Die grinder

I need to buy a die grinder. Local hardware place sells Ingersoll Rand. Does anyone have experience with this tool. Is it of good quality?

Ingersoll-Rand is highly regarded around here, but no one ever says their tools are cheap (or inexpensive). I-R tools have many heavy industrial applications, and seem to hold up extremely well.

Depending on how much you plan to use a die grinder, you might be _OK_ with a "lesser" brand such as Chicago Pneumatic or Campbell-Hausfield. I think Wal-Mart carries one or the other, if you're looking for rock-bottom price.

Of course, Dad always says that "only wealthy people can afford to buy cheap tools," so buy the best you can.

That’s my 2¢ worth; your mileage may vary...

-- Maine Fordson

They are good but not made in the USA.
There are a couple brands still made here.

Ingersoll Rand has two different lines of air tools. The one made in China is junk. The US made stuff is good. A good US made one will cost $100 up. The under $100 are usually China made junk.

I dont like to buy china, but i have 2 harber freight ones. Angle head and straight. Less than $20 apiece. 20 years old.

Been in the tool and die business for over 30 years. I buy cheap imports. In that time I have had to put two or three in the junk air tool box. Cost wise I am way ahead of the game buying (cheap junk tools) My customers would not pay me one cent more if I spent my profit on expensive tools.

The grinder is no better than the bits you use they do the cutting. Long periods of grinding withou letting the grinder rest will help for tool lasting a long time. I have three air operated and three electric and use them carefully and they have lasted many years doesent hurt to use come cutting oil helps the bits.

I have one of the import IR die grinders. It works well for what I need it to do.

I've had a variety of brands of die grinders over the years and in that time have opened pretty much all of them up to repair. That said inside the die grinders are all pretty much identical across the board. That being the case it's not really worth spending the high dollar amount for the IR name brand in the majority of cases. I will agree that their impacts, and some of the other impact related tools always seem to be better designed, and the gearing in their angle head grinders seem to last longer. Too the collet assembly on the name brand tools usually tends to be a better quality and as a result lasts longer in an 'industrial' environment because it isn't as easily damaged by an idiot overtightening it, etc, etc. The problem there is once damaged the cost of repair parts is usually higher than the cost of another new tool. Thing is a little care in using your own, personal tools usually goesa along way in the life expectancy of any tool regardless of price.

Ultimately when it comes to a simple air motor with a shaft stuck out the end (which is all every straigtht die grinder is), there's not alot of reason to waste big money on a tool you can find in a dozen other brand names for 1/3 -1/4 the price. Right now I've got a 20 plus year old miniture MAC (bought new), an IR, one from 'China', and another unknown (all three bought used in pawn shops for a few bucks) and they all work just fine for what I do with them. Personally I haven't bought a new air tool in years because I can typically find an older, name brand one, that works just as good as a new one, in one of the local pawn shops for usually less than 1/4 the price of new. The only thing to watch out for there is that they often put out the China made ones and have them priced, used, equivilent to the name brands. If you check around you can often get a new China made one for just a couple dollars more, with a warranty. In that case it's not worth it to buy used.

I've got an IR one I bought not quite a year ago now, and it's been a very good die grinder. The one I got is a 90* right angle grinder, and I use it regularly with a 3" sanding disk in it at work for deburing. I give the angle head a shot of grease every month or 2, and I oil it every day the 1st time I pull it out.

Donovan from Wisconsin