Teardown Review: Harbor Freight’s new Bauer rat tail angle grinder
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- čas přidán 12. 09. 2024
- In this video I tear apart and test a Bauer angle grinder from Harbor Freight, which features a trigger switch. The company is releasing a lot of new tools under the Bauer brand. We'll see if this grinder is worth the cost.
Hit the subscribe button and check out my past videos for more teardown reviews.
You are giving Consumers Reports a run for the money. I absolutely love these videos.
10:33 reminds me of infomercials. "Do you often fumble with your angle grinder in the kitchen? Now there's a solution, the all new Bauer grinder!"
That kind of switch is way more comfortable to work 👏👍
I agree, you can use rat tail for hours.
i just bought one of these, and i am really impressed with it. best cheap grinder i have ever had, and i've had quite a few. i mostly use them to cut steel, and it has performed very well so far, with no bogging down, even when cutting train track rail steel, which has killed a couple other grinders in the past.
I bought the Bauer 8 amp while I was at a Harbor freight picking up a tool cart and I've already had to use the grinder to cut up some steel. Works fantastic. Glad I bought it.
Looks like pretty good quality for the money. Great to see you back!
I would buy it except I already got the Hercules when it was on sale. I like the trigger switches, too, and I find the rat-tail grinders easier to hold.
Another excellent video - I appreciate you taking things apart and testing them so I can buy things with confidence. Please keep up the great work.
I like the trigger switch style too. But sometimes that little extra length in the tail can make it harder to get into tight areas.
do you remember how much that was?
@@bjornegan6421 No, sorry. I've slept several times since then.
@@hardlyb yeah, understandable. thanks for the reply
Bought one of these grinders 2 weeks ago and used it today for the first time. Very impressive, it has a lot of torque and runs very smooth. Did some metal cutting (3/16" mower blades), a lot of grinding off mill scale, and polishing various steels with flap wheels. Zero performance issues. I really like the trigger and didn't find the lock button to be any problem. I paid $34.99 for this grinder with a coupon and feel like it was a good deal for the power and quality of the Bauer. I plan to buy 3 more grinders so I don't have to spend as much time swapping out wheels, and the Bauer will probably be what I get. Thanks for the great review!
NOW THAT IS A TOOL REVIEW! Years i have searched for videos like yours, at long last .... Earned a subsriber with that one bud, anxiously awaiting more Bauer videos!
I have that same Black & Decker grinder that I've been using for several years and I like it quite a bit. But I have used rat-tail grinders as well and do see some advantages, not only with safety, but comfort as well. It's a tough decision, but I would still have to go with my Black & Decker. The only reason is that it has a hole topside for the handle which I have used quite a bit in situations, whereas I've noticed that the only Harbor Freight grinder offering it is the 6-amp Chicago electric paddle switch model. But if that top hole was not an issue, I wouldn't have any problem at all getting the new Bauer. I may just get it for the heck of it. There's no such thing as a tool you don't need :)
I like the handle on top when I use cut off discs. It's just easier for me to use a grinder like a saw like that.
Glad you did this teardown, as many exist for the Hercules but none for this model. I picked up the Bauer a few weeks back (originally went for the Hercules) and it seems sturdy, no issues as it has taken everything I've thrown at it. Paid around $36.
This guys videos are great. He really deserves a TON more subscribers!
I recently bought one and I use it in an industrial setting. I also have the misfortune to work with new hires that don't have the extensive knowledge that I have obtained over the years on how to destroy tools. I bought mine because I needed a grinder quick. I opted for this one because it was middle of the road on price. I really like it. It feels like a good, well made product. With that being said. None of them are bullet proof. As I mentioned I have to deal with new hires from time to time. Most are young and green so I explain to them that you should never put so much force on a grinder as to bog it down and that they should break from a load every few seconds to let the cooling mechanism do its thing. We also use the sander flapper wheels which are the greatest thing since sliced bread but they do put extra drag onto the motor. Needless to say, a few days after they had moved on I needed my grinder and it is dead in the water. I didn't keep my receipt so I wasn't sure if it would be worth trying to fix or just scrap it and look for something better, but after seeing your review I think I will see if I can't repair this one.
