Bosch has come out with 2 new 18V cordless angle grinders, in 4-1/2″ (GWS18V-45) and 5″ (GWS18V-50) sizes. They say that the new angle grinders will deliver all-day grinding and cutting power, which is something you don’t often hear about cordless grinders.
Bosch is aiming these grinders at “electricians, plumbers, and others who need professional power.”
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These are not brushless grinders. Both are built with a “muscular” 4-brush motor design, with brushes that are described as being of a lifetime design. The motors provide no-load speeds of 0 to 10,000 RPM.
Both Bosch grinders come with a 2-position Vibration Control handle, which Bosch says offers better handling, as well as reduced operator fatigue.
Additional features include:
- Tool-free quick-change arbor
- Burst-resistant wheel guard
- Restart protection that helps to avoid accidental startups
It looks like the grinders come with a standard grinding wheel guard, but there’s mention of a cutting wheel guard, which would then be an optional and separate purchase.
From the photos, it seems that the grinder only comes with a slide switch option.
Both versions weigh 5.0 lbs, presumably with a high capacity battery that’s shown in all of the product photos.
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According to the Amazon product page, both the 4-1/2″ and 5″ grinders are made in Germany.
Price: $140, battery and charger are NOT included
The $140 price is the right-now preorder street price on Amazon. My Bosch fact sheet says that the price should (will?) be $129, but that might have changed.
Buy Now(4-1/2″ via Amazon)
Buy Now(5″ via Amazon)
First Thoughts
The idea of lifetime brushes sounds good, although I can’t say I’ve ever worn out an angle grinder before.
I’m a little surprised at the pricing. While not costing anywhere near as much as Milwaukee’s newest fast-braking M18 Fuel brushless grinder, it is priced comparably to Makita’s brushless grinder, and within $10 of Hitachi’s brushless grinder.
Generally speaking, brushless motors offer greater power and longer runtime compared to brushed power tool motors.
If these new cordless grinders are as “muscular” as Bosch describes them to be, then I would expect for the sacrifice to be in runtime. Perhaps not, but if apples to apples in terms of power, a brushless grinder should certainly last longer per comparable battery charge.
But, from the sounds of it, and the look of that nice Bosch vibration-reducing handle, maybe the advantage here is in user comfort.
This is definitely one of those tools I’d wish I could try out in person at a store before buying.
ScubaSteve
I’m not sure what to think of these battery operated grinders….for a small job I guess they’re okay…but grinding for bodywork, welding prep, etc. seems to go on forever. I personally think some things are just better done with a corded tool that has a longer run time, is usually more powerful…and generally a lot cheaper.
For the contractor working aloft or in a remote location, I can see the benefit. Otherwise, at this price point you could get two reputable corded models and beat on them all day long.
Jon
I have one of each for precisely the reasons you list. Quick jobs aren’t worth unwinding and running the cord, then winding it back up when I’m done (even if it’s right in my shop). More intensive operations don’t justify the wear-and-tear on the battery or tool, so it’s well worth the time and minor hassle of dealing with the cord.
Jonathan
Stuart, thats the funny thing about theory vs real world application. You said “Perhaps not, but if apples to apples in terms of power, a brushless grinder should certainly last longer per comparable battery charge”
Last summer I did a real world apples to apples comparison to to cordless weedeaters/ string trimmers. While it’s hard to accurately get an idea of battery life in liner feet of fence line, fire hydrants and trees trimmed, you could meausre no-load runtime of battery life but thats does always ttanslate to realty.
Last Summer I compared the Ryobi 40V LiON non-brushless string trimmer against the Kobalt 80V LiON brushless string trimmer.
I compared the sq footage of grass I could trim using the “scythe method” –the grim reaper tool for the millennials readers.
I was shocked that they both cut approximately the same square footage.
I ‘scythe cut’ the same area on a customers property that I do every week. I ran both on max or 100% till they died.
The Kobalt if I recall correctly had greater battery Ah capacity than the Ryobi and should have lasted longer the battery was definitely larger in size and weight 1.5-1.75x .
I did use a larger trimmer head attachment a 17″ cut from a gas unit (comes with 15″) in theory should have shorten the run time on the Ryobi because of increased load from higher resistance. I didn’t think about it till I was reviewing the pics.
