Show us Your Vintage Bench Grinders!!!!

tedsters · Mar 22, 2014

Nortonscustom said:
Here's my old Cincinnati 2hp. Uses 12" x2" wheels. I dug it out of a scrap yard. Repainted, put new bearings and starter in it. Used a pair of lighted eye shields off a burned up Baldor grinder I had. It has had 10 years of heavy use since and never missed a beat. Great machine.

that my friend is a grinder that is AWESOME great find

tedsters · Mar 23, 2014

here is and old Roberts i picked up tonight it was Made in Michigan that where i am so it needs some work a tool rest is missing and side covers runs great original stand i need to see if i can find a pic of one to see what it looked like originally nice stand also

tedsters · Mar 23, 2014

heres an old craftsman i picked up tonight it runs great

Jack Olsen · Mar 29, 2014

There is NO competing with Nortonscustom, but I've finally got a grinder that's both vintage and American.

I got it like this, and was already happy. It's a 12-amp, 1-hp Milwaukee 5080 from the early 1970s. I'm pretty sure it's all original -- the old bearings still let the thing spin for 2 minutes and 46 seconds after you switch it off. It weighs 132 pounds.

I thought I would be able to get away with just cleaning it up, but ended up painting it. Here's the case.

I decided to hold off on the lighted eye guards for now -- safety glasses seem simpler. I filled the threaded holes for the guards with stainless set screws.

Here it is painted and reassembled.

drivesitfar · Mar 30, 2014

Jack: Your Milwaukee might not compare side by side to Nordy's monster, but it would hold it's own next to my Baldor 3/4 HP buffer. nice find and your quick restore/clean-up is awesome.

by the way how did you get the badge off and then put it back on?

Jack Olsen · Mar 30, 2014

Thanks.

One of the surprises during the cleaning part was that the little plate studs are threaded, not rivets. The heads had been banged up, but the fasteners unscrewed without too much work. If you look in that picture of the plate, you can see the hex head shape, not round.

drivesitfar · Mar 30, 2014

so i guess you took the end covers off the grinder to get to the back of the screws to take of and re mount the badge? or how did you manage getting them off and on without having access to the inside?

thanks

BJ42LX · Mar 30, 2014

Jack Olsen said:
One of the surprises during the cleaning part was that the little plate studs are threaded, not rivets. The heads had been banged up, but the fasteners unscrewed without too much work. If you look in that picture of the plate, you can see the hex head shape, not round.

Jack, what color/paint did you use? It looks great.

I have an old Millers Falls grinder with fantastically small bolts holding the name plate on...

2oolhound · Mar 30, 2014

Fretters said:
With that one, only one of the pulleys is locked to the spindle. The other one rotates freely on the spindle. It's the old fast and loose system, which would be used for a constant drive source like a lineshaft system, rather than with something which can be easily stopped/started like an electric motor. The yoke on the front is used to move the belt between the pulleys. The one which is fixed provides the drive to the spindle, then move it over to the other pulley to disconnect it from the drive. The pulley will turn, but the spindle remains stationary. Flat belt pulleys have a slight crown too, so when you change the belt between pulleys it automatically centres itself on the pulley due to its tendency to aim for the highest spot on the pulley. It's the same method used for bandsaw wheels, linisher wheels etc.

Thanks for explaining!

tedsters · Mar 30, 2014

Jack

thats a nice old grinder its hard to find them all complete like that and you did a great job repainting it looks great what color paint is that

Nader · Mar 30, 2014

Restored this old Thor. Matches my race car project.

Jack Olsen · Mar 30, 2014

drivesitfar said:
so i guess you took the end covers off the grinder to get to the back of the screws to take of and re mount the badge? or how did you manage getting them off and on without having access to the inside?

I was able to get the sides of the little fasteners with a pin-pulling-type pair of needlenose pliers.

BJ42LX said:
Jack, what color/paint did you use? It looks great.

I have an old Millers Falls grinder with fantastically small bolts holding the name plate on...

