Shop Floor Talk  

Go Back   Shop Floor Talk > Welding and Metalworking Forums > Machining

 
 
SFT Search:
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 03-02-2014, 05:42 PM
welddoc welddoc is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 31
Default bench/pedestal grinder advice

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
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 03-02-2014, 06:40 PM
GWIZ's Avatar
GWIZ GWIZ is offline
SFT Historian
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: USA
Posts: 7,627
Default

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
__________________
*
*
The factory of the future will have only two employees, a man and a dog. The man will be there to feed the dog. The dog will be there to keep the man from touching the equipment. ~Warren G. Bennis
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 03-02-2014, 07:12 PM
Shade Tree Welder's Avatar
Shade Tree Welder Shade Tree Welder is offline
Grumpy Bastard
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Kankakee County, IL
Posts: 23,240
Default

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

"Prepare to defend yourselves."
-- Sergeant Major Basil L. Plumley, Ia Drang Valley
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 03-02-2014, 07:13 PM
Dr_Stan Dr_Stan is offline
Resident Marxist
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Owensboro, KY
Posts: 509
Default

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.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 03-02-2014, 07:19 PM
gimpyrobb's Avatar
gimpyrobb gimpyrobb is offline
Elite Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Cincy Oh
Posts: 2,506
Default

Sounds to me like you are sanding when you should be grinding. Why use a flap disk on 1/4 inch plate?
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 03-02-2014, 07:29 PM
dubby's Avatar
dubby dubby is online now
Twice the size--half the man
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Lubbock, TX
Posts: 10,855
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by gimpyrobb View Post
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.
__________________
I've always had more time than money.

Wade's Custom Kydex
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 03-02-2014, 07:39 PM
cutter's Avatar
cutter cutter is offline

12-29-1943 to 1-17-2020
Curmudgeon emeritus
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Lubbock,Texas
Posts: 33,097
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by dubby View Post
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.
__________________
cutter
Housekeeping Staff: the Gatekeeper
Director of Policy, Syntax and Grammar (by appointment)

"Dr. Chandran, will I dream?"

Just Keep Walking

"I am not a body, I am free.
For I am still as God created me."
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 03-02-2014, 07:21 PM
digr's Avatar
digr digr is offline
The Real Deal
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Duluth MN
Posts: 9,361
Default

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
__________________
Drawing by Smartdraw
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 03-02-2014, 08:33 PM
LKeithR's Avatar
LKeithR LKeithR is offline
Hey...wait...is there a prize?
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Langley, B.C.
Posts: 5,762
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by digr View Post
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...
__________________
Keith

Measure twice and cut once...or...wait, was that the other way around?
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 03-02-2014, 08:59 PM
milomilo's Avatar
milomilo milomilo is offline

4-13-1949 to 5-21-2023
Auction Addict
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Wheatland, Wyoming
Posts: 18,859
Default

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

One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors. Plato

LET'S GO BRANDON!!!!

B biggest
I idot
D democrats
E ever
N nominated
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Web Search:

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:22 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.