looking to buy a new grinder...could use some suggestions. thanks.
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grinder
- Thread starter johnw
- Start date
I took a class from John Jordan once (had a great time) - he said to bite the bullet and purchase a good slow speed grinder. His recommendation at the time was a Baldor 1725 RPM 8" grinder (cost about $400). I purchased one of the slow speed grinders from Woodcraft - 8" cost was just less than $100. I have been happy with that so far - a couple of years of use out of it so far. When (if) this grinder breaks down - I may splurge and get the Baldor. Oneway recommends a high speed grinder - 3600 RPM. Get good grinding wheels.
Hugh
Hugh
Grinding - lessons learned.
I also have the +-$100 grinder from Woodcraft. I bought the two speed model which was an additional 10 bucks or so. In hindsight I should have saved the ten and bought the one speed model. I have found I never use the higher speed and I had to purchase a higher grit grinding wheel. The grits that come with the slower speed model are fine for gouge sharping, but the wheels that come with the two speed model are one white and one grey.
One thing I did right was to mount the grinder at chest height. With the high mounting one doesn't have to bend over to see how the chisel is meeting the wheel. This is a good thing to do.
Hope that helps
I also have the +-$100 grinder from Woodcraft. I bought the two speed model which was an additional 10 bucks or so. In hindsight I should have saved the ten and bought the one speed model. I have found I never use the higher speed and I had to purchase a higher grit grinding wheel. The grits that come with the slower speed model are fine for gouge sharping, but the wheels that come with the two speed model are one white and one grey.
One thing I did right was to mount the grinder at chest height. With the high mounting one doesn't have to bend over to see how the chisel is meeting the wheel. This is a good thing to do.
Hope that helps
Hey John.
By my experience, once you leave the "true piece of crap" range, you'll probably be just fine with an inexpensive grinder (although the really expensive ones are nice). $100 or so for a nice Woodcraft 8" is a good investment, to be followed closely by purchasing nice wheels (does the woodcraft already have one white wheel?) and a Wolverine grinding jig.
I know a fair number of folks that swear by the Tormak but, personally, I can't see myself investing that amount of money into a grinder and jig set for use primarilly with lathe tools. Now if you're a custom woodworker and are going to be sharpening a wide range of tools to tight tollerances then we're talking a different story.
For myself, I have a $40 Sears 6" grinder, a nice blue wheel, and the Wolverine setup. The grinder, basically, sucks but is workable and was all I could afford at the time. It's on my upgrade list to get a decent 8" slow speed (slow speed primarilly because I'm kinda hamhanded at sharpening and end up losing too much metal on high speed grinders).
Finally, watch out for the dual purpose wet/dry grinder sometimes available at Woodcraft or Rockler for the $100 range. It's the one with a small white wheel and a horizontal wet stone. Seems like a cool deal but neither side of the grinder works well (I got one of those when I decided to upgrade and use it to sharpen one tool only).
Good luck,
Dietrich
By my experience, once you leave the "true piece of crap" range, you'll probably be just fine with an inexpensive grinder (although the really expensive ones are nice). $100 or so for a nice Woodcraft 8" is a good investment, to be followed closely by purchasing nice wheels (does the woodcraft already have one white wheel?) and a Wolverine grinding jig.
I know a fair number of folks that swear by the Tormak but, personally, I can't see myself investing that amount of money into a grinder and jig set for use primarilly with lathe tools. Now if you're a custom woodworker and are going to be sharpening a wide range of tools to tight tollerances then we're talking a different story.
For myself, I have a $40 Sears 6" grinder, a nice blue wheel, and the Wolverine setup. The grinder, basically, sucks but is workable and was all I could afford at the time. It's on my upgrade list to get a decent 8" slow speed (slow speed primarilly because I'm kinda hamhanded at sharpening and end up losing too much metal on high speed grinders).
Finally, watch out for the dual purpose wet/dry grinder sometimes available at Woodcraft or Rockler for the $100 range. It's the one with a small white wheel and a horizontal wet stone. Seems like a cool deal but neither side of the grinder works well (I got one of those when I decided to upgrade and use it to sharpen one tool only).
Good luck,
Dietrich
I'm another satisfied 8" Woodcraft 100$ slow speed customer. I liked the price so much, I gave my belt sander back it's table and went out a bought a Woodcraft grinder stand for it to sit on. 🙂
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DennisM said:
I favor mounting the center of the wheel at the same height as the spindle of the lathe. That way touching up is just like turning. With a slow speed and fine grit, I can feel when the bevel is laying on the wheel without looking, just as I do on the lathe.