The paint is Rustoleum Anodized Bronze. It's an interesting color, in that it can look light or dark and gray or bronze-ish depending on the light. I've used it a lot in my garage, and I also used it for a pergola for my deck. It looks much darker when it's outside.

Here are a few pictures that show some of the variation:

All the same color paint.

rickhigginshtbr · Mar 30, 2014

I don't know what I like more, the Milwaukee or the Thor....

Outlawmws · Mar 30, 2014

I want both... (Why be difficult?)

Pupuhd · Mar 31, 2014

Jack Olsen said:
I've used it a lot in my garage, and I also used it for a pergola for my deck.

Jack, not to change the subject at hand, but that pergola is a fantastic design. Is it a kit or something you made. Having a hard time deciding what to do with my back deck to get more privacy from the neighbors. Was thinking the typical style pergola but want something more unique. Can you PM some photos/information on it. Thanks-David

drivesitfar · Mar 31, 2014

Jack: i agree that your outside deck and covering are AWESOME. did you do any before and after pictures or start a thread on that project? if you would i'd certainly be watching because you did a great job.

by the way i'm still not sure how you removed and replaced the screws on the badge of your new (old) grinder without removing the ends so if you want to maybe explain the process and show the tool that would be great if you have time. or the likelihood of me getting a badge of that style are not likely.

Also when you have shot pictures of your shop in the past I didn't remember seeing a nice welding bench on top of what looks like a Lyon or Stronghold cabinet which looks awesome too. very nice upgrade and almost looks like a new steel plate top.

I would like to know how to take the rivets off and replace if anybody else knows.

Jack Olsen · Apr 1, 2014

Pupuhd said:
Jack, not to change the subject at hand, but that pergola is a fantastic design. Is it a kit or something you made. Having a hard time deciding what to do with my back deck to get more privacy from the neighbors. Was thinking the typical style pergola but want something more unique. Can you PM some photos/information on it. Thanks-David

Thanks. It's not any kind of a kit. For better or worse, the plan, the execution all of the work and all the details were all me.

There's a thread on it from awhile back.

drivesitfar said:
Jack: i agree that your outside deck and covering are AWESOME. did you do any before and after pictures or start a thread on that project? if you would i'd certainly be watching because you did a great job.

by the way i'm still not sure how you removed and replaced the screws on the badge of your new (old) grinder without removing the ends so if you want to maybe explain the process and show the tool that would be great if you have time. or the likelihood of me getting a badge of that style are not likely.

Also when you have shot pictures of your shop in the past I didn't remember seeing a nice welding bench on top of what looks like a Lyon or Stronghold cabinet which looks awesome too. very nice upgrade and almost looks like a new steel plate top.

I would like to know how to take the rivets off and replace if anybody else knows.

The fasteners holding my plate in were like little bolts. You're seeing the heads of the bolts in the picture. The motor case has threaded holes, and the heads were on the outside of the case. There were no nuts or anything on the inside of the motor case. So I basically just grabbed the heads of the tiny bolts with a pair of needle-nose pliers and backed them out.

And thanks. The welding table was a splurge. It's an inch-thick piece of plate on top of an old Strong Hold cabinet.

Someone else might have a better way to get rivets out. But I would hit them with a spring-loaded punch to put an indent in the head and then slowly drill thg thing until the rivet comes apart.

And now back to the vintage grinder thread...

drivesitfar · Apr 1, 2014

thanks for clarifying the little bolts and the pre threaded holes in the grinder.

now for the awesome Pergola and Stronghold Cabinets with the steel plate pictures. they are on par with Nordy's old Cincinnati grinder and stand and maybe a bit better. thanks for sharing and i hope the others didn't mind a little distraction while we are waiting for another grinder to show up. :thumbup:

Pupuhd · Apr 1, 2014

Jack Olsen said:
Thanks. It's not any kind of a kit. For better or worse, the plan, the execution all of the work and all the details were all me.

There's a thread on it from awhile back.

