Thread: Which Bench Grinder?

I would also like to know what of any drawbacks there are for me to buy the cheapest bench grinder I can find. I'm thinking $100.

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Originally Posted by DaveVman

I would also like to know what of any drawbacks there are for me to buy the cheapest bench grinder I can find. I'm thinking $100.

Vibration is the main problem with cheap grinders.
Cheap grinders are like the Panasonic products of the 1960's when quality control was not quite there.
So you can get lucky and find a low vibe one, or one that you can take most of the vibe out, or they are so bad you cannot do a thing with them.
All the (cheap) small grinders at the mens shed except the Waldown and the 3Phase grinder in the metal workshop have significant vibe.
Cheap grinders also tend to be rated on electrical power in (or there abouts) rather than HP out.

I've turned over 8 bench grinders in my shed in the last few years and currently have 4 (3 are 200mm and 1 is 250mm).
The smoothest are the 3, 3 phase variable speed grinders, but I kept one single phase and that was the 200mm Abbot and Ashby grinder that my brother gave me.
These are basic solid grinders with true HP output ratings.

Also you might want to think carefully about the wheels you want to get at the same time.
A CBN wheel is a wonderful thing and really worth getting
An 200mm Abbot and Ashby and an a CBN wheel will eat up your budget but that may be all you need.

Wheels I have on/for my grinders
CBN
Diamond for Tungsten carbide
Wire wheels for rust removal
Scotchbrite wheel for light rust removal, light bur removal and satin finishing of metals - this gets used a lot.
Various buffing wheels
Various green, white and grey wheels that I don't use much
I also have a home made thin key cutting wheel saw attachment permanently mounted on one grinder and and a multitool linisher/disc on another.

Just a thought here. I purchased a very cheap bench grinder for $40US new. (Chinese made) It would almost shake itself apart when running. Then I purchased two wheels for about $20. Now the grinder is as smooth as can be.

The improvement shown by CBN wheels demonstrates that many grinders are supplied with wheels that are poorly balanced. Learn to balance the wheels if you are not using CBN. It is pretty straight forward - just trial and error, really - and does not require special equipment. Basically, mark the setting of the wheel on the arbor, and rotate it a little, retighten, and start up. Keep going until the vibration is at the lowest level.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Hi Frank,

Can you tell us what you want to do with the grinder? For example if it were to be for general use then I would agree wholeheartedly that the Abbot and Ashby with either good quality Aluminium Oxide wheels (The Sandpaper man has these) or the CBN wheels (better) will give excellent service. But, for sharpening woodturning tools I would be recommending a slow-speed grinder for best results. You can also use the A&A as above for woodturning tools but you will need to quench them more often so they do not lose their temper.

If you are only doing rough work like axes, scythes, mower blades, shaping steel for other purposes then you would not need either the Al oxide or the CBN wheels but follow Derek's advice for balancing.

David

But, for sharpening woodturning tools I would be recommending a slow-speed grinder for best results

I will disagree with David on this point if you are using HSS chisels, since a high speed grinder will not create enough heat to affect the temper. Dave's advice is correct if you use O1 steel (however I do not know that new lathe chisels are available in this steel any longer).

The advantage of CBN wheels extends to the higher grits, such as 350, which will produce a fine edge off the grinder. Ordinarily, these fine wheels create more heat that would destroy an O1 blade. Again, HSS steel is unaffected by this heat.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Originally Posted by BobL

I kept one single phase and that was the 200mm Abbot and Ashby grinder that my brother gave me.
These are basic solid grinders with true HP output ratings.

My 15 year old A & A has done everything asked of it. Australian made.

mick

Thanks Everyone for your replies.

I guess my main uses for the grinder are general purpose.
I will not be sharpening wood turning tools
I am considering the Abbot and Ashby and may also get the multi belt
and disc grinding attachment to use as a linisher
I also want to use soft wheels to rehab old chisels etc.
I have seen the results of the Norton Bear tex wheel on chisels and would consider getting one.
I wonder if anyone has experience of these.
I have a Tormek slow speed grinder and some diamond plates for chisel etc sharpening.
I would check out if a CBN wheel would be useful for me and get one if so.
I have also spotted a brand called Linishall. Does anyone have experience of these?
But if the Abbot and Ashby are australian made and good this would sway me.

Thanks again

Frank

I am fairly sure that the current Abbott and Ashby grinders are sourced from China but I don't know how good (or bad) they are.

I think you're right. In my experience, the current Abbott & Ashby product isn't remotely comparable to the older Aussie made items people are talking about on here. They are now just another Chinese-made grinder, with patchy quality control......you might get a good one, or you might not.

Why do some Oz manufacturers choose to enter a race to the bottom? There are any number of successful companies who promote high quality products and supplement their smaller local sales with export. They work to make innovative designs for a point of competitive difference.

Sorry people. It drives me insane.

Yours Curmudgeonly
mick

Originally Posted by Glider

Why do some Oz manufacturers choose to enter a race to the bottom? There are any number of successful companies who promote high quality products and supplement their smaller local sales with export. They work to make innovative designs for a point of competitive difference.

Sorry people. It drives me insane.

Yours Curmudgeonly
mick

Because they believe they can make more money that way.

Originally Posted by Glider

Why do some Oz manufacturers choose to enter a race to the bottom? There are any number of successful companies who promote high quality products and supplement their smaller local sales with export. They work to make innovative designs for a point of competitive difference.

Sorry people. It drives me insane.

Yours Curmudgeonly
mick

Because people buy the cheapest so they have to compete at price or die. How many threads start with a price range that absolutely precludes anything that did not come from China, lots is the answer. My answer to cheap when I first started was second hand as the market for cheap tools was not really there in the 1970's compared to now. We the consumer drove the market downwards like it or not.

Originally Posted by DonIncognito

Because they believe they can make more money that way.

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.