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by Peter Brett - May 2005
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01444 440188
01444 440188
A Trade Work Horse from the Sparky Stable
Nevertheless these grinders get the jobs done which is the reason they are favoured. It is a tough market because the competition is fierce and the range of products available wide. There are the usual almost “disposable” cheap machines favoured by the users who either can&Mac226;t or won&Mac226;t look after their equipment and very sophisticated and expensive machines for those who can. The Sparky machine I tried out is in the middle of this range. It is definitely built to a standard and not to a price, but at the same time is good value for money.
Although one may titter at the Sparky name, a glance or two at the machine might make you have second thoughts. Produced in a factory in Eastern Europe, the quality has a definite European flavour about it. There are no exposed chunky bolts or screws, the ABS body is well moulded with no sharp nibs or extrusions and the magnesium gear case and disc guard would not disgrace a top brand name machine. In fact, you could close your eyes and feel the machine in your hands and it would feel a lot more expensive than it is.
Other than that it follows the usual layout for 230mm angle grinders. The thin end is the main grip. While not rubberized, it is textured to provide some extra grip. The trigger is a large four finger wide affair in bright orange. A very positively operating safety/lock on switch is easy to use. It is one of the best I have seen around because it is large enough to be used with gloved hands, has a positive click action that can be felt easily and is also very easy to click to off when necessary.
The middle bit is the large motor. At 2100w it is powerful, and to my ears a bit noisy. But it runs smoothly with not much vibration through to the user.
Unlike some machines I have tried there was no “sparky” through the casing vents and the motor felt progressive an powerful when I was working with it.
The true culprit for the noise is probably the end bit, the gear casing in solid magnesium. Finished in a silver texture it cannot be faulted. Drilled within it there are three threaded positions for the front handle, so it can be set up for left and right handed use and also with the handle directly above at 90 degrees to the cutting disc. A black push button engages the spindle lock for easy blade changing and there are six positions in which the spindle can be locked. No need to get your knuckles ripped up on the disc guard when you are using the tightening spanner!
The disc guard is fully adjustable using a rather nice mechanism I have not seen before on an angle grinder. It has a collar adjustable by lever and screw so that the guard position can be easily moved without having to use a spanner or screwdriver. To fit the guard collar into the groove a screw is loosened so that it will slide into the groove. Then the slack is taken up by tightening the screw, and the final tightness achieved by snapping the lever closed. If the guard needs adjusting in use, the lever is lifted, the guard moved and the lever closed again. A very neat solution.
Although I am sure most grinders are used for grinding, it is possible to fit a wire cup brush, a rubber backing pad, a sandpaper disc or a polishing bonnet to the arbor. The locknut is substantial and the spanner used to tighten it is strong too, so there should be no bent bits after a few uses. The thickest cutting disc that can be accommodated is 10mm.
At about 4.5 Kgs in all up weight it is by no means the heaviest machine in the market, but I was glad I didn’t have to use it all day. Nevertheless you do have to have a bit of weight to counteract the inertia of the spinning disc and keep the machine on task. I made sure that I had the required goggles, breathing mask, safety shoes and work clothes before I set it through its paces.
The Sparky MA 2001 is a very efficient machine.
Because of the weight balance and design of the grips it is fairly easy to handle whether used flat or side on. There is no dust extraction or dust damping so the user will inevitably get covered in dust, but the disc guard keeps most of the heavier particles away from the user. A handy 4 metres of heavy-duty cord provides enough range for many jobs. I was glad I had ear protection, because there is quite a lot of noise associated with using the grinder. But then, these are not the quietest of machines no matter what the name tag says.
I have heard all the arguments in favour of exporting all our manufacturing to the Far East, but my own experience is that the admittedly more expensive (and better designed) power tools of European origin are that much better to use. I find them safer and more suited to task in our work environments. I know that not everybody can be in a position to choose European products because budgets for equipment are not unlimited, but the Sparky brand seems to me to be a useful compromise. Not too pricey, but well made with care and with some good design features.
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