DeWalt Die Grinder With Lanyard Ready Attachment Point

Why I reached for this cordless die grinder

I put this cordless die grinder to work across a couple of weeks of fabrication and field maintenance—deburring torch cuts, cleaning gasket surfaces on equipment, and shaping brackets with carbide burrs and 2-inch wheels. My air die grinder is still a favorite on the bench, but dragging a hose or a compressor into cramped areas slows me down. This 20V MAX brushless model gave me the freedom to move without giving up the control I expect from a paddle-switch grinder.

Build, ergonomics, and balance

For a cordless tool, it’s impressively compact and easy to maneuver in tighter spots. The barrel diameter feels right with gloves on, and the paddle switch has the familiar “no-lock-on” behavior that most shops expect from a pneumatic tool—take your hand off and it stops. A forward exhaust pushes air away from my face, which helps keep dust and debris from blowing back in confined spaces.

With a 5Ah pack, balance is slightly rear-biased but not unwieldy. It’s still bulkier than a typical air die grinder; that’s the trade-off for battery power. The onboard LED aimed at the nose is more useful than I expected when I’m deep in an assembly or working inside housings—enough light to find the edge of a gasket or spot leftover slag without fishing out a headlamp.

Fit and finish are what I expect from a pro-grade tool. The spindle lock is positive and allows true one-wrench wheel changes, and the included 1/4-inch collet grips consistently. If you run a lot of 1/8-inch burrs, plan on adding a 1/8-inch collet—mine came only with the 1/4-inch.

Controls and safety features

Two electronic safety systems define how this grinder behaves:

• Anti-rotation system: If the wheel pinches, stalls, or binds, the motor stops. You have to cycle the switch to restart. In practice, it’s a real safeguard against kickback, especially with cutoff wheels or when a burr grabs in a corner. It can feel intrusive if you’re pushing very aggressively, but it’s saved my knuckles more than once.

• Electronic brake: Release the paddle and the wheel stops very quickly—well under a second with a 2-inch cutting wheel. That’s an underrated benefit for precision and safety. It lets me set the tool down sooner and change wheels sooner.

The paddle switch itself is crisp with a good travel. The mandatory lock-off is the one control I didn’t love. You need to press it before the paddle engages. It’s fine on a bench, but from a few odd positions or with thick gloves, I fumbled it. I understand why it’s there; I just wish the location and feel were more intuitive.

Power and speed control

On paper, the brushless motor is rated up to 445 MWO and spins up to 24,500 RPM. In the real world, it has the authority to do real material removal with a 1/4-inch carbide burr and to keep a 2-inch wire wheel moving through heavy, crusty buildup without constant stalling. It’s not a timid cordless grinder.

Speed is managed by a variable-speed trigger. There’s no separate speed dial on the tool, so if you want to run at a steady, moderate pace for polishing or control heat when working softer materials, you need to manage that with your finger. That’s workable, but a dedicated speed setting would make longer, low-speed runs less fatiguing. The upside is the trigger feels linear, so feathering at low RPM is controllable once you get used to it.

Runtime and battery recommendations

Grinding is hard on batteries—no surprise. With a 5Ah 20V MAX pack and a 2-inch wire wheel doing heavy cleaning, I cycled batteries sooner than with lighter-duty tasks like deburring edges. That’s the nature of continuous, high-load work. Higher-capacity packs made a noticeable difference in both runtime and how firmly the tool holds speed under load. If this is going to see daily use, plan on two or three higher-capacity packs on rotation and a fast charger on the cart.

The motor’s power output depends on the battery, so the tool feels a bit more assertive with bigger packs. It’ll run fine on compact batteries if you’re doing quick touch-ups, but for sustained grinding or wire brushing, step up to the larger packs.

In-use details that matter

• Forward exhaust: This small design choice pays off in tight engine bays, inside frames, and around sensitive components. Less blowback of dust, and less annoyance for me.

• LED lighting: It won’t replace shop lighting, but it genuinely helps in deep recesses. It also makes safety sense—seeing your cutting line clearly reduces mistakes.

• Spindle lock: Single-wrench changes are faster, especially on a ladder or when tethered at height. The lock is robust and doesn’t feel like it will round over quickly.

• Lanyard-ready point: If you work on lifts, scaffolding, or mezzanines, the built-in attachment point is simple and secure. It’s one less reason to improvise a tether around the body of the tool.

• TOOL CONNECT ready: If you’re managing a fleet, the chip-ready cavity is handy for tracking. As a solo user, I didn’t rely on it, but it’s good to have.

Noise, vibration, and control

It’s quieter than an air grinder plus compressor in most scenarios, but like any high-speed die grinder, there’s a high-pitched whine at full RPM. Vibration is well controlled for a cordless unit. With balanced abrasives and quality burrs, I could work continuously without hand fatigue becoming a factor. The anti-rotation system kicking in abruptly is the only “jolt” you’ll feel—and that’s preferable to the wheel throwing the tool.

Control in tight spaces is solid. The body diameter and paddle let me choke up near the nose for delicate passes. The brake is especially useful for that kind of work; it reduces overshoot and lets me reposition quickly.

What I used it for—and how it stacked up

• Deburring and shaping steel brackets with 1/4-inch burrs: Strong, controllable, and less likely to bog than older cordless die grinders I’ve used.

• Cleaning rust and gasket surfaces with a 2-inch wire wheel: Excellent productivity, but it will drain batteries under heavy load—expect to swap packs.

• Quick cutoff with 2-inch wheels: Works well, though this is where the anti-rotation trip shows up if you pinch the wheel. Better to keep your cut straight and avoid twisting the wheel in a kerf.

Compared to an air die grinder, the main benefits are mobility, fewer hoses to snag, and less overall noise. The trade-offs are tool size and battery management. For field work and maintenance rounds, those trade-offs are easy to accept.

What could be improved

• The lock-off’s placement and action slow me down in awkward positions. It’s functional—not ergonomic.

• A discrete speed selector would complement the variable trigger for consistency during extended low-speed tasks.

• Batteries and charger are sold separately. That’s standard for a bare tool, just plan your purchase accordingly.

Durability and warranty

After a couple of weeks of steady use, there’s minimal cosmetic wear. The spindle lock remains crisp, the paddle hasn’t loosened up, and the electronics behave predictably. The 3-year limited warranty is in line with pro expectations and adds some peace of mind.

Who it’s for

• Fabricators and mechanics who need hose-free access in tight or elevated spaces.

• Maintenance teams that value tethering, fast stopping, and asset tracking in a fleet.

• DIYers who already own 20V MAX batteries and want a serious die grinder without investing in air.

Bottom line and recommendation

This cordless die grinder delivers real, usable power with thoughtful safety features and jobsite-friendly touches like forward exhaust, a fast electronic brake, and a lanyard-ready tether point. It’s not the smallest die grinder you’ll own, and you’ll want higher-capacity batteries for heavy work, but it replaces an air tool in many tasks without the hassle of hoses.

I recommend it for anyone already on the 20V MAX platform or anyone who needs a capable, hose-free die grinder for field work. The combination of strong brushless performance, effective safety systems, and practical ergonomics makes it a reliable daily driver. If you prioritize a perfectly intuitive lock-off or a dedicated speed dial, you might wish for tweaks—but as it stands, it’s a well-executed tool that gets real work done.