Hitachi, which recently came out with a brushless oscillating multi-tool, is also coming out with a new 4-1/2″ paddle switch brushless angle grinder.
As with other tools of its kind, the new Hitachi G18DBALP4 cordless brushless angle grinder is said to deliver high cutting performance and long runtime. They say that the new model delivers up to 1.5 times the number of cuts when compared to their previous brushed motor angle grinder.
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Additionally, the new Hitachi grinder has a slim grip, compact size, and is lightweight. There is also an automatic speed mode, which adjusts the wheel RPM speed when the tool is in use. When it’s not in use, and is powered on but idle, the auto mode will decrease the speed, resulting in lower noise, vibration, and wasted energy.
It also features kick-back protection, a soft start motor, zero voltage release, battery indicator, tool-free wheel guard, cleanable mesh filters, and Hitachi’s dust and water resistance.
See More Brushless Angle Grinders: Milwaukee (Braking), Makita
- 4-1/2″ wheel diameter
- 9,000 RPM at full load
- 5,500 RPM when idle
- Paddle switch
- Soft start brushless motor
- Mesh filters remove for cleaning (tool-free)
- Zero voltage release (anti-restart protection)
- Auto mode option that slows RPM when tool is not under load
- Resin-coated circuit boards protects electronic parts from dust and water
- Battery fuel gauge
- Kick-back protection
The grinder comes with a side handle, grinding wheel, spanner wrench (for grinding wheel changes), and tool-free wheel guard. It’s sold as a bare tool, and works with Hitachi’s 18V slide-style Li-ion battery packs.
Buy Now(via Amazon)
Amazon is the only retailer to list this new product, and has given it a $160 price as of the time of this posting. Amazon’s preorder prices sometimes change, and so I don’t know how much I’d trust this figure.
One more thing – the image above was taken from an international product page for the G18DBAL angle grinder. The one that’s listed on Amazon, G18DBALP4, has a slightly different aux handle that lack a vibration dampening zone. Other than that, the USA and overseas versions look identical.
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The grinder is sold with either a standard type handle or vibration-absorbing type. Hopefully we’ll see another version here in the USA that’s sold with the vibration-absorbing handle, or maybe it will be available as an add-on accessory. Anything that lowers the vibrations that travel to your joints and nerves is a good thing.
There are several variations of this grinder available internationally, that might be available here too:
- G18DBAL – this is the one discussed here
- G18DBL – slide switch instead of a paddle switch
- G18DBVL – slide switch with variable speed control dial
First Thoughts
As for the tool itself, I find the auto speed mode to be quite interesting. With a lot of tools, such as cordless drills and saws, a tool is only powered on when it’s being used. With angle grinders, I suppose one might touch it to the work, reposition, and then work a little more, all the while with the tool powered on. Well, at least when grinding. When using a cut-off wheel, I imagine that the tool will be used on-off on-off as you would with other cutting tools.
And so, with the auto mode, the tool spins down when not being used. Because it’s still spinning but only at a slower speed, there’s less noise (makes sense), less vibration (makes sense), less wasted battery charge (makes sense), and less downtime (I suppose this makes sense). That does seem like a neat way to prolong runtime and increase user comfort.
What do you think about this new Hitachi grinder, especially the auto mode option?
tim
This sounds like a really cool feature.
I wonder how much it would really impact battery life compared to the same tool without that feature.
Ralph
It is hard to calculate this when the tool is actually being used. However, when the tool is running without a work load, the auto mode adjusts down to 5,500 RPM as opposed to the max 9,000 RPM. I work with and test Hitachi tools so I may actually test the no-load run time between the two RPM settings and get back on this, but I would estimate an additional 30% runtime while in no-load auto mode.
John
I’m in the market for a good angle grinder with good compatibility and guards. I understand the preference for paddle over switch and then now the rise of 5 inch over 4.5 for flexibility. However what I’m really surprised about is how hard it is to find and get a a good updated with variable speed and all the other features. Same issues with this Hitachi unfortunately.
Cordless isn’t that critical for me but with all the itnnovation of the New Years lineup like the just announced Milwaulkee M18 brake one, no variable speed model. Even Makita seems to lack one or at least it’s not a common feature. I was really excited to see their updated models with the new SJS2 anti vibration system like the new ga5042c and ga4542c, but no variable model? Ugh. 🙁
The big box stores, Home Depot / Lowe’s, also don’t seem to stock any to try out at their physical locations.
I guess I’ll have to wait or just bite the bullet and get a Metabo (expensive probably overkill) but like Makita has a a confusing dizzying array of models which can be frustrating to know the differentiation between. Once you have tried thr variable speed ones and see the increase control its pretty hard to go back to a full throttle only one.
Ralph
The new Hitachi brushless unit accepts 5″ wheels. Just an FYI
John
True and I like that flexibility, but the no variable speed is kinda a deal killer at least for me and what I’m looking for.
