Loose cutting wheel on Ryobi angle grinder?

[dpal]

I just bought the Ryobi 4.5" angle grinder kit from HD. I want to put a standard 1/16" cutting wheel on the arbor but when I tighten the nut it still leaves the wheel loose because it's very thin.

A simple solution might be to add a few fender washers to make up the difference, but this seems like a design oversight unless I'm missing something.

Any ideas?

David

[crokett]

Can you turn the nut over? I have a dewalt grinder with the same issue. One side of the arbor nut has a flange that fits in the hole in the cutting wheel. I turn the nut over to the flat side when I use thin cutting wheels.

[newood2]

Hope this help, as crockett said.



Howie

[movnup]

I have the ryobi ... crokett's answer is spot on!!! I learned that you'll spin the cheap washer off in the center if it's not mounted perfectly and be left with a new cutting blade and an oblong hole. You can hand spin it after it's tightened to check and also double check when it's turned on to make sure it runs true.

Piece of cake but it'll save you a trip to the Borg/Lowes for a $1.50 part. I use mine quite a bit and it works really well but it goes through blades pretty quickly so I just buy two at a pop and make sure it's set up right.

[dpal]

So here's the response from Ryobi:

"We can not recommend attaching a cut off blade of any type to an angle grinder. It is only designed for grinding, sanding, or wire brushing. Use for any other purpose is not recommended and creates a hazard which could result in serious injury."

Office workers ...

The problem I'm having is that the bottom arbor washer has a 5/8" flange onto which the grinder wheels fit. That flange is just slightly thicker than the cutting wheel itself, so not matter how much I tighten the top washer there's still a sliver of space that allows the wheel to spin freely.

Thanks for your suggestions, but I'll have to give the fender washers a try.

[Tom Slick]

there is a special arbor that will allow you to use extra thin (type 1) flat cutting wheels. you need a standard 5/8-11 arbor.
try a type 27 cutting disc, they have a depressed center and might be a little thicker or even have the nut built onto it.
you're local welding supply shoule have more options.

[meanjean]

loose cutting wheel on ryobi angle grinder

Im posting this in regard to a previous very old post from 2007 about a loose cutting wheel on a Ryobi angle grinder. I have the same problem with a loose blade and wondered if anyone found a fix for it that worked? Also can anyone tell me what the problem is with using a cutting blafe on an angle grinder? I know its not recommended but cant find the reason. There are tools made that seem to have the same function. I thought maybe it needed an attachment to allow the use of a cutting wheel? Thanks for whatever help or suggestions anyone can offer.

[dbhost]

I don't know about the Ryobi, but I have a B&D Angle grinder that I have just recently used for a cutoff tool using the HF cutoff wheels...

In order to make the wheel fit, and lock down tightly, the arbor nut needed to be flipped around so that the flange part that normally rides in the inside ring of the grinding wheel, is facing outward. Try that and let us know if your Ryobi works the same way!

[meanjean]

loose cutting wheel on ryobi angle grinder

Yes I thought that and tried it but didnt work, the wheel was still loose. I know using cutting blades on a grinding wheel isnt recommended but also know everyone does. Maybe thats why its made that way? All I want to do is cut some stucco to install a window. It shouldnt be a problem although I dont have any experience with one, I have friends that do. Thanks for the suggestion. Im open for any more.

[dbhost]

What model is your Ryobi? Prior posters here say they are using a Ryobi doing the same I do on my B&D and it works...

Maybe something unique to your model...

FWIW, I am kind of amazed I didn't send my B&D to the grinder graveyard after the hard workout I gave it...

[Black wallnut]

V-A at one time sold cut-off wheels that correctly fit on the 4.5" angle grinders. These have a thick arbor washer built-in and are cupped slightly like a grinding disc but are thinner. Using a grinder outside its designed application seems needlessly risky! Why not just buy or rent the correct tool for the job.

[Bill in Buena Park]

I'd make sure the grinder RPM doesn't exceed the cutoff wheel max RPM, but this should be a rare occurrence...