cant go wrong with metabo there a great tool. I have one that's gotta be 30 years old still works great, the collet broke though and I cant get a replacement part so I gotta pound out the burr bit every time but as I said its old!!! up till a few years back it was great and powerfull...but I see them going for like 500 or so around here?

 

Off metabos website their GE 710 plus online is in the high 200 range. Just called my local tool dealer and they said 259 for it. They don't seem to have very many varieties of these die grinders either like some of there angle griders (where some are chinese and some are german). Guy from metabo said all the die grinders listed on their product page are german made (although he was just the guy in service and didn't seem too confident in his response).

 

Here is a pretty good looking deal. Does not even look to have been used.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/dotco-cleco...-die-grinder-aircraft-tool-/131651204021?hash=item1ea705f3b5:g:FG0AAOSwhcJWHbtL

1/8" Dotco in air
Foredom makes some pretty nice electrical units.

 

mikecwik, ya that looks like a fine tool. I agree that with air you have more smaller and normally cheaper options than a electric die grinder. No air compressor as of now so electric it is. Having both electric and air grinders/die grinders, cut offs etc is probably the way to go as sometimes you have air, and sometimes you don't have air.
Probably gonna just order the metabo tomorrow morn from my local dealer if theres not much input as far as the different brands/options go.

 

I have both the Milwaukee (5190 maybe? 6190?) corded 1/4" die grinder with paddle switch and a Metabo 18V cordless, the high-RPM version, not the 6k RPM version. I have no experience with Bosch.

I have actually had a couple of the Milwaukees. They are a fine grinder, but both of mine had some vibration from when they were new in the box. Can't remember anymore what they cost. Anyhow, they had plenty of guts for 1/4" burrs. The feature I liked about them was the paddle switch - you weren't going to stall that motor and sooner or later if you used it enough, that little tool was going to grab and get ripped out of your hands and fling itself across the area you were working. At least you knew that when it landed, it was OFF. The corded electric ones can be dangerous little tools. Definitely a tool for leathers, full face shields, and thick gloves. Because they DO get away from you. Anybody who says otherwise doesn't have much time with one.

I bought the Metabo cordless because often I'm just reaming a hole or something small with a die grinder - rarely is it a drawn-out job. No need to pull out extension cords and start the welder for it. It has excellent run time with the 5.2 aH batteries it came with...don't think I've charged them in at least a month. I've never stalled it, either. It has a slide switch, but so far (knock on wood) it hasn't gotten away from me. It has one of the slow-start motors that doesn't jerk the tool in your hands when you turn it on, and it runs smooth as glass. No vibration whatsoever - if not for the noise, you wouldn't know it was running. This is one of my favorite tools. Pretty pricey in cordless - I seem to remember it being around $400 with the 2 batteries. Although it's still on the truck, I haven't run the Milwaukee for at least a year now, and I'm fine with that.

As far as air die grinders, the 1/4" ones I've used have been pretty worthless when it comes to power. When used with carbide burrs, they were too easy to stall out for my taste, and used a fair amount of air. I use mine with the 3M Roloc discs for cleaning gasket surfaces - that's a job they're good at. I don't think I've used or seen what you're calling a pencil grinder.

I get my carbide burrs locally. Probably could save some money buying them online, but quality ones last awhile unless they're abused. I have a couple non-ferrous burrs which have maybe 8 deep spiral flutes on them that were pretty darn pricey, but they are the way to go for aluminum. Dip them in water now and then and they never load up.

 

....I don't think I've used or seen what you're calling a pencil grinder....

Those mini grinders are commonly used for engraving, ablating, and precision material removal. Used a couple of 'em thru the years. Typically at 0.1Hp with a turbine motor spool'n between 60k and 100k rpm. Believe there's a member here from EUR who does trick work with a pencil grinder on copper/aluminum castings.

Dotco and Cleco produce really:really solid mini grinders.

 

I have the old old Milwaukee all metal that is still going. Metabo has a compact one that looks nice, $189.00 http://www.amazon.com/Metabo-GE710-Compact-Variable-710-watt/dp/B00FDLB9OC

The 710 is $253.00 http://www.amazon.com/Metabo-GE-710...D=31BFfDr1uDL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160,160_&refRID=0Y9CX0XF4QCC2D9S82WB

zoro tools may have their 30% off sale soon and will be a few dollars less then Amazon.

 

i had a milwaukee, red platic, 1/4, that came w/ 1/8 collet, paid slightly over 2 hun about 7-10 yrs ago, it had too much power. it had to much ghusto for its structure, i bent the arbor, tore it up. i bought a dewalt paddle swich, slightly shorter, less amp output, been happy w/ it, my local welding distributor puts them on sale for 150 occasionally

 

Thanks for posting guys!
Tbone 550: seems there are different names for these things. Have heard end grinder too. Basically this is what im looking at:
http://www.zoro.com/metabo-die-grin...-64-a-2-in-ge710-plus/i/G4988891/?gclid=CP7Atr3tmMkCFRc6gQodh3ICUw&gclsrc=aw.ds
Its variable speed too.

 

That's the same one I posted from Amazon above. . http://www.amazon.com/Metabo-GE-710...D=31BFfDr1uDL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160,160_&refRID=0Y9CX0XF4QCC2D9S82WB

With the Zoro 30% off it will be a better deal from Zoro.

 

@ outdoort - our Metabo GE700, 3in, 6.5A sie grinder is awesome. Check out the Reference ~ Post #13 showing the packaged kit as purchased.

 

Thats a sweet kit. Haven't seen that package deal anywhere online though. Looks like a nice pelican case too. How much did you get that for?

 

outdoort -

about $70 cheaper at these two places.

http://www.lehighvalleyabrasives.co...d-equipment-ge710-plus-variable-speed-die-grinder-metabo-600616420-met600616420

http://www.cpometabo.com/metabo-600...-in--die-grinder/mtbn600616420,default,pd.html?start=1&cgid=metabo-die-grinders

Lehigh has burrs you can also google carbide burrs and find a lot of places that sell them.

I have that die grinder and the flex attachment. Was a bit pricey but it's decent quality and does the job when it needs to. Would buy it again if I had too.

CPOmetabo will have the flex shaft attachment.

http://www.cpometabo.com/metabo-630...lex-shaft/mtbn630980420,default,pd.html?start=6&cgid=metabo-grinder-accessories

 

I am a Bosch guy and recently I got a Bosch GGS 28CLE as a payment for a favour (used) and I can tell it is a great tool. Just like you, all I had were angle grinders and a Dremel tool. This is like e dremel on steroids! I just love it.

I am sure the models suggested by the members are also great choices but if you come across a Bosch GGS 28LCE for a fair price... I suggest you don't hessitate to get it!

 

its time I upgrade the dremil to a 1/4 straight die grinder. I'm leaning toward the metabo. about $250 online.

Took me a bit to connect the dots, but my advice is save your money and go buy a trailer instead!

 

Gotta get it to complete this job I'm doing. Put this boiler fix on hold until i get it.

 

funny you should ask; i was just perusing my latest enco catalogue and saw a sioux pencil grinder for 109. air powered. just saw you're looking for electric. my bad.