Bench Grinder

[Todd L.]

One of my previous threads I asked about essential tools for the garage. I now have several of the items I asked about and am moving onto the bench grinder. I was wondering what is a good grinder, 6" or 8", variable or fixed speed, if fixed what speed? I will mostly use a wire wheel and a buffing wheel. What are some good accessories which I will need?

Thanks

Todd

[Gerard F.]

Re: Bench Grinder

Todd,

You might try one of these:



Just a cheap reversible drill in a vise. Pretty mickey-mouse, but I have found that this is the best tool for finishing small parts for plating preparation. You can change the various grades of wire and nylon wheels in a snap. You could also put a buffer wheel on it.

I have two bench grinders, one fitted with a wire wheel and a buffer. This one above works a lot better, and has the power to get into little crevices.

I think the next step beyond the above setup, is a pricey buffing, finishing machine. Then you'll have a PITA in changing wheels.

With this one, when the cheap drill wears out, you just get another one.

[Todd L.]

Re: Bench Grinder

Todd,

You might try one of these:



Just a cheap reversible drill in a vise. Pretty mickey-mouse, but I have found that this is the best tool for finishing small parts for plating preparation. You can change the various grades of wire and nylon wheels in a snap. You could also put a buffer wheel on it.

I have two bench grinders, one fitted with a wire wheel and a buffer. This one above works a lot better, and has the power to get into little crevices.

I think the next step beyond the above setup, is a pricey buffing, finishing machine. Then you'll have a PITA in changing wheels.

With this one, when the cheap drill wears out, you just get another one.

That would speed the process up of getting a vise.

Thanks Jerry

Todd

[Chuck S.]

Re: Bench Grinder

...I was wondering what is a good grinder, 6" or 8", variable or fixed speed, if fixed what speed?...

I can't imagine variable speed being of much help on a bench grinder, but I would get the biggest motor I could get on a grinder. High speed (3600 rpm) will be better if you want to do any polishing with it.

What you will find is that small motors like 1/2 hp are quickly overloaded, and the built in overload protection will shut it off until you back off the load. You end up constantly feeding load and backing it out if you have some heavy cleaning to do; it's probably not good for the motor either.

Edit: You can find light duty Chinese bench grinders for next to nothing, but the two requirements in the first paragraph may put you into heavy duty grinders with Baldor motors as sold by TP Tools and others. It depends on how long you want to keep it, and how much you're going to use it. I have a cheap Chinese light duty; on a "do-over", I would probably spring for a heavy duty grinder on a pedestal.

[Gerard F.]

Re: Bench Grinder

I can't imagine variable speed being of much help on a bench grinder, but I would get the biggest motor I could get on a grinder. High speed (3600 rpm) will be better if you want to do any polishing with it.

What you will find is that small motors like 1/2 hp are quickly overloaded, and the built in overload protection will shut it off until you back off the load. You end up constantly feeding load and backing it out if you have some heavy cleaning to do; it's probably not good for the motor either.

Edit: You can find light duty Chinese bench grinders for next to nothing, but the two requirements in the first paragraph may put you into heavy duty grinders with Baldor motors as sold by TP Tools and others. It depends on how long you want to keep it, and how much you're going to use it. I have a cheap Chinese light duty; on a "do-over", I would probably spring for a heavy duty grinder on a pedestal.

Chuck,

I have two of those cheap chinese bench grinders, I think 1 HP. The problem with them for wire brushing, cleaning and finishing small parts is that they lack torque. They have to get up to a high speed to do any light buffing, or grinding of small parts.

Any heavy wire brushing will stall them out. You really need the torque that a driver-drill can provide to do wire brushing.

[Todd L.]

Re: Bench Grinder

What would a variable speed grinder be good for?

[Gerard F.]

Re: Bench Grinder

What would a variable speed grinder be good for?

Maybe the variable speed grinder would have a little more torque at the slower speed. I just use my variable speed drill-driver with the trigger locked at full speed.