Any luck?
I have several Bauer tools, including some of the 20v line. I've been fortunate to get most of mine at parking lot sales from the open box tables for $25-ish bucks, and for my needs they've all worked great. If I need a corded grinder I'd definitely pick this one up. The price is right, and I would prefer that rat tail trigger handle design over the standard switch on grinders.
I did buy that grinder. I've had the $10.00 Drillmaster for a few years now. I've only used it a few times but it has always performed admirably. As of March 10, 2023, Harbor Freight has the Bauer 1864E-B as in the video, reduced from $39.99, down to $24.99 on their "Parking Lot Sale", so I grabbed one. I haven't put it to work yet but I'm encouraged by the teardown video.
I have the 18 $ CE grinder, two years, still works fine, I move up to the Bauer if I was using a grinder more then a few times a month.
That trigger switch on the Bauer is the same style I have on my Porter Cable Grinder.
I heard a lot of great things about Harbor Freight grinders from a lot of people so I got the professional paddle switch one. The gear noise it makes it terrible. It runs but I can't say it makes me happy to use it. I do prefer the paddle switch over other switch types. Rat tails are OK but as this video points out they are a bit long.
Paul Frederick all bauers make that horrible gear noise
I felt like I was in a Grinder Anatomy 101 class.
Great job, Prof!
I was just looking at the Bauer grinder at HF yesterday. I would have bought one but they were out of stock. I'm glad I saw this review, now I'm definitely gonna buy it.
It is on sale for $33.99 and I'm on my way to get one. Thanks for the great review!
I've started to binge on these videos now. Very interesting to know the finer details and quality of individual parts. This can make or break a tool's performance, no matter what brand it is. I also have started to like some of Harbor Freight's tool as of late, and this video does prove some merits to their products.
I'm not sure if you take review ideas, but I have a couple. I just recently found your channel and been enjoying them. My ideas for a review would be the cordless Ingersoll Rand line up. Such as the W5132 and W7152. They have several 20 volt tools and some 12 volt ones. I do have a few in each line. For some reason there isn't very many reviews on them. I feel they are by far superior than the other 3 main brands. But I am biased in my opinion. It would be nice to see them torn apart and compared to the others. I really like the IR 12v 1/4" impact and ratchet. Either way you still have a new satisfied subscriber. If you have any questions about the IR line feel free to ask. In the 20v line I have the; W7152(1/2"), W5132(3/8"), W5111(1/4" Hex Impact Driver), D5140(1/2" drill), L5110(light) and in the 12v line; W1120(1/4:) R1120(1/4") and the G1621(Sander/Polisher). The G1621 is great to use with whizzy wheels to remove gaskets and such. It would be interesting to actually see how they stack up. Wonder why they aren't seen often on CZcams?
Thanks for the suggestions.
@@ToolTeardowns I was thinking it might give you some unique tool review ideas. Thanks for your reviews, I've been binge watching during my free time :)
I have the Hercules grinder and I like it ....If I had to buy one today I would buy the Bauer because I like the switch in the handle design
I just came across your video after watching the jack stand reviews and since I just bought this grinder, I thought I'd see what you had to say. I have to say that I really like this grinder. The rat tail was the deciding factor for me and since I'd not bought any Bauer tools yet, it was a great way to try em out. I have to say, if other Bauer stuff is as good as this grinder, then I am sold... this thing is a beast for the price, got mine for $35 with the coupon also and at 8 Amps it rips the competition at that price point! Thanks... a new subscriber here....
I bought this grinder a month ago to do major grinding on the '57 F100 I'm building. I'm welding in allot of unnecessary holes in the chassis, fabricating mounts and brackets. I have found two negative things with the Bauer grinder.
