Rigid 4 1/2 Grinder --Home Depot

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I bought the Rigid R-1000 4 1/2" grinder at Home Depot today  (supposedly made by Metabo?  It IS made in Germany!).Got home and took it out of the carton, opened the case and everything was there, but on closer look before putting on a grinding wheel I saw a lot of white dust (concrete) around the arbor and motor openings and switch.  It was obviously used, but sold as new.  The power cord and remainder of the contents were clean and intact.I returned it with no hassle, and got a really new one (?or reconditioned very well?).  I opened it in the store before checking out.  This is the first time I   puchased any power tool at Home Depot--and if it wasn't for this particular tool only available there, with a "Lifetime Guarantee", I probably would have just taken my refund.  I guess the moral is :  Open the box and check out the machinery you buy at Home Depot before taking it to the cash register.
Reply:OOps-- I mispelled the Brand name:  The grinder is really a RIDGID tool.
Reply:The reason it is only available at Home Depot is because it is a store brand type of item. That's why they have specials all the time like free batteries for lifetime, lifetime warranty and such. I found that out the hard way too. I bought a tool at Lowe's Home Improvement that was a......oh what was it......Troybilt! Yeah, a Troybilt Weed trimmer. When I needed parts it was insane. I ended up ordering parts online from another company that just happened to use the same cheap imported carbueretors. I just needed the little clear priming bulb. They were like 60 cents. But from troybilt, you had to order the entire carb at like 50 bucks. Good score on the grinder. If you are like most of us, it will work for a long time, but eventually, you WILL use that warranty. I am still waiting to use my warranty on my Milwaukee....it just keeps going and going and going.
Reply:Ridgid isn't a house brand?  They are a very well respected company when it comes to pipe and tubing tools as well as vises.
Reply:Ridgid has been around the industry for many years...Somebody is confused here!  I weld just to keep my snow plows ready for next Winter!
Reply:Rigid used to only make tools for the plumbing industry. Pipe threaders, pipe vises and pipe wrenches were their mainstays.  Recently the have branched out into other areas but I suspect their other tools are rebadged from another vendor.DennisThermal Arc 185-TSWMillermatic Challenger 172VictorO/AAtlas Craftsman 12 by 24 LatheEsab PCM-875Wholesalem Tool Mill-Drill
Reply:Originally Posted by Tailshaft56Rigid used to only make tools for the plumbing industry. Pipe threaders, pipe vises and pipe wrenches were their mainstays.  Recently the have branched out into other areas but I suspect their other tools are rebadged from another vendor.
Reply:It's getting sad to see everybody, and I mean EVERYBODY, go to lower quality components and low end models that use a top end name.  It's getting to the point where we should just buy everything from Harbor Freight because at least there you know what you are getting!I weld just to keep my snow plows ready for next Winter!
Reply:When did Metabo become a lower quality component, or were you referring to the Milwaukee thing?If there weren't a market for cheap tools, then these companies wouldn't produce them.  Brand name means very little these days in terms of quality.-Heath
Reply:Metabo shouldn't be rebagging, and since they are offering it under a lesser name (thus at a lesser price) I am sure it is probably a lesser quality machine than an original metabo...  they should only produce top notch stuff and remain the king...it's good to be the King!I weld just to keep my snow plows ready for next Winter!
Reply:Here is the scoop on the Rigid/Metabo deal...directly from a Metabo repair shop. The Rigids are made by Metabo...to Home Depot's specs..not Metabo's. Big difference. Metabo will not warranty them, nor will their service people work on them. That was the deal as of summer last year...it could have changed. He did say that the quality was as good as most out there, just not as good as Metabo's. Metabo makes tools for quite a few names you will all recognize. Hilti being one of the better recognized names. They apparently will build tools for anyone to their specs, just as long as they don't have to warranty them. Bottom line is....if you want the best quality, buy Metabo.....if you want it just as good as everyone else, Rigid is fine.  From what I have heard, they seem to be ok to good grinders. Some keep them a long time and kick the crap outta them and they keep on running. Some go through them in six months or so. I would maybe try one if I had the need. FWIW, my 5" Metabo is pushing 17 years old now and it is still as strong as when I got it.
Reply:I wonder.  I've got one of the Ridgids and the only real difference that I've noticed is that it doesn't have the tool-less wheel changing business that the Metabo has.  From what I've heard, a lot of folks with Metabos retrofit the regular wheel attachment business.  I should get one of the Metabos and dissect it side-by-side with the Ridgid to see if there is truly any difference.  I doubt it.I also wonder who makes Ridgid's chop saw.  I got one of those recently and I'm quite fond of it.-Heath
Reply:Ridgid and Ryobi are the same, it is a German company, with most products made in China.  Almost all of the tools on the market now are built with chinese motors.  There are only a few makers of tools out there with many "different" brands being owned by a larger parent company.  The Ridgid may be assembled in Germany but the components are mostly chinese.  I have owned numerous ridgid and ryobi and never had a problem.  I own a remodeling business and use mostly ridgid and ryobi power tools and never had any problems.  Not even after dropping an 18v drill 14' to a hard surface.
Reply:Originally Posted by sail2uI bought the Rigid R-1000 4 1/2" grinder at Home Depot today  (supposedly made by Metabo?  It IS made in Germany!).Got home and took it out of the carton, opened the case and everything was there, but on closer look before putting on a grinding wheel I saw a lot of white dust (concrete) around the arbor and motor openings and switch.  It was obviously used, but sold as new.  The power cord and remainder of the contents were clean and intact.I returned it with no hassle, and got a really new one (?or reconditioned very well?).  I opened it in the store before checking out.  This is the first time I   puchased any power tool at Home Depot--and if it wasn't for this particular tool only available there, with a "Lifetime Guarantee", I probably would have just taken my refund.  I guess the moral is :  Open the box and check out the machinery you buy at Home Depot before taking it to the cash register.
Reply:I have a large pile of Ridgid woodworking tools, as woodworking is where my specialty really is. They are a excellent brand for a home woodworker that wants better quality tools then the cheap crap, but can't afford to jump up into the pro range.My Ridgid tools have served me well. Paul Thompson