Baldor GA9 Eye Sheild, 'Glass' replacement

[torqueman2002]

I've cleaned up a Baldor 7312D grinder (0.5/0.3HP, 3600/1800rpm). I'm really liking the 1800 rpm for small part wire brushing!

I am very accustom to the Craftsman Block style grinders, but no disrespect to those great machines, this Baldor is the Mercedes-Benz truck of grinders.

OK, the lighted eye-shield 'glass' sections are a bit scratched. I think they are made of Plexiglas, which probably can be cleaned up somewhat.

However, I'd like to replace the 'glass', but an internet search has not been successful.

Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks in-advance.

 

[PacificaVette]

Lexan will give you the best protection at a reasonable cost. Are the eye shields contained in a frame?

 

[torqueman2002]

Lexan will give you the best protection at a reasonable cost. Are the eye shields contained in a frame?

Thanks. Would you suggest 1/8 or 1/4 in. ?

It looks like the 'glass' is held in with a couple of screws and a lip. So, maybe I got lucky and it will be straight forward.

 

[Provincial]

Use the same thickness as the current lenses.

 

[lafester]

I bought a new set of these and they are hard to see through . I am thinking about buying some real glass to replace the plastic.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

 

[The Cobbler]

go to a local glass shop , get them to cut some safety glass or get them to order tempered glass.
I wouldn't use regular glass .
safety glass may need to go to an auto glass shop

 

[lis2323]

go to a local glass shop , get them to cut some safety glass or get them to order tempered glass.
I wouldn't use regular glass .
safety glass may need to go to an auto glass shop

[emoji106][emoji106]that’s what I did for this old Baldor I refurbed. I think it’s called laminated glass. I can’t recall the price but it was relatively cheap.

 

[torqueman2002]

Thank you all.

I like the idea about the laminated glass, which should hold up better to the flying sparks.

But the idea of cutting my own Lexan is talking to my DIY tendencies.

 

[lis2323]

The Lexan will be prone to scratches and eventually hinder vision ( I think )

 

[lafester]

I got some safety glass for my Craftsman and it was about $12 for a pair. They take pretty thick glass though.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

 

[nutjob]

Have you ever used a grinder with this type of lighted eye shield? I have a 8" Baldor with the same eye shields and finally got rid of them. Just could not see clearly though them and would need to look around them to see what I was doing. I have a wire wheel on one side and they would get in the way with some parts.

I bought one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0089DVW3Y/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Kevin

 

[lis2323]

Have you ever used a grinder with this type of lighted eye shield? I have a 8" Baldor with the same eye shields and finally got rid of them. Just could not see clearly though them and would need to look around them to see what I was doing. I have a wire wheel on one side and they would get in the way with some parts.

I bought one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0089DVW3Y/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Kevin

I agree. But then I may go an entire year without using my 8” Baldor. The 6” I use for sharpening occasionally but I use my belt grinders almost exclusively.

 

[torqueman2002]

Thanks for the link and the info. on the safety-glass.

At the ripe age of 71, I appreciate good lighting more and more. Also, I take personal safety seriously.

That said, lighted eye-shields are my choice. I have a CM Block grinder with an adjustable lamp that never seems to be lighting the spot I want. So these Baldor GA9s are the ticket for me.

Tomorrow, I'll see what the local auto glass shop wants to cut a pair of replacement laminated/safety-glass replacements.

Otherwise, it will be Lexan and peal off lens protectors, like I use on the media-blast cabinet.


Thanks again!

 

[lafester]

Look forward to seeing what you come up with. I will be swapping mine out for glass soon.

 

[torqueman2002]

Look forward to seeing what you come up with. I will be swapping mine out for glass soon.

Here are the results of a trial run with smoked 1/2" (OEM is 3/16") Lexan. I don't recall how I came by it, but I think a fellow Blockhead on another thread gifted it to me.

I used a large carpenters square to mark and guide my cuts with this knife. I made ~12 passes with the knife, but when I snapped the 4" x 12" piece, about a 2" x 5" triangular piece came along for the ride.

Also, one misplaced score left a scratch across both pieces.

I figured I had nothing to loose and used a compound miter saw to trim and cut the two 4" x 6" pieces.

A trial fit showed the end nearest the front edge needed to be beveled to get a 'fit'. I used a belt sander to accomplish this. I really wanted to see how it might look, scratch and all.

Here are the pictures, LH is what it came with, RH is the test.

RH (new 'test') close-up. Scratch in upper left corner.

LH

So, depending on the prices I get from a couple glass shops for laminated glass, the above seems like a viable solution. (Amazon Prime for Acrylic Plexiglass, is $15: 3/16" x 12" x 12". Delivered in 2 days).

Actually, the smoked test piece doesn't block much light from the 60W equivalent LED. I might be able to use a higher 'wattage' LED.

I have more smoked Lexan, so I might not have to buy any Lexan or laminated glass.

What do you all think?

 

[senlow]

What do you all think?

Do it right. It's important that you be able to see your work. Buy laminated glass.

 

[RTM]

Lexan is also known for developing a static charge, and becoming a dust magnet, under some conditions, high air flow being one of them.

 

[FrankLee]

This past Saturday, I priced two pieces of 3.5" x 4" laminate safety glass at Henderson Glass (Michigan based). He quoted me a price of $72! And he said that was a discount price. There's got to be a less expensive place.

 

[ndnchf]

I need to get fresh glass for mine too. I also peek around the shield some time. I also need a new lamp socket, one of mine broke.

