How To Choose A Makita Cordless Grinder

Choosing A Makita Cordless Grinder

Cut through sheet metal and pipe, quickly clean up welds, or carve your way into stone during a home construction with flexibility and freedom when you use a Makita cordless grinder. This tool offers multiple uses, including grinding, cutting, and polishing. The cordless variety lets you work in tight spaces and allows you to continue working even when an extension cord or source of power is unavailable. While every grinder from Makita will boast the same quality, they aren’t all alike. Find one that suits your particular needs, whether you want to use it on the job or at home.

In the Grinder World, Size Matters

The grinding wheels determine the size of the tool. Monster jobs like cutting through sheet metal or pipe daily are more straightforward with the help of a more enormous Makita tool. Depending on its size and type, the grinder is helpful with certain materials. For instance, a concrete grinder is ideal for cutting through concrete. A traditional cordless grinder with a 5-inch blade may need to be cut deep enough or strong enough to cut through thick material. You can choose the Makita grinder to fit your project. More significant for comprehensive, flat jobs and smaller for more detailed work.

---

What’s RPM Got to do With it?

How fast do you want to grind, polish, and cut? For faster cuts, a smaller Makita cordless grinder is essential. Smaller grinding wheels spin at higher speeds which are preferable for specific tasks, like polishing metal. Only some tasks require a high speed, however. A giant grinder spinning a medium or low rpm is helpful for:

• Sanding floors
• Cutting through concrete
• Slicing through decking

While a seven-inch grinder may be slower at completing the job than a five-inch angle grinder, the lower speed produces less heat, which puts less strain on the tool.

If you plan on using the grinder for multiple tasks, choose one that boasts adjustable speed. Makita cordless tools often feature Automatic Speed Change™ technology, which:

• Adjusts the torque and speed
• Reduces operating temperatures
• Extends grinder life

While a smaller grinder usually means faster speeds, make sure to not let the power tool’s size fool you. A motor on a more giant Makita cordless grinder with a higher amp rating may be just as fast as a small grinder with a low amp rating.

---

Benefits of a Cordless Grinder

When choosing Makita power tools, primarily Makita cordless grinders, it’s essential to consider their benefits. While the most obvious is the absence of cords, these tools also offer plenty of other features. For example, many Makita cordless grinders feature:

• Lightweight construction
• Ergonomic design
• Soft grips
• Soft start-ups
• Lock-on switches
• Anti-restart protection
• Extreme Protection Technology (XPT™)

Each feature benefits you, but some may be less important than others. You may want a lightweight angle grinder with a soft grip that helps reduce the fatigue you experience while operating the tool for long periods. However, you may not care whether or not the grinder has a lock-on switch if you plan to use it for small, quick tasks. Find the features that mean the most and are helpful for you.

---

Overheating, Overloading, Over discharging No More

When browsing through Makita cordless combo kits, there are many features to consider that help extend the life of the concrete, angle, or die grinder by reducing the chances of overloading, over-discharging, and overheating. Some of the most significant are:

BL™ Brushless Motors

Using no carbon brushes, these motors eliminate resistance that could cause overheating and overloading. This helps your angle grinder run more efficiently and at a lower temperature. It also eliminates the need to regularly replace brushes like a traditional motor.

Star Protection Computer Controls™

This unique technology is available on many Makita drills, grinders, and batteries. It protects your grinder by enabling the tool and the battery to monitor conditions during use and communication. If it detects the tool or the battery is close to over-discharging, overloading, or overheating, it cuts off the power to preserve the life of the battery and grinder.

---

Get More Charge out of Your Battery

Not every Makita cordless grinder comes with a battery, but many do. Each one is also compatible with Makita rechargeable Lithium-ion (Li-Ion) batteries. The specific type of battery your grinder is compatible with varies, depending on whether the grinder boasts Star Protection Computer Controls and the battery voltage required. To ensure the battery for your Makita tools last as long as possible before needing to be recharged, look for specific features, including:

• A BL Brushless Motor is capable of optimizing a battery’s energy use, so it operates as much as 50 percent more on each charge.
• An LED battery gauge that lets you know the charge level of your battery
• Star Protection Computer Controls, which shut off the Makita cordless grinder’s power to prevent the battery from overheating
• A Rapid Optimum Charger, sometimes included, optimizes battery life by controlling the temperature, voltage, and current of the battery during the charging process

Be sure to note whether the concrete, angle, or die grinder you want comes with a battery and a Rapid Optimum Charger. If not, factor these additional purchases into your decision.

---

How Experienced Are You?

Makita cordless grinders are excellent for polishing, cutting, and sanding. They are serious tools that work at high speeds and are potentially dangerous. Only some grinders are ideal for some users.

If you do occasional DIY work around the house and have little experience with a grinder, a smaller one may be the best option.

While these Makita tools cut fast, their lightweight design means operation generally requires one hand. More significant kinds may be slightly heavier and need both hands for safe operation. These are best for professionals or those with more experience with the tools. If you’re a novice, consider starting with a small die, angle, or concrete grinder to get used to their operation before advancing to a larger one.

No matter what size or type of grinder you choose, safety is a key priority. In addition to purchasing the angle grinder, Li-ion batteries, and charger, you also need to buy safety equipment such as:

• Gloves
• Safety glasses
• Face shield

When looking for a Makita cordless grinder, you can find one that fits your needs. Not all grinders are alike; some are more appropriate for home use, while others are for professional use. Pick the Makita power tools that work for you and start enjoying the benefits today.