Makita Brushless Cordless Angle Grinder Review

Angle Grinders 101: Metal and More

1/18/2018

text by Vicki Sign up to get Mother Daughter Projects updates in your email!

This post is sponsored by The Home Depot as a part of The Home Depot’s ProSpective Campaign.

As part of The Home Depot ProSpective campaign (May 2017- 2018) we have been receiving a variety of tools to use and review. A lot of the tools and their function are new to us. It’s been fun and educational to see the different tools available to pros and DIYers and how to use them. We were sent the Makita Brushless Cordless Angle Grinder to review and found that, although it is marketed as a pro tool, it does have value to the home DIYer.

Tools:

Makita 18-Volt 5.0Ah X2 LXT Lithium-Ion (36-Volt) Brushless Angle Grinder Kit (Home Depot)

An angle grinder can be a really versatile tool for the home DIYer. With an angle grinder you can do all kinds of projects, especially the cutting and grinding of metal. There are various wheels and accessories which allow you to work on metal, tile, concrete and more. A battery operated model like the Makita Brushless Angle Grinder means you can work where you need it without having to deal with an extension cord or having to look for an outlet!

This is the inner flange designed for this depressed center wheel

The lock nut wrench is designed to tighten the lock nut and secure the wheel or disc

Always read the manufactures' manual when using a new tool

The manual shows you which flange to use with each wheel/disc type

If you're familiar with the Dremel Rotary Tool, just think of an angle grinder as a really big version of it. With a rotary tool you can cut and grind small diameter metal; with an angle grinder, you can do the same but with larger, thicker metals and materials.

What makes the Makita a standout in the field of cordless tools is its POWER. It uses two 18v batteries giving it all the power of a corded model. Plus it’s brushless which means the tool will work more efficiently and last longer (no need to clean or replace brushes like older tools). We will say, with the two batteries it is heavy, which is a pro and con. The weight means the machine does the work, but also means the operator needs to have some upper body strength!

So, you’re a homeowner, DIYer, what can you do with an angle grinder? One way we’ve used an angle grinder was to grind down concrete to repair a sidewalk tripping hazard. When concrete settles over time it can leave sidewalks, driveways, and patios with uneven places. The sidewalk in front of my house had settled leaving one section higher than the adjoining one. With a concrete grinding wheel we were able to smooth it down, reducing the hazard. It was a really simple DIY for us.

When we moved into our home in 1998 we had a project where an angle grinder would have come in very handy if only we had known about it!

The problem was the previous owners had cemented a basketball goal into the ground which just happen to block entry to the backyard where I wanted to park. (Because I’m fancy like that and wanted direct access to the backdoor!) Well, actually just the metal post was remaining not only blocking the backyard but a hazard should someone accidentally fall on to it! We worked for weeks to dig that concrete out of the ground. If we had known about the angle grinder, it would have been removed in minutes! We could have cut off the post and then ground down the remaining edge nice and smooth.

Let’s take a look at what is included with the purchase of the Makita Brushless Angle Grinder Kit:

7" Brushless Angle Grinder (brushless means the motor runs cooler for tool efficiency and longer life)
(2) 18v Makita batteries
Dual-port charger
2 Wheel Guards
1 grinding wheel (with maximum speed of 8,500)
1 cut off Wheel (with maximum speed of 8,500)
Inner flange, back up pad, outer flange, lock nut and lock nut wrench
Handle
Travel bag

The included bag fits everything perfect so it's ready to take on the go or let a friend borrow.

Oh, and read the reviews real users have left. There is a lot of high praise from the consumers that use this model angle grinder.

For tips on using an angle grinder, this post from The Family Handyman is very informative.

Check out a few more tool reviews from fellow #THDProSpective members:

We acknowledge that The Home Depot is partnering with us to participate in the The Home Depot ProSpective Campaign. As a part of the Program, we are receiving compensation in the form of products and services, for the purpose of promoting The Home Depot. All expressed opinions and experiences are our own words. Our post complies with the Word Of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) Ethics Code and applicable Federal Trade Commission guidelines.

FYI: We are not professionals, and we don’t claim to be. This is what we found worked for our project. Yours may need a little different approach. Safety first!

FYI: Affiliate links are being used on this page. Purchasing via these links help support MDP!