Many of us here have an angle grinder or two or probably more from the budget type to the top of the line angle grinders. This thread is about how we can maintain and keep our grinders running after years of use, or how do we extend its running life and be able to maximize its usefulness.

For the new owners of angle grinders who have not yet used this power tool extensively for grinding or cutting metals or for shaping or sanding wood nor experienced grinder stoppage in the middle of a project or feel that your grinder/s would seem so hot after each use or would feel that the spinning of the grinding or cutting discs would somehow suddenly halt after turning off the switch. Well I have some very useful tips or pointers to share based on my experiences with my two very first 8 or 10 year old abused angle grinders.

Here are some TIPS and POINTERS on how to maintain and extend the life of an angle grinder:

1. Fit the correct or proper size of of grinding or cutting disc on your angle grinder.

2. After each use, wipe clean with a damp cloth the external casings of the grinder and if possible if you have an air compressor, blow some compressed air on all parts specially the air vents to spell out dust particles that may clog inside the cooling fan and the bearing and the winding motor.

3. See to it that you perform periodical inspection/checkup of the carbon brushes, possibly ones a month if it is used often extensively, if it is almost worn out, about less than 5mm in length, better replace it immediately. " One cause of premature brush wear out is dust, specially the abrasive concrete dust which is sucked in through the vents near the brushes and blown out the front of the grinder ". Oh I just remembered, after installing new carbon brushes on your unit, let it run for a couple of minutes without load or without grinding or cutting something.

4. Make sure the ON and OFF switch is in top working condition. Wipe off any dust build up around the switch.

5. Check also the power supply cord for cuts or breakage.

6. Check also the auxiliary handle for cracks and if the bolt still fits snugly into the housing.

7. Ones in a while check the gear box for metal or concrete dust accumulation, wipe off and clean.

8. Check also the inside of the gear box if it has enough grease inside, purpose of this is to prevent friction on the gears and make the spindle run smoothly.

9. Make sure too to keep the spindle lock button clean and free of dust particles.

10. When operating the angle grinder, do not apply to much pressure or load to the grinder, like for example pressing harder or weight it up more to grind out metal or concrete.

11. If we experience a sort of over heating of the grinder while using it, reduce or remove as much load from the grinder, now this is very important, do not turn off the grinder, let it run at its usual speed for a while, say 1 minute and let the small cooling fan inside the motor suck in new cool air over the motor. By doing so this will prevent what we may call burn out in the motor. This burn out causes melting in some parts of the motor and shorten its life use. 🙁 😡

HOPE these tips helps but if you know some more pointers, do add it on the list.