So, ive been buying cheap tools with the theory that if they live then they work well enough for me, but if i use them enough to kill them its worth replacing them with something better. In that spirit, my Harbor Freight 90 die grinder is about 30 seconds of runtime away from catastrophic failure so it time to replace it with something better.

Ive got the replacement options just about narrowed down to 2, an Astro 205QL and an Aircat 6280. Both are pretty similar, rear exhaust, similar noise ratings, both have a spindle lock, both seem to get good reviews for reliability. The Aircat is rated at .75hp and runs about $120, the Astro is half the price at $60 but also only rated at 1/3hp

So, question, is it worth getting the Aircat for the extra HP, or should i grab the Astro and save some coin? Ive got no idea what the HF one ive been using is rated at, power wise, but i will say i dont recall ever really wishing for more power for my uses (mostly using roloc grinding discs for weld prep and deburing), so im leaning towards the Astro, but by the same token i dont want to shoot myself in the foot if it turns out that the extra power is game changing

Open to other suggestions as well, so long as they fit in a few criteria; gotta be air-powered, last thing i need is a battery dying right when i need to use it (plug-ins are a no too, easier to get an air hose than an extension cord at my job), spindle lock is a necessity, quiet(ish) is a massive plus, and the price on the Aircat is about the max of what im willing to spend. I get a decent bit of use out of the one i have, but not nearly enough to justify tool truck prices

Looking for a 90 degree pneumatic die grinder. I’ll use it most days at work so I’m ideally looking for the higher quality stuff. What’s the best out there or close to it? I’m not well rehearsed in air tools