Warning: I chose the cheap angle grinder over the name brand and paid double in the end

Avery Flores · 2026-04-30T11:45:03.716837+00:00

Last month I needed a backup grinder for a warehouse project. The Milwaukee was $180, the no-name brand was $45. I figured it's just for cutting some bolts, how bad could it be? Fast forward to week two, the guard fell off mid-cut. Then the spindle lock broke. Had to borrow a coworker's tool to finish the job and ended up buying the more expensive one anyway. Has anyone else learned this lesson the hard way with tools?

phoenix_singh254mo ago

Did you check if the Harbor Freight warranty covers it? I grabbed their $20 grinder once and when it died in a month they swapped it for free. Not saying it's as good as Milwaukee but it saved my ass on the cheap.

4

wade_kelly774mo ago

Broke my $40 drill in a day, had to buy a Dewalt the same afternoon.

3

carr.abby4mo ago

@wade_kelly77 you and me both man. Cheap tools just waste your time and money in the end.

1