[Chuck S.]

Re: Bench Grinder

Chuck,

I have two of those cheap chinese bench grinders, I think 1 HP. The problem with them for wire brushing, cleaning and finishing small parts is that they lack torque. They have to get up to a high speed to do any light buffing, or grinding of small parts.

Any heavy wire brushing will stall them out. You really need the torque that a driver-drill can provide to do wire brushing.

Gerry, exactly what I said. I wasn't recommending the Chinese grinders; on the contrary, I wouldn't buy another one. There are heavy duty purpose-built grinders out there with real guts made in the USA.

Clamping a drill in a vise, is, uh, well (sorry) beyond "Gerry-rigging". Improvising such a set up to brush up some carb parts is one thing, but brushing the rust off all the fasteners and small parts in an entire restoration would try your patience, I guarantee.

[Dick W.]

Re: Bench Grinder

Day in and day out, the Baldor is hard to beat. I have one that is over 25 years old and never had any problems. I also have a Sioux that is older than dirt that works as good as a new one. The Baldor is 3/4 hp and the Sioux is 1 1/2 hp. I built me a buffer stand with a 1/2 hp 1,750 rpm motor and using a jack shaft to mount the buffing wheels on. The jackshaft turns 3,500 rpms.

[Gerard F.]

Re: Bench Grinder

Gerry, exactly what I said. I wasn't recommending the Chinese grinders; on the contrary, I wouldn't buy another one. There are heavy duty purpose-built grinders out there with real guts made in the USA.

Clamping a drill in a vise, is, uh, well (sorry) beyond "Gerry-rigging". Improvising such a set up to brush up some carb parts is one thing, but brushing the rust off all the fasteners and small parts in an entire restoration would try your patience, I guarantee.

Chuck,

It works for me.

Remember, Seabees Can Do

Where's that balley and duct tape?

Nice to hear from you, Chuck

[Todd L.]

Re: Bench Grinder

Any opinions on wheel diameter?

[Chuck S.]

Re: Bench Grinder

Any opinions on wheel diameter?

Bigger is better, but, having said that, the smaller wheels (6-7") will get the job done, only slower.

The bigger the wheel, the bigger the motor to turn it, and the bigger the price; Or, to paraphrase that old saw...grinding fast costs money; how fast do you want to go?

Whenever you buy abrasive wheels, always verify that the maximum rated speed of the wheel exceeds the maximum speed of the tool you're going to use them on. When handling or storing grinding wheels, be careful not to drop or damage them. If one of those wheels disintegrates at speed, it'll be like catching a cannonball pointblank.

[Dick W.]

Re: Bench Grinder

. When handling or storing grinding wheels, be careful not to drop or damage them. If one of those wheels disintegrates at speed, it'll be like catching a cannonball pointblank.

If you drop one, throw it in the trash. It is not worth the risk of having a wheel disintergrate in your face.

[Phil D.]

Re: Bench Grinder

Years ago I bought a Delta infinitely variable speed grinder from Lowes and it has been a champ. I typically keep a grinding wheel on one end and a wire brush on the other. Seems I use the wire wheel on almost every job in the garage to knock off some rust or most frequently to clean threads. That's where I like the variable speed. I can turn it on lowest to clean threads and if I lose my grip on the bolt it doesn't go flying across the garage, just gets knocked to my feet. For small bolts I clamp the head of the bolt in vice grips.

Delta Variable Speed Grinder

[Joe L.]

Re: Bench Grinder

One of my previous threads I asked about essential tools for the garage. I now have several of the items I asked about and am moving onto the bench grinder. I was wondering what is a good grinder, 6" or 8", variable or fixed speed, if fixed what speed? I will mostly use a wire wheel and a buffing wheel. What are some good accessories which I will need?

Thanks

Todd

Todd------


Keep in mind that the bigger and more powerful the grinder, the more power and speed it will have to rip parts right out of your hand and fling them across the shop OR somewhere into your body.