I am about to give the 'unicorn' method of chisel sharpening a bit of a go. I currently have a Toolex brand 6" bench grinder which has a fine grinding wheel and a wire brush wheel fitted. I don't use them that often but rather than mucking around changing them to buffing wheels and then back to grinding wheels when needed I thought I'd get a dedicated bench grinder for the buffing wheels. 6" it has to be due to space limitations at my waterstone sharpening station.

A bit of a search locally has the following 6" machines available:

Bunnings
- Makita GB602, 250W, $160
- Bosch GBG355, 350W, $200

Total Tools
- Metabo DS150, 350W, $179

Gasweld
- Abbott & Ashby ATBG 280/6, 280W, $159 (Industrial Bench Grinder)
- Abbott & Ashby ATBM 280/6, 280W, $269 (Industrial Buffing Machine)

I have read on the forum that the Abbott and Ashby are rated pretty good by a number of forumites. Both of the A&A machines have the same specs but the buffing machine comes with tapered spindles rather than grinding wheels, rests and guards but is $100 more. Anybody aware of any differences between these two machines that is worth $100. I have looked at online manuals for each and are identical, both show a picture with the same machine labelled 'Industrial Bench Grinder' with identical specs.

Anyway, which of these machines do you reckon is the best for polishing and buffing. At this stage the only use will be for 'unicorn' chisel sharpening (and maybe plane blades one day if it works out). But...... I also have a collection of old hand tools and old fishing reels and fishing gear that may(?) one day get a polish if I was to get sufficiently motivated.

I look forward to your comments or additional options

Regards
Twosheds