Tools & DIY · Head-to-head
Metabo WEPBA 17-125 Quick RT DS Angle Grinder vs Makita GA5053R 4-1/2 in. / 5 in. Paddle Switch Angle Grinder with Non-Removable Guard
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Angle Grinders: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The Metabo is the only grinder here whose maker publishes what your hands and ears are actually taking, and its brake is described as mechanical and working through a power failure rather than depending on the motor. The Makita gives up those numbers and the brake, but it is the one that solves the guard problem by not letting the guard come off.
Metabo WEPBA 17-125 Quick RT DS Angle Grinder
Buy itThe only one of the four whose US spec sheet prints a vibration figure and a noise figure you can plan a workday around.
- Publishes 6.1 m/s2 vibration for surface grinding and 4.4 m/s2 for sanding, each with a stated uncertainty of 1.5 m/s2.
- Metabo describes the disc brake as mechanical and patented, stopping the disc in 2 seconds after release even during a power failure.
- Feature list names electronic soft start and restart protection, plus the S-automatic torque limiting clutch for when a disc jams.
- The published 6.1 m/s2 is high enough that trigger time, not battery or cord, becomes the limit on a long day.
- Sound pressure is listed at 95 dB(A) and sound power at 103 dB(A), so hearing protection is not optional with this one.
- Corded only, and at 6 lbs without the cable it is among the heaviest of the four.
Makita GA5053R 4-1/2 in. / 5 in. Paddle Switch Angle Grinder with Non-Removable Guard
Buy itMakita states the guard is designed to stay permanently attached, which removes the single most common shortcut people take with these tools.
- Non-removable guard that still rotates tool-free, so there is no trade between adjusting it and keeping it on.
- No lock-on switch at all, and Makita's spec table lists a two-stage lock-off you have to work to start the tool.
- The instruction manual documents an unintentional restart proof function, with a note to wait more than one second before restarting.
- Makita publishes no vibration or noise figures for this model in the US documentation.
- The spec table lists Bind-Up Control as No, so there is no electronic kickback cut-out.
- No brake is listed, so the wheel coasts after you release the paddle.
Side by side
The 8 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| Metabo WEPBA 17-125 Quick RT DS Angle Grinder Our pick | Makita GA5053R 4-1/2 in. / 5 in. Paddle Switch Angle Grinder with Non-Removable Guard | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Someone who grinds for a living and wants the maker's own vibration, noise and brake numbers on paper before they commit. | A working buyer who wants the guard question settled at the factory rather than left to a moment of impatience on site. |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $$ · mid-range |
| Power | Corded, 14.5 amps, 1000 W output | Corded, 11 amps |
| No-load speed | 10,000 RPM | 11,000 RPM |
| Wheel size | 5 in (125 mm) | 4-1/2 in and 5 in (115 and 125 mm) |
| Switch | Deadman paddle | Paddle, no lock-on, two-stage lock-off |
| Restart protection published | Yes, restart protection | Yes, unintentional restart proof |
| Brake published | Mechanical disc brake, 2 seconds, works during power failure | Not published |
| Kickback response published | S-automatic torque limiting clutch | Bind-Up Control listed as No |
| Vibration and noise published (US) | 6.1 m/s2 grinding, 95 dB(A) sound pressure | Not published |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the Metabo WEPBA 17-125 Quick RT DS Angle Grinder if
someone who grinds for a living and wants the maker's own vibration, noise and brake numbers on paper before they commit.
Know before buying: the published 6.1 m/s2 is high enough that trigger time, not battery or cord, becomes the limit on a long day.
Pick the Makita GA5053R 4-1/2 in. / 5 in. Paddle Switch Angle Grinder with Non-Removable Guard if
a working buyer who wants the guard question settled at the factory rather than left to a moment of impatience on site.
Know before buying: makita publishes no vibration or noise figures for this model in the US documentation.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Metabo WEPBA 17-125 Quick RT DS Angle Grinder - The only one of the four whose US spec sheet prints a vibration figure and a noise figure you can plan a workday around. Choose the Makita GA5053R 4-1/2 in. / 5 in. Paddle Switch Angle Grinder with Non-Removable Guard instead if a working buyer who wants the guard question settled at the factory rather than left to a moment of impatience on site.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Angle Grinders: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).