Hitachi g 18dsL 18V 115mm Cordless disc grinder
Price: £269.99 (Price includes two batteries, charger and carry case) Supplier: www.screwfix.com A comfortable grinder to hold thanks to its soft-grip rubberised body, the side-mounted on/off switch falls easily to hand and is easy to lock on and click off. The Hitachi’s motor is smooth and powerful – it has the feel of a quality machine. Li-ion batteries charge better at optimum temperatures, and the Hitachi’s 5.0Ah batteries get a great start thanks to the fan-assisted charger which stops them getting too hot. The 5.0Ah power also means it’s likely to keep running for longer under sustained, heavy use, although the larger battery does push the weight up to 2.24kg.
A push-button battery level indicator on the battery itself is useful for a quick check, though with only two LEDs the only indication you get is near full charge or half charge remaining. Still, if two light up you know you’ve got lots of power left in the monster battery.
The spindle lock works positively and is easy to grip one-handed around the body, leaving the other hand free to work the spanner on the lock nut. You’ll need a crosshead screwdriver to adjust the position of the disc guard, which is clamped with two screws.
The Hitachi’s 9,100rpm no-load speed is nearly 10% slower than the Bosch and Makita tested, but that had no effect whatsoever in the rig-cutting test, and is unlikely to prove significant unless you’re putting it to heavy, sustained use.
The motor’s carbon brushes are replaceable – a good sign for longevity if you intend to use it a lot.