case, equipped with a key and discs
How to choose a grinder for home or garden correctly
In order to make the right choice of a grinding machine that meets all the necessary requirements, it is necessary to determine the tasks that will be assigned to it. Most importantly: determine what you will be cutting with the angle grinder, and how often.
As practice shows, household grinders with a working disk size of 125 mm and a power of up to 1.5 kW are best suited for home and summer cottages. Such machines are light in weight and dimensions, easy to operate, equipped with additional features. Under the circle diameter of 125 mm, a lot of additional nozzles have been released, turning the angle grinder into a universal tool.
The table shows the comparative characteristics of some brands of angle grinders from different companies on the market for electric tools.
Table: technical data for angle grinders with a disc diameter of 125 mm
| Trademark | Caliber | Energomash | Sturm | Resource | Hammer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model | LNA 125/750K | UShM-90125 | AG9512 | RSHU-125 | USM 600A |
| price, rub. | 860 | 1000 | 930 | 900 | 990 |
| Warranty period, months | 12 | 7 | 7 | 12 | 12 |
| Service life, years | 3 | 3 | 3 | 10 | n.a. |
| Voltage, V | 220±10% | 230 | 230 | 220~230 | 220~230 |
| frequency Hz | 50±5% | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50/60 |
| Power, W | 750 | 1100 | 750 | 600 | 600 |
| Rotation speed, rpm | 12000 | 11000 | 11000 | 11000 | 11000 |
| Declared weight, kg | 2,2 | 2,3 | 2,2 | 2 | 2,1 |
| Weight measured, kg | 2,12 | 2,25 | 2 | 1,8 | 1,9 |
| Power cord length measured, m | 3 | 1,53 | 2 | 2,5 | 2,56 |
| Appointment according to instructions | For cutting and grinding metal | For cutting and grinding metal | For cutting and grinding metal | n/a | Cutting, roughing, grinding of metal and stone materials |
| Not allowed | Work on stone, tile, concrete, asbestos materials | Stone and tile work | Stone, tile, wet sanding | n/a | Cutting stone materials, polishing |
| Working angle, degrees | 10–15 | 15 | 15 | 15–30 | 15–30 |
| Recommended work / rest time, min | 15 / 5 | 15–20 / 5; no more than 20 hours per week |
15–20 / 5; no more than 20 hours per week |
15 / 15 | n/a / 30 |
Rating of popular angle grinder models
Table: rating of popular angle grinder models
| Model (Brand/Factory) | Disc diameter (mm) | Power, kWt) | Number of revolutions (thousand rpm) | Weight, kg) | Additional features | Price, rub.) | A comment |
| 125 | 1 | 4,0–11,0 | 2,5 |
|
3 800 | Reliable and inexpensive tool for home and garden. | |
| Makita 9555 HN (Japan/Romania) | 125 | 0,71 | 10,0 | 1,9 | Not | 3 600 | Quality tool for home and professionals, low price of a well-known brand. |
| Metabo W 2000 (Germany/China) | 230 | 2 | 6,6 | 5,8 | Protection against unintentional start | 6 900 | Powerful tool for heavy work on stone and concrete. |
| "Interskol" UShM-125 (Russia/China) | 125 | 1,1 | 3,0–10,0 | 2,2 |
|
4 100 | Inexpensive tool, useful features, enough power for any work at home and in the country. |
| DeWALT D 28136 (USA/China) | 125 | 1,5 | 2,8–10,0 | 2,6 |
|
7 800 | Powerful and reliable tool of medium size. Suitable for professionals. Expensive for occasional housework. |
| SPEC-BSHU-1050 (Russia / China) | 125 | 1,1 | 11,0 | 2,3 | Not | 2 100 | A cheap tool for home, summer cottage or for one-time work (it's not a pity to throw it away). High price/quality ratio. |
| Bosch GWS 850 (Germany / Russia) | 125 | 0,85 | 2,8–11,0 | 1,9 |
|
5 300 | Low-power angle grinder for simple work. High price, poor workmanship. |
| Makita 9069 (Japan/China) | 230 | 2,0 | 6,6 | 4,2 | The handle has three positions | 5 700 | Powerful and reliable tool for difficult jobs. Suitable for professionals. |
| Energomash UShM-9512P (Russia/China) | 125 | 1,0 | 4,0–11,0 | 2,5 |
|
3 800 | A good tool for home and garden. Not suitable for continuous operation, overheats. |
| Sparky M 850E (Germany/Bulgaria) | 125 | 0,85 | 3,0–10,0 | 2,4 |
|
3 700 | Real "Bulgarian", made in Bulgaria. Reliable. Suitable for small jobs around the house and in the country. |
Photo gallery: LBM from the rating
Angle grinder STURM AG9512P Angle grinder Makita 9555 HN 
Angle grinder Metabo W 2000 
UShM "Interskol" UShM-125 
Angle grinder DeWALT D 28136 Angle grinder SPEC-BSHU-1050 
angle grinder Bosch GWS 850 angle grinder Makita 9069 angle grinder "Energomash" angle grinder-9512P 