Bruce
I currently have 4 angle grinders in use. I’ve got a Milwaukee paddle switch corded 4.5 (I’ll have to look up the model number if you really want to know). I keep a diamond wheel on this one. A Makita 4.5 inch latching switch with a flap disk on it. A Ridgid cordless with a flap disk mounted. And a Ryobi cordless with a grinding wheel mounted. The Makita is my go-to grinder. It lives on the welding bench and I love everything about it. The flap wheel works SO much better than solid grinding wheels. The latching switch means less fatigue when clearing large areas of mill scale. When this one dies, I’ll go to a variable speed 5″ model with a latching switch.
The Milwaukee is a nice tool but I hate the paddle switch. Personal preference. The body is longer than the Makita which is also irritating.
The ridgid is great and it often has a finer wheel on it when I want to burnish a finished piece. It was also super handy when cleaning old silicon off of parpet wall joints out on the roof. No cord means less hassle. It eats batteries pretty good but 2 4AHr and 2 2AHr batteries with two chargers will let you run non-stop all day.
The Ryobi is one a bought for the house, mostly because it came with to Lithium batteries to replace the NiCads that are all but dead from my other tools. It’s been handy on a couple of small projects, great for home use. It would never make it as my go-to grinder in commercial use.
logan
Vinegar clears millscale no problem. Also eliminates the risk of digging into the material.
Takes literally only a few minutes to eat it away. Foul smell aside, it does strip the steel so well it can oxidize very quickly. For something like a welding table, wipe it down with 3 in 1 real quick and you’re good.
Best way to avoid mill scale is to avoid cold rolled steel.
Bruce
Thanks, I’ll try that.
Drew M
Just save up for the Metabo. I have had one with variable speed for years and it has been fantastic. I love being able to slow it down when I’m using flappy sanding discs on it.
John
Wow, it looks like the initial site I used for information on the new Makita ga5042c and ga4542c *just* updated and corrected their article the day I posted this with corrections that they are both variable speed. As well Makita finally updated their site with more info on these corroborating the same updated information. I’ve never seen that happen and I had written notes for research that Im not crazy lol. So I guess the ga5042c and ga4542c are back on my possibilities list. Hope there are more reviews soon so I can finally pull the trigger, I wonder how much better this SJS II system really is. Hope I didn’t mess up anyone’s buying decision with the incorrect info I had. 🙁
Jerry
I like the soft start, and the idle feature. The soft start I believe would be helpful for fine cutting jobs, as the startup torque wouldn’t move the disk as much. The idle would be great for saving battery, but can you disable it? I’m thinking if someone is trying to line up a precisinn/delicate cut, there may be potential for the grinder to shift when the blade speeds up.
I do like the specs on it, at least on paper. I like variable speed grinders, but for heavy grinding, I actually prefer a more basic off-on unit, as I feel for heavy use, the less electronics, the less there is to go wrong.
I currently run a Milwaukee Super Magnum 120V 4 1/2 grinder for most uses, a 7 inch Makita for heavy jobs (tons of use on both of them, and they just keep going). For a cordless unit, I have a DeWalt 18V which I will probably replace with a Ryobi when the time comes. For my uses, it is probably powerful enough, and I like that e spanner wrench is stored right on the tool, rather than needing to be hunted down. If you share shop supplies and tools with a couple other people, things like that become a bigger factor.
Stuart
Yes. I believe that the automatic speed mode is an optional mode that users can enable or disable.
On the international product page, there’s a cropped image that shows a mode selection switch, and in the flyer (PDF) there’s an image showing that the switch is located on the underside of the tool near the battery connection.
Sean
I’m starting to like Hitachi more and more. That grinder looks so GOOD! They also have reasonable prices.
The only Hitachi tool I own is an angle grinder, and it is fine. However, I probably don’t use (abuse) grinders frequently enough to be able to tell minor differences. It was like $45 with a hard case and 5 discs (which means nice disc storage in the case.) You can’t beat that price! I also have used a lot of Hitachi nail guns, and they work great.
I’m keeping them on my radar in the future.
pete
Auto mode? Honestly just the name for a grinder sounds terrible. I use a grinder pretty frequently and that is EXACTLY what I wouldn’t want for a grinder. I dunno it could be a cool feature but I doubt I would like/enjoy it.
Matt
I would think that by cutting the rpms when not in use would take a toll on the tool in the long run, depending on how fast it senses the work load, it would start eating away at metal before it’s at full speed, again given the amount of delay and how much of a speed difference there is from idle to high
Paul Sprague
This sounds like a well thought out tool. It’s nice to see some improvement in Hitachi tools recently . I feel that they really used to be great almost like Makita and that quality slipped when they sent all of their manufacturing to China. After that, It seemed they were more in the Ryobi, rigid, craftsman circle than the higher end like in the 90’s. There have been a lot of complaints from people about quality issues with Hitachi tools in recent years. Hopefully with this new generation of power tools they are on the upswing ??