Cheap 12V angle grinder

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bushwacka

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Just bought a Parkside 12V angle grinder from Lidl for £17 plus another £11 for charger and battery. Are these any good? Thought it could be useful to keep on board for cutting rigging and maybe even aid in constructing a jury rig in the event of a dismasting in addition to being handy for a range of other everyday jobs.
 
A cordless angle grinder for less than £30. Amazing really. Have you cut anything with it? You could do a quick review for us.

Apols on thread drift, but the day the cordless angle grinder was invented just about all padlock, bike locks etc became worthless really. With a thin cutting disc on, bushwacka’s angle grinder will go through the most expensive bike D-lock in seconds.
 
I've no experience of Aldidl battery powered stuff, but much of my mains powered stuff comes from them, including a big angle grinder that I got about 15 years ago to cut slabs for a patio. At less than £20 with a warranty, I figured that if it lasted the job out, it was worth it. It's still going, in spite of my best efforts to work it to death, ably assisted by the kids, two of whom have bought fixer upper homes over the last few years.

Just one thought - as it's a potentially vital bit of safety kit, make sure that you have a routine for recharging the batteries and checking their state is part of your pre-departure checklist. You really don't want to find they're dead when you really, really need them.
 
I bought one. Limited but brilliant if you don't push them too hard. I've gutted an old battery and soldered 2 wires with crocodile clips on so I can run it off the main battery if needed...
 
Considered one myself as I have the mains grinder from Lidl which has proven itself better than a low cost (but still more expensive) branded item I had previously. In the end I couldn't justify it just to sit around with no use at the moment. But the thought had occurred that it could just be kept for emergencies. However as Stemar points out, you have the issue of making sure the battery is OK and they aren't at their best kept 100% charged and yet unused for long periods. Li-on or even Ni-mh batteries keep best for prolonged periods at around a 50-60% charge level as far as I can see.

Re the thread drift and bicycle locks. Whilst a good grinder and a good blade can get through cheaper D locks in maybe less than 30 seconds, thats still a fairly long time to be rather obviously and noisily attacking something if it's in plain sight. Also the higher security, hardened (and bloody expensive) locks can last longer even against a grinder. There is also the SAF Lock which is pretty difficult to beat but not the kind of thing you would want to carry on a bike. Or indeed carry in the dinghy to lock up the dinghy or outboard, as it's a bit chunky! https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1...-01d5-48ed-88b4-e9867bd1ded5.jpg?v=1594234100
 
I was at lidl yesterday and was looking at their 12v cordless drill, and saw they had a black and decker 18v cordless impact drill for £44 so bought that insead (its £50 at B&Q)

DIY from Sunday, 29.11. at Lidl UK

not show on the page but the black and decker angle grinder is £29
 
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CaptinHaddock said:
Don't forget the attachments!
View attachment 104084
Electric Chainsaw Grinder Conversion
Electric Chainsaw Transfer 11.5'' Grinder Conversion Head Tree Bracket Kit UK | eBay
Click to expand...


Would be great on a wood of GRP boat for cutting it up, but not much good on my steel unless you turn the chain round then it will cut metal


I have a ryobi 18V battery angle grinder and several other ryobi 18V dc power tools. Great for light work but easy to burn out Please don't ask me how I know
 
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bushwacka said:
Haven't tried it out yet but this clip inspires a bit of confidence that it could well be up to the job...

Click to expand...
I have one of those.
It's works fairly well. I think the switch is a bit naff and awkward which contributes to a slighy feeling of it being slightly not under control.
I just get a feeling it has more 'A&E potential' than a normal mains grinder which gives you something to get hold of!

I have Li-Ion hedgretrimmer which takes the same batteries, I use this a fair amount, good tool.
Wish I'd bought a drill to share the same batteries, are they on offer currently?

As for the chainsaw attachment, sod that!
I have a 'pole pruner' basically a chainsaw attachment for the strimmer, which keeps the carnage at a respectful distance!

Mind how you go, hospitals are filling up with plague at the moment!
 
You lucky sods, not so cheap further south...
eoEeCSh.jpg
 
I have 2 of the 20v angle grinders and keep one on boat in summer. The battery pack also fits the hedge trimmer and jigsaw . Haven’t used the 12v one but the 20v one like the southern one shown above but in green is good for pipe and fence cutting in garden etc so if charged up would I guess cut a piece of rigging. The larger batteries last well on the hedge trimmer but ideally you need the bigger one for trimming say a laurel hedge and rather cheaper than the stihl version even if not so solid. I think I would go for the 20v ones for wider battery application and not be drawn into the small one but clearly you might want to take what’s on offer.
 
If I want to do the whole hedge, it's worth getting the mains tools out.
Or even petrol.
Small cordless trimmer is nice when you're doing the awkward stuff.
same with the grinder, a small machine with no dragging cable is versatile.
 
The 12V version is charged with a mains adapter (240v) which is fine for shore power but is there any way of charging it while underway?
 
Good point - should be possible, I reckon you can gut an old battery and solder a lead to the terminals so it can be used as a 12v plug.
 
Looks like not available everywhere, at least in my area (Scotland). 12 volt drill and saw OK, just no angle grinder.
Noted that the cutting discs are only 75 mm; where do you get them?
Or do you just use a part worn one from your other grinder?
 
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