DeWalt 4-1/2 in. - 5/6 in. Grinder

A compact bruiser that’s happiest eating steel

I put this grinder to work on a mix of shop and site tasks—prep for welds on beams and tube, cutting angle and plate, knocking down welds, and surfacing mill scale with a flap disc. It doesn’t chase bells and whistles. It’s a straightforward 13‑amp, 9,000‑rpm corded small‑angle grinder with a few smart touches that matter in daily use: a dust ejection design, a non‑locking trigger, and a lanyard-ready tail. The headline is simple: it has the power to lean into 6-inch wheels without feeling overmatched, and it holds up when you run it hard.

Power, torque, and wheel choices

With 13 amps on tap (about 1,700 W max), the motor has enough grunt to keep discs moving under load. On 4‑1/2 and 5-inch grinding wheels, I could bury the face into stubborn slag or blue-in a bead without watching the speed tumble. It’s not a high‑rpm screamer; instead, it delivers solid torque at a fixed 9,000 rpm. That matters when you’re dressing copes or feathering edges—there’s less of that frustrating slow-down that burns wheels and smears metal.

The included Type 27 guards for 4‑1/2, 5, and 6 inches are practical. I ran 6-inch cutting and grinding wheels for deeper cuts and faster material removal; the tool handles the extra diameter without drama. Just match your wheel’s speed rating to at least 9,000 rpm and stick with the guard that fits the wheel size. Swapping guards is straightforward and secure, and the standard 5/8‑11 spindle makes it compatible with the usual suspects—grinding wheels, flap discs, cut-off wheels, and wire cups.

Ergonomics and control

At 5.7 pounds, the grinder is well balanced for its class. It’s not featherlight, but with a 6-inch wheel and the side handle installed, it sits in the sweet spot between nimble and planted. The body is compact enough to choke up on for finer control, and the side handle threads in on either side. The trigger switch is non‑locking, which I prefer on job sites and lifts—if you let go, it stops. That adds safety at the cost of finger fatigue during long passes. If you live on a grinder for hours at a time, your hand will appreciate occasional breaks or a thicker glove to soften the trigger pull.

Vibration is typical for a 13‑amp grinder: controlled, not cushy. With quality wheels it’s completely manageable. Thin cut-offs and well-balanced flap discs run smooth; coarse, hard wheels and heavy wire cups will transmit more buzz, as expected.

Dust ejection and long-term durability

The standout durability feature here is the dust ejection system. After extended runs in grinding dust (cutting and beveling HSS and mild steel), I blew out the vents and saw noticeably less packed grit than I usually find in grinders without deflectors or labyrinths. That’s not a magic shield—you still need to keep the vents clear and maintain the tool—but anything that keeps abrasive powder from settling on the armature and bearings stretches service life. I’ve also used a surface grinding shroud for dust extraction; with a couple of minor tweaks it mounted up and worked well, and the motor never showed signs of choking or overheating.

Thermal performance is solid. I pushed it through repeated heavy grinds and edge bevels and didn’t trip the overload protection. The housing gets warm—as any 13‑amp tool will—but not alarmingly hot. Overload protection is there if you really lean too far; it’s good insurance against a melt‑down when someone buries a wheel and stalls it.

Electrical realities: cords, circuits, and generators

The 6‑foot cord is on the short side, which keeps tangles down but means you’ll almost always be on an extension. Give it a proper 12‑ or 14‑gauge cord to avoid voltage drop. On a 15‑amp household circuit it runs fine; if you spend your days near the stall point with 6‑inch wheels, a 20‑amp circuit is a better bet to prevent nuisance breaker trips. AC/DC capability is handy around welders and generators—the grinder behaved predictably on a stable generator output.

Day-to-day performance

• Cutting: With a 6-inch cut-off wheel, I could slice through 3/8-inch plate in confident passes. The fixed 9,000 rpm is fast enough to keep the kerf clean without scattering the cutoff. A steady hand and the right guard keep sparks directed safely.
• Grinding and beveling: On depressed-center wheels, the motor maintains speed through aggressive material removal. It’s easy to feather the throttle with the trigger to modulate contact pressure without bogging.
• Flap discs: Runs cool and consistent. The weight and balance help maintain a flat, controlled surface when you’re blending.
• Wire wheels: Plenty of torque to keep a 4‑1/2-inch knotted cup from stalling. Expect more vibration here—standard for the category.

Noise is what you’d expect: loud. Bring hearing protection, especially with 6-inch gear.

Safety and jobsite features

The non‑locking trigger makes sense in shops with strict safety rules. It works well with gloves, and the detent feels positive. There’s overload protection on board, and the lanyard-ready tail is a boon for at-height work; you can tether the tool without improvising. Guard coverage is generous on the included Type 27 shields, and the side handle gives a stable two-handed grip. Like any grinder, there’s no electronic brake or kickback clutch here, so use good technique—keep the disc aligned, don’t twist in a cut, and let the wheel do the work.

What could be better

• No variable speed: If you need to run specialty abrasives or wire wheels at lower speeds, you’ll need a different grinder. This one is a single-speed workhorse.
• Non‑locking trigger fatigue: Safer, yes—but you’ll feel it on marathon sessions. A paddle switch variant would suit some users better.
• Cord length: Six feet is short. It’s manageable but requires a good extension cord plan.
• Case: None included. Not a dealbreaker, but a blow-molded case would help protect guards and flanges in transit.

None of these are deal-killers in a grinder aimed at reliable, high-output work. They’re trade-offs that align with the tool’s mission.

Setup, maintenance, and compatibility

Out of the box you get guards for 4‑1/2, 5, and 6 inches, inner/outer flanges, a side handle, and a wrench. Thread the handle to the side you prefer, choose the right guard for wheel size, and you’re ready. The 5/8‑11 arbor means most common accessories fit. Keep a routine:

• Blow out the air inlets and motor area with low-pressure air after dusty sessions.
• Inspect brushes and cord periodically.
• Match wheel size and speed rating to the grinder and guard.
• Use a heavy-gauge extension cord on longer runs.

Treat it well and the dust ejection design helps keep the internals cleaner than many peers.

Who it’s for

If your work is structural steel, heavy fabrication, or concrete prep with surface grinding shrouds, this grinder makes sense. It’s equally at home with a fabricator building stairs, a field welder doing fit-ups and cleanup, or a maintenance tech cutting and grinding on plant equipment. If you’re a finish carpenter or remodeler looking for low-vibration finesse and variable speed for oddball abrasives, it’s probably more grinder than you need and missing the speed control you’d want.

The bottom line

This is a straightforward, high-output small-angle grinder that favors durability and torque over gadgetry. The 13‑amp motor keeps 6-inch wheels working without falling on its face, the dust ejection system helps it survive gritty environments, and the non‑locking trigger and lanyard-ready tail check important safety boxes. Ergonomics are good for the class, and the included guards make it flexible across 4‑1/2, 5, and 6-inch applications.

Recommendation: I recommend this grinder for anyone who needs a dependable, powerful corded unit for steel work and general metal fabrication. It’s not the right choice if you need variable speed, a lock-on switch, or the absolute lightest feel. But if your priority is a robust, 13‑amp grinder that can run hard day after day without overheating and without fussy electronics, this one earns a spot on the cart. The warranty coverage is solid, and the overall package delivers real value for users who put grinders to work, not on display.