Metabo HPT 4-1/2-Inch Angle Grinder, Includes 5 Grinding Wheels & Hard Case, 6.2-Amp Motor, Compact & Lightweight, G12SR4

Why it's worth it

The G12SR4 costs a fraction of what the cordless tools do and still weighs only 4 pounds. It comes with five grinding wheels and a hard case, which makes it the easiest way to go from no grinder at all to a working setup.

If you need a grinder twice a year — sharpening a mower blade, cutting a stuck bolt, cleaning up a fence post — this is enough tool. The 6.2-amp motor puts out 980 watts of max output, which handles the occasional steel cut without complaint. You're not buying pro-level endurance here. You're buying something that works when you need it and doesn't take much of your money.

The kit is the real argument for it. Five grinding wheels and a hard case come in the box, so you're not making a second trip for consumables or leaving the tool loose in a drawer. Wheels are the thing people forget to buy, and having a stack of them ready means you'll replace a worn one instead of grinding on it too long.

From our review of 8 angle grinders

What we like

• +If you need a grinder twice a year — sharpening a mower blade, cutting a stuck bolt, cleaning up a fence post — this is enough…
• +The kit is the real argument for it
• +At 4 pounds, it's among the lightest 4.5-inch grinders you can buy
• +Small conveniences carry a budget tool a long way

What to know

• –The slide switch is the compromise
• –It's a brushed motor with no brake and no kickback electronics