Makita XAG26Z 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 4-1/2” / 5" Paddle Switch X-Lock Angle Grinder, with AFT, Tool Only

Another quality tool from Makita. Slightly heavy but in a good way. I haven't put a lot of hours on it but so far so good.

Long time user of Makita tools, and this grinder is another great product. I can’t tell the difference in power between my corded grinder and this one. So much nicer not having to worry about a cord while cutting or grinding. The Xlok is really nice, quick and convenient. I can switch from a cut wheel to grinder or wire wheel in a fraction of the time and no wrench needed.

Theres not much in an angle grinder. It’s spins things fast and they grind, polish, or cut things. So it really comes down to how well it does those things and how safely it does those things. The makita is safer because 1) the easy guard installation and adjustment means you’re more likely to use it, 2) the x lock wheels cannot be installed off center, and 3) the brake stops the disc almost instantly. It’s well-balanced and one-hand usable, which is important to me. I need to be able to grind with one hand and secure the work with the other sometimes. This tool allows that with good control. Power wise, it’s not is powerful as a 9a or higher corded grinder, but it does have enough power to do anything I need done at reasonable speed. To stall the wheel it took about all the force I could muster. Since I cannot apply that much load, the grinder has plenty of torque for my uses. You notice the slower RPM when cutting, so it’s not the fastest cutting tool around. But it will cut and do it without stalling or complaining. 9/10 would buy again.

The 18v system makes it very fast and powerful. It would be nice to have a skinny neck like the HF brand but my Makita experience says it is made this way so it does not break so easily. I use this to disassemble engines and get into areas nearly impossible to get other tools into. The 1/4 inch "arbor" comes in very handy with small hardware. You can buy a cheaper one at a cheaper price, but you can't buy a better one at any price.

I love the freedom of cordless tools, and this grinder has the added bonuses of the x-lock system so I can change discs in just a couple seconds with one hand, and a paddle switch for added safety. (I recently cut one of my knuckles to the bone with a grinding wheel while turning my other one on. Thankful it wasn’t a cut-off wheel!) It also has very good balance while operating. The other one I have wobbles and always feels off balance while running which I never really enjoyed but powered through it anyway. I struggled to NOT give this thing a five-star rating. The ONLY drawback it has is that it eats a battery very quickly. I use 5ah batteries and with continued use they drain very rapidly. In comparison, I can use the exact same battery for any other tool including work lights for hours on end. This grinder will drain a battery in about 15-30 minutes of continuous use. Other than that it’s a beast and I love it!