Thread: Which Bench Grinder?

Originally Posted by Chris Parks

My first hand experience with getting stuff made in China and importing does not see it that way. All Oz retailers work on inflated margins compared to OS because the overheads here are so high. Try setting up a manufacturing and supply chain and let me know how you get on.

Anecdotes are not data. Im sorry you couldnt make a chinese supply chain work, but to say that companies dont make money by getting parts made in china is just sticking your head in the sand. Do you think all these huge companies are manufacturing there for a different reason? (The clothing industry is slightly different because of the whole child labour thing)

Originally Posted by Glider

Yes, they really do; and the bulk of consumers buy on price in an overcrowded market near the bottom. However as a business person, if I agreed with that sentiment, we would both be wrong.

There is always room at the higher end. People complain about the cost of high end tools, but they all want some and many will eventually buy when they realise the benefits. The smart ones import the cheapies and maintain their better product as a separate offering.

I think that a lot of people overestimate how much of a market there is for this type of gear. Like it or not, the woodworking population of Australia is not huge, and Australia's population is quite small to begin with. Add in the fact that a lot of these machines are a one time purchase only, and you end up with a very small market, which simply cannot sustain the variety of somewhere like America. Price is time and time again voted as the most important thing when considering a purchase of this size. Sure, quality comes into it, but its overridden by price on a regular basis. This is just human nature.

I can't speak for the WW tool market but as a business owner in another market, I think the general population don't realise the cost of doing business in Australia. We have made so much red tape and other costs that we are simply not competitive in so many areas. In the business to business arena this is even worse because large companies in Australia create an additional mound of red tape and other costs like delayed payments.
This is all on top of our small spread out population a long way from other markets.
Plus people have to be highly paid because the cost of living is so high.
Plus investors here are risk adverse so if you have a good idea you will probably have to increase your mortgage and pay to bring that idea to the market by yourself.
It never seems to occur to so many people that all these costs eventually get passed down to the end consumer.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Greedy bunch of buggers we are, in comparison to the rest of the world. Try hospitality as a business. Customer wants to eat out on a Sunday. Owner has to pay a dish pig $50 an hour to have clean plates. Gee, why do the meals cost so much.

Like I say, Greedy bunch of buggers we are!!

Thanks for all the replies gentlemen.
I didn't expect to open a can of worms.

All I really want is some recommendations from people with experience of bench grinders.

So far Abbot and ashby has been recommended, and not.
Does anyone have experience of others.
I have seen on just tools a brand called Linishal, does anyone know it.
Ive also seen one called metal master on Hare and Forbes site.

Any further sugestions?

Hope this doesn't come across as a whinge, I have enjoyed the comments.


Thanks again

Frank

++ for Abbot and Ashbury. Bought mine two years ago. Almost vibration free - barely ripples the water in the cooling tray. Have an emery wheel on one side and a wire brush on the other.
Bought it after returning an AEG that rattled the windows.

I went for the Vicmarc slower speed grinder as I mainly used this for my turning tools.

Originally Posted by Enfield Guy

Greedy bunch of buggers we are, in comparison to the rest of the world. Try hospitality as a business. Customer wants to eat out on a Sunday. Owner has to pay a dish pig $50 an hour to have clean plates. Gee, why do the meals cost so much.

Like I say, Greedy bunch of buggers we are!!

(1) There is no way a dish pig is earning $50per hour on a sunday. That would put their base wage at over $30 per hour normally. If you honestly believe dish washers earn this, I have this lovely bridge to sell you, only one owner, drives it on sundays, it a bargin. (2) I dont know about you, but I *hate* washing dishes, and I would have to be paid a *lot* of money to wash dishes for 4-8 hours. A lot. No, more than that. Yes, even more than that. Why should someone doing a job not be compensated for how the job is? Its not greed to want to be properly compensated for giving up a weekend to do a job, its common sense. (3) I would wager that input costs like rent and electricity have more of an impact on profit margins than labour costs. What drives all those costs up? Greedy landlords and energy companies padding their profit margins.

Dont blame the lowly worker, blame the system.

Thanks for all the interest gentlemen.
Today i was able to look at two grinders i was considering.
the Abbot and Ashby and the Linishall.
The a & a was $225 and the Linnishall $299
My impression was that the Linishall appeared much better finished.
A better quality switch.
Both had metal tool rests but the LInishall had easier and better quality knobs for adjusting them.
The A & A used butterfly nuts and were located on the inside of the rest. Slightly harder to manipulate.
The Linishall had large round ridged knobs located on the outside of the wheel housing. Easy to use and find
The Linishall was rated 1hp as opposed to 600w
No light on the A & A. Not a big problem this one ( I have good Lighting at my bench) but useful.
Both made in China.
These are just my impressions. I did fire it up at the shop and no vibration problems.
I had a quick go at home and very happy.
Not to say The A & A is bad or anything, I just preferred the Linishall for the reasons stated.

Cheers

Frank