DeWalt Right angle die grinder kit

What it is and where it fits

I’ve been using DeWalt’s right‑angle die grinder as a cordless stand‑in for the small pneumatic grinders I’ve relied on for years. The promise is straightforward: a compact right‑angle head for tight spots, real grinder power without a hose, and safety features that don’t get in the way. After several weeks deburring brackets, knocking scale off welds, and running 2-inch surface conditioning discs in cramped automotive and metal‑fab work, it’s clear this is more than a convenience tool—it’s a capable daily driver for many die‑grinding tasks.

Design and ergonomics

The first thing you notice is the size. The head is genuinely compact, and the body has a slim gripping diameter that’s closer to smaller low‑voltage tools than many 18/20V grinders. With the included 1.7 Ah POWERSTACK battery, balance is excellent for one‑handed control. I could snake the head between frame rails and around gussets where a straight grinder simply won’t go.

The paddle‑style trigger feels familiar if you’re coming from air tools. There’s a lock‑off, but no lock‑on, which makes sense for a grinder you’ll often feather. The forward exhaust is a subtle but appreciated touch; even though this is cordless, the motor’s cooling airflow tends to push dust and grit away from you rather than into your face. The onboard LED is useful when you’re working inside a wheel well or under a bench, though the accessory can cast a shadow at certain angles.

Overall, the tool is easy to index with a gloved hand, and it never felt bulky. You can run it with a light grip and still get consistent control, especially when you’re hovering around an edge or inside a fillet.

Power and performance

DeWalt rates the brushless motor at up to 455 MWO and 24,500 RPM no‑load. In practical terms, that’s the power band you want for 1/4‑inch shank carbide burrs and 2‑inch conditioning discs. The grinder pulls hard enough to keep a coarse burr cutting without bogging, provided you let the RPM do the work. It feels on par with small shop pneumatics for light‑to‑medium stock removal. If you bear down, you’ll eventually trip the anti‑rotation protection (more on that below), but under sensible pressure it keeps pace.

What stood out most is the consistency under load with the POWERSTACK packs. Voltage sag is minimal; burr speed stays usable even as the pack drops below half. Compared to many round‑cell compacts, the motor doesn’t surge and fade as much during intermittent grinding.

Noise is still dictated by the accessory and the material—you’ll want ear protection—yet the overall sound is less shrill than a high‑RPM air tool. Vibration was reasonable with balanced burrs and Roloc‑style holders; chatter showed up only with a couple of abused accessories I should have retired long ago.

Controls, safety, and braking

Control is via a variable‑speed trigger—there’s no speed dial. The trigger is responsive enough to keep a surface conditioning disc in its sweet spot and to soften engagement of a burr against an edge. Fine RPM “set and forget” isn’t really possible, so if you need fixed speeds for specific abrasives, that’s a limitation to note.

The anti‑rotation system is a real asset. If a burr bites or a disc binds in a pocket, the tool stops instead of twisting. It does require cycling the switch to restart, which interrupts your rhythm, but I’d rather reset than wrestle a grinder that decides to walk. The electronic brake is excellent: once you release the paddle, the wheel coasts down in under a second. That makes repositioning safer and speeds up accessory swaps.

Battery, runtime, and charging

The kit includes two 1.7 Ah 20V MAX XR POWERSTACK batteries and the DCB1104 charger. With the included packs, I could handle a typical series of deburrs, gasket surface cleanups, and a bit of weld cleanup before swapping—enough for mobile work and most bench tasks. For longer sessions of aggressive grinding, a higher‑capacity pack (or a third compact) helps avoid downtime. The charger brings the small packs back fast enough that rotating the two batteries kept me moving through a workday of intermittent use.

One practical note: the compact packs keep the tool nimble. Slap on a big 5.0 Ah pack and you’ll gain runtime, but you also add length and tail weight, which can work against access in tight quarters. I liked the included compacts for most jobs and moved to a mid‑size pack only when I knew I had extended sanding ahead.

Accessory changes and compatibility

This grinder uses a 1/4‑inch collet, and the spindle lock makes accessory changes quick—you’re not juggling two wrenches. The kit includes a single wrench and the 1/4‑inch collet. Many of my shop accessories are 1/4‑inch shank, so I was covered out of the box. If you rely on 1/8‑inch shank rotary files and specialty bits, plan to buy the matching collet separately.

The right‑angle layout shines with 2‑inch quick‑change surface discs, flap wheels, and short carbide burrs. Cutoff wheels on 1/4‑inch arbors also work well in this form factor, though you’ll want to be mindful of guard and clearance considerations as with any die grinder.

Reliability, maintenance, and tracking

A brushless motor means no brushes to replace and less routine maintenance than many corded grinders. There’s no daily oiling ritual like a pneumatic, and the drivetrain feels tight with no noticeable axial play at the collet during my testing. The tool is Tool Connect chip ready (chip sold separately), which is handy for inventory tracking if you manage a fleet or jobsite toolbox—irrelevant for some, valuable for others.

DeWalt’s warranty on the kit is the usual: 3‑year limited, 1‑year free service, and 90‑day satisfaction guarantee. That’s competitive in this class and adds confidence if this will be a daily‑use tool.

Where it excels

• Tight spaces where a straight grinder won’t fit—inside frames, around brackets, and along weld toes in corners.
• Tasks requiring frequent repositioning. The electronic brake and paddle trigger make it easy to stop, set the tool, and move without waiting for a long coast‑down.
• Mobile or hose‑free setups. No compressor means less noise, fewer trip hazards, and no airline fighting you around a vehicle or fab table.
• Light‑to‑medium stock removal, deburring, gasket cleanup, and surface prep with 2‑inch discs.

What could be better

• No speed dial. The trigger is good, but a multi‑position selector would improve control for speed‑sensitive abrasives.
• No lock‑on. Understandable for safety, yet on long smoothing passes some users may miss it.
• Only a 1/4‑inch collet in the box. Many shops keep 1/8‑inch accessories; including that collet would broaden out‑of‑box compatibility.
• Occasional anti‑rotation resets. The protection works well, but if you push hard with an aggressive burr you’ll trip it now and then and need to cycle the switch.
• Runtime with the included 1.7 Ah packs is job‑dependent. For heavy grinding, plan on mid‑ or high‑capacity packs.

Value and who it’s for

If you’re already on DeWalt’s 20V platform, this grinder slots in seamlessly, and the POWERSTACK batteries do a nice job of delivering consistent power in a compact footprint. Compared to air, you lose the hose and the compressor overhead while keeping most of the performance you expect from a small right‑angle die grinder. For automotive techs, fabricators, HVAC installers, and maintenance pros working in confined spaces, it’s a practical upgrade.

DIYers who do occasional deburring and surface prep will appreciate the convenience, though the kit is more compelling if you’ll use it regularly. Heavy‑duty users who live on a die grinder for hours at a stretch will still want air or plan on larger battery packs and frequent swaps.

Recommendation

I recommend the DeWalt right‑angle die grinder kit for anyone who needs pneumatic‑like control and access without the hose, especially in metalworking and automotive work. It’s compact, genuinely powerful for its size, and the safety package (anti‑rotation plus a fast electronic brake) is well executed. While I’d like a speed selector and an included 1/8‑inch collet, those are manageable misses. With two compact POWERSTACK batteries, a fast charger, and a thoughtful form factor, this kit has earned a spot on my cart, and it’s the first grinder I reach for when the job gets tight.