I'm a knife and tool maker, and I'm looking for advice on whether to stick with my DWE4051 corded angle grinder or switch to the 18V XR cordless version. I'll be doing a lot of cutting and grinding on thick steel like crowbars, and I have some 2Ah batteries but am considering getting a 5Ah for better performance. I prefer cordless for safety and convenience, but I'm unsure if it'll handle the workload. I've ordered the DWE4051 but am thinking of selling it to get the cordless model instead. What do you think?
3 Answers
You’ll definitely need bigger batteries for serious cutting. Grinders drain batteries fast, so unless you’re ready to invest in multiple large ones, the corded option might be your best bet. I love my cordless grinder, but I’ve got plenty of 8Ah and 9Ah batteries to back it up.
If you're using a 2Ah battery, expect about 5 minutes of run time, which isn't great for heavy work. For cutting and grinding, I'd recommend looking into the 54v or 60v models like the DCG418. They're powerful and way better than corded if you can get enough batteries to support them.
Those 2Ah batteries will be depleted quickly. You might want to find a deal on at least a 5Ah battery or even larger if you can. If you plan on grinding for more than 20 minutes, I'd recommend sticking with the corded grinder, especially if you have power available.