A talented wood carving artist does not rely only on the skills but also on effective tools and materials. Without quality tools, any wood carving will result in a failed attempt.
To make things easy and effortless, an angle grinder should be used for wood carving.
Since finding a quality tool is a hectic job that no one willing to do spending hours, we have put our hands together to find the best wood carving angle grinders so that you can pick, buy, and start carving fast.
Top 5 Best Angle Grinders For Wood Carving Comparison:
Name | Image | Power | Editor's Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
King Arthur’s Tools MERLIN2 Mini Angle Grinder |  | 13,000 RPM | ||
Makita 9564CV 4-1/2-Inch SJS High-Power Angle Grinder |  | 13 Amp & 10,500 RPM | ||
DEWALT Angle Grinder Tool |   | 11 Amp & 11,000 RPM | ||
SKIL 9295-01 6.0 Amp 4-1/2-Inch Angle Grinder |  | 6 Amp & 11,000 RPM | ||
BLACK+DECKER Angle Grinder Tool |  | 6 Amp & 10,000 RPM |
Our 5 Best Angle Grinder For Wood Carving Reviews:
Here is our list of the best angle grinders that you can use to carve wood. We have spent hours researching, gathering data, and formatting those in a structure to present in front of you.
1. King Arthur’s Tools MERLIN2 Mini Angle Grinder
Looking for the best precision angle grinder that can do all your wood carving projects? Then there is hardly any better contender than this product.
It distinctly caters to miniature works making your job easy and effortless. The grinder is excellent for crafting small bowls, spoons, and for putting on intricate details like feathers, faces, drawings, and patterns.
This mini angle grinder is effectively versatile and portable. So, you can use this for many types of works as well as carry this with you in a small bag without feeling any problem.
The machine is the most lightweight in its category making it easy to do precision works.
It is efficient for sanding, shaping, and carving in areas that are difficult to reach, thanks to the nicely designed small body it comes with. This is very popular for wood carving, metal and finish work, DIY auto repair, and miniature woodworking.
This angle grinder can be easily augmented with over 60 accessories so that you can widen your scope of projects and applications. It can be utilized for fiberglass, soft non-ferrous materials, bone, rubber, plastic, and wood.
Because of its high-performance motor, extremely versatile usage, and easy maneuverability, this becomes our best pick for this buying guide.
Last but not the least, this is built with high-quality materials with great safety features to ensure that you need less maintenance yet get a longer lifespan.
Highlighted Features
- Easy to use and accurate
- Good value for money
- Excellent customer service and after sales
- Very useful for miniature works
- The motor could overheat sometimes
- Durable build requires less maintenance
2. Makita 9564CV 4-1/2-Inch SJS High-Power Angle Grinder
The Makita 9564CV 4-1/2-Inch SJS High-Power Angle Grinder comes at #2 of our list because of its excellent specifications, reliable performance, and ease of use. It has a powerful 13 amp motor that can generate up a whopping 10,500 RPM.
It is equipped with modern Sass technology to prevent motor and gear damage in most extreme working conditions.
This Makita angle grinder comes with a five-stage speed dial that allows you to vary its speed from 2800 to 10500 RPM.
Toping to all that, it can keep the required speed under heavy load with its newer speed adjustment technology so that you get your desired result without worrying about decreasing speed under the load.
When it comes to build quality, the wood carving angle grinder is built with heavy-duty materials so that it lasts long. With its soft-start feature, the internal motor of this machine remains safe and sound for an extended period.
Plus, its ergonomic design and lightweight nature made it comfortable for the operator to use for a long time without straining the arms.
Because of its overall features, almost no disadvantages except its being a wired tool, this becomes one of the best angle grinders you can find online.
Highlighted Features
- Excellent specifications
- Delivers quality and reliable output
- Easy to use in an overall perspective
- Great technology to prevent damage
- Well-built and cost-effective
- Needs care and maintenance for longevity
- The spindle lock needs some force to work
3. DEWALT Angle Grinder Tool
Third on our list is the DEWALT Angle Grinder Tool together with the DEWALT Cutting Wheel. This DEWALT Angle Grinder is powered by the modern 11 AMP AC/DC 11,000 RPM motor that can deliver a tremendous amount of power when working.
Coming at a very affordable price point without compromising any premium features, this becomes our best value for the money pick for this buying guide.
The grinder is built to last with premium quality materials, meaning you will be relieved from thinking about its durability.
Plus, the product is designed perfectly to fit in your hand without any problem. So, you will have a comfortable working period with this awesome wood carving grinder.
