8" or 6" bench grinder
- Thread starter 79mudbugg
- Start date
southalabama
Well-known member
Bigger is better.
Could not have said it any better
jkwilson
Well-known member
With a 6" grinder, the motor is always in the way because the wheel is about the same diameter as the motor.
dmcintosh
Well-known member
What about one of the newer style belt sander/grinder combos? Or, are you looking specifically for a grinder? I'm a huge fan of whatever I can find used? I am not a professional so I don't require professional tools, but do buy the best quality I can afford.
Gizmosity
Well-known member
You might be thinking of a grinder that spins at 1725rpm for wood tools. Most of the ones you will find for sale are at 3650rpm. I run a 1725rpm grinder with 6" white oxide wheels for sharpening. I like the smaller diameter wheels when putting the hollow grind on chisels and especially plane blades. An 8" wheel creates a near flat surface, where a 6" creates the wanted "hollow" making sharpening easier.
For general shop use I use a standard 3650rpm grinder with 8" wheels.
hate to sound like a newb but what would a belt sander be good for around the shop?? guess I tinker with everything just like normal people?? I don't do wood working so....
PCO6
Well-known member
In the true spirit of the GJ I say "both".
atty5420
Active member
He's right. You can't make one do what the other will do. They are two different, but necessary, animals.
I definitely did not say belt sander. That's a poor tool for what are likely looking to accomplish. Look up belt grinders on the web and YouTube. GRINDER!
Kevin54
MEMBER EMERITUS
A couple years back I bought a combo belt sander/disc sander. I very rarely use my bench grinder except for the wire wheel I put on it. I use the belt sander for deburring metal rod, if I have a piece of wood I want to bevel the edge, beveling the edge on a piece of metal, sharpening lawn mower blades.........There isn't a week that goes by that i don't use it for something. The bench grinder, may set for weeks and never get used, unless like I said to use the wire brush on it.
I'd look at amps before the diameter, all else being equal. Bogging down is a nuisance.
I agree that a belt/disc sander is a surprisingly useful tool. Especially for metal.
I agree that a belt/disc sander is a surprisingly useful tool. Especially for metal.
great white tj
Well-known member
I have a 6" and a 8" grinder that I use from time to time but I ues my belt/disc sander 99% of the time.
unisawone
Active member
Look for a smooth running good quality. I have both sizes, both are Wissotas great grinders if you can find them. I agree with the belt comment though, use that much more than a grinder. Good luck
finn
Well-known member
I've got a 6", & an 8" grinder along with a cheap Jet belt/disc sander. If I could keep only one it would be the sander, followed closely by the 8' grinder.
One also needs a dedicated wire wheel, but safety glasses are mandatory with one.
One also needs a dedicated wire wheel, but safety glasses are mandatory with one.
7th Kahuna
Well-known member
Many good points. When it comes to sharpening woodworking tools, heat is your enemy. The slower the wheel, the slower the heat builds up. As it was explained to me; an 8" wheel is turning slower at its outside edge than a 6" and of course a 1725 rpm motor is turning slower than a 3450. I can't personally say whether there is that great a difference between 6" and 8". I have always used an 8". Beyond that, look for an older grinder, the quality is better for the price, and when sharpening keep water nearby or look for a grinder with a built in 'cup'.
EDIT: Ah the perils of accepting rules without thinking about them. As finn noted the 8" wheel has a higher face speed than the 6".
Maybe I remembered the reason wrong. Mr. Holland, who I learned sharpening from, definitely preferred the 8" wheel, he also liked to freehand sharpen which allowed him to feel the heat in his finger before it built up too much in the blade. When he used a support, it was a thick piece of steel which acted as a heat sink and kept the blade cooler. Now I have to do some research. 
EDIT: Ah the perils of accepting rules without thinking about them. As finn noted the 8" wheel has a higher face speed than the 6".
Maybe I remembered the reason wrong. Mr. Holland, who I learned sharpening from, definitely preferred the 8" wheel, he also liked to freehand sharpen which allowed him to feel the heat in his finger before it built up too much in the blade. When he used a support, it was a thick piece of steel which acted as a heat sink and kept the blade cooler. Now I have to do some research.
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finn
Well-known member
If the 8" and 6" wheel have the same motor speed, the face speed of the 8" wheel is higher.
Absolutely! Once you use a belt grinder you will never use a wheel grinder again. Far superior for most applications.
BTW, variable speed is a good option for blade sharpening/honing.
7th Kahuna
Well-known member
Keep in mind, if you are looking for the best quality cutting edge, you are most likely only using the grinder to 'reset' the tool, as when repairing a damaged iron or when changing the angle of cut. After that, you are going to take it to your oil or water stones to finish it. Of course there are some specialized wheels out there but I don't think that is what we are talking about here.
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LS6 Tommy
Well-known member
I've wanted a Multitool for years. I should have gotten one when I first saw it on Two Guys Garage. They were only just over $200.00 then. Now they're around $500.00!
http://www.multitool-usa.com/home.html
Tommy
http://www.multitool-usa.com/home.html
Tommy
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