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Makita 9557PBX1 4-1/2" Paddle Switch Cut-Off/Angle Grinder

By Makita · Angle Grinders · Power Tools · More from Makita

  • 7.5 Amps
  • 11,000 RPM no-load speed
  • 4-1/2 in wheel diameter
  • 4.5 lbs net weight
  • 10-3/4 in overall length

Lowest price seen
$124.99
from $124.99 at City Mill · Checked Oct 14, 2026

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Summary

A compact corded 4-1/2 inch grinder kit with a 7.5 amp motor, 11,000 RPM no-load speed, paddle switch with lock-on and lock-off, AC/DC switch, 4.5 lb body, standard 5/8-11 spindle, labyrinth dust sealing and a metal case with wheels, blade and guards. Check the missing safety and power headroom before you buy: there is no variable speed, no electric brake and no bind-up control, and 7.5 amps is on the low side of the class.

Strengths

  • Compact 4.5 lb body with a 2-1/2 in barrel grip, paddle switch with lock-on and lock-off and an AC/DC switch.
  • Labyrinth housing and zig-zag armature varnish for dust sealing, cited by reviewers as the durability differentiator in this class.
  • Standard 5/8-11 spindle, so it accepts ordinary wheels with the supplied inner flange rather than a proprietary system.
  • Makita publishes a parts breakdown, iFixit hosts a parts page, and cross-referenced carbon brushes (CB-325/CB-318) are available.
  • The kit supplies five grinding wheels, a diamond blade, two guards and a metal case worth roughly 25 to 55 dollars over the bare tool.
  • Owners describe Makita small grinders as light, smooth and long-lived, with some still running after two decades.

Weaknesses

  • 7.5 amp motor is on the low side of the current 4-1/2 in field, where 11 to 13 amp grinders are common.
  • No variable speed, no electric brake and no bind-up or kickback control are listed for this model.
  • Warranty is one year, shorter than the three years commonly attributed to Metabo in the same forum discussions.
  • Copy on the product page is partly boilerplate and even says “AC/DC slide switch,” although the spec table confirms a paddle switch.
  • No RTINGS, Wirecutter, Tom’s Guide, CNET or PCMag test of this exact model was found.
  • Owners report the switch, or its plastic actuator, as the recurring weak point on older small Makitas.

Verified specifications

Model9557PBX1 kit (UPC 088381-085847); base tool is the 9557PB (UPC 088381-063531); the 9557NB is the slide-switch sibling and a different model.
Region/electricalUS 120 V, corded.
Motor7.5 A, rated 11,000 RPM no-load speed.
Wheel diameter4-1/2 in.
Spindle thread5/8"-11 UNC.
Switchbody grip / paddle with lock-on and lock-off.
Variable speed dialno.
Bind-up controlno.
AC/DC switchyes, for alternative power sources such as generators.
Overall length10-3/4 in.
Net weight4.5 lb for the tool; shipped and packaged weights differ by listing.
Wire cup brush capacity3-1/2 in.
Soft startMakita and retailer copy say “with soft start for smooth start-ups.”
Rotatable gear housingcan be positioned every 90 degrees.
Constructionlabyrinth construction sealing motor and bearings, zig-zag varnish on the armature, thicker coil wires, all-ball-bearing design, metal gear housing.
Packaged dimensions6.1 in D x 11.38 in H x 15.47 in W; shipping weight 13.15 lb.
Cord lengthunresolved. McCoy’s lists 6 ft for the kit; Northern Tool and Acme list 8 ft for the 9557PB.
Country of originChina per one retailer spec table.
WarrantyMakita 1 Year, 30 Day.
Kit contents(1) 4-1/2 in diamond blade, turbo, general purpose (A-94552); (5) 4-1/2 in grinding wheels (A-95956); (1) 4-1/2 in wheel guard (125273-5); (1) 4-1/2 in cut-off wheel guard (135103-2); (1) lock nut (193465-4); (1) lock nut wrench (782422-3); (1) side handle (153489-2); (1) inner flange (224399-1); (1) metal case.
Full research notes and sources

Which model this is

This page covers the 9557PBX1 kit, which is the accessorized version of the long-running 9557PB base tool with identical motor, switch and gear case. The 9557NB is the near-identical slide-switch sibling and a different product. A related 2004-era manual covers an earlier 9557NB / 9558NB with 10-5/8 in length, 1.6 kg weight and 10,000 RPM; those older figures are not current data for the 9557PBX1. The Makita 4-1/2 in X-LOCK GA4570 uses a different spindle system and is not a replacement. Makita shows the 9557PBX1 as a current, orderable US product with no formal successor on its site. ASIN B0010DHFTK.

Power and dust sealing

The 7.5 amp motor is the honest trade: this is a compact general-purpose grinder, not a heavy-duty or precision tool. Makita’s labyrinth housing and zig-zag armature varnish are the cited durability differentiator in this class, and the compact 2-1/2 in barrel grip makes it easy to handle. The kit’s “premium” label in roundups comes from the accessory bundle, not from superior motor or safety hardware, and the soft-start language comes from Makita and retailer copy. The manufacturer page also contains an “11,000 RPM” line for the 9557PB and a slip calling the switch “slide,” which the spec table’s body-grip/paddle entry overrides.

Independent testing

No credible instrumented test of the exact Makita 9557PBX1 was found: no RTINGS, Wirecutter, Tom’s Guide, CNET or PCMag article tests this specific model.

Owner feedback

Owner and forum evidence is thin but consistent. Forum users describe Makita small grinders as light, well balanced and smooth running, with some owners reporting units from around 2001 still performing. Metabo is often preferred for grinders, cited as smoother and longer-lived, while Makita carries the higher-amp motor in one 7.5 amp comparison. Owners value the labyrinth and zig-zag dust sealing as a real durability feature. The recurring weak point is the switch: one owner reports a rocker switch dying after five years, another fabricator says the switch or its plastic actuator fails before brushes on small grinders, and one post notes mixed online sentiment with motors that fry immediately or last forever. Another report of a different Makita 4-1/2 in grinder failing almost immediately is a brand caution, not evidence about this model.

Repairability and warranty

Makita’s pages state a Makita 1 Year, 30 Day Warranty. The older 9557NB manual states a one-year warranty covering defective workmanship and material, returned freight prepaid. Brushes are user-serviceable on the family manual, which covers carbon-brush inspection and replacement and directs repairs to Makita authorized or factory service centers using Makita parts. Third parties sell cross-referenced carbon brushes (CB-325 / CB-318) for the 9557PB, iFixit hosts a parts page, and Makita publishes a parts breakdown. Armature, field and switch work remains internal service. Warranty is shorter than the three years commonly attributed to Metabo.

Is it worth it?

Third-party retailer snapshots include Pacific Power Tools at $124.00, City Mill at $124.99, Acme Tools at $124.00, Northern Tool at $144.99, Global Industrial at $149.95 for the Power Pack, Delta Diamond at $69.95 for the bare 9557PB and MaxTool at $99.00 for the slide-switch 9557NB sibling. The kit usually commands roughly 25 to 55 dollars over the bare tool, which is roughly the value of the five grinding wheels, diamond blade and case.

Against the verified spec set: roughly 100 dollars or less is good value for the bare 9557PB. 100 to 130 dollars for the kit is fair to good if the included wheels and diamond blade would otherwise be bought separately. 131 to 160 dollars is weak to fair, because at that level 11 to 13 amp competitors and variable-speed options become reachable and the 7.5 amp motor plus one-year warranty are harder to justify. Above 160 dollars, the tool is poor value unless the buyer specifically wants the Makita name and accessory bundle.

Sources

Manufacturer:

Independent reviews:

Owner reports:

Parts, stores and cross-references:

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