I really wanted to like the Kobalt because at the time I could have bought all the 80v tools and gotten an extra batteries for them all.
The deal killer for me was the Kobalt was not comfortable to use for me (akward holding angle for my body and frame ymmv) and it was hard to use like a bladed edger for curbs, walks and drives, for quickly cleaning up the defined “ruts” between edgings, and on beds and islands with defined edges.
The Kobalt is beefier and better built and has a better warranty than the Ryobi (mainly because of their no quiblle guarantee).
I didn’t even consider thw DeWalt string trimmer because of fact that motor is air cooled and located on the trimmer head where all the grass, dust, dew, moisture, flying debris is thrown and collects (what rocket scientist designed it? One thats never used lawn equipment is my theory).
I do own the DeWalt 40v handheld blower, its awesome, efficient and I’m pleased with it. Blowers are probably the biggest battery hogs of the cordless outdoor tools.
I use both 2 stroke and 40v Lion outdoor equipment in my business. They both have pros/cons, I can run string trimmer mower and blower on residential properties at 7am without waking up or disturbing– upsetting customers/neighbors from the small engines drone.
Also I work in probably the “greenest city” in America– Portland OR, so I have customer that are concerned about the environment and dislike gas engines, (unbeknownst to them the environmental impact of the rare earth metals need for LiON batteries and solar panels and the ecological impact from mining methods to produce them, and the number of battery powered items charged with electricity produced from coal fired or Nat gas power plants, and other EOL consideration for LiON equipment when it dies. I digress, I’ve probably have more request for using “greener” equipment in Portland than LCO in other parts of America.
That said, brushless isn’t necessarily more efficient or longer running in real world use, maybe in no-load lab test, or test done in a lab using the motors sweet spot.
I do know that the start up load from a dead stop — the constant on/off is a high drain activity – perhaps this is where the nonbrushless is more efficient than the brushless in high rpm tools, just a thought.
An idle mind is a terrible thing to waste and landscape maintenance doesn’t place a great demand on one brain so you’ve got a lot of time to chew on ideas.
Michael
Interesting information and thoughts
Jimmie
Out of curiosity, what battery-powered equipment do you use for your business? Do you use the Ryobi trimmer or a different model now? What about cordless mowers?
Jonathan
@Jimmie:
For Cordless tools: Ryobi 40V Expand-It String Trimmer. The Expand-It allows me to use changeable tool heads I’ve got the cultivator for flower beds and mixing customs soil blends, curved edger, blower, power broom, 10″ pruning chain saw, articulating hedge trimmer attachments. I’ve got the Ryboi 2 stroke Expand it head as backup and for larger jobs.
I also have commercial top-end Sthil KM130R Kombimotor with attachments, but Ethanol free gas is over $4 a gallon which is all I run in my 2 stroke equipment Ethanol will not mix with 2 stroke oil think Oil and vinegar dressing, so you can prime pure ethanol with no lube at startup.
I’ve got the RYOBI 40V Hedge Trimmer which is great. The unit is extremely capable, and light. If I did a full days worth of hedge work every month I would switch to a gas unit.
I’ve got the DeWalt handheld 40V, and a big wheeled 2,000CFM blower for leaves in the fall.
The cordless are great on smaller residential lots 12,000sf and smaller, they are instant on, quiet and lighter. A backpack blower is overkill for most residential lots unless your doing leaves. Not really that much faster JMHO, I’ve used both commercially. Do you really need 205 MPH and 910 CFM to blow grass clippings and debris of the the curbs and walks on a residential lot? The DeWalt is 120MPH and 400CFM. Its is easy to cause damage or create more work on accident with all the extra force of a high powered backpack. They do have a niche, but one less 2 stroke to maintain or deal with is worth it.
Mowing my main unit is still gas, most of my customers are on lots under 10Ksf, and have 30″ gates, In Atlanta I used a 48″ walk behind and did huge residential and commercial lots. Now in Portland I use a Ybravo 25″ with a Honda engine, its fast (4.2mph) and bags awesome even in the rain and with wet grass– think Snapper HiVac on high octane coffee, but without the bottleneck bagging chute that clogged way to easy. They run about $1,400 new.
