DeWalt Right Angle Die Grinder Kit with XR POWERSTACK

Why I reached for this right‑angle die grinder

I spend a lot of time cleaning up welds, notching tubing, and sneaking into engine bays where a straight grinder just won’t land. That’s where a compact right‑angle die grinder earns its keep. I put DeWalt’s right‑angle die grinder kit on the bench for several weeks of fab and service work to see if it can genuinely replace the pneumatic standby that’s lived at the end of my air hose for years.

Build and ergonomics

The first thing that stood out is the size and shape. The head is compact, the body is slim, and the gripping diameter feels more like a 12V tool than a 20V unit. The angle head helps me keep a low profile when I’m riding the edge of a weld or skimming inside a bracket. With a 2-inch wheel installed, I could get into tight pockets on a control arm without contorting my wrist.

The housing is glass‑filled nylon, and it’s clearly chosen for shop life. I drenched it in cutting fluid and brake cleaner more than once, and it shrugged off the abuse without getting slick or tacky. The oil‑resistant XR POWERSTACK battery helps, too; the casing didn’t swell or haze after the usual solvents.

Balance is good with the included 1.7 Ah POWERSTACK pack. It keeps the weight centered without making the rear end feel bulky, which matters when you’re feathering a cutoff wheel with two fingers. The paddle trigger has a progressive feel, and the lockout is intuitive. I’d still prefer a slightly longer paddle for a three‑finger grip, but I adapted quickly.

Power and control

DeWalt rates the motor at up to 445 MWO, and while MWO isn’t a direct stand‑in for horsepower, it does hint at available torque. In practice, the tool has no trouble pushing 2-inch cutoff wheels and surface conditioning discs. On mild steel bracketry (1/8 to 3/16 inch), I could lean into a cut without bogging unless I pinched the wheel.

Where the grinder distinguishes itself is how it manages stalls. The anti‑rotation system senses a pinch or bind‑up, stops the wheel, and requires cycling the trigger to restart. Two things about that:

• It’s a real safety net. When a wheel bites, the tool shuts down instead of twisting in your hand.
• It can be a little overprotective with very aggressive burrs or when you side‑load a worn disc. If you like to push hard, expect the occasional stop‑and‑reset.

The electronic brake is excellent. Release the trigger and the wheel coasts down in under a second. That’s confidence‑inspiring when you’re coming out of a cut near hoses or wiring, and it speeds up repositioning between passes.

Runout at the 1/4-inch collet felt tight enough for fine deburring and port matching. I didn’t chase microns, but small carbide burrs stayed smooth without chattering the workpiece.

Runtime and batteries

The kit’s 1.7 Ah XR POWERSTACK battery is the right choice for this form factor: high discharge, compact, and oil‑resistant. Runtime always depends on the consumable and your pressure. My rough guide from a day of mixed use:

• With a 2-inch cutoff wheel doing intermittent cuts on 1/8-inch stock: several dozen cuts per charge.
• With a coarse surface conditioning disc cleaning welds and mill scale: multiple parts per charge before I needed a swap.
• With a carbide burr doing continuous hogging: plan on shorter stints; a more energy‑dense pack helps.

If you live on this tool for long sessions, a 5.0 Ah pack or the larger POWERSTACK options extend runtime noticeably, though you’ll trade a bit of balance and bulk. The included DCB1104 charger tops off the 1.7 Ah pack quickly enough that a two‑battery rotation keeps you moving.

Right‑angle access and use cases

The right‑angle head is the reason to buy this format, and it delivers. A few practical wins from my time with it:

• Inside corners: Easier to keep the disc flat against a fillet weld without heel‑kicking the guard into adjacent material.
• Automotive work: Reaching behind pulleys and brackets to nip a rusted fastener with a 2-inch wheel is far less awkward than with a straight grinder.
• Tube work: Controlling the leading edge of a conditioning disc on a roll cage notch is more natural with the head offset.
• Gasket prep: Scotch‑Brite style discs are easy to keep parallel to the surface with the right‑angle layout, reducing gouges.

Safety and braking

Beyond the electronic brake and anti‑rotation, the overall safety story is solid. The stall protection saved my wrist a couple of times when a new disc tried to bite on an inside curve. The restart requirement (cycle the trigger after a stall) prevents an unexpected run‑up if you’re still in a bind. It does, however, add a beat to your workflow when you’re dancing on the line between productive pressure and a pinch.

As always, wear PPE. This tool spins small wheels fast; the brake helps, but the consumables still deserve respect.

Durability in a real shop

Between coolant, ATF, and brake cleaner, most cordless tools start looking tired quickly. The glass‑filled nylon handled it, and the battery’s oil‑resistant shell kept its grip. The head gearing stayed quiet, and there’s no discernible looseness in the collet after swapping accessories all week. I’d like a rubberized overmold near the head to improve grip with gloves, but the sculpting on the body did the job.

The kit bag is basic but useful, and the included wrench and 1/4-inch collet are what you need to get going. If you use 1/8-inch shank burrs often, plan on adding a reducer collet.

Asset management and platform perks

It’s 20V MAX compatible, so it drops into an existing DeWalt setup without extra chargers. It’s also Tool Connect chip ready. If you run a fleet or share tools across bays, the ability to tag and track location is handy. The chip isn’t included, but the cavity is there and simple to access.

Warranty coverage is straightforward: 3-year limited warranty, 1-year free service, and a 90-day satisfaction guarantee. That matters for a high‑cycle tool that sees daily use.

What could be better

• Anti‑rotation sensitivity: I appreciate the protection, but I’d like a user‑selectable mode or slightly higher threshold for stalls, especially when using small burrs where brief dips in speed are normal.
• Paddle length: A longer paddle would give more hand positions without shifting grip.
• Battery capacity in the kit: The 1.7 Ah POWERSTACK is great for balance and burst power; a second pack or a higher‑capacity option would suit heavy users better.

None of these are deal‑breakers. They’re the kinds of refinements that would make a very good tool even better.

Who it’s for

• Fabricators and mechanics who need a cordless right‑angle grinder for tight quarters.
• Shops moving away from air for portability or noise reasons, but who still demand real power.
• Existing 20V MAX users who want a compact, high‑control die grinder with strong safety features.

If you do mostly bench work with an airline inches away, a pneumatic right‑angle grinder still wins on continuous runtime and sometimes on upfront cost. If you need to move around a vehicle, jobsite, or yard without dragging a hose, this cordless option makes a compelling case.

Recommendation

I recommend the DeWalt right‑angle die grinder kit for anyone who needs a compact, cordless grinder that balances power, control, and safety. It has the muscle to replace many air tasks, the right‑angle head to reach awkward spots, and thoughtful features—fast electronic brake, effective anti‑rotation, solvent‑resistant build—that pay off in daily use. Pair it with a second battery (or a larger capacity pack) and it becomes a reliable go‑to for fabrication, maintenance, and automotive work. If your work style leans very aggressive and you hate any electronic intervention, the stall protection may occasionally slow you down; otherwise, it’s a smart safeguard on a tool that will spend a lot of time inches from your knuckles.