Thanks. I just subscribed to the thread. I'll be studying it in details, possible picking your brain. Btw, you ****. Now I have to buy a tube bender

,

JasonJ · Apr 1, 2014

My Thor Speed Grinder...
Before

after:

The next project.. a 3/4hp King

drivesitfar · Apr 1, 2014

Jason: i own 2 Thor grinders that look like that one you just restored. is yours a 1/4 HP like both of mine are or is yours a little bigger? any issues with painting aluminum? nice job :thumbup:

Jack: i love your Stronghold cabs with that big hunk of steel on them almost as much as i liked the before and after pics of your pergola and backyard redo. nice work big guy :thumbup:

compared to some of the other quality grinders that have shown up lately this one hardly compares, but i'm guessing it will keep running for my grandkids so here is my 3/4 HP Craftsman that was modified to be a buffer before i bought it. my guess is the 40's but not sure how these are dated and if anybody knows i'd be glad to look for the date.

jakemac · Apr 1, 2014

The date should be stamped on the label as - a Letter and a Number (space) two Numbers. (xX_XX) Some years it's at the bottom, some years it's near the model number. The letter/number is a month or production code, the two numbers should be the year.

JasonJ · Apr 1, 2014

drivesitfar said:
Jason: i own 2 Thor grinders that look like that one you just restored. is yours a 1/4 HP like both of mine are or is yours a little bigger? any issues with painting aluminum? nice job

It is a model 128B ... 1/4HP. It is a little weak, but it can do small work satisfactory.

drivesitfar · Apr 2, 2014

Jake: mine isn't exactly in that same position as both of your 1948 versions, but i think mine is a November 1955. i plugged it in and it purrs like a lion.

Jason: thanks for the model # and i agree those little Thor grinders have their purpose. I bought one of mine from a retired dentist that had it on a nice little cart at his practice to smooth out crowns and maybe sharpen his tools too.

Jack Olsen · Apr 2, 2014

drivesitfar said:
Jack: i love your Stronghold cabs with that big hunk of steel on them almost as much as i liked the before and after pics of your pergola and backyard redo. nice work big guy

Thank you!

Back on topic, the fine-grit wheel arrived today for the grinder. Now it spins for over four minutes after I switch it off, which someone told me might mean my bearings are essentially out of grease. I'm going to try and source replacements.

But for posterity's sake, here's a picture of the grinder with only grinding wheels on it.

bubinga2 · Apr 2, 2014

Here is my oldest grinder....

Outlawmws · Apr 2, 2014

Wow, I have a bunch of hand crank grinders, none chain drive though!

drivesitfar · Apr 3, 2014

Bubinga: that is one very nice looking grinder. any idea of the maker or the actual age of it? I've seen a lot of old grinders, but never one that was chain driven. do you use it or just have it bolted to the back of your bench to have there to look at and put a smile on your face?

Jack: I'm guessing you added that water tray? where did you find one that size and did you just tap a hole in the base of your grinder? it looks like a great accessory.

Rust · Apr 3, 2014

WWIIjeep said:
The eye shields are (were) a Stanley product, but they advertised and sold them separately, and they were optional accessories on a lot of other brands of grinders.

I'm pretty sure Stanley held the patent on them.

Very interesting. Not my picture, found it for comparison.
I recently aquired a 7' W/T grinder with these sheilds. But they have no tags on them, so I was wondering if they were original to the tool.
Was also wondering if anyone has a picture of the light assembly.

bubinga2 · Apr 4, 2014

drivesitfar said:
Bubinga: that is one very nice looking grinder. any idea of the maker or the actual age of it? I've seen a lot of old grinders, but never one that was chain driven. do you use it or just have it bolted to the back of your bench to have there to look at and put a smile on your face?

I don't know much about it's age. No maker's mark but reminds me of the old Millers Falls hand crank drill presses. Very similar mounting and wooden handle. It spins too slow compared to modern grinders, very cool though.

Nortonscustom · Apr 4, 2014

Here's a few more that keep big blue company in my the shop.

¾ Hp Baldor . A buddy picked up at auction not realizing it was 3 phase so he gave it to me. Going to repaint and put it on a pedestal. Will be a dedicated tungsten grinder.