I have a selection of appliance motors to choose from, so bought a nice ball-bearing grinding mandrel. Believe the 1725 motor on it came from a well pump.
Last edited:
Woodcraft grinder
I too purchased the Woodcraft grinder and have only been using a jig on the left wheel. I purchased a wolverine jig and when setting it up discovered that the right side was a full half inch lower than the left. Seems the base casting was not very good. Have also heard about several people taking them back because of vibration. I have since purchased the Delta industrial grinder for a few more bucks and no shipping from tool crib, and keep telling myself to quit trying to save a couple of bucks and then have to go rebuy it again when it dosen't do everything I wanted.
Vern
I too purchased the Woodcraft grinder and have only been using a jig on the left wheel. I purchased a wolverine jig and when setting it up discovered that the right side was a full half inch lower than the left. Seems the base casting was not very good. Have also heard about several people taking them back because of vibration. I have since purchased the Delta industrial grinder for a few more bucks and no shipping from tool crib, and keep telling myself to quit trying to save a couple of bucks and then have to go rebuy it again when it dosen't do everything I wanted.
Vern
I guess I will be the odd man out. I have the variable speed delta 8" grinder. I got it from Lowes last year. At the time they had a rebate on it so it cost me $100 instead of the normal $130. I never use the higher speeds but I have been really pleased with it and felt that with the rebate I was able to get it was a much better deal. Like some of the others I am only using one side of my grinder for sharpening but that it because I am using the other side for my beall polishing. It is a great grinder and I would recommend it especially if you can fing it on sale or with a great rebate.
Stacey
Stacey
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I see quite a few variations of the 8" grinder in on Garrett Wades website. Has anyone used one of thew other brands they list? Why anyone would want to spend 560 for a baldor is a little beyond me but that was the sale price I saw on it. It was either Woodcraft, Highland Hardware or Lee Valley wher I saw they had swithed from an 1800 rpm to an 1140rpm grinder also. Any recommendations on the slower speed? I have the Tormek but no dry grinder so am vary interested in this thread as I want to get the Wolvering or Kelton sharpening jig.
Brian
Brian
in 1999, i got a baldor 1800rpm 7" grinder from amazon for 229.00 on one of their one-day sales ... glad i did when i did because the price has jumped sky-high.
but amazon does have these 1-day specials from time-to-time -- great place to keep checking
the advantage of the baldor is the smoothness of the grind...very little vibration. although i can do a better job grinding without the vibrations, having a good grinding stone is very important as well, especially on more vibration-prone machines.
really love the stones from one-way -- and they last longer than many of the others.
but amazon does have these 1-day specials from time-to-time -- great place to keep checking
the advantage of the baldor is the smoothness of the grind...very little vibration. although i can do a better job grinding without the vibrations, having a good grinding stone is very important as well, especially on more vibration-prone machines.
really love the stones from one-way -- and they last longer than many of the others.
Delta 8" grinder
I picked one of these up at Lows this summer because of a sale. Got it home and found out the wheels have a 1/2" hole and the Oneway balancing system takes at least 5/8". The Delta wheels werent much anyway so I got a pair of new wheels that cost more than the grinder and got them balanced, trued and the Wolverine jig under it. Started it up and was amazed at how quiet it was. I can balance a nickel on it. I cant get the hang of grinding on high speed so use only the lowest setting. This grinder is nice. My only complaint is it runs so quiet and takes forever to coast to a stop you can get yourself in it if you are not careful. I have a scar on my elbow now. I moved the thing a little farther from the lathe.
Ron
I picked one of these up at Lows this summer because of a sale. Got it home and found out the wheels have a 1/2" hole and the Oneway balancing system takes at least 5/8". The Delta wheels werent much anyway so I got a pair of new wheels that cost more than the grinder and got them balanced, trued and the Wolverine jig under it. Started it up and was amazed at how quiet it was. I can balance a nickel on it. I cant get the hang of grinding on high speed so use only the lowest setting. This grinder is nice. My only complaint is it runs so quiet and takes forever to coast to a stop you can get yourself in it if you are not careful. I have a scar on my elbow now. I moved the thing a little farther from the lathe.
Ron