To enhance its durability and reduce maintenance requirements, it has a built-in dust ejection system that eliminates dust from the machine.
Its tool-less wheel removal mechanism is another great feature worth mentioning. You can release the old wheel and install a new one within seconds without using any tool at all.
Comes with a safety lock to prevent accidents, built with a great design for ergonomics, yet comes at almost at a lot cheaper than our best pick, this is one of the best things to have in your tool collection.
It includes a 72-inch cord, 4-1/2 inch one touch (T27) guard, and 2-position side handles to make your job easy and effortless in the job site.
Now, the DEWALT Cutting Wheel packs an excellent performance with a .045-inch cutting edge designed for fast and efficient burr less cutting.
Highlighted Feature
- High performance machine
- Comes at an affordable price point
- 360 degrees rotational one touch guard
- Built in Dust Ejection Mechanism
- Durable and premium quality
- Requires less maintenance
- Proper use requires a bit of skill
4. SKIL 9295-01 6.0 Amp 4-1/2-Inch Angle Grinder
If you are looking for a cheap wood carving angle grinder that can serve your purpose without having to worry about the price, then this SKIL grinder is what we recommend for you.
This grinder is powered by a 6.0 AMP motor that can generate up 11,000 RPM.
This standard quality product is great for making your job easy and effortless. It is designed perfectly to give the operator the ultimate comfort while using it.
Its compact and lightweight design makes it easy to use. Plus, the handle makes it comfortable for you to do the job by reducing vibration quite significantly.
With a little bit of maintenance and time to time inspection, this can return you every penny you spend on it.
Gives more control, allows precision job, and generates a lot of power. All that comes at under fifty bucks to satisfy your needs.
Highlighted Features
- Highly versatile and great value for money
- Very maneuverable and easy to hold and use
- Lightweight and great ergonomics
- The wrench perfectly fits in the handle
- The tool-less guard adjustment is convenient
- Assembling is quick and easy
- Requires regular maintenance for durability
5. BLACK+DECKER Angle Grinder Tool
Another cheap, yet high quality product that can do your carving job almost effortlessly.
This angle grinder has a narrow body for ease of use and the comfortable grip ensures better ergonomics.
Plus, The product is built to last with the metal gearcase. So, you don't need to worry about its quality.
Its three position handle is another addition to its ease of use. It gives you more control over the machine while working on different projects.
The product set contains a wheel guard, spanner wrench, metal grinding wheel, and 4-1/2 inch small angle grinder so that you can start working as soon as you get it delivered to your doorstep.
Because of its lower price point, higher quality, and top-notch performance, this becomes one of the most popular angle grinders among occasional woodcarvers and DIYers.
Highlighted Features
- Very versatile and highly maneuverable
- Excellent value for money
- Lightweight and very easy to use
- Does its job well
- Does not easily overheat
- The manual is a bit vague
- Requires regular maintenance
How to Choose the Best Angle Grinder For Wood Carving
As we have reviewed 5 top woodcarving angle grinders, you should have already known what is the best in the business. However, you may be wondering how do you choose one if you need to. So, here is our buying guide for you-
1. Build Material
When purchasing an angle grinder, you must check whether the product is built with solid quality materials or not. Power and hand tools are one of the most abused things in your toolbox and you want them to withstand the ordinary abuse.
Check the quality of the grinding disc, dust protection mechanism, and size ratio to ensure that you get a perfectly built wood carving grinder.
Read also: Best Woodturning Lathe Chisel Sets!
2. Precision
The next thing you must consider is the precision. Since angle grinders generate massive power within a very small space, they vibrate a lot when not made with necessary vibration absorbing materials. For precision works like wood carving, it is essential to get a product that can be used for a precision job.
3. Power
Power tools need to come with enough power-generating capabilities. So, check the motor capacity and how fast it can rotate without getting damaged.
Generally, more than 3 Amp motor that can generate at least 3000 RPM is good for wood carving jobs. But we recommend with the higher Amps and RPMs with speed adjustment features.
Variable speed features allow the user to have more control over the job. Plus, you should look for features like overload protection, brushless motor etc. to make the carving job easy and effortless.
Read more: Best Wood Shapers for the money!
4. Ease of Use
Who loves to work with a tool that is not easy to use. We want complication-free work so that it can be done fast and efficiently. Using easy to use product means you can invest your valuable time in other important things rather than figuring out the way tools work.
Look for fast grinder disc changing ability, dust protection, lock on switch, and consistent speed features so that you can get better control over the machine with less effort.
