Benchtop power tools...Custom stand or mount on roll-away cabinet?

[KU_MechE]

I need to mount a bench grinder and belt/disc sander in a small garage. Rather than buy a pair of stands from Harbor Freight or building a custom stand, I'm considering mounting on either side of a roll-away tool chest w/o the wheels attached. Any reason not to do this? Got any better ideas?

Pros:
-This would take up the same floor space as a pair of stands
-Provides significant usable storage
-Should be plenty stable when loaded with tools

Cons:
-Much more expensive than a $30 stand
-Tool cabinet would not be very mobile


Edit: Not sure what box I'd use just yet.

 

[zkling]

Con, shooting abrasive grit into the drawer slides on a constant basis will destroy the drawer slides in very short order. If I was to do this, I would make a canvas or the like drop front cloth to cover the drawers when using the grinder. Would it be a PITA to use the drawers, yes, but it would save on getting junk in the box slides. Just my 2¢

 

[jjjrmx5]

Loaded with tools?

Perhaps.

Both tools are very vibration prone so be very very very careful.

And if tipped over they can be deadly.

Stable base for both is paramount. Cheaping out is risky to me.

But then again, I still have all 20 digits.

 

[KU_MechE]

zkling...Good point. Noted.

jjjrmx5...I see lightweight stands from HF and I have to assume a loaded box, without wheels, would be pretty stout. Do you use pedestals or have yours mounted to a benchtop?

http://www.harborfreight.com/universal-bench-grinder-stand-3184.html

 

[rsanter]

Use the cheaper shorter bottom boxes from cman or similar with friction slides.
Store accessories in the drawers
Keep the wheels on the so they are mobile and use locking wheels

The stands ****

Bob

 

[jjjrmx5]

jjjrmx5...I see lightweight stands from HF and I have to assume a loaded box, without wheels, would be pretty stout. Do you use pedestals or have yours mounted to a benchtop?

LOLZ.

I have a buddy of mine who is a local attorney that bought one of those stands and chased his grinder all over the garage sharpening my mower blades summers ago until I pointed out that is NOT the way it works.

I mount mine to work benches or portable work benches.

HF stands need sand bags at the base to keep stable or be sunk in a 5 gal bucket of concrete or better.

It's a center of gravity issue and vibration.

Bolt it down and no tipping over.

I;ve seen bolts, rivets and metal shot thru and into human forearms from grinders and sanders mounted correctly an up to OSHA in industrial use. Less than that scares the **** out of me which means many of the home users.


Nope. seen it. Not cool.

 

[zkling]

zkling...Good point. Noted.

Out of curiosity are you by chance studying Mechanical Engineering at KU?

Yea grinding dust is a real B, I hate it. Since I have a very small space and some machine tools I have to keep abrasive dust to a minimum, while maximizing my floor space. What I use for bench grinders and belt sanders is an older cast iron table saw. The main, solid table is my welding area. The open side extensions are my grinding area where the grinders sit. But actually the open ares are channeled off and lead to a box connected an old vacuum, effectively a down draft table. All the dust goes into the collector and not around the shop.

Those flared leg stands are super space inefficient. If you have a bunch of extra floor space, well go ahead and get one. On the other hand I think you could build something much better out of an old disk brake rotor and a piece of ~3" or larger metal pipe. Do a google search for "homemade bench grinder stand". As jjjrmx said, you want mass down low, so something like an old disk brake is ideal to keep it planted.

What bench grinder and belt sander do you have?

 

[KU_MechE]

Graduated. I've got this sander:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_91036-46069...urrentURL=?Ntt=porter+cable+sander&facetInfo=

and this grinder:

http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-...p-00921154000P?prdNo=3&blockNo=3&blockType=G3

 

[KU_MechE]

Anybody have any photos of a cleverly mounted benchtop power tool in a small garage?

 

[2oolhound]

I have my belt sander mounted to a small cabinet on wheels. It's a light duty affair usually kept in a corner so you can't lean into it enough to move in use but if it moves I kick a wedge under it to hold it down.



My grinder is mounted on a pedastal made from a dump truck brake drum and axel and it's on wheels too. Same thing there, it doesn't move unless I'm really grinding aggressively and then I kick a wedge under it also.

The problem I see with swapping them out when each is needed is - I often go back and forth between machines and having to mount and unmount each tool could be a pita.

Do a search for Jack Olsen's 12 gage garage, he's the 1st person I saw use a trailer receiver hitch mounted on several benches throughout his shop and then all grinders, vises etc were mounted on the tongues. He can quickly grab any bench tool from a storage shelf and mount it anywhere in the shop.

 

[WallynSC]

I really like your set up on the sander/grinder pictured above. What make and model? Very nice stand and base, did the metal cabinet come with the wheeled base?

 

[PugetDude]

I mounted my 8" Bench Grinder on a 4"x6" rectangular tube pedestal welded to an 18" diameter x 1-1/2" thick plate. It doesn't move. You can tip and roll to move it, though.

 

[KU_MechE]

Thanks for all the replies.

2ool, your cabinet makes great use of space. I like it.

 

[zkling]

I have my belt sander mounted to a small cabinet on wheels.

Is that an old Delta bandsaw stand or the like? Sure looks like it. Did you build those drawers into it? Nice setup.

 

[FunkyfullWidth]

I have my bench grinder mounted to a peice of scrap square tube thats welded to an old rim. tube is about 4x4. I can roll it around easily and i've never had a problem with stability. when cleaning with the wire wheel the motor stalls before I push hard enough to possibly tip it over.

I'm going to weld some round stock to it so I can hang different wheels and a face shield off it.

 

[Outlawmws]

Multiple bench tool and one stand:

B&D WorkMate (2XX or bigger; DON'T use those silly TV tray versions...)

Mount the (grinder/cutoff saw/miter saw...) to a piece if 3/4" ply. I make mine 24" wide, depth as needed.

glue/screw a cleat on the bottom for the WorkMate to grip. make it slightly thicker than the thickens of the WM jaws, and add a wider piece on top of that, making it an upside down "T" this makes a safety in case the WM vise vibrates lose.

Storing the tools:

Make a simple "book case" out of 1X12, and add a 1/4" back to stabilize it. The inside dimension should just clear the 24" mounting plate. install adjustable shelf standards and rack the tools as needed.

Setup like this only ONE "workstation" is needed for as many tools as you are set up for.

Alternate storage:

get 2 of those "plug in" shelf standards that have the flat arms that come out for shelf support, and rack the tools that way.

About the only bench tools I don't setup like this are bench vises. I use them too much and the big ones are too heavy for messing with.

 

[KU_MechE]

Stopped by HD and found a dented cabinet on clearance. Drawers were locked and the key was lost. Took it home for $20 and also bought the wood top for another $20. Drilled out the lock in 30 seconds, then mounted up the tools.




I mounted the sander and grinder w/ 3/8" bolts and used fender washers underneath due to the thin Husky metal. The wood top adds tons of rigidity, so there is no flex in the mount.




aaaaand in the configuration it will normally be used:

 

[zkling]

Man that was a deal for $20. Heck comparatively to the box the top is insanely expensive.

Just a suggestion if you plan to do heavy grinding. Maybe get an old towel or the like and hang it from the top wood so it drapes down and covers the drawers to prevent caking them with abrasive particles. Then again for $20, I guess you could just use it till it dies.

 

[KU_MechE]

Yea, I'm really pleased with the results. Now I need to get a drill press and find somewhere to mount it.