New tool day!

"Chinny Raccoon" (chinnyraccoon) 06/05/2018 at 13:57 • Filed to: Tools

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Kind of a quick comparison between the two, the new Metabo on the left, and the trusty old Bosch on the right. Both are 115mm/4 1/2 inch models.

The Bosch is a GWS710, their lowest end ‘professional’ model only sold through screwfix. Cost £35 (and I probably should have bought a couple of them as they’ve been discontinued now). The Metabo is the W 9-115, the second lowest in the range, and the cheapest German made model. I paid £63.50 Inc. Delivery. All prices including 20% Tax.

The cheapness of the Bosch is apparent in a few areas, the cable is a standard PVC type, the guard needs a hex key to adjust and the blade locking is a bit vauge.

The Metabo is better in this respect, with a nice Silicone type cable, tool free guard adjustment and a nice positive lock. Gearbox is a bit larger though.

The Metabo is noticeable larger in general, both in length and diameter, the Bosch being easier for single handed use.

In use both are good. The Metabo does have soft start, but that’s not a major plus on a small grinder for my kind of use. Virtually all the cutting discs I use are the 1mm ones, which will slice steel like it’s butter. With a grinding disc the difference in power is a bit more apparent but it’s not major. Both run smoothly in comparison to a lot of the no name models. The power cables are the same length- ‘plenty’.

Both have switches set up for a righty, which suits me. As for longevity that remains to be seen, the Bosch is about a year or so old and has taken the general abuse (mostly from being borrowed...) well. We’ll see how well the Metabo holds up, but there shouldn’t be any problems.

In conclusion, the Metabo is better than the Bosch, but the Bosch is (or was) a real bargain for the price. Certainly nicer than the cheapo ones which seem to have crept up in price in the last few years.

Gut Winkelschleifer!

diplodicus > Chinny Raccoon 06/05/2018 at 14:15

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AvE did a tear down on a metabo, it was the longer armed one though. I can’t recall exactly what it was but something was chincy.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Chinny Raccoon 06/05/2018 at 14:18

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Recently had two aged 4" Makitas pack in (each well over ten years old), so got a new 4 1/2" Milwaukee to supplement the Ryobi that we’d gotten already. The Ryobi is a little better grade than the Bosch you’ve got there, and the Milwaukee is about equivalent to that Metabo by my estimate.

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > Chinny Raccoon 06/05/2018 at 14:18

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Schönes Winkelschleifer, viel Schleifspäß!

Also, I wonder if this kind of review is how non-car people see us when we are comparing cars....

diplodicus > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 06/05/2018 at 14:27

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I recently learned that Ryobi, Rigid, and Milkwaukee are all owned by the same company.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > diplodicus 06/05/2018 at 14:31

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Intredasting. That being said, most Milwaukee stuff we’ve had is a little more premium than most Ryobi stuff - more of a difference than Hobart vs. Miller welding stuff.

Urambo Tauro > Chinny Raccoon 06/05/2018 at 14:37

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Do either of those have onboard wrench storage? I’m a sucker for slick features like that, even on a lesser tool like my Ryobi.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Chinny Raccoon > Urambo Tauro 06/05/2018 at 14:43

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Annoyingly not. Not managed to loose a wrench yet, which is an achievement in our workshop.

Urambo Tauro > Chinny Raccoon 06/05/2018 at 14:51

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Bummer. I wonder if the handle threads are the same. That would be a nice upgrade...

Chinny Raccoon > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 06/05/2018 at 14:53

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Ryobi only seems to have a smallish market share here, mostly through the DIY stores. Milwaukee have only been around for a few years but seem to be increasing in popularity . At the end of the day stuff around the same price point will probably be fairly similar.

Chinny Raccoon > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer 06/05/2018 at 14:56

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Like the P eanuts’ teacher

Sovande > Chinny Raccoon 06/05/2018 at 14:58

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Milwaukee has been around since 1924. Which is just slightly longer than Ryobi.

Sovande > Chinny Raccoon 06/05/2018 at 15:01

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I have a Makita 4.5" grinder that does everything I need it to. It even came with a hard case. It has a paddle type switch which means you can run it left or right handed. I’m not a huge fan of the ergonomics though as the safety can be a pain to engage.

Chinny Raccoon > Sovande 06/05/2018 at 15:13

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Should have clarified- they’ve only got well known in the UK in the last few years. I think they started here in the early 2000s.

diplodicus > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 06/05/2018 at 15:16

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I too prefer the milwaukee stuff. But the guts must be almost identical.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Chinny Raccoon 06/05/2018 at 15:16

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The good entry-level tier of stuff in the US, in my experience, seems to be Hitachi, Ryobi, Milwaukee, Makita, and DeWalt. Anything too far below that, too chintzy and cheap, and anything too far above, diminishing returns for the money.

shop-teacher > Chinny Raccoon 06/05/2018 at 23:14

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New tool day is best day!

Longtime Lurker > Chinny Raccoon 06/10/2018 at 14:56

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Alternatively you could always ziptie the wrench to the power cable so it doesn’t get lost. Also works for keyed drill chucks.