School Me on Bench Grinders

[Gilmourisgod]

He's been using Evaporust, and a low budget electrolysis setup on larger chunks of metal, but the wire wheel gets a lot of use for smaller stuff like axe heads. He does have the good sense to wear eye protection, so I'm not too worried about his safety. He's studying to be a Diesel mechanic, and they just made them all go through a full OSHA course.

 

[DrBnz]

I have a bench grinder. All I can say about it is that thing is dangerous. But it doesn't play around either. If you know what you're doing and keep your mind focus'd .... you might not lose a finger. I rarely use it. Now I have a belt sander that is the greatest and I'm a Ninja warrior with a Dremel tool. I'd give you my grinder if you pay the shipping.

 

[Low Main]

I like the 1" and 2" belt sanders that folks have mentioned here.

You can economize a little on the cost of the machine itself, but I don't like to economize on the quality of the belts.

Luckily, there are abrasives suppliers that will sell good quality belts in small quantities to small shops.

I think the operating speed is important. I'm always wanting a stationary sander to run slower than the manufacturer does.

Someday, I will splurge and replace the 3450 rpm motor on my old Grizzly 6 x 48 sander with a 1725 rpm motor, which they didn't offer as an option when I bought the sander. I've spoken to them about the swap out, and it looks like it would be a smooth, straightforward exchange.

One mistake I made was to overbuy narrow belts. I wasn't using them up quickly enough and the tape joint at the seam would age and degrade while they sat around waiting to be used.

I'd put on a new belt months or years after I bought it, and the seam would blow almost immediately.

Happily, there are all sorts of uses for long strips of fresh abrasive belt with a blown seam.

I've got dust collection hooked up to my sanders but since they mostly abrade wood, when I have to abrade metal, I'm careful about the changeover. My fear is metal particles flying around and mixing it up with wood dust. I do a simple 2 stage collection for metal particles using an old dedicated shop vac and a cleaned out 5 gal. solvent pail with a removable crimped lid.

I also rigged up my belt sanders so that I can change out the belt quickly. Once a new belt is run in and tracking consistently, I pull it off the machine at the end of the day to take it out of tension and (hopefully) extend the life of the seam.

It seems as though the quality of some belts has varied in recent years. I used to be comfortable buying Klingspor belts some years ago, but the last batch I got from them was unsatisfactory. I went elsewhere after that.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Based on all the good comments, I'll look for a combination grinder/belt sander. I know he'll want to use the grinder side for a wire wheel. I don't think I've ever seen him use the crappy stone wheel that came with the Wen, and may rarely if ever use it on a new machine.

 

[Smith357]

I have refinished many vintage axes, a grinding wheels has always been a big no-no for a tempered edge, unless you have a lot of experience using one. For doing axes I have always used a good file for reprofiling the grind.

 

[Bruce Johnson]

Staying on the topic of Bench Grinders (with the spinning stone wheels), there are also more modern accessories to replace the stone wheels, which are safer and cut more efficiently. Such as:

Eastwood Expander Wheel Expandable Rubber Drum for Sanding Or Grinding Belts Polishing & Cleaning & Derusting & Deburring Working in Metal - Amazon.com

Eastwood Expander Wheel Expandable Rubber Drum for Sanding Or Grinding Belts Polishing & Cleaning & Derusting & Deburring Working in Metal - Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

This is a 6" dia x 1.5" wide rubber wheel that takes a sanding band (a short sanding belt) on the outside. The wheel expands by centrifugal force to lock the band on. Shut it off and bring it to a stop, and the band can be swapped in seconds. The bands are available in a wide range of grits. This would be a great tool for your son to use restoring axe and hammer heads.

One note: It's rated at 2400 rpm max. Don't put it on a 3450 rpm grinder. It would be great mounted right on the shaft of any 1750 rpm motor.

 

[SoonerBill]

Staying on the topic of Bench Grinders (with the spinning stone wheels), there are also more modern accessories to replace the stone wheels, which are safer and cut more efficiently. Such as:

Eastwood Expander Wheel Expandable Rubber Drum for Sanding Or Grinding Belts Polishing & Cleaning & Derusting & Deburring Working in Metal - Amazon.com

Eastwood Expander Wheel Expandable Rubber Drum for Sanding Or Grinding Belts Polishing & Cleaning & Derusting & Deburring Working in Metal - Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

This is a 6" dia x 1.5" wide rubber wheel that takes a sanding band (a short sanding belt) on the outside. The wheel expands by centrifugal force to lock the band on. Shut it off and bring it to a stop, and the band can be swapped in seconds. The bands are available in a wide range of grits. This would be a great tool for your son to use restoring axe and hammer heads.

