Ridgid R1000 @ Home Depot (Metabo W7-115)

[abrogate]

So lately I have been reading up more and more about Metabo tools and I was in the market for a new 4 1/2" grinder. I came across a thread or two on PBB that mentioned Metabo and their quality. And we all know how that translates in the end. $$$ While their products arent outrageously priced, they are definitely higher than the majority, if not all, of the other like-equipped tools.

As I read more on the tools, it turns out that Ridgid has a certain grinder (R1000) out that is suspiciously close to the Metabo W7-115. In fact, the color and name plate are the only major differences. And just like others have pointed out, it is made in Germany, just like the Metabo. Others have "confirmed" that Metabo produces this grinder for Ridgid and I felt as though for the price difference (~$30) the R1000 would be worth a shot, right?

To the point:

I was at Home Depot three nights ago and saw that they carried the R1000. This particular store didnt have a display for it, but did have an empty slot on the shelf for its box and SKU. I couldn't find anyone to help me find one instore so I left and checked their website, homedepot.com. They had it in stock, $89.95, free shipping. I called the store up to see if the free shipping was to my house or their store, and their answer was the question "Uhh, what is it that you are looking for?" So, I told them, they did a little magic and what do you know, it has been discontinued..... but they had one instore!!! AND they couldnt find it.

My GF was going to order it online today for my birthday, but conveniently forgot... and i just so happened to be back at Home Depot today (6/7/06) wandering around and came across a clearance table in the tools section. BINGO. There it was, $59.00.

So, if you forgot what I am rambling on about.... they have the Ridgid R1000 on clearance for $59.00. Thats 50% off the Metabo price.

end

dave

[Bruce T]

I used to work for Ridgid and it IS made for them by Metabo. It says so too on one of the box corners that its made in Germany, by metabo for ridgid. I did not know it was going on clearance though (I no longer work for Ridgid). They must be tired of carrying quality tools again.

[D60]

Originally Posted by abrogate

So, I told them, they did a little magic and what do you know, it has been discontinued..... but they had one instore!!! AND they couldnt find it.

This is EXTREMELY common at my local store. They regularly claim to have things in stock when I ask them to look up the SKU, but they can never actually physically find it.

[Gummi Bear]

I'll never own, or use another Metabo tool. Torqueless fucking wonders.

I had 2 of their 'heavy-duty' 1/2" drill/hammer drills, and neither one was worth a damn. One of them couldn't drill through 12ga mild steel without stopping, it got too hot.

One was smashed with a sledgehammer, the other wound up in a lake. Went and bought a Milwaukee for the same price I gave for the metabo's, and it's still working strong 10 years later.

[Gummi Bear]

Originally Posted by D60

This is EXTREMELY common at my local store. They regularly claim to have things in stock when I ask them to look up the SKU, but they can never actually physically find it.

The people that do the stocking in the local Home Depot stores are subcontractors around here. They will put shit in random places, and a product can be lost for months before turning up in a completely different part of the store.

Happens at the store by my house all the time too, much to the chagrin of the people that work there. I'm in there so much, that the guys in the electrical department look for me, and ask me for advice. I really should start charging those guys.

[abrogate]

Gummi, I havent read too many complaints about their grinders ( aside from price) so hopefully I will have a different experience than you. I have had an array of Makita tools, most of seem to wear quickly. Although, I do have one particular Makita 4" mini grinder (Why 4" is mini and 4.5" isnt is beyond me, but like they say "every inch counts") that has been a staple in nearly all the fabrication that I have done up until now. Its probably more than 10 years old. Ironically, people say that the Makita angle grinders are shit and not worthy.

In the end, I feel that for the most part... its all in how you use and abuse your tools.

Has anyone else come across this yet (R1000 clearanced)?

Dave

[D60]

Originally Posted by abrogate

Has anyone else come across this yet (R1000 clearanced)?

No. I just checked my local store 15 minutes ago. It was still priced at $89.97 or something on the shelf. I didnt' see any in stock, but that doesn't mean anything. No clearance tables.

[cebby]

I bought one for the long price a while ago. Nice grinder, but it's a real tank.

[D60]

Just stumbled across one in my HD, $54 but missing both arbor nuts. The outer locknut is no problem since all the threads are standardized (5/8-11 I believe) but the inner nut which would sit under the disc seems more proprietary to specific manufacturer.

Care to see if any other nuts are interchangeable w your Ridgid? I have some spares from cheap HF grinders that may or may not work. If I can't find any that fit it's not even worth the $54. I'm gonna take a couple into the store tomorrow, but I'm not holding my breath.

All the chimp could say was "it was our display model"

[abrogate]

D60, Since mie was a display model also, it was missing both arbor nuts. I called up the local metabo dealer and he gave me them for damn near free. since its made by metabo, it uses the same arbor nuts, both the spanner type and the no tool type.

dave

[D60]

This morning I took the nuts from a HF grinder, one of the really cheap blue Drill Master units. Seem to fit fine, and the flats on the lower nut line up. So I picked it up for $54.