1. The accidental pressing of the trigger and lock.
2. The guard adjustment lever is bulky. I only get a half use of a standard 4.5" cutting wheel. But all in all. I'm very happy with the grinder.
I know you did the 7 Amp Hercules grinder, I'd be interested to see the 11 Amp paddle-switch Hercules.
I was in harbor freight today looking at this grinder at $39 based on your review is an awesome buy thanks for the review I'm definitely going to pick it up
I just got this grinder. Its great! Put it to work sanding down an old tractor and it works fantastic!
After viewing this vid, I went and bought one today. Thanks. You do an excellent job reviewing tools.
Always enjoy watching your videos you do a great job
Heck yeah, I happily bought that grinder and didn't even wait for a coupon. Great deal at $40 I think!
I really enjoy the videos. I would like to see a review and teardown of the cordless Bauer angle grinder as well as the hyper tough cordless angle grinder. They are both about $40-$45
Very good detail on your review. I'm tossed between the Bauer and the Hercules. At 40 dollars more I'm not sure i need the cost difference. I'm actually looking at the 7 inch. Vs the 7 or 9 Hercules. I just lost my Bosch 9 inch in a fire but I'm nearing retirement, so usage will be minimal for sure. That's why I'm looking at reviews.
Thanks alot. Good job 👍
Good to see your back at it with the video. Keep it up.
I personally don't like rat tails for the ergonomics of the handle on them. They are great for two handed, flat grinding but not so much for work that requires more dexterity. But that's just me.
Hell yea I love HFT been going for 10 years now and I love how their tools are getting more quality. Can you do a HFT electric impact gun review?
ive been unfortunate with those little HF grinders , never abused them but still won't hold up even for small jobs. I'm talking about the 4 Amp model. The latest one I bought has a switch flaw, I somehow got it to work for a couple of days now it won't work again, the switch trigger is a bad design. I have several grinders but use that one to cut small stuff. I like them for their small size but I'll stop buying those, the switch just bounces back, won't lock etc just a nightmare
I love your channel you know what you're talking about best tool review channel on yt by far
Seems like a nice little grinder. Great review! At $40 however you are approaching the territory of the A brand grinders from Makita or DeWalt. For instance Lowes offers a deal for 2x DWE4012 for $99. And you can get the little Makita for $56 (though the Bauer grinder does have more power). That being said, the rat tail is a very nice feature that's harder to find now days, so if you're either on a tight budget, or you need a grinder to abuse on some concrete construction work, this seems like a good bet.
SirMo exaaaactly.. why buy “bauer” when you can buy a nice name brand tool with a waaay better warranty?
I think I’d do a head to head with Black & Decker G950. It’s a rat tail grinder, $40, and 8.5 amps. To me I’ll always favor a brand made by Stanley B&D or TTI over Harbor Freight. The 90 warranty vs 2 year warranty is a big deal too.
Chip B me too man, at least compare like grimders.. what did we figure out here? That the most expensive of the three is better but it’s still a shit tool!
Always thought Bauer was the cheaper version of Hercules but wow this new Bauer is looking pretty good
Usefull videos my friend, personally i bought a couple tools following your videos, no regrets 👏👏👏👏
I am most likely to purchase this grinder, it has a lower price than the Hercules while also having similar build quality. A complete win in my book!
Nice video. I went to HF today to purchase one of these bad boys, but they were out. So I went to look at Home Depot and Lowe's to see what they had. Obviously, I couldn't try them but the Bauer was the only one at this price point that had the rat tail and trigger switch which I find the most comfortable to hold, I have arthritis in my thumbs. I can see however that the lock switch is inconveniently place, especially if you're left handed, which I'm not. So instead of driving to the nearest HF that had this grinder I ordered it online.
