MakitaXAG09Z 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 4-1/2"/5" Cut-Off/Angle Grinder

I absolutely loved this product except for the instructions are a bit hard to read. However I pulled up a YouTube video of how to attach the parts and the process is extremely easy. I used it to cut metal pieces for a project I was working on and there were absolutely no problems whatsoever. Big fan of Makita

I bought this to remove the angle iron battery tray on my trailer. This XAG09Z has the safety brake that stops the wheel within a second or two of turning it off, which is a very nice feature. This worked well with a cutting wheel to take out the 1.5" x 1/8" angle iron and for grinding the rusty surfaces for welding the new battery tray frame. Ergonomics and power are very good. I will say that when grinding (as opposed to using the cutoff wheel) it does go through batteries fairly quickly, about 20 minutes on a 5 amp-hr battery. I went through about 2.5 of them in about an hour, so you can keep up with the battery charging if you have 3 or more batteries. If you do extensive grinding you might want to look for a corded model. Tool quality feels excellent, which is typical for Makita.

I love Makita but I have to say their wheel guard design has a lot to be desired on this model.First, their instruction manual is bad and I found it actually misleading. After playing around with attaching the wheel guard, the first thing I noticed was there isn't a 'positive lock and/or keying mechanism' and the only conclusion is the that wheel guard is held in place by clamping force alone (given the rotational force and vibration this tool creates, that's a pretty weak connection). I finally got a decent installation but wanted to double check on youtube what others have found out.One review points out that the two wheel guards included with the tool are used separately depending on whether you are using a cutoff wheel or a grinding wheel. Be prepared for a lengthy process swapping wheel guards! I'm sorry, but when I'm out in the field, it's dark, rainy, etc., the last thing I want to be doing is hunting around for a straight blade screwdriver and futzing with these tool guards. Just mounting the grinding wheel guard on the tool while sitting at the kitchen table on a Sunday morning was more than I wanted to do.Safety is a design element and the condition is that it must be convenient and fast otherwise bad things happen. Makita failed in that area. I gave the tool 4 stars because I have high expectations the tool will perform very well (like my other Makita tools) and I will adjust the review accordingly after use. However, if fast wheel guard swapping between cutoff and grinding wheel is a top consideration for you then please avoid this tool.

Glad it has the blade brake. I really like the Makita brand cutoff wheel that came with it. (I've always bought cheaper ones and will now choose the Mak versions because they last longer and cut well) Really handy on the job site. Much quieter than my old corded grinder. Perfect for smallish tasks like cutting bolts or nails. I'd choose a corded one if I was using it all day.

Been using Makita products since 1984 and they have never failed me. Powerful motor, great battery life and electric brake for safety. You won't be disappointed.

I bought this to replace my corded Dewalt DWE402. There's nothing wrong with the Dewalt- it's just that I'm really impressed by Makita's 18v brushless power tools, with this grinder being no exception. It fits in the hand comfortably and has plenty of power for a battery-powered grinder. The Dewalt's guard is easier to take on/off, but the Makita's isn't difficult, either.Lastly, I like the electronic braking on this. The Dewalt would take about 10 seconds to spin down, but this one stops within a second.I love it!

Jobs around the house

I got this because I had a lot of sanding to do on the trim of our house. This thing is great! I even found a use for sanding the rough edges on PVC that I'm using for Halloween decoration I'm creating. Only downside is that although it's a Makita, my older Makita batteries from my old drill doesn't work in it. I guess battery tech has changed in 15 years, lol. No worries, I would buy this again if Makita ever failed...which I have yet to experience.