Show us Your Vintage Bench Grinders!!!!

[torqueman2002]

Spotted this old belt-drive grinder at a flea market this morning. The I.D. plate on the motor said it was a General Electric, looked pretty old.

That looks like the one my dad had, back in the 60's.

Maybe why I am fond of Baldor and Block grinders today.

 

[Outlawmws]

That one makes the one my dad had when I was a kid look like a block!

His had a beat oily 4X4 as the armature stand, and two sheet metal L-brackets with open bearing races stamped on - about like old metal wheel skates used - and a box with a switch to turn it on and off... NO rests everything was freehand!

When I wasn't much above a toddler I got into he garage and turned it on - it made a helacious racket running, and my Mom came and Grabbed me and turned it off. I can still remember her lecturing me not to ever go near it again...

That sucker followed us through 5 more houses...

You could still get those cheap *** bearing brackets not many years ago - I bet they still have them in an old school hardware store...

 

[drivesitfar]

I bet those old belt drive grinders would be great for radial brush work especially with the lower rpm models.

Nice stories doc and outlaw!!

I mentioned I found an old pre block on that Baldor stand I posted last week and here’s a few pics. This is also the first block of any kind (I own more than a few now) that has the heavy duty rests and water tray.

This ore block with tray might weigh twice as much as my industrial 1/2 hp block

 

[royudc]

Drives, that's beauty!
I can't believe how complete is, fantastic score and then add in a baldor pedestal.

 

[torqueman2002]

Drives, that's beauty!
I can't believe how complete is, fantastic score and then add in a baldor pedestal.

x2!

 

[drivesitfar]

ROY: thank you!!

Doc: have you rebuilt a PRE BLOCK yet (or maybe i should ask how many)? just curious cause it seems to run fine, but i'm sure it could use some cleaning and a new set of bearings and new stones or wheels. have you tried the new radial brush 3m wheels some of the members are raving about?

here's a thread i'm sure you will enjoy if you haven't seen it yet call RUST REMOVAL and it might give you a few more options for all those good grinders you have at the ready.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=473607&highlight=rust+removal

 

[Ecosta777]

Picked this Milwaukee grinder up a few months ago. Actually made by Kingston-Conley. I wanted this style in particular because of the heavy duty tool rests.

 

[torqueman2002]

ROY: thank you!!

Doc: have you rebuilt a PRE BLOCK yet (or maybe i should ask how many)? just curious cause it seems to run fine, but i'm sure it could use some cleaning and a new set of bearings and new stones or wheels. have you tried the new radial brush 3m wheels some of the members are raving about?

here's a thread i'm sure you will enjoy if you haven't seen it yet call RUST REMOVAL and it might give you a few more options for all those good grinders you have at the ready.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=473607&highlight=rust+removal

Thanks drives. I wasn't aware of those 3M wheels, so I subscribed to the thread and will look into getting some for a new project.

I have done x# of pre-Blocks.

They differ from the newer Blocks (ones with relays) in that they use a centrifugal switch that is attached to the RH end bell, preventing the armature/bearing assembly removal w/o first dealing with that switch.
See this thread for more information: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=244181

 

[ziggybyrne]

Here is another little piece of Australian goodness in the form of a 7 inch 1/2 hp 240 volt bench grinder . I’m running 6 inch wheels as 7’s are not easily found. It wears it’s original hammertone green from 1962 (dated from the run capacitor underneath). It joins a couple of other GMF machines in my collection and only cost $30. By way of comparison, the least expensive Asian 6 inch grinders are over $100 and there is no comparison for quality. Additionally it feels like I’m saving Australia’s manufacturing history from landfill.

 

[drivesitfar]

Ziggy: are you from Australia? nice looking grinder and i agree that buying and either using or restoring to use an old grinder is a much better idea.

DOC: thanks for the heads up and since I love the guards on this pre block i'll probably keep some sort of stones on it to sharpen lawnmower and knife blades (I don't own a belt grinder) because my buffer style grinders are much better for wire wheeling and radial brushes. I'm thinking that some of the guys are having great success with a 220 radial brush on one side of their grinders and a 400 grit on the other so tell me (us) how you like them and what you think.

 

[ziggybyrne]

That’s right Australia is home for me.

 

[lafester]

I just got back with this nice Stanley grinder.
I'll get some better pics of the stand soon.

Even though it has two tool holders I wish it had the regular tool rests instead.
These never have the stand or eye shields though so I'm pretty happy.

 

[lafester]

Hey thats the one I just got. Good to know the tool holders are original.

Outlaw, Did some digging. The 677 was sold by Stanley as a dedicated grinder for sharpening blades and chisels. It was supposed to have a blade sharpening attachment on the right tool rest. It also spins at 1725 rpm, about half of a normal bench grinder.

Also supposed to have the sweet illuminated eye shields which are gone too.

The wheel guard actually has Stanley cast into it. Might make it easier to find, or like you said, might put a wire wheel on that side.

Here is a complete example I found on a google search.

 

[lafester]

Ok, here are a couple new pics. Other then the tweaked eye shield frame, this thing looks pretty nice. Kind of rare to find a school machine that isn't repainted or abused.

I wish the stand had the stanley name cast like the example above.

 

[macgee]

I just got back with this nice Stanley grinder.
I'll get some better pics of the stand soon.

Even though it has two tool holders I wish it had the regular tool rests instead.
These never have the stand or eye shields though so I'm pretty happy.

Nice Score Lafester!

It's a slow speed as well, you don't see those very often and so not surprised to see tool sharpening jigs on it.

Luckily these are not too hard to self make some brackets to accommodate traditional tool rests. Love the pedestal

 

[lafester]

I've got way too many grinders, but when I see one like this I have to grab it.
Looks like the real treasure (besides the pedestal) is the tool holder, which is almost always missing. It just kind of pops into place with nothing really holding it in.

