Since returning to woodturning I decided to upgrade my sharpening system. In the old days (even before internet) we sharpened free form without jigs. The wisdom was that sharpening used the same muscle memory as turning so each skill reinforced the other. The results were marginal at best when doing a fingernail grind on the newly invented super flute. We got by. We screwed around until we got results that worked for how we turned. I'm a retired carpenter and we say "They don't build houses like they used to Thank God!" The new jigs and fixtures invented over the years have really transformed how we turn and our understanding of new ways to present the edge of our cutting tool to the wood being turned. Things have become so much easier and precise. We've come a long ways over the years and I embrace all of it.
So I decided to "dumpster dive" into getting a couple of slow speed grinders. Not that I can't afford new, but I enjoy rescuing old equipment! And I love making rather than buying new. I'm retired for the last ten years and every day is a play day.
Sssso, I took a beautiful old Balder 7" grinder with a bad stator and did some surgery. I removed the stator. turned a pully grove in the armature and cut a rectangular hole in the back of the housing. It is now powered by a 1/2 HP 1750 rpm electric motor. The second is a 3/4 HP Dayton 3 phase 8" being run by a VFD. I love these old grinders. Your looking at over $2000 new! The VFD grinder slows down to Tormek speed for slow grinding my chisels.
Just playing in my shop!
So I decided to "dumpster dive" into getting a couple of slow speed grinders. Not that I can't afford new, but I enjoy rescuing old equipment! And I love making rather than buying new. I'm retired for the last ten years and every day is a play day.
Sssso, I took a beautiful old Balder 7" grinder with a bad stator and did some surgery. I removed the stator. turned a pully grove in the armature and cut a rectangular hole in the back of the housing. It is now powered by a 1/2 HP 1750 rpm electric motor. The second is a 3/4 HP Dayton 3 phase 8" being run by a VFD. I love these old grinders. Your looking at over $2000 new! The VFD grinder slows down to Tormek speed for slow grinding my chisels.
Just playing in my shop!
