bench/pedestal grinder advice

[welddoc]

Hobbyist trying to expand my shop. I am looking for a strong bench grinder to work on 1/4 inch plate steel pieces. I am wearing out too many flap discs on my angle grinder. Any suggestions on a bench grinder with "industrial" capability? I have read about Balco and 8 or 10 inch wheels that works off of 115 volts. What do you advise? This forum has always given me good advice. I appreciate your thoughts.
Bruce

[GWIZ]

You did not say how much material you need to grind off.

The things I look for is hp, tool rests and guard, a light would be nice.

You want a strong tool rest which means sheet-metal guards that hold the rests are out.

This grinder does not look bad.
http://westernmass.craigslist.org/tls/4357118309.html

[Shade Tree Welder]

http://www.baldor.com/products/detai...uff%5FGrinders

[Dr_Stan]

Look on Craigs List or EBay for a Baldor 8" or larger grinder. I found one using Search Tempest that was for sale on the Boston CL site for only $100. I paid the seller an extra $100 to have him take it to the UPS store and ship it to me in KY. Even at $200 it was a steal as the grinder was brand new.

Another option would be an old, emphasis on old, Sears/Craftsman industrial grade grinder. Probably have to be 20 years old or better to be worth your time and effort.

As GWIZ said sheet metal guards are a sure indicator of a cheap grinder. Look for a cast iron tool rest and wheel guards.

Here's one place to look: http://hgrinc.com/ and another is http://www.lostcreekmachine.com/ (metro Chicago).

Good hunting.

[gimpyrobb]

Sounds to me like you are sanding when you should be grinding. Why use a flap disk on 1/4 inch plate?

[dubby]

Originally Posted by gimpyrobb

Sounds to me like you are sanding when you should be grinding. Why use a flap disk on 1/4 inch plate?

It's been my experience that they're faster. I've got two bench grinders, like digr says, they never get used. I've pretty well switched completely to belt-type grinders/sanders. They're fast, easy to use, and the belts last longer than a flap disc. Does the same job though on parts you can hold in your hands.

[cutter]

Originally Posted by dubby

I've pretty well switched completely to belt-type grinders/sanders. They're fast, easy to use, and the belts last longer than a flap disc.

Buy or build a belt grinder & change your life 100% for the better.

[digr]

What I have told all the yunguns I have worked with that a bench grinder is for sharping drill bits and other cutting tools, not for grinding plate unless you have a 10" or larger. Even with one that size i would never use it. If you have to do a lot of grinding chances are you are not getting a clean cut with what ever you are using and a weldment should hardly ever have to be ground. Grinders are for mistakes and general clean up and weld prep. Also I never use flap disks. IMHO

Ted

[LKeithR]

Originally Posted by digr

What I have told all the yunguns I have worked with that a bench grinder is for sharping drill bits and other cutting tools, not for grinding plate unless you have a 10" or larger. Even with one that size i would never use it. If you have to do a lot of grinding chances are you are not getting a clean cut with what ever you are using and a weldment should hardly ever have to be ground. Grinders are for mistakes and general clean up and weld prep. Also I never use flap disks. IMHO

Pretty much my thoughts as well. Before the handheld angle grinders became more prevalent using a big bench grinder to clean up edges and the like was more common but in today's world an angle grinder beats a bench grinder every time. Grinding discs are for removing metal, (coarse) sanding discs are for smoothing and Scotchbrite pads are for fine finishing.

We have a 6 x 48 belt sander which we sue to clean up and bevel a lot of edges but the real workhorses of the shop are the angle grinders--generally faster and, of course, they're the only thing that works when the part is too big to pick up and take to the sander.

Right now in the shop we're using Camel (CGW) grinding wheels. The ones we use are actually the A30Ns--meant for aluminum--but we find they work really well for steel and actually stand up pretty well. They don't last as long as the A24 discs but they sure do remove a lot of material for relatively low effort.

Give them a try. Over the years I've seen so many people buy the hardest, toughest discs they can find because they "last." Yup, they'll spend 3 times as long grinding something down but boy, their discs sure do last. When you're charging your time out by the hour it's foolish to try and save a buck while you're wasting five...

[milomilo]

Here is one in your area. Not real heavy duty, but the price is right.