For polishing and sanding in difficult spots, the IR-301 Angle Grinder works great!
Written: Dec 13 '06
Product Rating:
Pros: Very light, throttle lock that works, easy speed modulation, durable ball-bearing construction, bargain priced.
Cons: None at all, this is a nearly perfect tool for under $50.
The Bottom Line: For inside corners, tight spaces, or just for ergonomic reasons, the 301 Angle Grinder is a must-have tool for any shop-rat or hobby fabricator.
openroad's Full Review: Ingersoll Rand Ingersoll - Rand IR - 301 Standard ...
Ingersoll Rand IR-301 Angle Grinder
•1/4" air inlet
•3 CFM free-run air consumption
•14.5 CFM full-load air consumption
Weight: 15.8 ounces
MSRP $50.00
----- Overview -----
Ingersoll Rand has made compressors, shop equipment, and air tools for many years now and is regarded as a quality manufacturer of garage and professional quality tools. Since I purchased a full size 80 gallon air compressor a couple years ago I decided to expand my tool collection with a few new air tools. First on the list was a 90-degree angle grinder and I turned to I/R for my new toy. The 301 Angle Grinder is an entry level shop quality tool designed for garage mechanics and guys tinkering around with fabrication and metal or woodworking in the shop. While it most likely won’t stand up to full-time duty in a business I’ve had this mini grinder a little over a year and it still works like a charm.
----- What can I do with the 301 grinder? -----
The 1/4” collet size (collet is another word for chuck when it only accepts one size) allows you to mount many small to mid-sized sanding discs, heavy abrasive pads, wire wheels and cups, and buffing or polishing wheels to the 301 angle grinder. The most common attachments I use are a 3" Roloc abrasive discs and a flat wire brush for heavy corrosion. This grinder is perfect for cleaning off fresh welds, polishing or sanding rough edges, and cleaning out hard to reach spots thanks to its right-angle design and small size.
With an acceptable 14.5 CFM air consumption under heavy load you can run this little grinder even with a mid-sized and average priced compressor and still have acceptable results. Obviously a larger air tank and two-stage compressor will let you run a longer duty cycle before you need to wait for the air to catch up. A rule of thumb for all air tools is before you use it each day drip a few drops of air tool oil down the male air chuck fitting to lubricate the internals. Once you connect the air line and slide on your safety glasses you’re ready to grind. One safety feature I really appreciate is the always-on throttle lock. This little spring loaded bar keeps the throttle from depressing until you slide your middle finger backward while depressing the throttle. Anyone that’s ever plugged in a tool while squeezing the trigger can appreciate the damage that can ensue.
After you depress the throttle you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how easy it is to modulate the rotational speed with the grip throttle. I didn’t expect such a cheap grinder to have a good speed control built in. The max speed you’ll see with this grinder is 20,000 RPM although you won’t reach that velocity when you mount a wheel or pad in the grinder. I do most of my sanding and grinding at between 1/2 and 3/4 of maximum speed, any faster and you’ll lose control and your quality will suffer.
----- Bottom Line -----
With this grinder I gained confidence in Ingersoll Rand as a company willing to build quality products for the hobby level consumer at a fair price. I proceed to purchase several other I/R air tools in the following months and have enjoyed trouble free service will all of them, although I’ve also been fanatical about oiling them before use and cleaning them after I was done. Like any tool you need to take care of this mini grinder to have it last a long time.
As a purchase for anyone looking to spend a little and get a quality angle grinder I highly recommend the I/R 301. If you’ve got a husband, brother, sister in-law, or anyone else that loves to tinker in the shop this makes a great gift. At a street price of only $50 you can’t go wrong and you won’t spend a fortune. You can find Ingersoll Rand air tools at many auto parts stores and farm supply places such as Tractor Supply Co.
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