A handheld grinder includes an elongated housing, an electric motor, an output shaft, a wall, a planar circuit board, and a motor drive circuit. The elongated housing defines a cavity therein and includes a motor case disposed at a front end and a handle portion to a rear end. The electric motor has a drive shaft that is mounted within the motor case. The output shaft is drivably coupled to the drive shaft of the electric motor. The wall separates the cavity between the motor case and the handle portion of the housing. The planar circuit board disposed in the handle portion of the housing. The motor drive circuit is accommodated entirely within the handle portion of the housing on the planar circuit board.