The humble angle grinder, not the most exciting of tools, but a real labour saver. Sparks fly as you cut steel, and the neighbours washing gets coated in a fine dust as you slice through bricks. Its not subtle, but it is useful. Some tools, like routers, are well looked after by their very nature but an angle grinder is different. The essentials of an angle grinder are toughness and durability.

For many years I had a Bosch angle grinder purchased from a local DIY store. I got a free diamond blade and it was perfect for the occasional jobs. But last summer I used the angle grinder for a months worth of roofing. By the end of that time the grinder was feeling the strain. The dust got into the switch and stopped it working, and the case began to creak and feel as if it was coming apart. No doubt caused by all the moving around and continual bashing that is typical, and unavoidable, on a building site.

So recently I purchased a new grinder, the Makita 9554NB 110v. It came complete with a very sturdy case, a diamond cutting disc and a grinding disc. This angle grinder has been designed with heavy use in mind. Makita boast “labyrinth construction protects all ball bearings from dust and debris.” Frankly, I have no idea what labyrinth construction is but I suspect it means it is very hard for the dust to get to the important bits. What I can be sure of is after ceaseless cutting of bricks and tiles, the tool shows no sign of dust penetration into the switch or the motor.

Ergonomically the tool is comfortable to use, with and without the handle. The switch has moved from the top on earlier models to a more comfortable position on the side. Although this makes it slightly easier to turn the grinder off accidentally (but not on; the action of the switch is designed to be harder to turn on than off) it is still an improvement. Spindle lock for disc change is straightforward. Interestingly, Makita have persevered with their blade guard, secured in place by a screw. It is possible to loosen the screw too much when moving the blade guard so that it falls out onto the floor and is lost forever. On the upside, all you need is another screw! Other brands, notably Bosch, use a catch to secure the blade guard which makes it easier to change position but more vulnerable to terminal damage. It is probably reassuring to see Makita sticking to a method of fixing that is more reliable in the long term than trying to save DIYers a couple of precious seconds.

I have only had the Makita 9554 angle grinder a couple of months but it has worked very hard in that time. What we have then is a solid, dependable and dust proof tool. Exactly what an angle grinder should be. And the best bit of all, it cost £39.13 plus Vat online. For that money, there is surely no reason to buy any other 115mm angle grinder.

Cordless angle grinders

The equivalent Lithium-Ion 115mm angle grinder from Makita costs £259 plus VAT online. Obviously it could be purchased a lot cheaper without batteries but I am dubious of the worth of a cordless grinder in site conditions. Cordless tools have a comfort zone in which they will produce good performance. For example, a drill driver is excellent when screwing into softwood or drilling small holes. Our Lithium-Ion circular saw will slice 12mm plywood all day long. But take those tools to the next level and even Lithium-Ion batteries struggle. The same drill driver hates powering auger bits through joists. The circular saw dies when up against 22mm chipboard. In essence, battery power fails at the top end. And for me, an angle grinder is always working at the top end of its load. The strain on the battery is constant and unforgiving and will surely drain the battery in no time. Finally, what is the point in paying hundreds of pounds for an angle grinder that you can only use on soft masonry? If Makita want to dispute this, send one to TBE and we will road test. Until then, its 110v all the way.

What, Where, How Much?

Makita 9554NBKD 115mm Angle Grinder 110/240v

Bore Size: 22mm Spindle size: M14x2mm

No Load Speed: 10,000rpm

Input wattage:710w

Net Weight: 1.4kg

Wheel size: 115mm

(Source www.makitauk.com)

Price £39.13 plus VAT

We got ours from

www.angliatoolcentre.co.uk