Tool-Free grinder question

[rpcraft]

I'm looking at purchasing a cordless angle grinder that is listed as a tool-free unit. Specifically, one of the Ridgid grinders, since I already have a Plethora of their 18 volt batteries. The model I am looking at closely is R86047. My question for anyone who may know is if you can still use threaded arbor items, like a flap disk or wire wheel cup with the tool-free arbor setup, or if you have to just switch over to the consumables that match the tool-free arbor 100% I posted the question on a facebook group and of course got a hundred mouth-breathers posting up on how they remove their wire wheel (on threaded units), which would be great if I was clueless and never used a grinder in my life. I just could not find one of these grinders locally to inspect or much info on them to better determine what changes to expect. I'm hoping here we have a better grade of forum members, and people who actually know will post, while those who do not will just follow the post if they are curious as well.

Thanks everyone!

 

[yatg]

looks like they use regular wheels and the clamp nut is tool free

 

[rkevins]

I have the rigid, everything is the same you just don't need a spanner wrench however if you use a disk that is deep I have to use plyers to hold the piece that flips up, I think you could use a spanner if you needed to.

 

[rpcraft]

Yeah I realized after a bit you an buy the tool free adapters on amazon. I just need to check the threads when i get home and see if it is metric or SAE. Thanks everyone!

 

[neophyte]

There are a few different versions of the “tool free” angle grinder design.

The tool free angle grinder design Fein used to make and sell could not use threaded accessories.

Metabo also made a version that used a special multi part flange, that threaded on, and may have ratchet locked similar to a keyless drill chuck.
The Metabo version may also have had slots milled into the threaded arbor, that mated with metal pieces in the female threaded part of the flange, although I’m not sure whether there was a functional reason for this, or whether it was just to prevent the ratcheting flange from being used on other grinders with the same arbor thread.
Jacobs at one point sold a ratcheting flange that I think worked similarly but without the blocking tabs which the Metabo had so the Jacobs version could be used on any grinder.
The Jacobs version has long since been discontinued, although Home Depot stocked it a decade or two ago.
The ratcheting version was larger in dimension compared to a regular threaded glange, so while functional, it wasn’t the best design.

The version on the Ridgid grinder you are looking at used a special threaded locking flange that has piece that swivels up do you can unthread the flange, by hand, but slso has hole so you can use a wrench to unthread it if necessary.
The pivoting flap stays flat thru centrifugal force.
I think Milwaukee may have been the first grinder manufacturer who offered that version, but am not completely sure, but the patent when I ran into it may have been held by someone in Taiwan or China and a manufacturer I was unfamiliar with.
Nowadays you seem to be able to get the flanges in 5/8-11 threads and M14 threads and maybe M10 as well.

 

[neophyte]

The Flange Jacobs sold looked like the one pictured labeled Dewalt.
I’m not sure what the thing in the Metabo flange that says Jacobs is with the three notches, maybe a different version of the Jacobs ratcheting design made for Metabo.
The Metabo version I recall as being proprietary was the version pictured with the bent metal prongs. I’ve seen the Metabo grinders with arbor slots that fit those metal prongs.
Dewalt may have used a version of that pronged ratcheting flange as well.
Other than the generic aftermarket Jacobs flange, and Metabo grinders sold in the US that used the flange, I believe most of these grinders were more or less Europe only.
The Milwaukee Fixtec “Tool Free Grinder Nut” looks a bit complicated, but I don’t think it is ratcheting.
The Generic “Superior Electric” version is available from Zoro, and may be from the exact same manufacturer as the Milwaukee. The Milwaukee version was only sold in Europe for years for some reason, and wasn’t available on US made or sold Milwaukee grinders. I’m not sure why, maybe patent issues with the Jacobs flange. The Fixtec versions seems to be a more compact simpler better design, and that is likely what is on the Ridgid grinder.

 

[rpcraft]

Yeah, I have the older Ridgid grinder and just traveling on business right now so not home to gauge the threads on it. I'll get home this weekend and order whichever it is. I added both of one size to my amazon cart so its as easy as deleting the one it isn't. I'm pretty sure it is going to be the 5/8 sized one though.

 

[neophyte]

Here’s a video showing dome of the different tool free grinder flange types.

 

[Paul_The_Builder]

The grinder will work with all regular attachments. Its a 5/8-11 threaded spindle. I'm not aware of any 120v grinder available in the US that has M14 threads, even the European or cheap Asian 120v grinders for sale here are 5/8-11.
For what its worth, I have that same style tool-less grinder nut on my cordless grinder (got the it on Amazon), and it works great, I love it.

 

[neophyte]

The grinder will work with all regular attachments. Its a 5/8-11 threaded spindle. I'm not aware of any 120v grinder available in the US that has M14 threads, even the European or cheap Asian 120v grinders for sale here are 5/8-11.
For what its worth, I have that same style tool-less grinder nut on my cordless grinder (got the it on Amazon), and it works great, I love it.

M14 grinders where, and probably still are, sold in the US by some manufacturers and dealers.
Admittedly, a brand like Ridgid Power Tools is highly unlikely to be a model with a metric threaded arbor, since the tools are sold thru Home Depot.
Asian made, and European made grinders with metric arbors in M14 or M10 were definitely sold in the USA, and in some cases may specifically be sold for the use of some metric specialty accessories.

 

[mogandave]

People actually use the wrenches that come with a disk-grinder?

I just push the button and turn the disk.

 

[tarbellb]

Every grinder is TOOL LESS



in fact I avoid those quick style retaining nuts, ive seen them jam up causing you to actually need a tool to remove it. go figure

 

[mogandave]

Every grinder is TOOL LESS



in fact I avoid those quick style retaining nuts, ive seen them jam up causing you to actually need a tool to remove it. go figure

And (per the instructions) you have to unplug the grinder to use the wrenches, which takes enemy longer.

 

[benny27]

I used the tool to remove the disk till recently. Now I use the palm of my hand and twist the disks off and on.