bench grinder, variable speed

[shortfuse]

I currently have a single speed bench grinder, but now have a need for a variable speed one. Got some Christmas stocking $$ burning a hole in my pocket :-)

First, are they worth a flip, reliable, etc.?
What brands do you guys recommend for a variable speed model?

I will not buy a Craftsman for several reasons, so they are out of the question. I trust the recommendations here much more than the other internet reviews since they are usually "loaded" with employee and paid reviewers' comments.

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas :-)

[BD1]

What do you plan on using it for ?

[shortfuse]

Buffing off light rust, polishing some welds, general light grinding and wire wheel work. Don't like to use the higher speeds with a wire wheel. I now do most of the wire wheel stuff with the angle grinder/wire wheel. The slower speed with the wire wheel is much better :-)

[WyoRoy]

Hunt around on eBay for an old belt driven grinder (1st pic) a Reeves variable sheave (2nd pic) and the motor of your choice. With a bit of cobbling you should be able to come up with a superior machine to what is available...or at least available for less than 5-6 times the price. Barring finding an old belt driven grinder, you can always get a couple of pillow block bearings, a section of CR shafting, thread the ends, add a pulley and have the same thing. (3rd pic)

[DanD78]

Would a dimmer switch rated at around 15 amps work? Not sure my self just thinking out loud.

Dan

[WyoRoy]

Would a dimmer switch rated at around 15 amps work? Not sure my self just thinking out loud.

Dan

Could be wrong, but I believe dimmer switches or router speed control switches only work for universal motors.

[AluminumWelder]

I use this slow speed grinder 1720 rpm for the last two years.

for $100 on sale I think it is a good deal.

it's not variable, but i have a wire wheel on it and a green aluminum grinding stone on it, my other grinder has the standard dark gray stones for steel, coarse and fine, and my 3rd and last grinder has red deburring wheel on it.

of all my grinders I like the slow speed one the best. Doesn't feel like it's going to take off like a bat out of hell.

[SquirmyPug]

I use this slow speed grinder 1720 rpm for the last two years.

for $100 on sale I think it is a good deal.

it's not variable, but i have a wire wheel on it and a green aluminum grinding stone on it, my other grinder has the standard dark gray stones for steel, coarse and fine, and my 3rd and last grinder has red deburring wheel on it.

of all my grinders I like the slow speed one the best. Doesn't feel like it's going to take off like a bat out of hell.

Looks about like the grinder I bought for grinding tungsten, also low speed. Paid around $100 and it had a 100 grit and a 130..I think. Really like the grinder, got it from a store called "Woodcraft"

Edit.. Just watched the video, it was made by Woodcraft Looks like they changed the labels a little.

[shortfuse]

I have a 6" VS Craftsman I like, one wheel is wire brush the other a medium stone, if it would break I would buy another. Why do you not like Craftsman bench grinders?

As I mentioned in my OP, I will not buy another Craftsman tool. Had a couple of experiences lately with them where they would not honor the warranties. For example, first time use of a plain beam type torque wrench, the wrench broke, returned for replacement, they refused saying "it has moving parts".

More interested in other brands like Dewalt, Porter Cable, Milwaukee, Skil(maybe), Jet, Grizzly, etc.

Also, I'm not interested in building a belt-driven one.

As I recall, speed controls only work on motors with brushes...do the bench grinders use brushes? Never took one apart :-(

[BD1]

What about a fixed 1800 RPM ? Here's a BALDOR . http://www.buschshineproducts.com/1-...rpm-p-167.html

[mikecwik]

I am curious about the Craftsman disposition too.

I have one of these. http://www.grizzly.com/products/G0597

[shortfuse]

shortfuse I found this info on sears website concerning beam torque wrenches, I wouldn't let them off the hook.

it posted smaller than I copied it, it says "If this Craftsman hand tool ever fails to provide complete satisfaction it will be replaced free of charge."

Tackit, I'm gonna check into the "warranty" further. Thanks.

[Mikel_24]

Why don't just get a 3ph big *** grinder and then use a single phase input 3phase output VDF? That should do the trick. And usuallly industrial 3ph equipment is sold cheap because not everyone can power it. Anything that goes with motors can be dealt with using VDF. Sadly the welders cannot.

Mikel

[Burpee]

Bench grinders are for gurlz.
Make ya wunna these.
http://www.cootebeltgrinder.com/

[shortfuse]

Those Coote's ARE nice:-)

[Burpee]

Aint nothing to make.One day job. Set it up for a 12 speed pulley system. 1 horse 3450 will rip your arm off. Call Sunray for some wheels and fab up frame and a tracker system

[WyoRoy]

Like Burpee said, build your own...this is a welding forum. Get a better machine, built to your exact needs, all for far cheaper than some plastic fantastic off the store shelf. If you want cheaper than a Reeves variable sheave go with step pulleys.

[WyoRoy]

For anyone wishing to build your own, check this site out.
http://tube.7s-b.com/Belt-grinder/page2.html

[Tool Maker]

To change the tracking you, tip the Idler wheel. The belt will follow the crown. the crown is made by grinding a slight curve across the idler wheel. You can even ad the crown on a flat idler by rapping a couple raps of tape around it. Mac

[WyoRoy]

I see and understand the tracking mechanism but I don't see a way to tighten the belt, unless their is an adjustment slot I'm not seeing.

Tack, take a look on the horizontal strap the idler mounts to...bit longer than it needs to be past the pivot, unless it connects with a spring on the other side of the frame.

[WyoRoy]

No, not what I was suggesting at all. Probably a better idea to wait for Burpee to hopefully add a second picture dealing with the other side we can't observe clearly, but I was speaking/typing of the horizontal strap the idler wheel is mounted to in the picture. Note how below the pivot it extends well past the pivot towards the rear? (you can't tell for sure at the top) maybe it's just extra strapping serving no useful purpose, but that is where most would add a spring to tension the idler for the belt.

[WyoRoy]

Actually Burpee may not be able to provide any more pics of that sander/grinder. While looking on Google Image Search for a shot of the tensioning mechanism I found the same picture posted and clicked on the link. Turns out to be somebody else's build. Here is a picture from that link on the builder's other sander/grinder project detailing the tension mechanism. BTW, just doing the same thing as Burpee and providing a pic of what you can build easily. Here's a link to the post.http://www.projectsinmetal.com/free-...2-belt-sander/

[ManoKai]

@ Burpee - a local dude (new blacksmithing and knife making) ecently asked me about these sanders. Look to be built like tanks, and highly versatile. Say you had the steel (1/4", 3/8"), what's your estimate on the $ for pieces/parts? Note: haven't done an ounce of research yet or examined the link posted by WyoRoy.

Injecting this project into the 2014 build file. Mahalo!

[ManoKai]

@ Roy - alright. Thanks. The journey continues...

[M J D]

The belt sander with the V belt looks like an accident waiting to happen. Should at the least cover the top wrap of the sanding belt to contain it when it breaks. A guard on the V belt would go a long ways.