Author Topic: Buying a bench grinder  (Read 1428 times)

ElyDave

  • Royal and Ancient Polar Bear Society member 263583
Buying a bench grinder
« on: 16 June, 2017, 10:39:32 am »
Any tips on good/bad/indifferent, what to look for etc?
“Procrastination is the thief of time, collar him.” –Charles Dickens

Vince

  • Can't climb; won't climb
Re: Buying a bench grinder
« Reply #1 on: 16 June, 2017, 10:50:03 am »
What are you grinding?
Sharpening tools I would recommend a wet grinder as they won't overheat the tools - Tormek have a very good reputation, but pricey.
I have an old Creusen dry grinder which has good. White stones are more aggressive which again heats the tools less.
There is a large range of accessories to help get the correct angle of grind.
216km from Marsh Gibbon

ElyDave

  • Royal and Ancient Polar Bear Society member 263583
Re: Buying a bench grinder
« Reply #2 on: 16 June, 2017, 11:17:44 am »
mainly garden tools, mower blades, shears, axe, that kind of thing.

I have whetstones as well for the fine sharpening
“Procrastination is the thief of time, collar him.” –Charles Dickens

Re: Buying a bench grinder
« Reply #3 on: 16 June, 2017, 03:45:44 pm »
I have a couple of bench grinders but these days if I want to sharpen tools etc I normally use my angle grinder. It is much faster, produces less heating, and I can get into the crook of my shears etc.   I use a thin disc (meant for cutting) just to give a nice edge on a tool with minimal removal of material, and various coarser discs if there is much stock to remove prior to creating the edge. I also sharpen drills, give them split points etc all using the angle grinder.  In every case the work is faster, with less heating and a better result vs the bench grinder.

If you are going to have a bench grinder come what may, it is worth noting that they mostly are fitted with induction motors. These are reliable and smooth-running (normally the shaft runs on a couple of cartridge bearings), but ultimately the torque is often lacking for heavy-duty work.  BTW Cheap wheels go out of balance easily and if one starts to break up it can be incredibly dangerous.

cheers

Wombat

  • Is it supposed to hurt this much?
Re: Buying a bench grinder
« Reply #4 on: 18 June, 2017, 05:22:56 pm »
Most of the really cheap ones have tool rests which are utter shite.  Try to pay a bit more for one which has decent adjustable toolrests, not a bit of bent steel held on with one bolt like many of them are.  I have got one of the cheapo ones, and when I eventually succeed in moving house, will make new tool rests for it.  I also have diamond and ceramic stones for fine accurate sharpening.  As for lathe tools, I only used replaceable tip ones!
Wombat

Re: Buying a bench grinder
« Reply #5 on: 19 June, 2017, 12:30:53 pm »
good point about the toolrests; they are indeed properly shite on a lot of cheap machines....

cheers

ElyDave

  • Royal and Ancient Polar Bear Society member 263583
Re: Buying a bench grinder
« Reply #6 on: 19 June, 2017, 01:19:20 pm »
I've managed to get the axe decently sharp with a file and then an emery stone, that was the main reason for the poss bench grinder, so I'll probably leave off for now, but thanks for the tips
“Procrastination is the thief of time, collar him.” –Charles Dickens

Valiant

  • aka Sam
    • Radiance Audio
Re: Buying a bench grinder
« Reply #7 on: 20 June, 2017, 05:25:47 pm »
Everyone I know these uses a belt sander mounted upside down in a wood vice. Spray bottle for lube.
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