DeWalt 4.5 - 5 in. Surface Grinding Dust Shroud Kit

Why I reached for this kit

I needed to flatten a few proud spots in a garage slab and chase some thin-set residue off a basement landing. I wanted something purpose-built for concrete, with real dust control, but still compact enough to work along walls. The DeWalt surface grinding kit pairs a 13-amp, 5-inch grinder with a dedicated dust shroud, a bail handle, and a diamond turbo cup. On paper, that’s exactly the mix I look for: enough power to keep a turbo cup spinning at speed, a flush-grind door for edge work, and an electronic safety clutch for those inevitable binds.

After several sessions on cured concrete, patch material, and a few feet of skim coat, here’s how it actually performs.

Setup and compatibility

Out of the box, assembly is straightforward: mount the shroud, install the bail handle, and thread on the included 5-inch turbo cup via the standard 5/8-11 spindle. The quick-change wheel release is genuinely handy—most of the time I could pop the cup off without reaching for a spanner. If you really bury the cup and it seizes, you’ll still want a wrench nearby, but for routine swaps, tool-free is accurate.

Dust collection setup is the only place I hit friction. The kit includes a “universal” connector intended to bridge your vacuum hose to the shroud’s port. In practice, “universal” is optimistic. Depending on your hose size and cuff style, you may need an extra sleeve, a step-down adapter, or at least a wrap or two of tape to get a snug fit. Once I had a secure connection, everything stayed put, but plan on a few minutes of tinkering to dial it in if you’re not pairing it with a DeWalt extractor.

Dust shroud and real-world dust control

The shroud is the star of this kit. It rides smoothly over rough slab, seals well when held flat, and the clear front door flips open for flush-edge grinding. This door is a meaningful feature; being able to run the cup right up to a wall or curb saves time.

The tradeoff is predictable: with the door open, capture efficiency drops. Even with a capable vac, you’ll see more fines escape when you’re working right against an edge or if you tilt the grinder too much. With the door closed and the shroud kept reasonably flat, dust control is quite good—as in, I could see the cup, my line, and the floor without working in a cloud. For best results:

• Use a high-CFM vacuum with a clean filter or auto filter cleaning.
• Keep the shroud flat and let the cup do the work; excessive tilting creates gaps.
• Crack the door only when you truly need flush contact; close it again for broader passes.

If you’re grinding adhesive over a bumpy slab, expect moments where the shroud lifts and dust capture falls off. That’s the nature of flush shrouds. The door hinge and latch feel durable, and the skirt material has held up well against aggregate and occasional bumping into anchor bolts.

Power and grinding performance

The 13-amp motor and 11,000 RPM speed are right in the sweet spot for a 5-inch turbo cup. On bare concrete, the grinder stayed on plane without bogging, and I could feather material removal by adjusting pressure and passes rather than fighting the motor. Removing thin-set ridges was controlled and predictable; knocking down high spots took a few more passes but never felt underpowered.

The included diamond turbo wheel is a solid generalist. It tracks true out of the box and cuts cleanly. For aggressive leveling over large areas, a segmented cup with a slightly coarser bond might move faster, but for mixed tasks—spot grinding, edge work, and finishing to a consistent profile—the supplied wheel is entirely serviceable.

Vibration is moderate for this class. With the bail handle installed, two-handed control is confident, and I didn’t experience hot spots or harsh buzz through the grip during typical 15–20 minute runs. As always, hearing protection and a tight-fitting respirator are a must; the shroud helps, but you’re still generating fines and plenty of noise.

Safety and control

DeWalt’s Anti-Rotation E-CLUTCH is the kind of feature you hope not to use but really appreciate when you need it. I clipped a proud piece of rebar on a repair patch and felt the cup grab, followed by a quick electronic shutoff. The interruption is abrupt but manageable, and it unquestionably reduces kickback risk in bind-up situations. It’s not a substitute for good technique, but it adds a layer of protection I value on a grinder that’s routinely skimming uneven surfaces.

The switch has a positive feel with enough resistance to prevent accidental starts, and the motor spools predictably—no surprise jerk at startup. The bail handle positions your front hand high enough to guide the head while keeping your knuckles away from the wall during flush passes.

Ergonomics and fatigue

At just under 10 pounds with the cup and shroud, the setup is not featherweight, but it’s well balanced. You’ll feel it during extended overhead or wall work, but on flat slabs the weight actually helps the cup track smoothly. The footprint is compact enough to get under toe kicks and into corners (with the door open), and the corded 120V power means consistent output—useful when you’re chasing uniform finish over a room.

Heat management is good. Even during longer grinding runs, the body never got uncomfortably hot, and I didn’t trip a thermal cutout.

Durability and maintenance

Concrete grinding is abusive. After several sessions, the shroud skirt shows expected scuffs but no tears, the hinge is tight, and the latch mechanism still aligns cleanly. The spindle threads are holding up, and the quick-change mechanism hasn’t loosened. Keep dust out of the collet and threads, and give the shroud a periodic brush-out to prevent caked fines from affecting the seal. The included cup is wearing evenly; if you run it over steel, expect a momentary shriek and a little diamond loss—stay on mineral material for maximum life.

DeWalt’s warranty—3-year limited, 1-year free service, and 90-day satisfaction—adds some confidence for a tool that’s going to see rugged use.

What I’d change

• A truly universal vacuum connector: The included adapter is the only part that felt like an afterthought. A stepped rubber cuff or multiple sleeves to match common 1-1/4, 1-7/8, and 2-1/2 inch hoses would make setup painless.
• More descriptive markings on the shroud door positions: You can feel open/closed, but a bolder visual reference would be useful when you’re gloved up and moving fast.
• Optional soft-start: Not essential, but it would make the startup feel even smoother with a heavier cup installed.

Who it’s for

• Concrete pros and remodelers who regularly grind slab high spots, remove coatings, and need credible dust control.
• Serious DIYers tackling slab prep for epoxy or LVP who want to avoid turning a garage into a dust storm.
• Anyone who values an electronic clutch in a grinder that will meet unpredictable surfaces and occasional embedded metal.

If you only need to chase a few linear feet once a year, a bare grinder and rental shroud could suffice. But if you want an integrated setup that’s ready to work right away, this kit makes sense.

Recommendation

I recommend this DeWalt surface grinding kit for concrete and masonry work. It offers the right mix of power, control, and dust management in a compact 5-inch package. The shroud’s flush-grind door is genuinely useful, the E-CLUTCH adds a meaningful safety layer, and the included turbo cup is good enough to start producing clean, consistent results on day one. The only caveat is vacuum compatibility: expect to sort out your hose connection. If you already own a capable extractor or don’t mind adding a proper adapter, the kit delivers reliable performance and keeps dust to a manageable level across most tasks.