If you have a grinder that you keep a wire cup brush on you don't use the nuts so you'll have spares lying around anyway. That was my case.

[DRM]

Originally Posted by Gummi Bear

One was smashed with a sledgehammer, the other wound up in a lake. Went and bought a Milwaukee for the same price I gave for the metabo's, and it's still working strong 10 years later.

Personally, I pretty much discount anyone stupid enough to throw expensive tools in a lake, or smash them with sledgehammers.

[FJ40|RUNNER]

I just killed another HF grinder yesterday and finally decided to find a GOOD grinder. Of course my first step was to search the tool section of the pbb , and I found a lot of varying opinions, but that metabo was "it". Then I found this thread and thought I would drop by my home depot hoping they would have some.

THEY DID! Thanks so much for posting about this, I felt like I had won the lottery by leaving with my new rebadged metabo grinder for only $58 . I saw only one left, and the first home depot I went to didnt have any, and didnt seem like they'd give you the floor model.

Thanks again!

oh also, after using it, it put my hf grinders and the dewalts that Ive used at my school to shame.

[JTMcC]

i bought two of those Ridgid 1000's when they first came out and both of them failed miserably. The first one just quite running after about a month, the second one still runs, but it runs very hot and throws grease out of the joint in the gearcase if you use it normally.We own a welding company so our grinders see commercial use, but not abuse. We've had great service for years and years out of the Dewalt 402's, and the older Millwaukee's but I wouldn't pay $20 for one of those Ridgid's.

JTMcC.

[FJ40|RUNNER]

hahaha........uh oh .

[Travis Waldher]

Originally Posted by D60

This is EXTREMELY common at my local store. They regularly claim to have things in stock when I ask them to look up the SKU, but they can never actually physically find it.

I took HD for a chunk of change when they advertised an air condition on their website, I grabbed the SKU, went in story, they coudlnt' find it. They ended up selling me the next one up that they did have in store - cost them about $60 or so IIRC.

But that's when I found out that their online SKU database and their in store one ARE DIFFERENT DATABASES AND DO NOT MATCH.

So don't be suprised when you find a SKU on their website and they can't find it in store. It's HD corporate or IT that are the idiots.

[Pook]

I have had good luck with the cheap black and decker orange grinders form homedepot, much better than the harbour freight ones.

I have had makita and metabo grinders... I use the metabo with 5" cut offs and the others for sanding and grinding disks.

[D60]

Originally Posted by JTMcC

i bought two of those Ridgid 1000's when they first came out and both of them failed miserably. The first one just quite running after about a month, the second one still runs, but it runs very hot and throws grease out of the joint in the gearcase if you use it normally.We own a welding company so our grinders see commercial use, but not abuse. We've had great service for years and years out of the Dewalt 402's, and the older Millwaukee's but I wouldn't pay $20 for one of those Ridgid's.

JTMcC.

That's interesting. I'm curious to see how this Ridgid/Metabo holds up. I've got so many 4.5" grinders with different wheels on them it's not a big issue if one dies. So far I've gotten the best service out of my Milwaukee.

I'd like to pick up a Bosch next to see what I think of it, hopefully I can do that next week at the local Fastenal's sale.

[DrMaserati]

Originally Posted by D60

I'd like to pick up a Bosch next to see what I think of it, hopefully I can do that next week at the local Fastenal's sale.

I've had a Bosch for at least 25 years, and it has been great. Plenty of power and just keeps on going. Kinda like a Timex. It's still my primary grinder.

BUT!!! . . . . . The arbor threads are not the standard 5/8-11 found on just about every other grinder in the world. So none of the nuts or cup brushes or any other accessories with a 5/8-11 thread will fit.

Are the Bosch grinders sold today 5/8-11? I have no idea, but you would be wise to check before buying. I would hope they've decided to use what everyone is using.

[JTMcC]

Originally Posted by D60

That's interesting. I'm curious to see how this Ridgid/Metabo holds up. I've got so many 4.5" grinders with different wheels on them it's not a big issue if one dies. So far I've gotten the best service out of my Milwaukee.

I'd like to pick up a Bosch next to see what I think of it, hopefully I can do that next week at the local Fastenal's sale.

Well it's only two grinders, and there's a million of them out there so maybe everyone will have better luck than me with them.


JTMcC.

[RichardS]

Thanks Dave for starting this thread... went by my local HD today and they only had the display grinder left, they sold it to me for $23.66

[Strictly Gravy]

I have a Metabo grinder and love it!!!!! I have had it for over 3 years now. I got it as a present from a metal shop I was working for that closed its doors. It saw about 9 months getting ABUSED in that shop, and my friends and I have put it through some tough use. I actually used it with the metabo cut-off wheel on tuesday night to make about a 20" cut through 1/2" plate, and it didnt falter once. I absolutely love this grinder and if it ever breaks, I will happily fork out the $ for another one. Most reliable power tool I have ever had.

-Greg