DeWalt 5 in.-6 in. Brushless Small Angle Grinder with Variable Speed

I put the DeWalt INOX grinder to work on a mix of stainless fabrication tasks, some mild steel cleanup, and a few masonry cuts to see how it handled real shop demands. What stood out immediately wasn’t raw speed—plenty of grinders can spin fast—but how controllable and secure it felt when the work got awkward, hot, or potentially dangerous.

Setup and First Impressions

Out of the box you get what you need to start grinding: a side handle, hex key, inner and outer flanges, and a 6 in. Type 27 guard. The guard installs quickly and locks solidly; swapping between wheels is straightforward with the standard 5/8-11 spindle. If you plan on running Type 1 cutoff wheels, budget for the proper guard; this one is for Type 27 depressed-center wheels.

The form factor is familiar DeWalt territory—robust housing, a confident slide switch with a lock-on, and a side handle that threads into either side. The “variable-speed slide switch” control is easy to reach with your thumb fore or aft of the grip, and it has enough detent to resist accidental changes when you shift hand positions.

Power and Speed Control

This grinder is rated at 13 amps with a max 1800 watts out and an 8000 RPM ceiling. On paper that sounds conservative compared to 11,000 RPM 4-1/2 in. grinders, but the picture changes when you run 5 in. and 6 in. wheels. The torque is steady and confident, and the speed range is genuinely useful.

I used it across:
- 6 in. Type 27 grinding wheels for bevel prep
- 5 in. flap discs for dressing welds
- Wire cup brushes for mill scale
- Abrasive cutoff wheels on 1/4 in. plate and stainless tubing

For stainless, the ability to dial down speed is a game changer. I could keep heat in check to avoid discoloration and reduce the risk of work-hardening when blending welds on 304 sheet. On flap discs, stepping down the RPM made it easier to leave a uniform finish without gouging. At full tilt, it has no trouble plowing through mild steel welds or slicing angle iron—though if your workflow is mostly thin cutoff on 4-1/2 in. wheels, you may miss the extra RPM of smaller high-speed grinders.

The brushless motor impressed me. In a corded grinder, brushless is less about runtime and more about consistency and reduced maintenance. There’s no brush wear to worry about, and heat buildup felt well-managed during longer sessions.

Safety Systems That Actually Help

I tried to upset this grinder on purpose. Pinch a wheel in a kerf, twist a flap disc on a snag, bury a corner into a weld—situations that can whip a grinder out of your hands. The electronic safety net here is real and useful:

• The E-CLUTCH senses a pinch or stall and shuts the motor down quickly.
• The electronic kickback brake steps in on those bind-up scenarios that would otherwise yank the tool.
• The mechanical/electronic brake brings the wheel to a stop in roughly a couple seconds with the right wheel setup.

I forced a bind while cutting a slot in a steel channel. The moment the wheel grabbed, the motor cut and the brake clamped, stopping the wheel fast enough that I didn’t need to wrestle the tool. I repeated a similar test with a wire cup that caught an edge; the intervention was smoother than most grinders I’ve used. These systems don’t feel intrusive during normal grinding, but they kick in decisively when needed.

The power-loss reset (no-volt release) is another quiet hero. If you lose power or accidentally unplug, the tool won’t restart when power returns until you cycle the switch. It’s a small safety layer that matters on job sites with generators or when multiple tools share a circuit.

Ergonomics and Use in the Field

Balance is very good for a 6 in. class grinder. It’s not featherweight, but the mass sits where you want it—over the spindle—so it doesn’t feel tipsy on edge work. The side handle is comfortable, with a slight cushion that helps tame vibration during longer passes.

A few ergonomic notes from extended use:
- The slide switch location and lock-on are great for steady, low-fatigue grinding along plate edges or when you need two hands to guide a long cut.
- For delicate tasks on stainless, the variable-speed control is a thumb reach away, so I could bump it down a notch mid-pass without stopping.
- Noise is typical for a grinder in this class, and the vibration level is well-controlled. It’s not the absolute smoothest I’ve used, but the combination of brushless drive and solid housing helps.

I also ran it off a generator on a site visit; the grinder behaved predictably at various RPM settings, with no odd surging. The AC/DC capability means it’s friendly with shop welders and varied power sources, which is handy if your work moves between the fab bay and the field.

Performance on Stainless (INOX)

This model is pitched for INOX work, and it shows. I used it to:
- Remove TIG discoloration with a 5 in. flap disc at reduced speed
- Blend fillet welds on stainless tube without overheating
- Cut 304 sheet and tube with minimal burr formation

The lower speeds keep stainless cooler, reduce glazing on flap discs, and help maintain a consistent satin finish. Pair it with quality abrasives and you’ll see less heat tint, less rework, and fewer abrasive burn marks. If stainless finishing is a regular part of your day, variable speed is a must-have, and this grinder delivers that with enough torque to keep discs cutting even when the RPM is down.

Durability and Maintenance

Brushless design means no brushes to change and fewer wear components in the motor. Over several weeks, I noticed minimal performance drop-off during long duty cycles. The gearbox remained reasonably cool for a grinder doing heavy bevel prep, and the brake/E-CLUTCH events didn’t result in any odd noises or loosened hardware afterward.

The guard mechanism feels stout—no flex or slop after repeated adjustments. I didn’t detect any play in the spindle threads, and wheel changes stayed routine. It’s the kind of tool that you feel comfortable tossing into the job box without babying.

What Could Be Better

No grinder is perfect, and a few notes are worth considering:
- No lanyard-ready feature. If you work at height and rely on tethering, you’ll need an aftermarket solution.
- The 8000 RPM ceiling is ideal for 6 in. wheels and controlled stainless work, but if your bread and butter is fast 4-1/2 in. cutoff on thin stock, a higher-RPM compact grinder will cut a bit quicker.
- Slide switch versus paddle switch comes down to preference. For me, the slide works well for long passes, but a paddle can feel safer in certain scenarios. Thankfully, the safety electronics here mitigate a lot of that risk.

Who It’s For

• Metal fabricators and welders who regularly finish stainless and need clean, controlled results.
• Shop pros who want a single grinder to handle 5 in. and 6 in. wheels with real variable speed and strong torque.
• Field crews running off generators or welders who value safety systems that reduce risk during binds and stalls.

If you mostly do light-duty, high-RPM cutting with 4-1/2 in. wheels, you may be better served by a lighter, faster compact model. If you’re in the pro bracket and want versatile speed control with serious safety, this fits well.

Warranty, Support, and Value

DeWalt backs it with a 3-year limited warranty, 1-year free service, and a 90-day satisfaction guarantee. That’s standard for the brand and aligns with what I expect in this category. Between the safety stack, brushless motor, and accessories in the box, it lands firmly in the pro-grade value tier.

Recommendation

I recommend the DeWalt INOX grinder for anyone who needs a controllable, safety-forward grinder that shines on stainless and holds its own on general metal and masonry tasks. The variable-speed control, strong torque, and excellent safety systems make it more than a brute-force tool—it’s a precise instrument for finishing as well as heavy stock removal. If tethering is critical to your workflow or you need the absolute highest RPM for thin cutoff, consider those constraints. For most pro shops and serious DIY fabricators, this grinder is a smart, confidence-inspiring choice that you’ll reach for often.