RYOBI RIGHT ANGLE DIE GRINDER USES

With so many different attachments, a right angle die grinder is one of the most versatile tools for DIYers.

Ryobi Right Angle Die Grinder Uses

When we started DIYing in the garage, I never thought to buy a right-angle die grinder. But after seeing multiple automotive restoration videos with someone using a right angle die grinder, I knew we were missing out.

A right angle die grinder can be used for much more than what it was specifically made for. Here’s the top list of accessories we’ll be covering besides die grinding:

  1. Cut Off Wheel Arbor and Cut Off Wheels

  2. Wire Wheels

  3. Twist and Lock Sanding Pad and Hook/Loop Sanding Pads

  4. Paint and Rust Stripping Disks

  5. Decal Remover

Right Angle Die Grinder Uses

Right Angle Die Grinder Uses

1. CUT OFF WHEEL

When you start working on cars, especially sheet metal its tough to cut inside tight spaces with an angle grinder due to its larger size.

Ryobi Right Angle Die Grinder with 3 inch cut off wheel

Ryobi Right Angle Die Grinder With Cutoff Wheel

So the first thing we started using our right angle die grinder for was cutting. Get a cutoff wheel arbor with the right shank size that matches your right angle die grinder.

The Ryobi uses a 1/4” arbor size. Then we grabbed some 3 inch cutoff wheels and went to town. Just make sure you wear all the right protective gear.

The only downside is right angle die grinders don’t have an included guard. Make sure you wear all the right protective gear and follow your tool and accessory directions.


2. WIRE WHEEL

The second use for your right angle die grinder is wire wheels. They do a great job getting rid of old automotive seam sealer. You can also make light work of metal prep. And they’re great for knocking flux welding spatter right off sheet metal.

Wire Wheel on right angle die grinder

Right Angle Die Grinder Wire Wheel

The 1/4” arbor-size wire wheel packs are also super affordable. If you use them for lighter work, they seem to last pretty long too.

Just watch out for individual wires that might come loose as your working with your metal.


3. SANDING DISK

Hook and loop sanding pad on right angle die grinder

Hook and loop sanding pad

Next up is the sanding disk. They come in two types. The first option is a hook-and-loop style sanding pad similar to Velcro. The downside of using hook and loop is the pads tend to slip loose at higher speeds. This is what makes the twist and lock work a bit better.

The second option is the twist-lock sanding pad style. A twist-lock backing pad with a 1/4 arbor size allows you to twist and lock sanding pads onto the backing pad.

We like to use hook and loop because you can buy larger 6-inch sanding pads that can be cut down to use on your right-angle die grinder.


4. PAINT & RUST STRIPPING WHEEL

If you have rust or paint to remove and don’t want to start eating into a bunch of metal then you’ll want to get some paint and rust stripping wheels.

paint and rust right angle die grinder stripping wheel

Paint & Rust Stripper

They feel like coral reef rock, but aren’t super abrasive. This makes them great for removing surface rust. With a less abrasive surface, the stripping wheel will wear down fast if you sand beyond paint and rust.


5. DECAL REMOVER

Don’t you hate cars that have those dealer decals on them? That’s the first thing that needs to go and a decal remover wheel does just that.

Right Angle Die Grinder Decal Remover Use

Decal Remover

They are made from a rubber compound that easily removes lettering decals, graphics, old tape, or bumper stickers.


WHICH RIGHT ANGLE DIE GRINDER?

We chose the Ryobi right-angle die grinder because we have many other cordless Ryobi Tools.

We understand not everyone is a Ryobi fan.

So here’s a comparison between the Ryobi 18V ONE+ HP 1/4" Right Angle Die Grinder and the Milwaukee M12 FUEL™ 1/4" Right Angle Die Grinder:

Right Angle Die Grinder Ryobi Milwaukee
Model PSBDG01B 2485-20
Price
(no battery)
Avg. $149 Avg. $219
Motor Brushless 18V Brushless 12V
Max RPM 22,000 RPM 24,500 RPM
Speed Ctrl. 4 Speeds 4 Speeds
Weight
(no battery)
1.5 lbs. 1.2 lbs.
Battery 1.5 - 12 AH 2 - 6 AH
Warranty 3 Yr. Limited 5 Yr. Limited

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Javier Solis

Hi, my name is Javier Solis. I've held various IT positions in the last 25 years including work in Higher Education and as a former tower climber. I'm now a Sr. Product Manager at Extreme Networks who gets to build stuff. I'm also married to a wonder wife and have two awesome kids. Questions and comments are ALWAYS welcome.

https://www.allaboutthebuild.com
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BEST SHEET METAL BRAKE FOR AUTOMOTIVE BEGINNERS