I just purchased the $10 grinder. In all fairness, the instructions state it's NOT to be used for cutting (cutoff). It's for grinding only. So it's no surprise it burned up during the cutoff operation. Just saying.
This grinder looks like a twin to the Craftsman grinder I recently bought, was looking at this one because I like the rat handle design. If Hercules had one I would have gone that route but I needed a grinder that day and Lowe’s gives me a 10% military discount so Craftsman won over on the Bauer.
There are several versions of the harbor freight $10 special. The one I had developed so much radial play i thought it might shatter a cutting disc, so I took it apart to find the problem. It didn't have a bearing or even a bushing in the head of the tool to support the output shaft, just the one ball bearing. The back of the shaft went straight into the aluminum casting.
Good to see you back...keep up your great tool reviews...👍🏻👍🏻
Thanks
@@ToolTeardowns the blackendecker is pure junk I know I had one and 6 month s it was dead.
@@ToolTeardowns I when to walmart and got me a hyper tough I use it almost ever day and I do not baby it I make knifes .and I have cut and grind some heavy duty think metal . I have had it almost 4 year s now .and it has out lasted the portercable grinder I use to have to .
@@ToolTeardowns I have the harbor freight 7 inch 9 amp and it is still going after 5 year s .I always make sure I keep grease in it use high temperature wheel bearing grease.
@@ToolTeardowns yes I would buy it .
Thanks for this excellent review. You explain the technical stuff very clearly. I"m thinking of upgrading to a better angle grinder. This review was helpful. I also like your pacing - no wasted time.
Just got it a couple hours ago and I love it. Ironically the only other grinder I already own is that Black N Decker. I like this new Bauer better
Good to see HF stepping up their game, but I hope they maintain their low price point. At current I think they beat Lowes or HD easily. I am excited to see the new Icon wrenches that are due to be released soon.
Storm Silagy they also have a shitty warranty and are like 20 dollars cheaper then a name brand one.
Nice grinder I would buy it it would make a good second grinder.
I like the trigger/handle versus the normal grinder, as I don't have big hands, so it's harder to keep a firm grip when the motor body is the handle. Often my hand is covering the vent slots, a grip handle seems better. Normally, overall length isn't an issue for me.
Great in depth review. I prefer the 2 stage paddle switch which is safer due to no accidental starts IMHO. I'm left handed and any tool with a lock on button placed like this one means ill be hitting it often . Thanks for review. Keep em coming 🙂
Good point on the left-handed thing. I hadn't thought of that. You'd probably accidentally lock it on every time.
@@ToolTeardowns Yeah your right. I have quite a few tools with the lock on that side but that one looks like it stands quite proud of the housing. Still 8 amp power pretty good and decent build quality at good price = disable the lock button and good to go. Lol.
P.S. do you have a patreon account?
No patreon. I don't feel like I have enough time to produce content to ask people to donate. If I can devote more time in the coming years maybe I'll start one.
I like the trigger switch on this Bauer grinder. It's definitely a step or two up from the HF cheap $10 grinder.
I’m curious to hear your opinion on the new Craftsman lineup vs Ryobi as a home user with the occasional heavy lifting for remodeling and framing.
Craftsman all the way!
I bought the $19 drill master ($9 on sale now). It worked for almost one hour before i heard a different tone. It threw out all the grease and ruined the bearings to the point is it very wobbly. going to return it and get this one instead.
thanks for your awesome videos i would buy the Bauer grinder yes.
Waiting to see if Bauer comes out with a cordless 20V version of this grinder to go with my other Bauer 20V power tools. If not, then I will get this one based on this review.
Great video as usual. I went to harbor freight to purchase the rat tail bauer which was out of stock at my nearest store, so I picked up the 11 amp Hercules instead. Hopefully it's a decent grinder. I would love to see you review the 11 amp version.
Love your videos just went out and bought this yesterday! Could you do a teardown of the Hercules drills or impact driver? I saw an AVE video on it but I feel like it wasn't accurate and I think you could do a better job of giving an honest review.
