The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Angle grinder

I need to get a good quality angle grinder to remove paint on my 53. Do they make a variable speed? I saw some at Harbor freight but not sure how good they are.I was reading some old posts about how efficient the Norton Rapid Strip discs are. This truck has been painted four times. Probably not a record though. Thanks, Steve

I am using a Makita angle grinder. It was $80 in a package in a nice aluminum toolbox with a cutting blade and 5 Grinding wheels. I have bought various stripping and sanding disks. I am happy with it. It has been working very well for me. This is my first angle grinder so I have nothing to compare it to. I have always been leery of buying really cheap tools.

I say buy two cheap ones if the budget is tight. You'll find having 36 grit and 80 grit both ready to go without having to stop and swap pretty dang handy. And you won't notice the difference all that much cause its not the grinder its the disks that do all the work. I ran a HF Chicago tools and my De Walt while stripping my cab. Its all about good AO disks to me.

I must say that my CHEAP tools are working well for me. I am using a Harbor Freight 4.5" grinder with a Harbor Freight abrasive paint removing wheel that is similar (and possibly the exact same product) as a Norton or 3M abrassive wheel. The abrassive wheels are $5 each and I always use a coupon so I pay $4 instead. I stripped my rear fender in about 75 minutes.

See photos.

http://i618.photobucket.com/albums/tt269/fastboatman29212/65%20Chevy%20C10/DSCN0758.jpg

http://i618.photobucket.com/albums/tt269/fastboatman29212/65%20Chevy%20C10/DSCN0753.jpg

Hello and thanks to you and the other 'Bolters. Your truck is looking great. I am impressed how much you have done in such a short time. My first truck was a 66 step side long bed I bought around 1982 for $75! Keep up the good work and thanks again for the info. Oh yeah, that old truck ran like a top.

I have a total of 6 angle grinders of various sizes. I been using the same 5" Makita grinder for 10+ yrs. I've had no issues other than changing the brushes once. My 7" Makita is about 20yrs, also have a 20pounder I got at a garage sail that must be 50yrs old, its slow but you can't stall it out. A Dewalt 4" and 2 Can tire brand 4"ers(Can box store Chinese crap) All have different uses, saves time which is money. Cheapy tools are ok, can't say I've burnt any other than a IR I bought in 69'. Buy what you can afford and more than one if you can. My $0.02.