For mowing, I’ve not had enough long term hands on experience with the Ryobi and Kobalt mowers they cut fine esp the dual blade Kobalt, the price point on the smaller handheld cordless tools long term durability is fine, I’m not sure about the durability of the mowers loading/unloading going up over curbs, bumping solid objects, I’ve got an old Honda with a plastic deck (that is cracked) I’ve decided to hold off on a LiON mower for the time, I’ve also been transitioning to only mowing for customers on an annual contract, that includes comprehensive lawn care. So I can schedule better and start later in the mornings, and take on more Landscape projects during peak season.
But I do start early on some projects and uses the cordless equipment, I’ve used the blower at home at 5:45AM and as late as11PM at night its quiet if you don’t go full blast even then its still around 60db. The mowing was more for information, I’ve not mowed before 7AM in years and that was only commercial jobs. Yet, the flexibility to start earlier on residential lots is nice if/when I add a LiON mower. That and the “Eco/Green” is the only reason I’ll add one if the the price is there, I can always use a human powered push reel mower on those lots.
But Honestly I think the industry only has maybe 10-15 years before “roomba” style mowers are mass produced at the $400-$600 price point that Homeowners will buy them putting a lot of LCO out of business. Currently the Husqvarna Automower is about $3K but they work and do a great job. Yet most homeowners will not spend that much yet.
Diplomatic Immunity
Ever try any other battery powered lawn equipment such as Ego or Echo or wtf they are called? I ask because my dad has an obsession with cutting grass and I was trying to figure out if I could get him on a specific battery platform overall. But from what I’ve read it seems as though battery powered lawn equipment (weedwhackers, mowers, hedge trimmers, etc) all seem to come up a bit short in power and charge vs gas powered alternatives. I mean to acceptable performance levels in which people can live with it.
The reason to get him on the battery platform was more so he didn’t have to deal with craptastic ethanol in gas anymore.
Drew M
Fwiw, I’ve been watching e-go and they seem to have the best battery packs by a long shot and best tools out there but their lawnmower looks like something designed by someone who’s never actually cut grass. I hope they redesign it.
Jonathan
@Diplomatic
I’ve not. I will say that LiON has come a long way in short time or rather cordless tools have after the mass production of LiON.
There is a sweet spot for grass lot size where cordless is perfect or if one has the suite of one brand of tools.
Cordless chainsaws make sense for those that work in western area’s with fire restrictions, where you have to stay in the area with shovel and water for 4hrs AFTER you finished running gas powered saws.
I digress again, I would say that if power and charge are a concern for your dad.
I would recommend going with Kobalt 80v as they have a 30 min quick charge, with the caveat that you buy all the equipment at the same time,when they are running the free 2nd battery promo, That way with a Mower, blower string trimmer, you can in theory swap out batteries ever 30 min.
Reality is batteries have to often cool down down before they can be recharged , you can make this cool down a lot shorter if you start the recharge at 20% as the resistance from battery drain below this threshold heats up the battery-* this is science not theory and it is alsos better for battery life. Many batteries have led charge indicator now away days so its fairly easy to keep an eye on.
The free 2nd battery and 30 recharge time and the beefier closer to commercial equipment in build quality (i.e. 3/16 aluminum collar that was 2″ long where the tool shaft attachments are swapped out and locked in place was built like my Stihl Kombi head units collar, as well as beefier trimmer head). As well Lowes has the 5 year complete batteries included Ryobi is 3 years on the battery; 5 years on unit.
Cons that killed the Kobalt for me, the string trimmer ergonomics, weight of the 80v with bigger battery (heavier – but no more than my Kombi) and the 3 step process to engage the motor, I’m 45 y.o. and doing that 100’s of times a day 6 days a week was out of the question for me. As well as being heavier than the Ryobi.
The Ryobi was some consumer guides best buy for the 40v string trimmer (but this did not influence me and I think it was after I purchased as well).
I was skeptical to try the cordless equipment because of ancient memories of electric and cordless outdoor tools. The lawn rep at HD said use it for 90 days if you don’t love it return it no questions asked. That was a year ago spring.
I will say that I did buy the DeWalt blower (disclosure- most of my cordless tools are 18v NiCD XRP and 18V LiON and three 12V Max LiON . I do plan eventually to add a 20V for 18V tool adapter one day).
