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Good 4.5-5" air grinder light and powerful?

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5K views 28 replies 10 participants last post by  Sberry  
#1 · (Edited)
Looking to get a new one. I like the small aircat we got at work. Says its 1 hp and it's very light and nimble. Looking to see other options. We use the ingersoll rand 3345 also. There nice but I'd like more power. we got some mac ones too that have good power but heavy and exhaust blows with uber high pressure right onto you're hand. Insulated is a big plus since it's getting colder. The boss got a new cp that he says was 200$ and it seems smooth and strong
here's that aircat
 
#5 ·
Look on the head, there should be a grease fitting for a special grease gun. If greased once a month or so, depending on usage, it will last quite a while.
 
#6 ·
Just curious - why do you guys all prefer air over electric?

Over here in the UK, pretty much everyone uses 110v grinders, 800w to 2200 watts for a 4.5-5". You can do a LOT of damage with 2.2kw going through a 4.5" disc :D

I see a few guys in australia prefer air over electric as well.
 
#9 ·
Aircat has a ~2.5 HP 5" grinder for around $350 on Amazon, but you need like 60+ CFM to run it. I have a couple of CP 4" air grinders, about 0.8HP or so, and they are nice, but the exhaust blows out the front, which is not good if you plan to weld in that area. I got them for $80 brand new, so they were a steal.
 
#10 ·
Oscar has a nice grinder collection there, but pay attention when he says they use a lot of air. If you've got 10 guys working in the shop and everyone is at the air, a big HP grinder might be the tipping bucket for your air supply.
 
#13 · (Edited)
Thanks; these were the ones I stole on ebay. $80 or $90 each, brand spanking new. Compact and light enough to use in one hand, and pretty good power. With a Cubitron II hard grinding disc it can easily tackle tough grinding. The handle is hollow though; I wish it was solid. I might pop off the cap and fill it with concrete.

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This is the Aircat 5" grinder I found on Amazon. 2.3HP. Pretty good price for that power rating! I might be tempted to buy one before they jack up the price just like everything else. The mfg info says "10 CFM". Fool's answer. :)

BTW, a 5" air grinder with a true 90psi backing it while under load, @ 12,000 RPMs is heaps better than a 4.5" @ 11,000 RPMs ! 21% Increase in circumferential speed at the edge of the disc! That reminds me, I've been meaning to order the Ceramic abrasives from Pearl to see if they're any good.
 
#14 ·
The CP are a deal for sure. I mainly use 1/4 hard wheel for everything humanly possible and then I like the air on wire wheel and cut off. Some pricing has got more competitive, at one time those cost 200 maybe?
Those 3 are my staples in air grind. The right angle is generic, can be found under a couple brands, I use it for wire and cut off and is one of the most durable tools I ever use. I have 3 of my own, have used others and am NOT a hobby type. Had a guy run one steady for 3 months, have never so much as had to tighten a screw on one.
 

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#15 ·
I should get a new long reach but,,, I really dont find myself backed in as much as I used to. As for the wheels,,, I been using HF and the 10 pack from the farm store were a dollar a piece, I think maybe 150 now. Once in a while I run a couple wheels off on a job but they go a long way and only time I can really tell some difference is if I am really leaning on them and even then its not night and day, I have ran them side by side,,,, to me simply not worth the worryu and the effort, so I put one or 2 more on in a month,,,,
I get anxiety attack if I see the stack going down too far and makes it almost painless to replenish.
Now,,, I say this with respect,,, nothing wrong with top end and quality tools. Nothing at all but along the way we found some gems we lean on and in the end like as good or better. I am not a collector, wouldnt have it unless I needed it and really like taking the pain out of getting what I need when I need it with the modern economy tool. My go to drill is now a 50$ one from Walmart as is the grinder. There are 2 cheaper grinding wheels, one better than the other. Replaced my worn drivers with HF, 30 new ones for 50$ and like as good or better than the Klein.
Bought a roll of solid wire from Menards the other day and a spool of alum from Home Depot. 30 yrs ago would have bought the best from the jobbers but all that cost now and is so time consuming and I aint blowin the guy at the house just so he might gimme some deal.
 
#17 ·
I went thru a bucket full of "better" brand grinders and now in the last 15 yrs or so have used 4 and maybe on 5 now of the BD. bought 2 on sale for 20 and other 3 full price at 30 and recently opened my last new one when the spindle lock failed on one, I should salvage from another, I fixed a switch on one ran another 3 years every day, not replace but fix,,, and never have to replace a cord. Cost me 100 bucks for grinders for 15 years, brand cost me that every year.