5. Versatility
Versatility is another thing that you should consider while buying a woodcarving angle grinder. You may not be woodcarving always, or may need some other grinding jobs to do. If you don't have a versatile tool in your hand, it would be a hassle to do things right without purchasing another grinder.
So, we recommend picking up a product with flexibility in disc sizes that can do your general angle grinding jobs as well.
We recommend going with a cordless tool unless the tool comes with an extended cord. Plus, it should work perfectly on tight spaces. So, get a compact machine.
6. Durability
Finally, we see the longevity of the product. You won't like to have a product that can fall apart after doing a project or two. So, you should go with a premium quality product so that you get a product with a longer life span.
After all, getting a product once and using it for years is better than purchasing a new product for every project.
Many people ignore the quality of cutting disc, but that's important. No one loves to change the disc every day. And check the quality of the power cord, if you have a corded grinder, or the quality of the battery if you have a cordless model.
Read our take on best sandpaper for wood also to get a perfect finish to your woodworking projects. Plus, a pole sander may also work great in doing broader finishing jobs.
Read our write up on top rated wood lathes!
Final Words
If you think that wood carving is a lost art nowadays, the answer is simply no. In fact, it is recognized as one of the valuable art forms which also has significant business value and potential.
Traditionally, wood carving is done by hand. But time has changed quite a lot in recent years!
We use automatic machines to save time instead of using the cutting tools, a chisel, and a mallet.
To make your job easy in the process of making a wooden sculptural masterpiece, you need a top-quality machine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Use Angle Grinder to Cut Wood?
You can use angle grinders to cut wood. But the risk factor is very high unless you have the right blade installed. Wood is different than metal and blades get stuck in the wood that makes the control a tedious job.
Hundreds of accidents reported regularly people cutting their body with power tools due to various reasons. A prominent one of those is using the wrong tool in the wrong project.
Wood carving grinders work well in cutting wood but regular angle grinders don't do the job well.
How Do You Use an Angle Grinder to Carve Wood?
The process is simple, but you need to practice a lot to get the hang of it.
Here is what you can do-
Pick an angle grinder that is made for wood carving. This will make your job a lot easier. Then, choose the correct grinding disc to start carving. Go slow and try to keep your hand steady for precise carves. The usage is the same as the regular angle grinder use, but the art of carving is something that you need to learn practically.
What is the Best Brand of Angle Grinder?
We recommend King Arthur for a wood carving job especially. If you want to get a general-purpose angle grinder, we would go with either Makita or Dewalt products.
These two brands are simply dominating the market with their innovations and top quality power tools.
How Do I Choose an Angle Grinder?
Choosing the most authentic angle grinder has several steps. Here is a brief of what we have described in detail above in our buying guide-
- Quality of the Build Materials
- Precision working capabilities
- Powerful motor
- Ease of use
- Flexibility in using different types of discs
- Durability of the machine
Can a Grinder be Used as A Sander?
Yes, you can use a grinder as a sander to sand off wood surfaces. To do that, you need to attach a quality flap disc with your grinder.
Although most people ignore this, it is a great way to save time and energy in sanding the wood surfaces in bulk.
Can you Use an Angle Grinder as a Cut Off Tool?
You can use that, but we don't recommend using this as a go-to. This is not convenient to cut tools with an angle grinder precisely. But if you have only a few cuts to do and want to save some bucks, then go for it with necessary safety precautions.
What Size Angle Grinder is Best?
There is no best size when it comes to angle grinders. It is the type of job that determines which size disc is the most convenient.
However, you can do almost any type of task with a 4.5-inch grinding disc that angle grinders can do.
Are Brushless Grinders Better?
Yes, brushless motors are better than brushed motors. They are more efficient and long-lasting due to the way they are built.
'Brush' in the brushed motors wear out with time and go bad after a certain life cycle. On the other hand, brushless grinders work smartly, and efficiently for a longer period.
Can an Angle Grinder be Used as A Buffer?
You can use it but the end result won't be good, or even close to acceptable. Because angle grinders mostly come without any speed control, you will end up damaging the surface before even realizing it.
If the grinder does come with a speed control mechanism, that won't make it equivalent to the buffer either. Because buffers use dual action to eliminate the risk of inconsistency and scratches. Grinders won't provide you that.
Can You Use a Flap Disc on Wood?
Yes, you can. Make sure the disc is rated for use on wood. There are many types of flap discs available and some of them can damage the wood surface.
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