DeWalt 7 in. 4.7 HP Angle Grinder

Why I reached for this grinder

I put this 7-inch grinder to work on a mix of heavy steel prep, beveling plate for welds, and cleaning up boiler piping in a cramped mechanical room. If you’ve ever tried to force a mid-size 5-inch grinder through big material removal, you know the moment a proper 7-inch machine pays for itself. This DeWalt 7-inch grinder has the muscle to live in that lane, and after several weeks of use, I’ve got a good sense of where it shines and where it asks for a little patience and planning.

Power and speed

On paper, the motor is listed at 4.7 max HP with a 15-amp draw and a no-load speed of 8,500 rpm. Marketing “max HP” figures are often optimistic, but in practical terms this thing is stout. With a 7-inch Type 27 grinding wheel, I could lean in aggressively on bevels and weld removal without bogging. It maintains speed under load better than many 15-amp units I’ve used, which means cleaner cuts, less glazing, and fewer passes.

That 8,500 rpm on a 7-inch wheel is fast. If you’re stepping up from a 5-inch platform, expect more surface speed and much quicker stock removal—along with a higher responsibility to keep your stance, guard, and workpiece alignment squared away. There’s no variable speed, so it’s not the tool for delicate stainless finishing or flap-disc finesse where speed control is essential. It’s a single-speed sledgehammer, in the best sense.

Ergonomics and control

At roughly 11.6–12 pounds and 520 mm in length, this is a two-handed tool through and through. The anti-vibration trigger handle does take the sting off prolonged grinding, and the soft-grip trigger is easy to feather when you need to reposition mid-pass. The three-position side handle is solid and threads in positively; I used the top (over-gearcase) position a lot for long horizontal passes where I wanted to keep the wheel flat and my wrist neutral.

The low-profile gearcase helps in tight spaces—tucking into angle iron and up against flanges felt less awkward than with chunkier heads I’ve run. Balance is good for a 7-inch class grinder; it doesn’t feel nose-heavy with a typical depressed-center wheel. Still, fatigue is real at this weight. If your day is primarily overhead or vertical work, plan breaks or rotate tasks.

Dust management and durability

DeWalt’s Dust Ejection System is a real asset in gritty environments. It won’t capture airborne dust—that’s what a shroud and vac are for—but it does a better job than many at keeping abrasive fines out of the motor. I did a fair amount of dry grinding on structural steel that had scale and shop debris; after blowing out the vents, the windings and commutator stayed cleaner than expected.

Two maintenance features stand out: the automatic turn-off brushes and the brush door. When the brushes wear to their limit, the tool stops to protect the armature. You don’t limp along and trash a commutator. The brush door makes replacement quick without tearing the tool down. For anyone planning to keep a grinder in service for years, that’s a big plus—and it aligns with the 3-year limited warranty.

The heavy-duty S-style cord holds up well to jobsite abuse. It’s flexible in cold weather and the strain reliefs are robust. The guard uses DeWalt’s Quick-Change mechanism; adjustments are tool-free, firm, and they actually stay put—important when you’re bouncing between orientations.

Setup, accessories, and what you’ll need

Out of the box, the setup is oriented toward standard grinding with Type 27 depressed-center wheels. If you’re planning to run thin cut-off discs (Type 1), expect to source the correct guard and ensure you have the right flanges for that configuration. That’s not a knock on the grinder—it’s common in this class—but it’s worth planning for so you’re not stuck on day one without the correct hardware.

The spindle is 5/8-11 on the unit I used, which matches most North American accessories. Some literature mentions M14; if you’re buying specialty wheels or adapters, double-check thread compatibility. As for backing flanges, locking nuts, and spanner fit, everything was tight and square; discs ran true with no oscillation issues.

Because there’s no brake and no variable speed, I keep this one set up for heavy removal and cut-off work only, and I leave finishing to a smaller variable-speed platform. That division of labor keeps wheel changes down and lets this grinder do what it does best.

Noise, vibration, and safety

This is a loud machine: listed sound pressure is 96 dB(A) with sound power at 107 dB(A). Hearing protection isn’t optional. Vibration during grinding is spec’d at 8.5 m/s² (K = 1.5 m/s²), and my hands agree—comfortable for a 7-inch, but you feel it over time. The anti-vibration handle and the cushioned trigger do help, and wheel selection matters. A quality, balanced wheel and correct guard orientation smooth things out considerably.

With 8,500 rpm at this diameter, kickback can be dramatic if you get sloppy. The guard adjustment is quick, so use that to your advantage and keep the open face shielded. I also appreciate that the tool doesn’t let you run on worn brushes; a sudden shutdown because the brushes hit their limit is safer than a failing commutator under load.

Power source realities

It’s rated at 15 amps. On a strong 15-amp circuit with short runs, it behaves, but under sustained heavy load I had fewer nuisance trips on a 20-amp breaker. It ran cleanly on a portable generator as well, and the AC/DC capability gives you flexibility on jobsite power sources. Input power is listed at 2,400 W, which aligns with the real-world sensation: there’s enough overhead to push hard without nursing the wheel.

Where it excels

• Fast stock removal on carbon steel plate and structural shapes
• Beveling edges for weld prep with consistent geometry
• Grinding welds flush without stalling or overheating
• Cut-off tasks with 7-inch wheels when set up with the proper guard

It’s also a handy partner for concrete surface prep with a diamond cup, provided you pair it with a proper shroud and dust extraction. The motor’s dust resistance helps, but remember it doesn’t replace source capture.

Where it falls short

• No variable speed for delicate finishing or flap-disc blending
• No electronic brake; the wheel free-spins down for a few seconds
• Weight will wear you out on extended overhead work
• The out-of-box configuration is focused on grinding; plan for additional guards/flanges if you do a lot of cut-off

None of these are deal-breakers in the 7-inch class, but they’re meaningful if you’re looking for a one-tool-does-all solution.

Reliability and service

Between the dust management, auto shut-off brushes, and easy brush access, this grinder is built with service in mind. I like tools that tell you when they need attention rather than silently wearing themselves to failure. The 3-year limited warranty is competitive, and parts availability for brushes and guards is good. Keep the vents clean, use quality wheels, and this seems like a grinder that will outlast several cords and handles.

Final recommendation

I recommend this DeWalt 7-inch grinder for anyone who needs a reliable, high-output corded grinder for heavy grinding and cut-off work. It’s powerful, stable under load, and thoughtfully built for real jobsite conditions, with dust-resistant internals and maintenance features that actually protect the tool. Be prepared to outfit it properly for your tasks (especially if you plan to run cut-off wheels), and understand that it’s a single-speed, no-brake workhorse, not a finishing tool. If that matches your workload, it’s a strong value that should earn a permanent spot on the cart.