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When you get started in wood carving, having an angle grinder can be helpful to carve quickly and efficiently. Of course, you still need to build your skills but understanding how to use tools to make your carving even better can be quite useful. There are some great tools out there that can help out when they are high quality.
Have you ever considered using an angle grinder for wood carving? There are several great options out there. Whether you just want to carve as a hobby or you’re serious about turning this into a professional foray, we’ve got you covered.
We took a look at several different angle grinder options and narrowed down the market to choose the best angle grinders for wood carving. It’s important to look for something versatile, functional, and durable as well. You will find all that and more here.
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Wood Carving Angle Grinder Reviews
Having a high-quality angle grinder can really help with certain techniques when it comes to wood carving. Whether you just want to do some DIY carving or you’re a serious carver, this is important. The angle grinder can help with shaping as well as smoothing and a few other tasks.
Check out my top choices for the best angle grinder for wood carving below.
Makita 9557PBX1 Paddle Switch Angle Grinder
If you’re looking for my best overall choice, the Makita angle grinder has it down. This is a full kit that comes with a carrying case and several different grinding heads.
Of course, you can also purchase and add grinding heads that work the best for your carving needs.
Makita is great for producing high-quality tools without a lot of distracting features. This angle grinder is simple and durable, and it delivers in the ways that matter most.
It’s a fairly compact tool that weighs less than 5 pounds but it still has 7.5 amps of power, which is quite a lot in a small hand tool.
This angle grinder is made for heavy-duty work. It’s not so overpowering that you can’t get great use out of it. It will work well for wood carving because of its comfortable grip and durable construction.
You can lock it on or off so you can work continuously and ensure it keeps going and going.
Highlights:
- Power: 7.5 amps
- Weight: 4.5 pounds
- Grip: 2.5-inch barrel grip
- Wheels: 6 total wheels, 5 abrasive & 1 diamond blade
- Speed: 11,000 RPM
The gear housing on this angle grinder allows you to rotate up to 90 degrees to your right or left so that you can always have accurate cuts and visibility.
The engine is made to be incredibly durable. It’s housed in labyrinth construction paired with a zig-zag seal. These keep the bearing and the motor clean and clear from debris while you work.
We love that this particular angle grinder comes as a kit. Its pretty rare to get all of these things for a reasonable price point: a case, six total wheels, and a really durable tool to boot.
What I Like:
- 90-degree rotation on gear housing for improved accuracy
- The labyrinth design on the motor provides added durability
- The power is smooth and efficient thanks to dual ball bearings
- Lightweight and compact but plenty of power
- Includes a case and several heads
What I Don’t Like:
- Even though you can lock on the power, you need to be mindful of overheating
Bosch 1375A Angle Grinder
If you’re looking for a simple but reliable angle grinder, check out this Bosch angle grinder option. You can choose to purchase just the grinder, or you can choose one of the options that come with a blade of your choice. You can also go out and purchase whatever blades you need for your wood carving activities.
This is another compact model. It’s simple and easy to work with, weighing less than 4 pounds, which is the lightest Dremel option on my list.
The nice thing is that it still has plenty of power and speed thanks to the motor in it. The motor is efficient and durable. It takes up very little space so that you can grind to your heart’s content.
Bosch added a level of convenience that is unique to their tool. They have the service minder brush system that forces you to do maintenance or fix an issue and stops the tool until it’s taken care of. The point is to make sure you don’t accidentally ruin the tool when something is amiss.
Highlights:
- Power: 6 amps
- Weight: 3.75 pounds
- Grip: 2-position auxiliary
- Wheels: no wheel, or your choice of a single wheel
- Speed: 11,000 RPM
The tool was designed to be used for heavy work and not be affected. Bosch uses an epoxy coating on the exterior of the tool to that abrasive debris would not have the ability to wear down the tool quickly. This keeps dust and debris out of your machine while you work.