One note: It's rated at 2400 rpm max. Don't put it on a 3450 rpm grinder. It would be great mounted right on the shaft of any 1750 rpm motor.

First time I've seen those. If I still used my bench grinder as much as I used to I would invest in a couple of those.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

What's the consensus on this one? Seems to check all the boxes, grinder with belt sander, built in light, $150. It's 6" vs. 8, but I don't think it matters much, the stone would probably come off immediately in favor of wire wheel. It's actually less direct from Grizzly than it is on Amazon. 1/2 HP at 3450 RPM. Too fast for light duty metal work? I've had a couple Grizzly tools over the years with no issues.

Grizzly H7760 - Combo Belt Sander/Grinder - Grizzly Industrial, Inc.

<h1>H7760 Combo Belt Sander/Grinder</h1><h2>A dual-purpose machine for professional results on both grinding and sanding projects.</h2><p>Fire up this efficient combination belt sander/grinder to get a perfect edge on all of your tooling and cutting equipment.<p>The 6" x 3/4" x 1/2" arbor...

www.grizzly.com

 

[Bruce Johnson]

What's the consensus on this one? Seems to check all the boxes, grinder with belt sander, built in light, $150. It's 6" vs. 8, but I don't think it matters much, the stone would probably come off immediately in favor of wire wheel. It's actually less direct from Grizzly than it is on Amazon. 1/2 HP at 3450 RPM. Too fast for light duty metal work? I've had a couple Grizzly tools over the years with no issues.

Grizzly H7760 - Combo Belt Sander/Grinder - Grizzly Industrial, Inc.

<h1>H7760 Combo Belt Sander/Grinder</h1><h2>A dual-purpose machine for professional results on both grinding and sanding projects.</h2><p>Fire up this efficient combination belt sander/grinder to get a perfect edge on all of your tooling and cutting equipment.<p>The 6" x 3/4" x 1/2" arbor...

www.grizzly.com

Grizzly is a good company. I've bought about 7 major machines and many accessories from them over the years. My Knife Belt Sander has seen almost daily use for 30 years.

That little grinder/sander looks okay. Definitely more useful than a plain grinder. Yes, a longer belt and quick-release lever would be better, but that gets more expensive.

I see that Grizzly now has a cool bench top 2 x 42 Knife Belt Sander for $399:

Grizzly T32459Z - 2" x 42" Knife-Making Belt Sander/Grinder - Grizzly Industrial, Inc.

<h1>T32459Z 2" x 42" Knife-Making Belt Sander/Grinder</h1> <h2>Shape and sharpen your custom knife blades with ease.</h2> <p>Need the flexibility to grind knives both horizontally and vertically, but your shop is 110V single-phase? With this machine, you can do both. Designed for the entry-level...

www.grizzly.com

This is the one I have, which is 2 x 72:

Grizzly G1015 - Knife Grinder, Sander, and Buffer - Grizzly Industrial, Inc.

<h1>G1015 Knife Grinder, Belt Sander, and Buffer</h1> <h2>Perfect for grinding metal and freehand shaping.</h2> <p>The long belt arm on the G1015 Knife Belt Grinder, Belt Sander, and Buffer is exactly what you need for grinding metal and freehand shaping. Perfect for knife makers, the 2" x 72"...

www.grizzly.com

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Just one more.... the Bucktool BG2600, and only because it has the much bigger table for the belt sander. The belt can also be rotated down to horizontal. They don't list HP, but supposedly somewhere between 1/3-1/2 HP. Underpowered? The work light is crap, a little battery LED clip-on over the grinder, but it does have a dust colector, like the Grizzly. The bigger belt, table, and horizontal option are really the only reason I'm looking at it, plus it's the only thing like it in this price range. Typical Gilmour indecison...... every purchase must be agonized over....

Bucktool Combo 2" x 42" Belt Sander 6" Bench Grinder, Knife Sharpener with Large Work Table

Come with 1/3 HP, 120V motor, 3.5 Amp, 3450 RPM, CSA listed. Combo 2"x42" belt sander and 6" bench grinder for general purposes. The belt action can be positioned either vertically or horizontally. Quick-release tension & Removable Belt platen avaliable.

bucktool.com

 

[Bruce Johnson]

Just one more.... the Bucktool BG2600, and only because it has the much bigger table for the belt sander. The belt can also be rotated down to horizontal. They don't list HP, but supposedly somewhere between 1/3-1/2 HP. Underpowered? The work light is crap, a little battery LED clip-on over the grinder, but it does have a dust colector, like the Grizzly. The bigger belt, table, and horizontal option are really the only reason I'm looking at it, plus it's the only thing like it in this price range. Typical Gilmour indecison...... every purchase must be agonized over....

Bucktool Combo 2" x 42" Belt Sander 6" Bench Grinder, Knife Sharpener with Large Work Table

Come with 1/3 HP, 120V motor, 3.5 Amp, 3450 RPM, CSA listed. Combo 2"x42" belt sander and 6" bench grinder for general purposes. The belt action can be positioned either vertically or horizontally. Quick-release tension & Removable Belt platen avaliable.

bucktool.com

I don't really use the table that much on my Knife Belt Sander. For most metal grinding jobs. I'm holding the workpiece freehand against the belt, against the steel platen, above the table.

 

[Lo-E]

Just one more.... the Bucktool BG2600, and only because it has the much bigger table for the belt sander. The belt can also be rotated down to horizontal. They don't list HP, but supposedly somewhere between 1/3-1/2 HP. Underpowered? The work light is crap, a little battery LED clip-on over the grinder, but it does have a dust colector, like the Grizzly. The bigger belt, table, and horizontal option are really the only reason I'm looking at it, plus it's the only thing like it in this price range. Typical Gilmour indecison...... every purchase must be agonized over....

Bucktool Combo 2" x 42" Belt Sander 6" Bench Grinder, Knife Sharpener with Large Work Table

Come with 1/3 HP, 120V motor, 3.5 Amp, 3450 RPM, CSA listed. Combo 2"x42" belt sander and 6" bench grinder for general purposes. The belt action can be positioned either vertically or horizontally. Quick-release tension & Removable Belt platen avaliable.

bucktool.com

I’ve looked at this exact tool numerous times in the last couple of years and will probably end up buying one at some point.

Regarding bench grinders, one aspect of my profession has had me in and out of industrial fabrication shops for the past 40-ish years and I could probably count on one hand all the bench and pedestal grinders that weren’t Baldor products. An occasional Delta or Enco, maybe a Dayton (Grainger’s house brand - likely made by Baldor) here and there but most were Baldor with good reason: they’re smooth and powerful and built to survive a zombie apocalypse. …or, at least, the rigors of an industrial shop. I agree with Bruce and the others that a belt grinder is more versatile, safer and more pleasant to use but if a used Baldor turned up for under $100 I would seriously consider it. They’re very good machines and they’re very common.

I currently own one of the “better” Harbor Freight 6” bench grinders (inherited from my father who almost never bought quality tools) and a 1980s-era Craftsman 6” that cost me $5 at a yard sale. The Harbor Freight vibrates terribly, even with a perfectly trued wheel and it gets very hot even when not working hard. The Craftsman doesn’t vibrate very much but it has a very cheap plastic housing and crappy rests and it’s about as loud as a Cessna. They’re just not very good machines. I would happily trade both machines for one used Baldor. I do find it handy to have a bench grinder for occasional jobs but I would prefer to own a belt grinder.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

So after all this..... My Mother in law gave my son a little 1/3 HP Delta grinder, and the Wen went in the trash.I ordered the Bucktool 1" belt sander, between the two, a nice little Christmas present. I have use of a Delta 8" grinder at the shop I share with my Brother, so I think I'm all good! My son wants to try his hand at some amateur knife making, so I'm hoping the Bucktool works out for him. he's gotten VERY good at hand sharpening axes, lets see what he can do with a good belt sander. I ordered an assortment of 1" x 30" maetal sanding belts too, it only comes with one wood sanding belt.