Spark grinder choices for sharpening
I know it's a question of machinery, but much of want I want to ask relates to jigs and so on....hence in this forum.
I'm in the market for an 8" grinder to be used primarily for sharpening chisels and plane blades, and then what ever else comes along. I would like to put a brass brush wheel on one end too, as well as a couple of other things such as calico buff wheels, maybe flap wheels, but primarily I will have a CBN wheel on it.
It seems difficult to get a grinder not made in China these days, and I am concerned that a Chinese jobbie could be full of vibrations. Even Abbot & Ashbury are now made in China.
What I have turned up so far are:
- the usual suspects from Hare and Forbes (all Chinese) including A&A (560-750 watts)
- Creusen (which I hope are still Dutch) from Carbatec at a good price but look a bit under powered at 600w (but probably as powerful as 750 Chinese watts)
- Vicmarc are apparently just about to release a new half speed 8" grinder that they are having made for them (but nothing on the website yet). OOPS, it is on the website already: http://www.vicmarc.com/default.asp?contentID=746 and it's a VERY powerful 1500 watts and 1475 rpm for $247.50 (so I hear). No mention of the Arbor size either.
Then there is the question of sharpening jigs. Fortunately I don't have to worry about turning tools, so the jig would be for flat work tools only. On that score there is:
- Veritas Tool Rest and Grinding Jig
- and a lot of Chinese crap.
- Vicmarc seem to have a lot of turning tool jigs, but I'm not sure if they've heard about flat work tools - no mention of them. Had a look on Carrolls and no mention of them there either.
A small problem with the Veritas Tool Rest is that it designed to go over a 1" wide wheel, and the CBN I'd put on would be 40mm. Should be easily enough solved by filing out the slot to 41mm though.
I assume that I would have to take the guard off a grinder designed for a 1" wheel to fit on the 40mm CBN. I have read that this is apparently quite safe to do as the wheels can't disintegrate or throw bits like a normal AlOx or whatever wheel.
So does anyone have any other ideas, or feedback on any of the above please?
Vicmarc Grinding Station and Slow speed grinder
Brett will have stock of the new Vicmarc slow speed grinder next week so will see how this goes as my concern with the slow grinders is torque.
If you are using mops and brushes on the grinders you need plenty of torque as you tend to load up very easy, compared to sharpening where you need a light touch.
The Vicmarc grinding station is good for flat tools