Five good medium-sized grinders with mains power

Not every master is ready to pay a tidy sum for a prestigious brand tool, so many choose inexpensive grinders, which include DWT WS 13-180 D. Although this Angle grinder does not shine with power (a 1300-watt engine gives 800 watts of useful power), but this is quite enough for relatively simple tasks.

The characteristics of the engine, the gear ratio of the gearbox and the dimensions of the protective casing allow the use of cutting discs with a diameter of 180 mm, as well as grinding wheels of the same size and brushes up to 75 mm across. Therefore, the capabilities of the DWT grinder are quite enough to cut pipes or corners for the manufacture of metal structures, remove rust from them or clean the seams after welding — that is, to cope with all the work that needs to be done to build a fence, gate or some metal shelving.

The Angle grinder DWT WS 13-180 D is light (3.6 kg), and therefore it is convenient to work with it. One of the features of this model is a D-shaped bracket on the rear handle. It is useful from the point of view of protecting fingers, but sometimes it can interfere with work if you need to get into some hard-to-reach places.

DWT angle grinders are a good and inexpensive entry—level tool that is appropriate to use in a home workshop or on a construction site. Among them there are compact "babies" for 125-millimetre disks, like DWT WS 08-125, and such powerful and large devices as the 2200-watt DWT WS 22-230 T.

If you have no preconceptions about low-cost DWT equipment, then the products of this brand should be considered when choosing power tools and equipment for home, cottage and garage.

The AEG WS 21-180 E grinder can be safely called the "golden mean" in the world of angle grinders. It is average in size and weight (4.7 kg), average in power (2100 watts), and even in cost, this model falls into the average price category. What is it good for? Actually, its advantage lies precisely in the fact that it is so balanced in price and characteristics.

However, "average" and "mediocre" are not synonyms. In terms of quality, it is impossible to complain about the AEG tool. This is a strong, sound and reliable technique, made with an eye to professionals and demanding amateurs. This grinder has a well-thought-out design, which ensures a long service life of the tool in difficult operating conditions. For example, it has excellent dust protection (closed-type ball bearings are used, which are less clogged with dirt and last longer) and an efficient motor cooling system. The stator and rotor of the motor are generously filled with epoxy to protect the windings from abrasive particles that can get inside the housing during metal processing or concrete sawing. Of the electronic "lotions", there is only an inrush current limiter available, which ensures a smooth start.

There are many other good models among the AEG USM that may be of interest to builders and metalworking specialists. For example, it is worth looking at AEG WS 21-230 DMS, which allows you to work with abrasive wheels with a diameter of 230 mm, or a miniature 1000-watt AEG WS 10-125 SK for 125 mm discs.

The Bosch GWS 22-180 H Angle grinder is equipped with a powerful 2200-watt motor (of which 1500 watts is useful power) and a reliable gearbox with strong gears. Therefore, it can be confidently used for any hard work. This tool perfectly handles with all types of metal processing. With its help, you can cut, grind and polish metal or process it with the help of paint brushes.

Reviews of grinding machines confirm that the "blue" Bosch line is a durable and reliable technique. This USM, for example, is perfectly adapted for harsh working conditions. It has a double bearing seal, which does not allow them to become clogged with dust and dirt, and a reinforced armature winding reservation, which protects the engine from damage by abrasive particles.

The line of Bosch grinding machines is so large that you can find a grinder for every taste and purse there. As an alternative, for example, you can take almost the same Bosch GWS 22-230 H Professional 0601882103, which differs from the model in question only in that it is designed for 230-millimetre circles, or consider buying an expensive, but "fancy" Bosch GWS 22-180 LVI Professional 0601890D00, which has an anti-vibration system, a safety clutch and the "soft start" function.

The Makita GA7060 Angle grinder will interest everyone who needs a reliable and performant tool. It is equipped with a powerful motor (2200 W), which transmits torque to the spindle through a gearbox with all-metal bevel gears. The strength of the nodes and mechanisms allows you to put pressure on the ear during operation without fear of breaking it. A grinder with a high–quality cutting wheel can easily cope with metal up to 8-10 mm thick. The engine power reserve is sufficient for other types of steel processing. This USM will be equally effective and performant both when performing flat-grinding work and when stripping metal with wire brushes.

No worse than with metalworking, the Angle grinder handles with construction tasks. It has good labyrinth seals that effectively protect bearing assemblies from contamination, and a well-thought-out cooling system that does not allow dust to clog parts and mechanisms. Therefore, this USM can be used in the construction industry (for example, for crushing concrete and stone). The only type of work for which it is not suitable is grinding concrete, because the manufacturer explicitly prohibits installing diamond cups on the grinder.

The Makita GA7060 Angle grinder is a tool for strong people, because it weighs too much — as much as 5.3 kg (there are many USM of this class, which are 0.5 — 1 kg lighter). If you need a lighter machine, then among the Makita Angle grinders you can find a tool with the right characteristics.

The same USM is available in a version for 230-millimetre circles. It is called the Makita GA9060 and differs from the model in question by the gear ratio, which allows you to work with enlarged discs.

The first emotion that arises in everyone who picks up the Angle grinder Metabo WEA 19-180 Quick RT is the delight of its low weight. It weighs only 2.7 kg — almost two times less than other grinding machines of this class. This USM, of course, is not the most powerful (1900 watts of power consumption and 1240 watts of output), but its lightness and compactness make it one of the most interesting models among medium—sized Angle grinders designed to work with cutting circles with a diameter up to 180 mm. Thanks to a very small gearbox, which almost does not protrude beyond the spindle, the USM can make cuts as deep as large grinders designed for discs with a diameter of 230 mm.

The manufacturer did not skimp on mechanisms and electronic modules, "packing" almost everything that could be thought of into a compact and convenient case. The grinder is equipped with a "soft start" function and electronics that maintain constant revolutions under load. The safety clutch instantly stops the spindle when the disk is jammed, and the anti-vibration system (which consists of a balancer and a vibration-absorbing handle) reduces fatigue during operation. Keyless disk replacement also brings a lot of benefits, which saves a lot of time when performing work that requires frequent change of equipment.

"Full hardware" affected the cost of the grinder — it is far from cheap. If you want to save money, you can buy almost exactly the same Metabo WE 19-180 Quick RT 601088000, which costs $20 less due to the absence of an anti-vibration system, or choose one of many other Metabo angle grinders.