Craftsman CMEG100 (6 Amp 4-1/2 in. Corded Small Angle Grinder, 12,000 RPM)
By Craftsman · Angle Grinders · Power Tools
- Wheel 4-1/2 in
- 6 A motor, 12,000 RPM
- Weight 4.8 lb
- 3-position handle
- Warranty 3 years limited
Lowest price seen
~$69.00 (approx.)
from $69.00 at Amazon
- Amazon ~$69.00 (approx.)View at Amazon
- CraftsmanView at Craftsman
- eBay (used) eBay: used, open-box, refurbishedView at eBay (used)
- eBayView at eBay
- Acme ToolsView at Acme Tools
Prices are snapshots. Check the current price with the store.
Summary
A corded 4-1/2 inch angle grinder for DIY and light workshop work, with a 6 amp motor, a 4.8 lb body, a 3-year limited warranty, and a wheel, side handle and wrench in the box. Check your workload before you buy — it suits occasional grinding and cutting, not daily jobsite use.
Strengths
- At 4.8 lb with a slim body, it allows comfortable one-hand use per the manual.
- Craftsman backs it with a 3-year limited warranty.
- The guard adjusts tool-free and the spindle lock speeds up wheel changes.
- A grinding wheel, side handle and wrench come in the box.
- Lowe’s reviewers call it powerful and easy to use, especially for the price.
Weaknesses
- No established tool outlet has tested this exact model, so you buy on owner feedback and brand reputation.
- The 12,000 RPM figure is a no-load rating; working speed under load will be lower.
- The 6 amp motor is sized for light-to-medium work; heavy or frequent jobs want a higher-amp tool.
- It is corded only, with no battery option in this model.
- Craftsman’s 12,000 RPM rating conflicts with an 11,000 RPM listing on a manual site, and the manual itself could not be fetched to settle it.
Verified specifications
| Motor | 6 amp, 120 V, 60 Hz. |
|---|---|
| No-load speed | 12,000 RPM per the Craftsman page; a manual aggregation site lists 11,000 RPM. |
| Wheel size | 4-1/2 in (114 mm). |
| Weight | 4.8 lb. |
| Dimensions | about 13.1 × 4.449 in per retailer product data. |
| Handle | 3-position side handle plus a contoured over-molded main grip. |
| Guard | tool-free adjustment; spindle lock for wheel changes. |
| Switch | slide switch; manufacturer specs list “Variable Speed: Yes”. |
| Warranty | 3 years limited from Stanley Black & Decker. |
| In the box | grinder, grinding guard, grinding wheel, 3-position handle, wrench. |
| Country of origin | China. |
Full research notes and sources
Power and workload
The 6 amp motor spins the wheel at 12,000 RPM free speed per Craftsman’s page, and that is a no-load number: actual working speed under load will be lower. The manufacturer talks up a high-performing motor for demanding jobsite applications, but the honest reading of a 6 amp budget motor is light-to-medium grinding and cutting metal. For frequent or heavy work, Craftsman’s own CMEG200 steps up to a 7.5 amp motor and a paddle switch.
Build and handling
At 4.8 lb and roughly 13.1 × 4.449 in per retailer product data, it is a compact tool, and the contoured over-molded grip plus a 3-position side handle give you options for one or two hands. The guard adjusts without tools, the spindle lock holds the shaft for wheel changes, and power comes on a slide switch. One spec-sheet oddity: Craftsman lists “Variable Speed: Yes”, which on a budget corded grinder may mean speed regulation under load rather than a user dial. The tool is made in China.
Maintenance, warranty and what owners say
Upkeep is the usual angle-grinder routine: replace the brushes as they wear, keep the guard aligned and the spindle clean, and give the tool ventilation rather than running it flat out for hours. Craftsman warranties it for 3 years limited and supports it at 888-331-4569, though no CMEG100 parts catalog was found and standard brushes and guards come through Craftsman service channels. Owner evidence is thin and lives in retailer review sections rather than labs: Lowe’s reviewers call the grinder powerful and easy to use, especially for the price, while the same review section mentions problems without giving details. Nobody has published a failure rate, so treat it as a budget tool with real owners but no measured track record.
Is it worth it?
RB Tools lists it at $49.95, where it undercuts most name-brand 4-1/2 in grinders and the 3-year warranty is the selling point. Acme Tools has it at $69.00 with the price valid until 2026-09-20; at that money, compare the Craftsman CMEG200 with its 7.5 amp motor and paddle switch, or grinders from DeWalt, Makita and Milwaukee. If you grind or cut metal every weekend, spend up; if it is a few jobs a year, the CMEG100’s price and warranty make it easy to recommend.
Which model this is
This page covers the Craftsman CMEG100, the 6 amp 4-1/2 in corded small angle grinder, sold in the US as ASIN B07KKB4C78. Do not merge it with the CMEG200 (7.5 amp, paddle switch), the CMEG110, or the cordless V20 CMCG400B — different tools, different power.
Sources
Manufacturer:
Independent reviews:
- No established tool outlet (RTINGS, Wirecutter, Tom’s Guide, CNET, PCMag, Pro Tool Reviews) has published an exact-model test.
Owner reports:
Parts and stores: