Makita 40V Max Angle Grinders: Does the 6-Inch GA036G Really Differ from the 5-Inch Models?

Introduction

If a 5-inch grinder feels a bit small for your work but a 7-inch model is more than you want to handle, Makita’s 40V Max XGT 6-inch angle grinder occupies that middle ground. The GA036G runs a 150mm (6-inch) wheel, and in most markets it is a rare size: between the ubiquitous 4-and-a-half and 5-inch grinders and the heavyweight 7 and 9-inch class, there simply are not many 6-inch options on shelves.

We spent time with three closely related models from Makita’s XGT line to see what actually separates them: the 6-inch GA036G paddle-switch grinder, the 5-inch GA005G slide-switch grinder, and the 5-inch GA013G paddle-switch grinder. The short answer: they are far more alike than you would expect, and the one difference that matters most is not the motor.

In the Box: What You Get with the GA036G

The GA036G ships with a grinding wheel already included, which is genuinely useful since 150mm grinding wheels are not something most people have lying around. Also included are a toolless change guard, a spanner for fitting and removing wheels, a TPE over-molded side handle (a step above the solid plastic handles bundled with cheaper tools), and the tool itself.

The guard is the same easy system used across Makita’s 4-and-a-half, 5, and 6-inch grinders: push the lever, press the guard down, rotate it to the position you want, and it locks into a series of detent holes so it stays exactly where you set it. The nut flange and spindle lock are conventional, no X-Lock system here.

One small frustration: the box includes a grinding wheel but no 6-inch cutting disc. That turns out to matter more than you might think, and we come back to it later. The side handle mounts on the left or right of the tool, with no top-mounting option.

Built on the Same Platform

Here is the interesting part. Both the 6-inch GA036G and the 5-inch models are rated at the same 8,500 rpm, and the bodies look and feel identical apart from a colour change: the 6-inch model has a nickel-chrome style finish, while the 5-inch models wear the lighter LXT-style painted aluminium grey. The locking pins differ slightly in colour and marking, and everything else, the spanners, the handles, the nut flanges, is the same.

The guards are fully interchangeable too. A 5-inch guard fits the 6-inch grinder and the 6-inch guard fits the 5-inch models. In side-by-side use there is no detectable difference in torque, speed, or grinding performance. The 6-inch model only looks slimmer because the bigger wheel changes the proportions.

Three Models, One Grinder

The three models differ mainly in switch style and wheel size. The GA005G is the 5-inch slide-switch version, with the switch on top of the body. The GA013G is the 5-inch paddle-switch (dead man switch) version, and the GA036G is the 6-inch paddle-switch. If you prefer a slide switch, the 6-inch equivalent exists as the GA035G, sold as the GAG07 in the United States, where the GA036G is sold as the GAG08.

Note also that this is a fairly basic grinder in Makita’s lineup: it does not include AWS (active response wireless connectivity) and there is no variable speed dial. It is a grinder, plain and simple. The spindle is M14, though buyers in the United States will likely see a 5/8-inch spindle instead.

The Accessories Problem

The bigger wheel is genuinely easier to work with. A 6-inch grinding wheel gives you more leverage, and it is possible to undo the flange by hand without reaching for the spanner, which the 5-inch wheels do not allow so easily.

But there is a catch that undercuts the whole size argument in many markets: 150mm (6-inch) cut-off discs are surprisingly hard to find. In some regions they are almost impossible to source locally, and Makita itself sells the 6-inch grinding wheels but not the matching cut-off wheels. That means if you buy the 6-inch grinder, you may well end up running 5-inch cut-off discs with the larger guard fitted, which adds bulk without adding capacity. It is an odd gap in the ecosystem, and hopefully one Makita will close.

The practical upshot: because the guards and wheels are interchangeable across all three tools, you can run anything from a 4-and-a-half-inch wheel up to a 6-inch wheel on any of them. They really are, for all practical purposes, the same grinder.

Which One Should You Buy?

If you mostly grind with grinding wheels and want the extra contact area and easier by-hand wheel changes, the GA036G’s included 6-inch guard and grinding wheel make it the sensible pick. The bigger disc is a real comfort advantage on longer grinding sessions.

If your work is dominated by cutting with cut-off discs, the 5-inch GA005G or GA013G make more sense right now, simply because 5-inch cut-off discs are available everywhere. Choose the paddle switch (GA013G) if you prefer a dead man switch for safety, or the slide switch (GA005G) if you like a locked-on style workflow. Since the motors, bodies, and rpm ratings are identical, the deciding factors are wheel size availability and switch preference, nothing else.

Conclusion

Makita’s XGT 6-inch angle grinder is a good tool, but so are its 5-inch siblings, and the honest conclusion is that they are all essentially the same grinder with different guards and switch styles. No torque difference, no speed difference, no performance gap. If the 6-inch wheel size fits your work and cut-off discs are available where you live, the GA036G earns its place. Otherwise, the 5-inch models remain the safer, better-supported choice, with the option to fit a 6-inch guard and wheel later if the need arises.