ToolGuyd

Tool Reviews, New Tool Previews, Best Tool Guides, Tool Deals, and More!

  • New Tools
  • Reviews
  • Guides
    • Best Cordless Power Tool Brand
    • Tool Brands: Who Owns What?
    • Best Cordless Drills (New for 2019!)
    • Dewalt UWO Explained
    • Best Multi-Bit Screwdrivers
    • Best Cordless Impact Drivers (2015)
    • Best Cordless Circular Saws
    • Best Tape Measure
    • Best Cordless Oscillating Tools
    • Best EDC Gear
    • Best Multimeter
    • Best Precision Screwdrivers
    • Best Modular Tool Boxes
    • Ultimate Tool Gift Guide
  • Hand Tools
    • Bit Holders & Drivers
    • EDC, Pocket, & Multitools
    • Electrical Tools
    • Flashlights & Worklights
    • Knives
    • Mechanics’ Tools
    • Pliers
    • Screwdrivers
    • Sockets & Drive Tools
    • Wrenches
    • All Hand Tools
  • Power Tools
    • Accessories
    • Cordless
    • Drills & Drivers
    • Oscillating Tools
    • Saws
    • Woodworking Tools
    • All Power Tools
  • Brands
    • Bosch
    • Craftsman
    • Dewalt
    • Makita
    • Milwaukee
    • Milwaukee NPS19 Tools
    • Ryobi
    • All Brands
  • USA-Made
  • Deals
ToolGuyd > Power Tools > Grinders & Sanders > Bosch & Ridgid Slim Grip Small Angle Grinders

Bosch & Ridgid Slim Grip Small Angle Grinders

Apr 9, 2010 Stuart 6 Comments

If you buy something through our links, ToolGuyd might earn an affiliate commission.

I don’t know about you, but except for a chain saw, an angle grinder is about the last thing I want to be more compact and slim. It looks as though I’m in the minority here as both Bosch and Ridgid offer small slim grip angle grinders. Maybe they’re on to something after all.

Bosch 1380 Slim 4-1/2″ Angle Grinder

Advertisement

Bosch’s slim grip angle grinder is ergonomically designed, and is intended to add comfort and convenience for all day use. Despite its svelte size, Bosch was still able to fit a reasonably powerful 7.5A motor inside the grinder. The grinder is priced quite affordably at $70, or $75 with a kit case.

Bosch Slim Grip Grinder via Amazon | Grinder Kit with Case
Product Info via Bosch

Ridgid R1005 4-1/2″ Angle Grinder w/ Slim Grip

Ridgid’s slim grip grinder offers a much slimmer grip, and resembles a balloon animal that’s about to be twisted. Although Ridgid’s slim grinder appears to offer a better grip than Bosch’s, its rear looks to be a bit bulkier, possibly hindering one’s ability to grasp that part of the tool.

This grinder has a 7.0A motor, which  realistically won’t perform much differently than the 7.5A motor in the Bosch grinder. At $99, Ridgid’s slim grip grinder is a bit more expensive than Bosch’s..

Ridgid Slim Grip Angle Grinder (Manufacturer) | via Home Depot

Final Thoughts

I’m still a bit on the fence as to whether a smaller grinder with powerful 7, 7.5A motors are a good thing or not. Then again, if they were unsafe or unwieldly, Bosch and Ridgid wouldn’t have approved the tools’ production. Right?

Other brands produce small angle grinders, but these are the only slim grips I’m aware of.

Related posts:

Ridgid Random Orbital Sander5 Things I Loved About my Ridgid Random Orbit Sander Bosch X-Lock Grinding Wheel Accessory SystemBosch X-Lock Quick-Change Angle Grinders and Accessories are Now Available

Sections: Editorial, Grinders & Sanders More from: Bosch, Ridgid

« Home Depot’s Spring Black Friday Sale
Ridgid SuperClamp Portable Clamping Work Station »

6 Comments

  1. uthscsaedu

    Apr 9, 2010

    The slimmer grip makes sense to me. I can see how you get better control.

