Ryobi HBG620 Grinder: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
A 6 in bench grinder and stand from Ryobi's corded range. Retired, and for woodworking the replacement should be a slow-speed machine.
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The HBG620 was a 6 in bench grinder, usually sold with the matching HBGSP1 stand, in Ryobi’s corded range. It is discontinued along with most of that range.
If you are replacing it for woodworking, do not buy the same thing again. There are two changes worth making.
Slow speed, not high speed
A standard bench grinder runs around 3,450 rpm. That is fine for grinding steel and terrible for tool edges: it generates heat faster than a thin edge can shed it, and an overheated edge turns blue and loses its temper. Once that happens the tool will not hold an edge until you grind past the damaged steel.
A slow-speed grinder runs around 1,750 rpm. It removes metal more gently and gives you a chance to notice heat before it does damage. For chisels, plane irons and turning tools this is the single most important specification.
The wheels matter as much as the machine
Grinders ship with grey silicon carbide wheels that are hard, load up quickly and run hot. Replacing them with friable white or blue aluminium oxide wheels transforms a cheap grinder: the abrasive breaks down as it works, constantly exposing fresh grit and cutting cool.
Budget for wheels as part of the purchase, whatever machine you buy.
What to buy
The WEN 4286 8 in slow speed bench grinder, linked below, hits both points — slow speed, 8 in wheels for a flatter grind, and a diamond dresser included, which you need to true the wheels.
Add a grinding jig if you sharpen turning tools. A grinder without a jig grinds what your hands happen to do; with one it grinds the same bevel every time.