½ Hp Cincinnati buffer. Little guy gets a ton of use! Traded a Graymills Clean-O- Matic for it.

2hp Queen City buffer. Really have to watch yourself with it but boy does it make bigger jobs easy.

Came out of an old plating factory. It had a crazy Rube Goldberg like contraption with sprockets and pulleys bolted all over it. The buffer itself powered a deal that loaded parts onto a conveyor, those parts then went under the first wheel (course cut) then around to the other (fine cut) wheel. Then dropped down a tube through the floor. Old school automation!

Latest orphan to find it's way to my place. A 1hp Cincinnati buffer/grinder combo. Looks rough but I tested it and it runs really smooth. It's on the to-do list.

drivesitfar · Apr 5, 2014

Norton: nice assortment of quality big old grinders. since we all saw what you did with big green i know I (we) will be looking forward to seeing what you do with the Baldor, 2 Cincinnati grinders and the Queen City.

:thumbup:

Outlawmws · Apr 5, 2014

OK, I may be able to lay hands on these wheel covers. I know some have said they are missing one or more. I don't have exact dimensions, nor have any clue which MFG made them. The essential description:

Cast metal not tin. 7-3/8" flange.

I would guess they are for a 7" grinder: Cast in numbers appears to me to be 1384...

If anyone is interested, let me know and I'll try for them...

wrenchguy · Apr 5, 2014

do we put vintage pedestal grinders on this thread? If so i'd like 2 put more pics of my weekend find.

Carla · Apr 5, 2014

Here's a cute little one, which I did up a few years ago.

http://vintagemachinery.org/photoindex/detail.aspx?id=15597

cheers

Carla

Jarhead0408 · Apr 6, 2014

Holy Carp WrenchGuy!

That sucker's huge! onder how much she weighs?

wrenchguy · Apr 6, 2014

Jarhead0408 said:
Holy Carp WrenchGuy!

That sucker's huge! onder how much she weighs?

i don't know yet, its still on the trailer so i can take it over to the grain elevator to get it weighed. from what i found online about u. s. electrical tool co. 7 1/2hp, 12" x 2 1/2" wheel model it could be 700 to around 900 lbs. they're still in business, going to try to contact them about its serial number and dating it. bad thing is i think the wheels are wore down to 9" diameter. its 220 / 3 phase.

jpickar · Apr 6, 2014

yet another thread I need to watch! :thumbup:

John

drivesitfar · Apr 6, 2014

Carla: nice looking old Carter. I've never heard of that manufacturer and looks like it is a keeper. i'm posting your pictures so others on their cell phones can see it and in case the link doesn't work. hope you don't mind.

Wrench: what can one say about a 900 pound grinder on an equally cool stand. i'm guessing you have a crane or tractor with a chain on a bucket to move these heavy items around when you get them home? nice find and i hope you are able to find the missing parts and get the old girl running again. even though the stones are ground down they might still be useful for a few years if they pass the "ring" test. if those stones got wet or cracked in moving you won't want to use them even though the replacement wheels might cost as much as your grinder did. good luck and you might have won the biggest old grinder posted so far, but i don't have the thread memorized. :thumbup:

Rust · Apr 6, 2014

wrenchguy said:
i don't know yet, its still on the trailer so i can take it over to the grain elevator to get it weighed. from what i found online about u. s. electrical tool co. 7 1/2hp, 12" x 2 1/2" wheel model it could be 700 to around 900 lbs. they're still in business, going to try to contact them about its serial number and dating it. bad thing its wheels are wore down to 9" diameter. its 220 / 3 phase.

Holy ****. Thats a monster. And it answers a 20+ year old question for me.

I have 2 NOS 12" x 2" (mabey 2-1/2") Norton grinding wheels that i've had for 20 years. Never knew what size grinder they were for, aside from very large. Now I know.
When you get a chance, check the arbor size. I'm guessing 1".

Show us Your Vintage Bench Grinders!!!!

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