The grip is a handle that can be adjusted to two different positions. This allows you to have full control of your grinder and position it however you will be comfortable while you work. It’s all about ergonomics and delivering quality while keeping you comfortable.
What I Like:
- Grip has two positions for your comfort
- A unique minder brush system that stops the tool is something is wrong
- Designed to be durable
- Weighs only 3.75 pounds
- Plenty of speed and a powerful motor
What I Don’t Like:
- Rotating the guard can be a pain with extra steps
Black + Decker BDEG400 Angle Grinder
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, check out this Black + Decker angle grinder. It’s very affordable but it’s also still of great quality. This grinder has a lot to offer, and you can back that up with more than 5,000 ratings and an Amazon’s Choice listing tag.
This angle grinder has a metal gear case over the motor. This is designed to protect your motor so that it can last much longer for you. It’s not as sensitive and less likely to wear down as easily thanks to the metal casing. This gives you a longer life with the tool, even when you’re putting it to work. The metal casing is slightly heavier but still manageable.
The grip also stands out to us. Black + Decker gives you a grip that can be adjusted to three different positions so you can be in total control of your comfort while you work. This gives you, more control and comfort compared to the traditional two-position grip.
Highlights:
- Power: 6.5 amps
- Weight: 4.8 pounds
- Grip: 3-position adjustable
- Wheels: 4 1/2 inch, includes a metal grinding wheel
- Speed: 10,000 RPM
The grinder offers plenty of speed and power for carving wood. It also gives you comfort and control so that you can reach awkward angles better. It’s easy to find replacement heads that work with this model so you can choose whatever you need.
The body is designed to be narrow to help reduce the weight and make your work as comfortable as possible. It’s a great value for the money. It has a lot to offer and is overall really easy to use to cover all of your needs.
What I Like:
- The motor is better covered with a metal casing
- The grip allows you to adjust to 3 different positions
- Plenty of power for most uses
- Great value for the money
- Narrow build for more control
What I Don’t Like:
- Since this is more budget-friendly, some of the parts are not as high quality
Wen 94475 Angle Grinder with Reversible Handle
Here’s another affordable option that works quite well. It’s simple and reliable. The Wen angle grinder has plenty of power and a reversible handle. If you get tired of tools that are always designed for right-handed people, Wen has you covered! Of course, the reversible handle can also be convenient for just getting the right angles that you need.
This comes as a kit again, so you get the grinder, 3 discs for grinding, and a nice cloth carrying case as well. You might be pleasantly surprised at the power and details as opposed to the price. It’s certainly well-made and highly durable.
Wen stands behind its products as well. This angle grinder is covered by a 2-year warranty. You can enjoy a lightweight design with a lot of versatility. The various pieces all come together to help you get the most out of your tool.
Highlights:
- Power: 7.5 amps
- Weight: 4 pounds
- Grip: Reversible positions
- Wheels: 4 1/2 inch, includes 3 grinding discs
- Speed: 11,000 RPM
The lightweight design helps you work long hours without worrying about added fatigue. At only 4 pounds, only the Bosch angle grinder weighs less on my list, and only by a quarter of a pound.
Of course, be mindful of overheating the motor in those long hours. You have 7.5 amps of power and high speed at 11,000 RPM.
The entire kit comes together to keep you prepared for whatever your tasks might be. The reversible handle moves from right to left for precision and control. I love that this comes with three discs, so you have several on hand. Finding replacement discs is easy to do so you can adjust whatever you need in the process.
What I Like:
- Comes as a full kit with a carrying case and added discs
- Plenty of power and speed
- Lightweight and comfortable to use
- Covered by a 2-year warranty
- Budget-friendly option
What I Don’t Like:
- This grinder can be pretty noisy during operation
DeWalt DWE43116 Angle Grinder
Looking for a slightly different perspective? Check out the DeWalt angle grinder. This DeWalt has a ton of power – at 13 amps, it blows away all of the competitors. For perspective, the next closest in power are the Makita and Wen Dremel models at 7.5 amps. DeWalt typically does better with their power as well, so this is a really great tool.
