Bench grinder

Been wanting a new grinder for some time as mine was given to me minus the guards and vibrates quite a bit. Noticed screwfix had dropped the price of their Titan 8" to £35 so picked one up this morning. Surprised they had any left at that price

Hi Brian,

The usual issue with vibration is out of balance wheels, have you tried truing the stones with a dresser. I have a diamond one that I bought. After using it the vibration almost completely disappeared.

Just re-read your post.  You really need to make some guards for the old one.

Edited By John Baron on 25/08/2018 12:03:17

With a new grinder available it seems the ideal time to fit pigtails to the old one and turn it into a polisher.

Another Brian

I suggest that it's important to take the power rating into account when assessing the value of a bench grinder. One with a 350 Watt motor for £35 could be a bargain - one with a 170 watt motor for £35 is likely to be a frustrating nuisance! Especially with 8" wheels.

Best regards,

Swarf, Mostly!

Yes 400 watt motor. Seen a few posts on here previously recommending them.

I shan't be using it till next week but will post an opinion on it. Putting a green wheel on the old one and will use the coarse wheel for roughing tools out

I have found that the hole size of the wheel and that of the shaft, is too loose. I suggest either turning a better inner bush, for the wheel, or using some form of tape, to make up the diameter to a better fit. Once the wheel is in position and clamped it will be good. Cheap wheels need the sides dressing as well as the diameter.

Sorry to take issue with this, but the Abrasive Wheels Course says never dress the sides, for the same reasons that you shouldn't grind on the sides and thin (weaken) the wheel. It also puts forces on the wheel matrix it's not designed to withstand. If a wheel won't run true (as opposed to running eccentric) bin it. Either the centre hole is skewed or the moulded faces are out, either way it's only use is a doorstop.

Of course cup wheels are designed to cut on the edge axis........

Edited for note about cup wheels

Edited By Simon Williams 3 on 26/08/2018 11:30:05

A lot of my stuff is now only teeny tidy up work and I find the angle grinder with its thin wheel more useful

Even for bigger work like chopping a piece of HSS I find it easier to use

2cents

My Blackspur packed up the other day after 25 years of abuse. Tried a different socket before dismantling. Found out the switch had disintegrated, found a spare DP switch in the come in handy electrics box. All up and running .

BobH

i have an old one that had no guards.

pigtail on one side and made adaptor for other that holds a flap disc from angle grinder

Edited By mechman48 on 26/08/2018 18:33:25

I bought one of these cheapo Chinese grinders to use as a base upon which to build a Worden type tool grinder. I forget the brand, there are many of the same item from different suppliers in different colours. Anyway, out of the box, the vibration was awful, the washers were as Joseph Nocci mentioned- poorly stamped, so new ones made but it still vibrated. I ran it with no wheels and found the vibration to be caused by the incredibly poor quality ball races, the radial play could be readily felt at one end of the shaft so these bearings were removed and new FAG items fitted. It now runs beautifully smoothly, so some Norton wheels next.

I fully accept that it will not have the duty cycle of my industrial grinder, but it is only to be used as a tool grinder for quite lightweight, occasional work...….and still much cheaper than buying an old Clarkson or similar.

Trevor

Just a couple of questions

I use HSS in my workshop for my lathe tools, I am looking for a replacement bench grinder and it seems an old good un beats a new bad un according to some people on here. So I am looking around various places, if I buy an old but good 7 or 8 inch grinder can I put a 6 inch wheel on it? I suppose as long as the speed doesn't exceed the max wheel speed it should be ok...

I notice that many pics posted on here show a cup wheel being used is this a better proposition than a normal straight wheel?

I am considering building Harold Halls grinding attachment this winter but cannot decide which, the basic or advanced any advice would be gratefully received. Any restriction on wheel type or size?

Any advice on diamond wheels for hss?

Oh dear that's more than 2 questions! Btw I did my grinding wheel course on my 21st birthday that was 39 years ago...expect its changed a bit since then.

As always your advice is appreciated

Regards

Derek

Yes, they've taken the handles off and fitted electric motors instead.

George

....well it was last century and all in monochrome...

Someone mentioned dressing the side of the wheel,ok, BUT remember that there must be the compressable paper disc/washer on each side of the wheel. One store in NZ (Where every one gets a bargain) was, and may still be selling wheels with no paper washer, I did talk to the manager of one store, telling him of the danger of burst wheels, and the liability of the company in the event of the death of one of their customers, I don't think he understood.

Ian S C

Hi Derek, it is possible that a grinder with 7 or 8 inch wheels will run too fast for a 6 inch wheel, so check that out to start with. The other thing is that the rest that supports the work, may not reach the 6 inch wheel, especially after it has been dressed a few times. Always best to use the correct wheel for the grinder and the correct grinder for the wheel.

Regards Nick.

Edited By Nicholas Farr on 23/09/2018 12:51:21