Look Out Makita

[adam t]

If any of you have been disapointed with the performance of your Makita variable speed grinders lately I have good news. Bosch Power Tools has come out with some new toys just for stone fabricators and tile setters. They really gave some thought to these new tools. For example the new grinders have oversized brushes so you aren't constantly replacing them and the reverse air flow blows the dust away from the tool instead of sucking it into the armature. I don't know how they can do a two year warrantee but don't lick a gift horse in the mouth.
They gave me several samples of their new variable speed grinders and a tile saw. I abused the grinder like a rented mule and it held up great. Still testing the tile saw. I will be sending more samples out to a few to members of the SFA. If you are interested in more info please go to the Rockstar Diamond sponsor page.

[Mark Smith]

Cool. I believe metabo has a 3 year warranty on their stone tools.

[Andy Ross]

Cool. I believe metabo has a 3 year warranty on their stone tools.

[Ken Lago]

Mark, cmon man

[Mark Smith]

Just sayin > http://www.metabo-service.com/en/

[Omni Cubed Larry]

Hey Adam, just an FYI.
You "look" a gift horse in the mouth, you don't "lick" it. Unless you want horse breath.

I only know this because my wife used to say it that way too.
Here is where the saying comes from...

No one wants a sick horse with bad teeth. They require digging a big hole when it dies. So in the old days, you would look in the horses mouth for bad teeth before you bought the horse. It was considered very rude to do that if someone was giving you a horse.

[adam t]

It's just a finger of speech.

[Darryl Miller]

[luke getz]

that "finger of speech" you are talking about adam... is that also known as digital communication?

[Stone Dude]

Metabo is good for tossing in the dumpster.

Never been a fan of Bosch, but I'll check them out.

The Milwaukee 5540 is still the toughest and versatile SOB I have used.

[topshop]

I actually agree with Cameron on this.

[Omni Cubed Larry]

It's just a finger of speech.

Good one!

Just don't put that finger in the horses mouth either.

[Nick]

Metabo is good for tossing in the dumpster.

Never been a fan of Bosch, but I'll check them out.

My thoughts exactly. Metabos are junk if they had a lifetime warranty, havent had a bosch in years, but they never stood up to even older school makitas. The 4 1/2" makita variable speed is the best small grinder on the planet, no exceptions. It would take years of real world productivity to change that, not stats etc. Calling out that machine is a bit much considering there is not a small grinder that is even in the same league presently, it isn't like a little better than all others, the gap is huge...

[ash20ash]

Metabo is good for tossing in the dumpster.

Never been a fan of Bosch, but I'll check them out.

The Milwaukee 5540 is still the toughest and versatile SOB I have used.

Could not have said it better.

Metabo is less than a homeowners version. I'll but a Ryobi before I buy a cheap ars metabo again

[luke getz]

the best ones I have found were the old milwaukee variable speed, it was almost bulletproof! I think I had one that lasted me 6 years before I had to get anything done to it. and I am pretty hard on grinders. but they dont make them anymore I even tried to find some used ones, but I could not find any.

currently we are using a variety of grinders - fein is pretty decent but expensive, flex seems to be ok, but they tend to heat up quickly, I was not impressed with metabo, we use the makita polisher, but I have not tried one of their grinders lately. maybe I will try one.

[stud boy]

We use the Makita variable speed grinders also. Great machine, we've never had any issue with any Makita. Drill, impact drives, chop saws, radio, all great. Have a single speed Makita, probably had cobwebs on it lol

[Chris Mills]

Metabo is good for tossing in the dumpster.

Never been a fan of Bosch, but I'll check them out.

My thoughts exactly. Metabos are junk if they had a lifetime warranty, havent had a bosch in years, but they never stood up to even older school makitas. The 4 1/2" makita variable speed is the best small grinder on the planet, no exceptions. It would take years of real world productivity to change that, not stats etc. Calling out that machine is a bit much considering there is not a small grinder that is even in the same league presently, it isn't like a little better than all others, the gap is huge...

X2

[skulptor007]

My Metabo's got hot and when dead hard to get anyone to repair, both v/speed grinder and polishers. My Milwakee's dropped in rpms when under load, kinda long too. My Makita's have been getting hot too lately but they said send them back and have replaced or repaired all of them so far, about 4 of them, but still the best 4.5" v/speed around.
Flex 4.5 polisher is still good after 5 yrs.
I got the Bosch impact/driver screw guns and I'm impressed, as good as my Makita's so far.
Accuglide rail saw is awesome!

[Terry Roberts]

Besides changing the brushes and blowing it dry, what else can you do to extend the life of the 9565cv? I fab less than 20 hours week and can only get about 6mo before its dead

[Stone Dude]

Besides changing the brushes and blowing it dry, what else can you do to extend the life of the 9565cv? I fab less than 20 hours week and can only get about 6mo before its dead

all my machines eventually get taken apart, switches replaced or cleaned, all contacts cleaned/sometimes sanded to expose fresh copper. The contacts will build up gunk or get burn marks, this makes more resistance and will get hotter faster.

[Leeworthy]

We use the makita polisher right now but are switching everything in the shop over to pneumatic polishers. We so the first 4 dry and then last 4 wet so water and electrical never mix well. Always getting a small shock from them even with the gcfi on them. But agree they last forever. Only thing I do to ours is change the bearing once a month to keep them running like a top.

[Stonecuttter]

Been using the Makita wet-polisher... EASY to free-up stuck brushes, and really no other issues.
My two-cents-worth.

[Darryl Miller]

We are currently field testing a new Makita grinder (the new model number escapes me right now). It is supposed to be a beefed up version of the 9564CV. I just gave it to my installers last Monday to start using. So far they have given me very positive feedback. It runs smoother and doesn't have as much tail wobble as before. The Makita rep told me that they are specifically wanting the testing done by the stone industry because we are the hardest on them of all other trades.

I did tell him to check out this post to get some more feedback.

[Todd B]

Japs make great stuff if not the best !!!!

A Toyota will out last a Porsche 2 fold etc

But I have always said that no one really takes the stone fab industry seriously!

When someone does they will own the market over night!

[Mark Smith]

Because the metal industry which the makitas are designed for is so much bigger than the stone industry. Metabo is the only one I have seen that makes grinders specifically for the stone industry. With internal technologies to deal with stone dust and it's evacuation.