@Q-Pid Avenger...check out the Den of Tools. I think he did a review of the Hercules drill.
@@amp12345amp oh I love the den of tools haha and I have seen the Hercules drill in action I just want a more unbiased break down of the tool
Yup I got it. It is great I haven’t had a problem yet.
This grinder should replace the 10 dollar grinder
Cool video. I personally lost all trust in Bauer products after the hammer drill smoked and died on me shortly after 90 days.
Thomas Pastine they are garbage tools
Id buy this for sure, rat tail designs are by far my prefered.. except im on canada and i already own 8 angle grinders in every configuration and size
Milwuakee 5" fuel with a couple 9.0 batteries gets almost everything done i need no cord required
I’m sold. Got one on the way. Thanks!!!
I bought two of these bad boys afew weeks ago.
I like it, I've been pounding the piss out of it, I dont like the fan blows out the sides (my metabos force it forward)
On the brushes I bought 2, and I did get replacement brushes with 1 of them.
So maybe that was an accident
Good to hear from someone who has been working them. I just bought one and haven't had a chance to put it through hell yet.
I use a metabo W12-125Quick, a metabo WE19-180Quick RT an Hitachi G12SC2
I love them ,I can't really do nothing with other grinders
They sure are nice, but most people don‘t want to spend 200$ on a grinder. And these cheap ones are fine for most jobs.
@@BL-yj2wp yep for sure , but when you start a job you need to make it done quickly and easily
Definitely you don't need to go back to buy another grinder
Daniele those bauer tools cater to people with crumbs in there wallet
It's interesting that they changed the dimensions of the commutator like that from the B&D. They went with a smaller diameter, which favors speed over torque to make power, but also longer, to increase power draw and torque, but then they seem to have used the same winding count, which tells me that one of the motors is REALLY poorly suited for the job at hand.
This Grinder looks my My Project 1200 watt grinder from Kaufland with varible speed control.
Very impressed with the buar
Great video
Do you think the Bauer ($39.99) is just as good compared to its Hercules ($44.99) counterpart? Is the Hercules worth the $5 extra dollars in your opinion? I know the Bauer has that 1 extra amp, but is Hercules made with sturdier materials?
Good to see you back bro
Thanks
Why not compare it more in depth to the very similar priced 7amp Hercules grinder?
I don't have the Hercules grinder anymore. You can see my teardown of the Hercules here: czcams.com/video/iWelvBF-DsA/video.html
The buar has nice windings and resin
Great informative video. Most comments are older. Wondering if people who purchased and used on regular basis, what was there experience!! Tacklife from Amazon has 8.5 amp one. Is anyone has tried that?
Could you please make some video on Tacklife tools? Thanks
I am going to buy this grinder today!!
Good review of what appears to be a decent grinder..
I was considering a paddle switch grinder upgrade but might grab this Bauer grinder. Seems like pretty good quality for $40. Great job showing the differences.
The 7.5a Porter Cable model at lowes is a good one and it's $40 also.
Allen McKinney That’s actually what I have now. I got it on clearance for $9.99 and it’s a good grinder but I am looking for another one without the on-off switch and a bit more powerful.
@@truckerpeterose Harbor Freight sells an 11 amp Hercules paddle switch grinder now, it's pretty beefy and it gets excellent reviews it seems.
@@truckerpeterose if you really want power get yourself a 7" or a 9" model. I have a 13a 7" dewalt and its a beast.
Allen McKinney I’ve seen that DeWalt in action and yes it’s a beast. I think I might give this Bauer a look. I don’t necessarily need the power as much as I need comfort and control. I just don’t like the on/off switch design.
This has been on my radar since I first saw it advertised. I want one or 3
Weird how several times you referenced Bauer vs "the Harbor Freight" grinder. I assume you meant "Drillmaster" since they're both made by Harbor Freight
That's short for "the $10 harbor freight."
