Bosch GWS18V-45CN (18V EC Brushless Connected-Ready 4-1/2 in. Angle Grinder, Bare Tool)

Bosch GWS18V-45CN (18V EC Brushless Connected-Ready 4-1/2 in. Angle Grinder, Bare Tool)

By Bosch · Angle Grinders · Power Tools

  • 18V EC Brushless motor
  • 9,000 RPM no-load speed
  • 4-1/2 in. wheel diameter
  • 4.25 lbs (bare tool)
  • 5/8 in. arbor size

Lowest price seen
~$199.00 (approx.)
from $199.00 at Amazon

Prices are snapshots. Check the current price with the store.

Summary

A bare 18V cordless 4-1/2 inch angle grinder for people already on Bosch’s 18V battery system, with KickBack Control, drop control and restart protection built in. It’s connected-ready but needs the optional GCY30-4 Bluetooth module, and there is no electric brake, which is the main thing to weigh before buying.

Strengths

  • KickBack Control, drop control and restart protection give it a broader safety set than most 4-1/2 in. grinders.
  • Testers found it resists bogging down under hard grinding pressure.
  • The slim textured handle and small gear head reach tight spots.
  • Core18V battery testing showed large runtime gains over the older 4.0 Ah pack.
  • Tool-free guard adjustment and removable air-intake screens make upkeep easy.
  • Bosch covers 18V tools bought since 6/1/23 with a five-year limited warranty.

Weaknesses

  • No electric brake; the wheel spins down slowly after you release the trigger.
  • It uses a side slide switch with lock-on, not a paddle, a matter of preference some reviewers dislike.
  • The auxiliary handle mounts left or right only, with no top position for vertical work.
  • The spanner wrench is not stored on the tool and is easily lost.
  • It is a bare tool, so the battery, charger and GCY30-4 module are all extra.
  • Tools In Action wanted less vibration from it.

Verified specifications

ModelGWS18V-45CN (Bosch Professional), part number 3601JG3111.
Power sourceBosch 18V lithium-ion battery, sold separately; the tool is optimized for the Core18V pack.
MotorEC brushless; Bosch says up to 35% more power and up to 110% more runtime with an optional Core18V battery.
No-load speed9,000 RPM.
Wheel diameter4-1/2 in.
Variable speedNo.
HandleTwo-position Vibration Control side handle, left or right only.
Safety and controlKickBack Control, drop control, restart protection, soft-start, burst-resistant wheel guard, and electronic cell and motor protection.
ConnectivityConnected-ready through the optional GCY30-4 Bluetooth module, which pairs with the Bosch Toolbox app.
IncludedGrinder, Vibration Control handle, wheel guard and grinding disc. Battery, charger and Bluetooth module are separate.
Dimensions12.5 × 5 × 4.3 in; 4.4 lb bare tool.
Warrantyfive-year limited on 18V tools bought 6/1/23 or later, three years for 18V batteries; one year for purchases before 5/31/23.
Full research notes and sources

Cutting and power

Pro Tool Reviews cut 5/8 in. rebar across three packs. The Core18V 6.3 Ah battery turned in the fastest cut at 10.7 s for 21 cuts per charge; the 6.0 Ah pack managed 18.3 s and 15 cuts; the 4.0 Ah pack took 31.0 s for 10 cuts. The reviewer noted the Core18V does 110% more work than the 4.0 Ah pack with only 57% more energy, at 113 Wh against 72 Wh. The tool runs at a fixed 9,000 RPM with no variable-speed dial.

Safety, controls and handling

The electronics are the selling point: KickBack Control, drop control, restart protection and soft-start all come standard, plus electronic protection for the cell and motor. What is missing is an electric brake, so the wheel coasts to a stop after you let go; Pro Tool Reviews called adding one a top priority for the next version. The slide switch with lock-on and the handle diameter divide testers rather than being clear defects, and Tools In Action wished for less vibration. None of these is a documented failure mode, and nobody has published a failure rate.

Parts, upkeep and warranty

Bosch sells spare parts for this exact model under part number 3601JG3111. Reviews note two maintenance-friendly design points: the air-intake screens come out for cleaning, and the guard adjusts without tools. Grinding wheels are treated as wear items and are excluded from warranty coverage, so factor in discs and the separate 18V battery and charger. Bosch’s current 18V terms give five years on the tool and three years on batteries for purchases on or after 6/1/23; the older one-year terms applied before 5/31/23.

Is it worth it?

No verified US pricing is available for the bare tool, so judge it on the battery system you already own. For reference, Pro Tool Reviews listed it at $169.00 in March 2018, and Tools In Action saw it at about $179.00 bare and about $250.00 with a Core battery in April 2018. The recurring costs are the 18V battery, charger, grinding discs and, if you want the connected features, the GCY30-4 module. If you are already invested in Bosch 18V, the safety electronics and the five-year tool warranty are the reasons to stay in the line.

Which model this is

This page covers the GWS18V-45CN in Bosch’s Professional line, part number 3601JG3111. The “CN” suffix means connected-ready, so it accepts the optional GCY30-4 Bluetooth module; the motor is brushless and rated 9,000 RPM no-load. Do not confuse it with the older GWS18V-45, which is brushed and turns at 10,000 RPM, or with the larger GWS18V-50 that takes a 5 in. wheel. The listing this review follows is ASIN B07B918J21.

Sources

Manufacturer:

Independent reviews:

Owner reports:

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