On the subject of Baldor grinders, here's a little upgrade I did. Mine has the exhaust chutes on the back. I bought a pair of cheap Nomex fire resistant long johns off Ebay like these:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/MILITARY-T...947995?hash=item1cdd7b949b:g:QkoAAOSwl6RdyYcY

I cut and sewed the ends and attached them to the chutes to catch the grindings and sparks. I've been using them about 4 years now and they work great. In the dark I can watch the shower of sparks go into the bag, but no damage to the bag occurs. It really helps keep the shop clean too.

 

[lis2323]

This past Saturday, I priced two pieces of 3.5" x 4" laminate safety glass at Henderson Glass (Michigan based). He quoted me a price of $72! And he said that was a discount price. There's got to be a less expensive place.

I wish I could recall how much I paid the glass shop. I can say for certain it was nowhere near that much!

 

[lis2323]

I need to get fresh glass for mine too. I also peek around the shield some time. I also need a new lamp socket, one of mine broke.



On the subject of Baldor grinders, here's a little upgrade I did. Mine has the exhaust chutes on the back. I bought a pair of cheap Nomex fire resistant long johns off Ebay


.

Way too clever. [emoji481]

 

[JRC3]

The easiest way to cut Lexan is with a table saw. And you can trim it down if it's a little too big. If you ever need to use lexan with an exposed edge, a saw will make it very sharp. A few passes with a file make it perfect.

I opt for wearing a full face shield in lieu of a mounted one. The light is nice but I have a goosneck.

 

[torqueman2002]

"I bought a pair of cheap Nomex fire resistant long johns off Ebay ..."
Brilliant!

I just ordered a pair. I figure there's enough material to do more than just this Baldor.

FrankLee - Thanks, I'll let you know what other quotes I get.

 

[torqueman2002]

The easiest way to cut Lexan is with a table saw. And you can trim it down if it's a little too big. If you ever need to use lexan with an exposed edge, a saw will make it very sharp. A few passes with a file make it perfect.

I opt for wearing a full face shield in lieu of a mounted one. The light is nice but I have a goosneck.

I've read that is a popular way to get good results. My table saw is less accessible than the miter saw. I didn't really expect it to work, but I was pleasantly surprised.

I have prescription safety glasses, and I use a full face mask too.

A family friend had terrible facial injuries when a grinding disk shattered. That was 50+ years ago, and it scares me still to this day.

It happens in just a flash! I have been lucky. One close call on the table saw. My left thumb was dragged across the saw blade during a kick back.

Thank God I'd adjusted the blade to a minimum cutting height, or it could have been much worse than the flesh wound. It took only 4 stitches to close.

 

[torqueman2002]

Update - I found 3 glass shops near me.

The first stop turned out to be 2 glass shops in one location. Funny Google didn't mention the national company at that location. I would not have chosen it, I was looking for a mom 'n pop place.

Anyway, the 'receptionist'/manager/worker looked at the eye shield and said their minimum is $40.

He didn't want to cut 'lammy', and suggested the plastic when I asked what he recommended. I could have the polycarbonate lenses cut if I left the eye shield until tomorrow.

I told him I was thinking about cutting them myself.

He said good luck and let him know how it turns out when I come back. We both laughed at that!

The next place I stopped at had been out of business for ~5 years, I learned from the business next door. Thanks Google.

I stopped at HD. They had polycarbonate, but not in 0.1875 in., just 0.093 in.

Amazon will deliver a 0.1875 in. x 12 in. x 12 in. piece tomorrow, for $15.89.

 

[RTM]

We use a lot of polycarbonate at work, and some of the guys would flame the edges, which also makes it a bit more translucent while reducing the sharp edges.

 

[torqueman2002]

It's up and running with 75W equivalent LED bulbs.

I'm undecided about a re-paint for the grinder, the stand surely will get one.

Edit: add pics of eye shield mounting.

Thanks for all the advice and comments.

 

[drivesitfar]

Doc: thanks for giving me the link to another one of your good threads.

ALL: i'm looking for some ideas on how to (or if I should and any negative factors I haven't thought of) install my lighted Baldor shields on my Baldor buffer.

anybody have shields on their buffers? i'm thinking of putting wire wheels on at least one side of the 3/4 buffer.

any ideas or pics to share of your buffer?

 

[torqueman2002]

drives - How are you making out with the install of your lighted Baldor shields on the Baldor buffer?

 

[torqueman2002]

I finished a rebuild of the Baldor.

Full details are on the OWWM forum, Baldor 7312B rebuild. Link --> http://owwm.org/viewtopic.php?f=77&t=212522

 

[torqueman2002]

Mattblast has made wonderful replacement labels.

Except for the American flag to the right of the power switch.

I scanned my original above, but he just couldn't get the result he is happy with.

Can anyone point me to a source for a replacement or possibly scan one they have, in JPG or PNG format with lowest compression (biggest file size)?

Thank you.

 

[briann898]

OK, the lighted eye-shield 'glass' sections are a bit scratched. I think they are made of Plexiglas, which probably can be cleaned up somewhat.

However, I'd like to replace the 'glass', but an internet search has not been successful.

We have some companies in Denver which provide such glass replacement services. Basically their main sphere of work is house (sheds) windows replacements, but they can replace any window in any frame as well. So if you're in this area, you can simply search for window glass replacement cost denver firm and they will show up in the first positions of search page.

 

[Davefr]

These are pretty affordable if you don't need to exceed 4" X 5.75". Cheaper then custom cut from a glass shop.

https://www.zoro.com/dayton-eye-shi...-replacement-5pzp2/i/G2894455/#specifications

 

[torqueman2002]

Thank you both.

I've used some that look just like those on other projects, but they came from Grainger.
https://www.grainger.com/product/DAYTON-Eye-Shield-KIt-5PZP2