    Reply
  2. Stuart

    Apr 10, 2010

    Maybe I was a bit too harsh and critical of the tools, especially without having handled them in person. Bosch’s looks like it could provide an improved grip, and the Ridgid has a hit or miss pistol-grip trigger going on. Maybe better grip does lead to more control.

    In any case, with all the impressive compact cordless tools on the market, I should be accustomed to seeing high power tools designed in smaller and smaller packages.

    Reply
  3. PutnamEco

    Apr 11, 2010

    I really hate the non 90˚ side handle on the Bosch, it makes working in corners hard.

    Reply
  4. IndyEngineer

    Apr 11, 2010

    I agree with PutnamEco. The Bosch handle is a weird design.

    Reply
  5. Neil Bruce

    Apr 12, 2010

    Here in the UK Bosch recently conducted a survey of angle grinder users needs and 23% said that convenience. This group of people rated ergonomic slim grip as the most important feature.
    In the same survey performance was the top user need with 26% and safety was 3rd on 21%.
    This led to Bosch releasing the new GWS7 series of 100mm and 115mm grinders.

    Reply
  6. Stuart

    Apr 14, 2010

    Neil,

    Thank you for that information! I’d like to say that I’m surprised to see that user rate ergonomics and performance as more important features than safety, but that sounds about right.

    While I don’t doubt that Bosch implemented every safety precaution they could into the tool, there’s something about high power in a smaller package that still makes me a bit uneasy.

    Without trying out these tools myself yet, an exaggerated analogous visualization I have yet to dissolve is of a motorcycle engine designed around a dirt bike frame.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Newsletter

Sign up to receive the latest tool news.

ToolGuyd Forum

Recent Comments

  • Jerry on Can You Recommend a Basic Walkie Talkie?: “I thought I should add, I was answering with the best cheap radios I could think of offhand, for kids…”
  • Jerry on Can You Recommend a Basic Walkie Talkie?: “I was just thinking for kids, set either of those radio models to low power, and let them go with…”
  • Jerry on Ryobi 18V One+ HP Cordless Power Tools in 2021: “Yes. I noticed it has double the torque rating of the old one. Nice upgrade and only $20 more as…”
  • rob on Makita XGT USA Launch Delayed, Hopefully Coming in 2021: “The correlation between the XPH14 and the XGT line is that the XPH14 is near identical to the newer budget…”
  • MoogleMan3 on New Ryobi 18V Cordless Dual Temperature Hot Glue Gun: “Came to mention this; out of the box, the cordless surebonder guns take ryobi batteries, and others with adapters. I’m…”
  • MoogleMan3 on New Ryobi 18V Cordless Dual Temperature Hot Glue Gun: “I agree about Surebonder glue guns. They’re a steal for what they offer. I have the DT3100F; I paid $35…”

Recent Posts

  • New Ryobi 18V Cordless Dual Temperature Hot Glue Gun
  • Ryobi 18V One+ HP Cordless Power Tools in 2021
  • Can You Recommend a Basic Walkie Talkie?
  • Makita XGT USA Launch Delayed, Hopefully Coming in 2021
  • Olight Warrior Mini Flash Sale - 3/1/2021
  • New Milwaukee M12 Cordless Pin Nailer (2021 ETA Update)
  • Garage Workshop Lighting Plug-in Cord Wiring Update
  • Dickies Performance GDT Premium Work Pants Review
ToolGuyd New Tool Reviews Image

New Tool Reviews

Buying Guides

  • Best Cordless Drills
  • Best Cordless Impact Drivers
  • Best Cordless Multi-Tools
  • Cordless Power Tool Brands
  • Modular Tool Storage Systems
  • Ultimate Tool Gift & Upgrade Guide
ToolGuyd Knife Reviews Image

Knife Reviews

ToolGuyd Multi-Tool Reviews Image

Multi-Tool Reviews

ToolGuyd LED Flashlight and Worklight Reviews Image

LED Light Reviews

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Stores
  • Videos
  • Gear
  • AMZN Deal Finder
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Disclosure