With that being said, this DeWalt Dremel only runs at 9,000 RPM, which is less than every other model on my list. Most of my top Dremel for carving operate up to 11,000 RPM. Lower speeds are more useful on harder woods, but higher speeds allow you to move quicker on softer woods.
The speed and power adjustments might be useful when it comes to carving some of the more challenging or harder woods. It depends on your needs but it’s certainly a different approach.
The higher power and the lower speed give you a lot of additional versatility. It might just let you handle tasks that are too hard for some of your grinders.
You can purchase just the angle grinder, or you can add in safety goggles and be prepared for the job.
Highlights:
- Power: 13 amps
- Weight: 5.7 pounds
- Grip: Reversible positions
- Wheels: 4 1/2 inch
- Speed: 9,000 RPM
This angle grinder is part of a line from DeWalt that is working to be OSHA compliant on any job. This tool delivers performance while also adhering to those SOHA standards. It falls into their OSHA-compliant system, along with several other tools.
We really appreciate the dust ejection technology as well. They added one more piece that helps to eject dust and debris that could easily lock up and harm your motor. They go in through the air intake vent, which is necessary. Then they turn around and get ejected so they don’t mess with your work!
What I Like:
- Integrated dust ejection system that removes debris and particles
- Part of an OSHA compliant system
- More power and lower speed
- Covered by a 3-year warranty
- Impressive versatility
What I Don’t Like:
- If you use the wrong wheel, you might have a lot of vibration
Factors to Consider when Buying an Angle Grinder for Wood Carving
When you plan to put your skills to work on wood carving, you need an angle grinder that is going to work for you in that capacity. There are several features to keep in mind to help you choose a good angle grinder and figure out what you need.
Take a look at some of these details to help you make an informed decision.
Power
With any power tool, the details about the power are always important. That’s true of the angle grinder as well. You need to know you will have enough power to be able to handle carving. Carving can sometimes take precious time as well, so the power needs to hold up while you work on your project.
How much power you will find does vary. Most angle grinders come at a minimum of 6 amps. For a handheld tool, even the lowest power of only 6 amps is pretty substantial. It’s likely to work for the majority of your needs. Of course, you can also get more power and that’s totally fine too. You might need more power for more challenging wood.
Keep in mind that the more power there is, the more challenging it could be to control the grinder. If you do get more power, be prepared for the controllability of the grinder and that it might be overall more challenging.
Size
Another thing you’re going to want to keep in mind is the size of the angle grinder. Remember that you are working with your hands. So, you want something lighter because it’s overall more comfortable to handle. However, you also want to keep in mind that you need to be able to maintain control.
That means if you do get something more powerful having a little bit more weight can help with control. Overall, I recommend looking for lightweight grinders. You don’t want your hand to tire out when you’re trying to get work done.
The good news is that most grinder manufacturers are cautious about the size and weight of their tool. They want you to be comfortable. Most grinders weigh 3-5 pounds.
Speed
The grinding speed is another important element. With wood carving, it’s ideal if you can have some control over your speed with a trigger. High speeds are great but there are times that you will need lower speeds to work with so your work is accurate.
If there is a flexible speed control, this is ideal. Otherwise, you just want to make sure you have sufficient speed but also the ability to use lower speeds when necessary. Some wood will be more challenging so you may need lower speeds to work through it.
Safety
Finally, safety is an important element. You’re working with a lot of power and a lot of speed. That rotating disc could cause a lot of damage if something were to go wrong. I prefer to see two basic safety things. If there are more, that’s great.
However, I specifically look for two features.
- Automatic shut off capabilities
- An adjustable guard
These two things will go a long way to protect you if your hand slips or something happens and you need to be protected.
Wrap Up
Choosing an angle grinder for wood carving should be based on your needs and your comfort level. You want to be sure that you can work with the tool, be safe, and be able to get things done at the same time.
What will your first carving project be with your angle grinder?
