SHOP GRINDER HELP

[marcbeaudet]

Our shop has been purchasing and using Makita Grinders for years....but lately, they seem to be breaking down more often and getting harder and harder to service. I was curious if anyone out there has any luck using other brands of Variable Speed Grinders for their fabrication ? I think it is time for a change, but I would love to know if anyone recommends other products that I can try ? If so, the brand and model number would be appreciated.
Thanks for the help.
Marc

[DDguy]

We used metabo for years, but when they changed there design they went down hill as they did not last as long. We have been using makitas since and have about as much life as the metabo new design but cheaper.

[adriamarble]

I've been happier with the Metabos than the Makitas. They seem to last longer. But the overall trend is lower quality from all the manufacturers

[ufGatorHarv]

We use the Milwaukee 6117-33D with great success. 5 year warranty, and Milwaukee pays the shipping to and from them for service. Just gotta drop it at FedEx.

[Dan R.]

Milwaukee

[Dave.Scott]

Milwaukee

X2

[Omni Cubed Larry]

What fails mostly on the Makita or the Metabo? The bearings?

[Mark Meriaux]

What fails mostly on the Makita or the Metabo? The bearings?

For me, it was usually one of these catastrophic failures:

• Drive gears in the head of the grinder (gear teeth break/wear or grease burning up)
• Armature/commutator failure (after going through a couple sets of brushes)

Fabricators typically push these grinders to their limits (at or beyond the stall point).