Bench Grinders

apatti · #1 07-01-2006, 10:21 PM

My Ryobi brand (Home Depot) bench grinder is dying after only 2 years or so of not so much use. Two questions:

1) Are they worth repairing? I have to give it a good spin or two before it will finally "catch" and slowly come up to speed. Do bench grinders have startup capacitors. Sounds like this could be my problem.

2) Assuming the answer to number 1 is a no, what brands/size are you running that you would recommend? Where did you buy it?

Thanks,

hevansrv7a · #2 07-02-2006, 06:36 AM

Harry Truman wanted to meet a one-handed economist (...on the other hand..). Now I will be guilty of same. Sorry, Harry.
My dad had a hardware store in a working class area near the Detroit auto plants. He sold Lufkin tools (the best at the time). He always told his customers only the rich can afford to buy cheap tools. They usually took his advice.
On the other hand, I have a Delta grinder that cost about $25 on sale and it's doing the job of occasional work in the RV shop. I've had it about 3 years. I would do it again.

PJSeipel · #3 07-02-2006, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apatti

My Ryobi brand (Home Depot) bench grinder is dying after only 2 years or so of not so much use. Two questions:

1) Are they worth repairing? I have to give it a good spin or two before it will finally "catch" and slowly come up to speed. Do bench grinders have startup capacitors. Sounds like this could be my problem.

2) Assuming the answer to number 1 is a no, what brands/size are you running that you would recommend? Where did you buy it?

Thanks,

I have two of the Harbor Freight $35 model, one with a lamp, one without. I prefer the one with the lamp, it works much better (stronger) than the one without even though the motors are rated the same. I do, however have to give the wheel a spin before I turn it on or it doesn't go. It's probably cheaper to buy a new one than to try and fix it.

PJ

RV_7A · #4 07-02-2006, 06:22 PM

Highly recommend...

Best motor for deburring with a 3M Scothcbrite wheel you can get for the money.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=40668

-Jeff

Adam Oke · #5 11-20-2008, 05:03 PM

Anyone else have any issues with the Ryobi Bench Grinder Model: BGH616 ?

It's on sale starting tomorrow for 3 days for $20 CAD at Home Depot.

For $20 I don't think you can go wrong, even if it breaks in 2 years. What do you think? Go for it?

Edit: Heck ... I just noticed it has a 2-year warranty.

Ironflight · #6 11-20-2008, 07:30 PM

I built my whole airplane using one of those little Ryobis - bought it in a pinch, figured it was cheap enough to replace when I needed a "real" one....still using it for everything 4.5 years later!

Paul

Adam Oke · #7 11-20-2008, 08:18 PM

Beauty! Just what I wanted to hear. Looks like I'll buy it tomorrow then. My Isham Kit is in the mail and I'm starting to take over the basement rec. room!

borislav · #8 11-20-2008, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adam Oke

Anyone else have any issues with the Ryobi Bench Grinder Model: BGH616 ?

I have the same one and it works fine. The problem is, all that stuff around the wheels really gets in the way. I removed the glass shields and work rests and flipped the lights to the back, but the metal guards are not removable and significantly limit access for deburring large or odd-shaped pieces on the scotch brite wheels.

I ended up putting the stone wheels back on the grinder and getting one of these for deburring:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=94393
Access is a million times better, and I wear safety glasses.

danielhv · #9 11-21-2008, 08:22 AM

For ~$50 you should just replace it and move on. Just my .02.

Pmerems · #10 11-21-2008, 09:05 AM

I have been using a "El cheapo" bench grinder for the last 25 years. It has been used to build 2 RV's and has failed on two occasions.

1. The push/pull on off switch stopped working. Solution: remove the switch, re-bend the contacts.

2. The grinder wouldn't start without spinning it first (made buzzing sound when turned on). The cause of was the centrifugal switch wasn't working. This switch disconnects the capacitor once the grinder is up to a certain RPM. The capacitor is only used during start-up of the motor.

Solution: Remove the side of the case and re-bend the contracts on the centrifugal switch. Takes about 5 minutes to perform this operation.

My bet is that your centrifugal switch contacts aren't working. Try to fix this yourself, if all else fails buy a new one.

I have a bought a replacement grinder just in case mine were to die on me after all these years. The new grinder has been sitting in its box for the past 8 years.

Good luck.