Bench Grinder Choice?

The 8-inch slow speed grinder from Woodcraft is a good buy, and it comes with two white wheels. It's under $100. Add to that a Wolverine with Varigrind and you'll be in business.

-Jim Gott- San Jose, CA

You mean turning tools, right?

Makes a ~3450 (High Speed) grinder possible, but I favor the greater utility of the slow speed, which is a less risky way of doing your wood chisels, plane irons and such. If you have someone local with a return policy, you have a pick of the litter possibility. If the one you have has problems, back it goes under your arm for an exchange, instead of return authorization, receive pig in poke....

Think carefully about the tradeoffs between soft bond and hard bond wheels before you lay out as many bucks for a wheel as you did for the motor. Soft bonds are much less likely to burn, even on finer grits, which is what you'll want for your turning tools, but they end up as sand on the floor much more rapidly. My particular compromise is the 100 grit green SiC type

Don't know aCanadian source. Be sure and buy a conditioner - star wheel ok - when you get your grinder. You'll want it to gain circularity at the outset, and for the occasional level later.

I have a cheap $25, 1/3 HP, grinder. Great for grinding metal, sharpening mower blades. But for chisels I use my Makita wetstone sharpener. Regular grinders run about 3400rpm and that's enough to easily burn metal if you are not careful. I've always wanted a slow-speed Baldor grinder--these are the "Cadillacs" of grinders. (Maybe I'll buy one when I find employment.)

Well I may as well put my two cents worth in :)

From my own exp I would stay away from the cheap grinders as they tend not to last for long.

"Don't know a Canadian source?"

I do not know where you are in Canada. I buy my green grinding wheels at an Industrial supplier (Apex) and I get a contractor's discount. Check the Industrial suppliers in your area and compare prices. Canadian Tires are not in the race when it comes to grinding wheels and grinders. Having a good grinding wheel and a decent grinder is not all you need. You have to dress the wheel on the grinder before you start to use it. To do this a diamond dresser is the best but you can get away with the ordinary steel wheel. Good Canadian and US made grinding wheels are expensive and are preferred for mass production. However for the hobbyist the middle east are exporting fair quality wheels at a lower price. Check with Busy Bee Tools at

and your local King Canada Tools.

From: "George" Newsgroups: rec.crafts.woodturning Sent: Saturday, October 23, 2004 3:51 PM Subject: Re: Bench Grinder Choice?

I'm sure that will help him, and I think the stones are a great compromise.

Though many people believe where I live is Wisconsin or Canada, I'm in Michigan, USA.

I'd spend my money on wheels and balancing rather than on the grinder. The Canadian Tire one sounds good. And as for a Canadian source for wheels, etc, try OneWay. Their wheels are designed to run at 3450 like the run of the mill grinders. Go for 8" rather than 6" if possible.

CD boulder CO

James,

I have a freind that uses a simalar grinder to sharpen his tools and sells his vessels for as high as $10.000! Most of his tools are cheap or home-made even his lathe.

AZCRAIG / Tormek user :-)

Thanks!

I found one (General Int'l) that has the low RPM and seems to be a lot better.

Regards,

James

I guess that's what I've been missing: a $40 grinder! :o)