I’ve been mulling adding the Ryobi 18V to my collection as they have some reasonable priced and innovative tools. Ryboi parent company is TTI which also makes Milwaukee, AEG, Homelite and a lot of other well known tools and accessories.
I would avoid the Core brand outdoor cordless tools as they have had issues.
Diplomatic Immunity
Good solid post.
rumpole
Some years back i had a nice Milwaukee cordless 1/2″ drill. It was costy at the time and the batteries kept crapping out. i was displeased. I swore to myself i would never again buy milwaukee and when the inevitable time came to switch over to the Li-On form factor i went with Bosch. I like the Bosch, overall I am happy but it is disconcerting how slow they are to introduce new products – whereas Milwaukee and Dewalt just keep churning them out. I have been in the market for a Bosch cordless 4.5″ cordless grinder for some time now and they seem too pricey. My feeling is that i am going to buy one of these things and i have been burned by obsoleted hardware before so i want to wait for a Li-on, 18 volt, brushless Bosch that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.
so, it mystifies me somewhat that the good people at Bosch would see fit to put out a brand new product that incorporates brushed tech. sure the price is reasonably good but i would prefer to have something with 25% more power designed in and also have a longer service-free life (that milwaukee drill experience still irks me.) I don’t care too much one way or the other about the vibration reducing handle but i do care about brushless motor tech.
these units do not appear to be the grinders i am looking for. moving along.
ry
Chris
I have bosch’s 18v brushed die grinder and that thing is absolute beast. I would hesitate to buy a brushed angle grinder.
Graham Howe
I have the DeWalt cordless grinder and recently used it to cut some teeth into a 1/4″ steel bar for a ratchet mechanism (seen in the picture below). It held up well in terms of making the cuts, but I went through batteries quickly. I believe I used a full 5.0Ah and a full 4.0Ah then about 50% on another 4.0Ah. That was probably an hour of continuous cutting and grinding. For occasional use it’s great but any sort of longer job I would say corded is the right way to go for grinders.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pz5RLgYw9qZziQXtgHIXOGqVEAposxs_5fJm87eCwnG04uuSdiie4LwZtf–EG0ztpEP_8JVNj8dAg=w572-h762-no
fred
I agree that cordless grinders are OK for small tasks and touch-up work – and we had a few in out Makita 18V lineup. None found their way into our welding and pipe fabrication shops.
I did read a few blurbs on the Internet that cordless grinders seem to have gained favor in a more unsavory segment of society as a burglary tool.
rumpole
There is a recent news clip on the local news ( S.F.) of a guy grinding away on a bike lock (bike attached to parking meter pole) and in the foreground are people chatting away and walking by. someone cell phone viddy’d it but i don’t think even the cell user stopped the perp as sparks flew.
jeesh.
Jonathan
I was shocked at how soft the steel on burglar bars was, I got some off Craigslist to repurpose and I was shocked that my DeWalt Sawzall cut thru the 1/2″ metal like a hot knife through butter, I was thinking how easy it would be for a thief to carry Dewalts small 20v Sawzall and quickly cut out a few bars and steal you stuff.
Dave
I’ve wore out plenty of grinders; I would guess maybe a dozen or more. It’s not hard to do if uou use them a lot as we do. I can get about a year out of a Makita corded 4″, and around 4 years out of a Milwaukee 4.5″. The Milwaukeees can be repaired at an electric motor shop, so really they last nearly forever with a few repairs. The electric motor shop guys show you their door if you walk in there with the Makita. They’re a pretty good grinder for the money, though.
I was repeatedly told to save my money when it came to cordless grinders, but when the m18 fuels came out, I had to try one, and so far it has exceeded my expectations. I gave $147 for it on Acme tool’s semiannual sale about a month ago. Why would anyone buy a brushed -motor version for roughly the same money?
ken
While it could never be a Metabo replacement, I plan on picking up one of these to compliment my other Bosch 18v tools. Would be great to go portable, for the junkyard, outdoors, etc.
RX9
I’ve got a corded Metabo with the autobalancer, and that feature is pretty effective at reducing vibration. I’m hoping that when the patent expires, other manufacturers start including an autobalancer on their grinders too.