Hart 20V Angle Grinder Cuts and Grinds a Variety of Weekend Projects
With some lighter-duty cutting and grinding on the schedule, we chose the occasion to see what kind of performance you should expect from the Hart 20V angle grinder. This brushed cordless grinder is available at Walmart at a budget-friendly sub-$50 price.
Pros
- Less than $50 as a bare tool
- Has the power to cut, grind, and polish
- Excellent handle ergonomics
- Lightweight
- Tool-free guard adjustments
- Spindle wrench stores in the handle
- Three handle positions
Cons
- Performance and runtime are below what you’ll get with a brushless model
- No kit option at the moment
Recommendation
It’s impressive what you can do with the Hart 20V angle grinder considering its low price. Yes, you can do those jobs more quickly with a brushless model. But what you need to keep in mind is that you’re getting the job done for literally half the price.We’d stay away from tougher tasks such as weld grinding or extended jobs that require long runtime. However, it’s a good option for most weekend and household projects that require metal cutting, grinding, or polishing.
Hart 20V Angle Grinder
Nose to the Grindstone
Our go-to grinders are high-performance brushless machines, but we wanted to know what we could do with a grinder at such a low price. The answer? A lot more than you might think.
Hart’s limitation is that it doesn’t have as much power and speed as you might find in brushless DIY models. It’s a similar story with runtime. The brushed motor isn’t as efficient as brushless and that combined with slower cutting and grinding speeds is going to limit your runtime on extended projects.
Knowing those limitations, let’s talk about what you can do. There are a ton of cutting, grinding, and polishing applications that are well within this model’s capabilities.
Working with Grinding Wheels
We started with a Type 27 grinding wheel to work off some sharper edges and shave down a couple of layers. At 6500 RPM, it’s not as fast as a professional level grinder and it’s definitely possible to stall the wheel. But it does the job just fine. In fact, you might find it’s easier to control than the grinders spinning at 9000 RPM and larger wheels.
Moving to a flap disk, we worked on bringing our angle iron back to a bright, shiny life. Here, the Hart 20V angle grinder excels, bringing that beautiful silver finish back quickly and with little fuss.
Wrapping things up, we decided to challenge the grinder by cutting our 5/16-inch angle iron with a Spyder diamond wheel instead of a standard abrasive cutting disk. Once we got into the cut, it was easier to stall the wheel. However, if you let the motor keep those RPMs high, it will get the job done.
Features Worth Your Attention
Tool-Free Guard Adjustments
There’s no need for a wrench or screwdriver to adjust the guard position. Just loosen the clamp and rotate it to the best position that keeps the sparks from coming at you.
The latch flaps around loosely when it’s open, but tightens up securely once you put pressure on the catch.
Ergonomics
The Hart 20V angle grinder has excellent handle and trigger ergonomics. The handle slims down into a very agreeable diameter that’s comfortable to use even if you have smaller hands. Rubber overmold covering it contributes to both comfort and grip security.
Rather than going with a paddle switch, Hart opts for a trigger system. The safety is directly behind the trigger, making it easy to operate when you grasp it. On the other hand, it’s nearly impossible to accidentally engage while it’s banging around inside your toolbox.
Weight
Nodding to its DIY-focus, this grinder is lightweight. On its own, it weighs just 4.2 pounds, and adding a 2.0Ah battery and grinder wheel brings it to a very manageable 5.3 pounds.
Wheel Changes
Like nearly every angle grinder, you need a spanner wrench to change the wheel out. Fortunately, Hart’s lives in the auxiliary handle, making it much less like to go missing or be left behind.
The process of changing the wheel is standard: press the wheel lock on the top, then insert the spanner wrench into two of the flange holes and twist. Just reverse the process for tightening.
Handle Positions
Most grinders give you two handle positions: one on the left and one on the right. Hart joins a select group that adds another on the top. It’s really helpful when you’re making vertical cuts.
Price
As we’ve alluded to several times, the Hart 20V angle grinder is less than $50. It runs $44.88 at Walmart as a bare tool.
If you’re not already using Hart 20V tools, you need to add a battery and charger as well. You can get a 2.0Ah battery and charger kit for just $54. If you’re going that route, it’s only $5 more to get the drill/driver kit that includes the same battery and charger for $94.
For more information about this and other HART Tools, click here.
The Bottom Line
It’s impressive what you can do with the Hart 20V angle grinder considering its low price. Yes, you can do those jobs more quickly with a brushless model. But what you need to keep in mind is that you’re getting the job done for literally half the price.
We’d stay away from tougher tasks such as weld grinding or extended jobs that require long runtime. However, it’s a good option for most weekend and household projects that require metal cutting, grinding, or polishing.
Hart 20V Angle Grinder Specs
- Model: Hart HPAG01
- Battery: 20V Li-Ion
- Wheel Size: 4-1/2″
- Speed: Up to 6,500 rpm
- Weight: 4.55 lbs
- Warranty: 3 years
- Price: $44.88 (bare tool)