I have one of those grinder, name king grinder with slightly upgrade version which have speed dial switch.
YES -- i would buy this grinder mater of fact i went to the store today to pick one up but alas it was out of stock and that really sucks i finally pick the one i wanted and still dont have it ---- lol--- maybe next time it will be there
You'd think they'd make that side button so you'd have to press it in first to actuate the trigger so as to not depress the trigger accidentaly.
Hard to tell between the baur and Hercules grinder. Baur is an 8 amp. Isnt the Hercules a 7 amp? Hercules has 16ga wire. Baur has 18 ga. Hercules has a better name brand switch. And the Hercules has name brand bearings unlike the baur.. plus the Hercules has the same gear design as the dewalt.. the baur has the same kinda gear set up as the $10 harbor freight grinder.. Food for thought...
i like that grinder. i would buy it to have a good grinder. but i would still buy the ten dollar one. you can get four for the same price as the bauer one and have extras just in case
For occasional light work like sharpening mower blades and wire-brushing some rusty painted metal, would you go with (from you teardowns) the Bauer, Hercules, B&D, or the DrillMaster 60625? The Bauer and Hercules each cost $40, the B&D around $29, and the DrillMaster $10 with coupon.
Thanks for the videos. They are very well done. I've learned a lot about the inner working of the tools.
I personally like grinders with adjustable speeds for wire brushing metal. None of them have that. Second choice would be the Bauer, probably.
@@ToolTeardowns Thanks a lot for the advice. I'll look at variable speed grinders and also consider this Bauer.
You are fair and speak based on facts. Not like the Scotty car guy, who thinks everything from China is junk.
Great video, plenty of in depth information. I watched this video and the Hercules video and I cannot tell which one is better. They seem almost identical. Can you let me know if one looks better than the other?
I prefer the trigger switch on the Bauer.
I love mine, cuts everything I need it to.
At 9:39 (ish) you mention one of the grinders I expected you to use for the comparison: the Hercules. I bought the Herc partly because of your teardown, and I looked for a teardown of this Bauer when it had just recently come out, but I ended up buying it without seeing one because it looked good, was 8 amps, and the coupon was really good, lol.
Anyway I was really excited to see you had done a teardown of it, and I've really enjoyed it, but I'm puzzled why you used the $10 HF and the Black and Decker for comparison instead of the Herc?
I mean the two are close in price, and sold by the same company...I thought it would be interesting to have a side-by-side compare and contrast, y'know?
All that aside, I love your videos, man. You do a really great job, much reminiscent of AvE when he was still doing BOLTR's (heh). It's awesome.
Thanks for sharing your efforts with all of us.
I don't have the Hercules anymore. That's why it's not in the video.
Ohhhh. Well, that explains it, lol. I'm guessing you've already answered that question several times by now? Sorry. 😅
Thanks for sharing this awesome content with us! 😊
I have absolutely no use for yet another angle grinder but I would have jumped on that for $36!
PS, I bought the $10 Drill Master as a sacrificial grinder for a job I was doing and I couldn't burn it out. LOL
You should teardown a Wurth angle grinder. For example: Wurth EWS 10-125 Compact, Wurth EWS 12-125 Solid or Wurth EWS 14-125 Universal. I'm curious what do you think about the ''king'' of grinders :)
Thanks for the idea.
why is the rat tail 500 less rpm than the paddle switch both 8amp?
So if I am going to get a small grinder for around the house, would you recommend the B&D or the Bauer? It looks like the Bauer is a little better but it also costs more. In your honest opinion is the price difference worth it?
I like the trigger switch design better, but you have to decide if the extra cost is worth it to you.
Good show sir
Thumbs up for your efforts 👍
Yes been waiting for a review by you! Thanks for the great content .....keep it up man your reviews are great
I would buy this baur grinder
Would you be able to remove the locking mechanism from the switch?