Thread: The Ultimate Grinder?

Wow! us$1275.00 plus postage plus import tax. Looks nice though Brendan.

The purpose of that grinder is to give me the excuse that I would have made a better job if I could have afforded it.

$1300+ and you still have to have an auxiliary tool rest for turning tools

Originally Posted by Pat

$1300+ and you still have to have an auxiliary tool rest for turning tools

.... and buy the jigs if you want them. Being over the $1000 mark certainly means import duty unless .... they sell the wheels seperately???

Just buy a couple of CBN (better than diamond for HSS) wheels from Jim carroll and fit them to a standard bench ginder,(For less than half the cost) you will find it will run almost vibration free ( most vibration is caused by the wheel) speed contol is not much use for this type of use, despite what he claims dust will be an issue especialy with stainless and plated wheels do not last forever

Or this: H7762 Heavy-Duty Tool Grinder

And just to stir the pot a bit, this, looks vaguely familiar:

T10010 10" Wet Grinder Kit

Originally Posted by China

Just buy a couple of CBN (better than diamond for HSS) wheels from Jim carroll and fit them to a standard bench ginder,(For less than half the cost) you will find it will run almost vibration free ( most vibration is caused by the wheel) speed contol is not much use for this type of use, despite what he claims dust will be an issue especialy with stainless and plated wheels do not last forever

I'm interested in why you think speed isn't and issue. My thinking is (and I speak with very little authority on this) the slower the speed the less likely I would be to burn the steel. I have a CBN wheel and the have found it doesn't eliminate the danger of the steel burning if too much pressure is put on it. It was this speed control and the torque at low speed that caught my attention. The grinder I have that has the CBN wheel on it takes 13 seconds to wind up to full speed suggesting it has poor torque. It's a chinese Abbott Ashley (spelling??). THe CBN wheels are comparatively heavy and my grinder struggles with the extra weight. I know the Cruesen (spelling??) grinders are proving popular because they operate at half the speed of a standard grinder so to have variable speed I thought might be that much better.

Originally Posted by Paul39

Or this: H7762 Heavy-Duty Tool Grinder

And just to stir the pot a bit, this, looks vaguely familiar:

T10010 10" Wet Grinder Kit

Looks like a rip off of a Tormek including the jigs? Just change the appearance somewhat.

Originally Posted by Mobyturns

Looks like a rip off of a Tormek including the jigs? Just change the appearance somewhat.

Yup.

To prevent "burning" chisels etc is a matter of practice and developing a feel for for what you are doing, and having a water tray close so you can cool what you are grinding, even with a slow speed you can still overheat what ever you are grinding plus beleive you can "burn" chisels etc. on a diamond or CBN, he also states that dust is not an issue, any body that has used Diamond or CBN will know that this is just plainly untrue the dust is also just as as deadly if not more so. I have been grinding every type of tool you can think of for over 40 years and all I use is a good quality grinder (GMF) 1hp or greater with a white tool room quality alox wheel I have grinders that have a motor speed of 2800 rpm, to touch up turning chisel takes 10 seconds and does not overheat.
In the video he easily slows the wheel with his fingers, I have a grinder set up with two CBN wheels I do not use it for woodworking, I would not even attempt tp grab it with my fingers as it would not slow as that one does.

I just do not think the cost is justified if I had a spare $1500 I can think of many other things that would come before one of those, I have been noticing recently that sharpening of if items is becomming more and more complicated and more and more expensive, and is just not justified

Originally Posted by China

.....
I just do not think the cost is justified if I had a spare $1500 I can think of many other things that would come before one of those, I have been noticing recently that sharpening of if items is becomming more and more complicated and more and more expensive, and is just not justified

Definitely the new growth area in tool marketing. I agrre if turners are not into or confident with freehand sharpening I reckon the money is better spent on a quality jig system and learning to use the traditional grinders effectively. No amount of dollars will ever replace learning good sharpening (& turning) technique and lots of practice.

However in Brendans instance the CBN wheels do seem to have some merit, hes a skilled turner with a specific application. I have concerns about CBN's cost & longevity, particularly if used roughly. I like my traditional Abbott & Ashby with white / pink wheels and the Tormek T7 wet grinder combination.

I particularly like the wet grinders as they eliminate of a couple of significant hazards for wheel failure, eye injuries, burns abrasions, ignition sources and potentially hazardous mineral dusts.

It is a very high end grinder, and made for sharpening CNC bits and cutters. Way more precise than woodturners will ever need. The wheels are very high quality as well, and like he said, about 8 pounds each compared to a little over 6 for the D Way and Optigrind 8 inch wheels. I don't have one yet, and may not get one ever, but, well, what does need have to do with it. I am still waiting for Stuart Batty's Omni Grinder to come out. More for grinding than precision sharpening.

robo hippy

Originally Posted by robo hippy

It is a very high end grinder, and made for sharpening CNC bits and cutters. Way more precise than woodturners will ever need. The wheels are very high quality as well, and like he said, about 8 pounds each compared to a little over 6 for the D Way and Optigrind 8 inch wheels. I don't have one yet, and may not get one ever, but, well, what does need have to do with it. I am still waiting for Stuart Batty's Omni Grinder to come out. More for grinding than precision sharpening.

robo hippy

DC Variable Speed Bench Grinder | CUTTERMASTER | CUTTERMASTER Professional - Cuttermaster End Mill Sharpener | Drill Sharpener

The grinder shown above is definitely not designed to sharpen CNC bits and cutters, these people do make a machine for that purpose but it looks just a little different:

Cuttermaster Professional | CUTTERMASTER | Canada | USA - Cuttermaster End Mill Sharpener | Drill Sharpener

I guess like any good tool manufacturer, they have many 'accessories' to go with their standard toys. Dangerous to the wallet.

robo hippy