So are Ryobi bench grinders disposable?

[rlitman]

I went to Home Depot today, and on my shopping list was a new wheel for my 6" bench grinder.

It seems that HD is happy to sell someone a 6" Ryobi bench grinder (not the brand I own, just what they sell), but the only bench grinder wheels they have for sale in the store are the ones on the grinder. If you want a replacement, it's a special order.

Apparently they expect you to buy a new grinder before you wear the wheels out?

 

[retrobuilder]

Just go to the other big blue store around the corner or Mcmaster carr or msc direct.

Ryobi is a unit of Tectonics and a China based tool company. They also build (or did) Homelite tools purchased from Deere. HD may have a partnered interest with Ryobi now?

 

[Conductor562]

I've got an 8" Ryobi. It does a good job but I do wish I'd have bought something variable speed like the Porter Cable.

 

[kythri]

I went to Home Depot today, and on my shopping list was a new wheel for my 6" bench grinder.

It seems that HD is happy to sell someone a 6" Ryobi bench grinder (not the brand I own, just what they sell), but the only bench grinder wheels they have for sale in the store are the ones on the grinder. If you want a replacement, it's a special order.

Apparently they expect you to buy a new grinder before you wear the wheels out?

I'll have to check my store, but I'm pretty sure that I bought 6" DeWalt wheels there, semi-recently. They were hanging on the wall, well away from the grinders themselves.

Website shows that the two nearest me have an "Avanti Pro" 6" and 8" wheel in store. Not much of a selection...

 

[thinmac]

For grinding wheels, flap wheels, wire wheels, and so on in any diameter, I always go to a welding supply store. The stuff they have is usually no more expensive than the home improvement stores, and pretty much always lasts longer. This seems to be true even for grinding wheels of the same hardness. They'll also have more options, like both flat and conical flap wheels in each grit and grinding wheels for different metals. Grainger might be a good option if you don't have a local welding supply.

Stuff like grinding wheels over 4.5" is getting well out of the usual market for Home Depot. That means that A) they won't have much, and B) what they have won't be all that good.

 

[lotsoftools]

Many people probably don't use their bench grinder enough to ever need to replace the wheel.

 

[rlitman]

Many people probably don't use their bench grinder enough to ever need to replace the wheel.

That's what the guy in the tool aisle said after he spent some time trying to find a wheel on the computer. That got me my laugh for the day.

I've just got to go back to Ace. The wheel I was replacing was a Norton from there. There's no way I'm buying Dewalt abrasives. That's only one step better than HF.

 

[gsmornot]

Many people probably don't use their bench grinder enough to ever need to replace the wheel.

I am one of those. I think the wheels on my grinder will be good for 10+ years. I use the wire wheel more than the stone.

 

[Stuart in MN]

According to the Home Depot website they have a number of grinding wheels available.

 

[venturesomerite]

I've had the same ryobi 6" grinder for about 10 years. Use the piss out of it. I was able to use a wire wheel on one side with a bunch of washers. I use non ryobi wheels also with one or two washers, no problems ever.

What weird is a also have a 8" HF bench grinder, and I STRONGLY prefer the ryobi.

 

[kythri]

According to the Home Depot website they have a number of grinding wheels available.

For online purchase, yes. I saw the same thing.

However, when I selected the "in store" tab, it dropped to one 6" wheel.

 

[rsanter]

My home depo has the grinding wheels in stock....
Perhaps the home depo near you they just were not selling

Bob

 

[SignedUpJustToSeeThePics]

Man you've just hit on one of my biggest issues with Home depot; their inventory is pretty deplorable.

First it seems as if they have been making a huge push into Ryobi Territory over the past year or two; replacing much of the Dewalt, PC, Ridgid stuff with Ryobi. I've never been happy with a single Ryobi branded item I have purchased.

Second; you can buy the tool but you are hard-pressed to buy any of the attachments. need a band-saw blade or Tire? Sorry, SOL. Need an arbor nut for your grinder, Sorry again; grinding wheels? nope...

It's really shocking how large their tool/hardware isle is and how little inventory they actually carry.

Hardware too; their inventory ***** and they are moving to that plastic convenience pack for nuts and bolts which is only convenient for them as they gouge you on the price and screw you on the selection.

Really most of their isles are like this; want pain or stain; well they have Minwax and Rustoleum but only the most popular colors; but they will have 10 cases of each taking up all that shelf space.

I swear they have some MBA type running inventory over at corporate that is slowly whittling down their stock to that 20% of inventory that accounts for 80% of the sales. Whom I am sure has never really worked at a hardware store and fails to realize that the depth of inventory is hugely critical to keep people in the trades coming into their store.

I am fortunate to have a local hardware that in 1/10th the space carries probably more items than HD; nuts and bolts in every imaginable size; really it's a pleasure to wander their store and marvel at the inventory they carry. Unfortunately, they keep bankers hours and are a good 20m drive away, so I am still stuck running to Home Depot for the last minute purchase...

 

[rlitman]

The hard plastic convenience packs on hardware aren't that awful a price unless you're prepared to buy by the gross or pound. Those stupid bagged part prices truly bend you over though.

Your MBA comment is spot on, but at least they bother to keep the shelves filled lately.
A number of years ago (back when Lowes was just entering the market around here, and HD was strapped for cash), the HD's around me were getting pretty threadbare.
I recall one time when my shopping list consisted of 2x4's and 5 minute epoxy, and I had to return home empty handed because they had neither in stock at the moment.

 

[scaron]

i like home depot mostly because i can go there and get klein stuff right off the shelf... but each store has its pluses and minuses. in general, i find home depot better for hand tools, but lowes is way better for power tools.

 

[crewchief888]

Many people probably don't use their bench grinder enough to ever need to replace the wheel.

^^^ this


bench grinder is posibly the most unused powertool i have.

only time i use it is to resharpen an occasional drill bit.

 

[joshmodelskidoo]

go to the local hardware store. i like ryobi myself, never had an issue but i know theres better out there

 

[precisiontech]

I reorder mine from Mcmaster Carr when needed. I don't believe it mentions it but I always get a Norton wheel.

 

[kkroger]

They have AVANTI brand that says it is available in my store, they also list Lincoln Welding Brand... but not in store.

Go to that item, on the website, put in your zipcode for your store and see if it is in stock.


Item number

Avanti Pro 6 X 3/4 X 1 Bench Grinding Wheel



Model # PBW060075A01F

Internet # 202831071

Store SKU # 315011

 

[silentpoet]

Don't much care for my ryobi cordless drill. Best thing is it came with two batteries. Worst is its power, but I didn't have money at the time to buy a big one.

 

[MichaelBikel]

The older I get, the more I realize home depot is sub par. They pretty much never have what I need in stock, and if they do its usually ****. Buying wood from HD is a joke, I stopped that probably a year or two ago... I did actually buy my first table saw (ryobi) from them which worked well for me as a beginner and had limited cash. Honestly McMaster Carr has been great for me lately, not so great on the wallet though.

 

[CJM8515]

The older I get, the more I realize home depot is sub par. They pretty much never have what I need in stock, and if they do its usually ****. Buying wood from HD is a joke, I stopped that probably a year or two ago... I did actually buy my first table saw (ryobi) from them which worked well for me as a beginner and had limited cash. Honestly McMaster Carr has been great for me lately, not so great on the wallet though.

Really depends on which one you go to. Im not sure what dictates what the stores get. The local store is crappy with poor selection, go 10 miles north or south to the other ones and its 10x better.

 

[notlob]

In my experience, everything Ryobi makes is disposable. Never again, especially any of their gas powered yard equipment.