Bosch has come out with 2 new 18V cordless angle grinders, in 4-1/2″ (GWS18V-45) and 5″ (GWS18V-50) sizes. They say that the new angle grinders will deliver all-day grinding and cutting power, which is something you don’t often hear about cordless grinders.
Bosch is aiming these grinders at “electricians, plumbers, and others who need professional power.”
These are not brushless grinders. Both are built with a “muscular” 4-brush motor design, with brushes that are described as being of a lifetime design. The motors provide no-load speeds of 0 to 10,000 RPM.
Both Bosch grinders come with a 2-position Vibration Control handle, which Bosch says offers better handling, as well as reduced operator fatigue.
Additional features include:
- Tool-free quick-change arbor
- Burst-resistant wheel guard
- Restart protection that helps to avoid accidental startups
It looks like the grinders come with a standard grinding wheel guard, but there’s mention of a cutting wheel guard, which would then be an optional and separate purchase.
From the photos, it seems that the grinder only comes with a slide switch option.
Both versions weigh 5.0 lbs, presumably with a high capacity battery that’s shown in all of the product photos.
According to the Amazon product page, both the 4-1/2″ and 5″ grinders are made in Germany.
Price: $140, battery and charger are NOT included
The $140 price is the right-now preorder street price on Amazon. My Bosch fact sheet says that the price should (will?) be $129, but that might have changed.
Buy Now(4-1/2″ via Amazon)
Buy Now(5″ via Amazon)
First Thoughts
The idea of lifetime brushes sounds good, although I can’t say I’ve ever worn out an angle grinder before.
I’m a little surprised at the pricing. While not costing anywhere near as much as Milwaukee’s newest fast-braking M18 Fuel brushless grinder, it is priced comparably to Makita’s brushless grinder, and within $10 of Hitachi’s brushless grinder.
Generally speaking, brushless motors offer greater power and longer runtime compared to brushed power tool motors.
If these new cordless grinders are as “muscular” as Bosch describes them to be, then I would expect for the sacrifice to be in runtime. Perhaps not, but if apples to apples in terms of power, a brushless grinder should certainly last longer per comparable battery charge.
But, from the sounds of it, and the look of that nice Bosch vibration-reducing handle, maybe the advantage here is in user comfort.
This is definitely one of those tools I’d wish I could try out in person at a store before buying.