 

[Outlawmws]

I'm noticing it dual speed? 1725/1425? If an option, I'd set it for the slower, as for sharpening you don't WANT high speed, or you risk burning and de-tempering the blade/bit.

 

[exmaxima1]

I'm noticing it dual speed? 1725/1425? If an option, I'd set it for the slower, as for sharpening you don't WANT high speed, or you risk burning and de-tempering the blade/bit.

I think the 2 speeds relate to whether the power is 50 or 60 hz

 

[Outlawmws]

Ah! Your right. I wasn't thinking...

 

[royudc]

Nice find lafester

They must have stenciled that stand for the kids? In case they forgot where they were?

 

[royudc]

Outlaw, I was thinking the same thing for about 5 minutes before the light bulb came on, honest mistake

 

[royudc]

I picked up this two speed buffer off an auction on Thursday.
Another Kingston-Conley to go with it's bigger brother that I posted about earlier.
Supposedly this came out of an optometrist's office.

Ron

Sent from my SM-T290 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[royudc]

So now I'm looking for pedestals for the Delta and the Hoover buffer.
Like all good Canadians I was watching the hockey game Friday night and this popped up on Kijiji

Ron

Sent from my SM-T290 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[royudc]

So I sent him an offer Saturday morning and picked it up at noon.
Is there a 12 step program for people addicted to buying metal cabinets, grinders and vices?
I think I need an intervention, and my wife does too.
I think it's 60's vintage, very complete except for the water pot. The hook for the pot is there, so have a 1/2 9/16 box end hanging on it.

Sent from my SM-T290 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[drivesitfar]

if you limit yourself to Kiiji and Craigslist and the cash in your wallet you should be fine. I can tell you not to go on EBAY and charge items to be shipped or get a storage unit that might help, but it's a lot cheaper than the guys buying racing cars and bikes I can tell you that for certain.

good luck and nice find!!!

 

[Mississippi333]

Does anyone know who built this blue point? I have one side cover amd am trying to cast another from it. Its not going so well. I may have to try to find one. The guards reaemble the shape of flavic3 post 1252. Thanks for the help. Great thread!

 

[Mississippi333]

Another pic.

 

[Bstoehr83]

Restoring a 10” black and decker (van dorn) no. 83 grinder. Anyone know who made the original push button switch or if there is any hope of ever finding an original replacement?

If anyone has tool rests or eye shields for sale, please let me know.

 

[torqueman2002]

Restoring a 10” black and decker (van dorn) no. 83 grinder. Anyone know who made the original push button switch or if there is any hope of ever finding an original replacement?

If anyone has tool rests or eye shields for sale, please let me know.

Nice vintage 'bench' grinder! That is a big boy.

Can't help with parts; but, if you haven't already visited OWWM's website, there's a wealth of information/help there, also. https://owwm.org/

 

[Eric H.]

1980 8" Baldor I paid $100 for. Not real old but was in bad shape before. I had some fun with the restore.

 

[royudc]

Looks great Eric, and you didn't even move the grinder, it's still in the same spot!
What are you gonna put on spindles?

Ron

Sent from my SM-T290 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Eric H.]

Looks great Eric, and you didn't even move the grinder, it's still in the same spot!
What are you gonna put on spindles?

Ron

I lucked out that the shed was still in the same condition as when I found the grinder so I could get the same spot for the after pic. The reason I ran into the grinder is because we are getting ready to clear the shed out of old machinery but nothing has moved yet. It was 6 weeks from the first pic to the second.

For now I have a 3M deburr wheel going on the right and wire wheel on the left with buffing wheels for the left as well. I'll keep an eye out for a right side guard so I can put a stone on it. I have a new fine stone but it runs out a lot and I can't true it without the guard and rest. I've found the guards at Galco but I don't really feel like coughing up $300.

 

[drivesitfar]

Nice paint job on your Baldor stand and grinder. I do like the color combo and you SF Giants badge is different than most restorations here. Did you make the badge?

 

[Eric H.]

Nice paint job on your Baldor stand and grinder. I do like the color combo and you SF Giants badge is different than most restorations here. Did you make the badge?

Thanks, I did make the badge sort of. I drew/dimensioned it and found the logo outline with a google search, gave it to our laser programmer and then he gave the program to the laser operator who cut it out of 20g. stainless. I deburred, formed & powder coated it, got the stainless drive screws from McMaster and polished the heads. The original motor plate was beat up real bad.

Everything is powder coated. I pressed the windings out of the housing so I could powder coat it without heating the windings which are like brand new inside. I started a separate thread with more pictures and a brief history.

 

[drivesitfar]

Eric: any chance you can put a link to your thread in your sig line or in your next post here? sounds like a great way to customize your grinder with your favorite team or memory.

 

[Eric H.]

Eric: any chance you can put a link to your thread in your sig line or in your next post here? sounds like a great way to customize your grinder with your favorite team or memory.

Link added to sig line.

 

[Nutria]

- Baldor 3/4 hp buffer on Baldor cast iron stand, often used with deburring wheels
- Dayton 3/4 hp 8" grinder on Dayton stand, with grinding wheels
- Craftsman 1/2 hp 6" grinder on Craftsman stand, with wire wheels
- Craftsman 1/3 hp 6" grinder, with flap wheel and coarse wheel

 

[royudc]

Wow Nutria, I'm speechless, amazing collection.

 

[Nutria]

Thank you, but these are nothing compared to what I've seen in this thread.

 

[My Junk is Stuff]

Found this little on a few years back. Not a big name but it runs good. Need to mount something on the right side.