Bench grinder needed

[BBQguy]

As it says, i need a bench grinder.
Most of the use will be for typical guy use around the house. I turn wrenches, weld stuff, sharpen occasional things, teach my kids how to modify and fix things they break.
Trying to keep it under $200. Not really sure what else i need to consider. Also open to spending more if it increases functionality(i really like the multi tool grinders).

 

[Tom Sestito]

I just bought a delta 8" variable speed. it wobbles like hell with the factory grinding wheels, and the shaft is not threaded far enough down for me to mount a wire brush. So I've only had it a few weeks but I'm not very impressed so far.

 

[Ilikeike]

My buddy bought a DeWalt branded 8" pretty nice. I'm sure it's in your budget.

I have a JET at home it's a bit closer to $300,and an old Dayton at work wich is real nice. Wish I had $$ for a Baldor.

 

[M635_Guy]

The Wen seems to be the best bang-for-the-buck out there.

With a couple DIY tweaks and a better tool-rest, it's a pretty solid grinder.

The Wen stand is nice too. I threw a couple old brake rotors on the bottom for some extra low-chunk.

 

[1982fxr]

Any good old USA used units on your local cl, OfferUp etc?

I bought my first new bench grinder several years back from Lowe's I think. It was a 6" Skil. I didn't know such a ************* level of power tools existed. Googling around is actually how I found this place.

The imported grinders I've used ranged from complete junk to decent.

The old USA stuff has all been head and shoulders better. Better built, better balanced, and actually put out the power claimed.

 

[tym]

OP should be able to get a sturdy older Craftsman "block" grinder for under $50 at a flea market, one that will likely outlast us all.

 

[BBQguy]

I've been looking for an older USA made grinder for a few weeks now. There isn't much available locally and what is, seems to be overpriced.
I currently have a POS grinder that slows down when a hair touches it. So I don't use it much and I'm tired of having a hunk useless machinery sitting on my bench(I don't recall where it came from).
Ive been looking around. It just seems like there isn't much that lies in the area of a middle ground decent machine without a hefty price tag.

 

[James-W]

I have a Baldor grinder that I got from my older brother when he passed away. I really like the grinder, when you turn it off it runs for several minutes. Baldor grinders are VERY good grinders, but you pay a small fortune for one. If you don't plan on using it a lot, I am not sure it pays to buy one unless you can get a used one at an auction for a really good price. They are wonderful machines, but for the occasional user it would be hard to justify the price.

 

[noid]

A bench grinder is a really simple piece of equipment; unless you're going full industrial size, there isn't much performance difference.

The quality of attachments is normally what you want to look at.

I run a 400 grit 3M Bristle disk on one side and a grinding stone on the other; takes care of pretty well all applications.

 

[1982fxr]

If you're doing heavy wire wheeling there's a huge difference in performance.

 

[Old Radar]

I've been looking for an older USA made grinder for a few weeks now. There isn't much available locally and what is, seems to be overpriced.
I currently have a POS grinder that slows down when a hair touches it. So I don't use it much and I'm tired of having a hunk useless machinery sitting on my bench(I don't recall where it came from).
Ive been looking around. It just seems like there isn't much that lies in the area of a middle ground decent machine without a hefty price tag.

Patience, Grasshopper. Or if the Kung Fu reference is too old for you; Yoda's "Always with you it can not be done."

I got each of these 1/2hp Craftsman grinders at estate sales for around $40. I could have started using the older Pre-Block immediately, but restored it first. The newer gray Block was good to go from the start.

Folks on the Block Grinder thread are turning these vintage beasts up all the time for $25 - $75.

It seems to me you have three "desirements"

Quality
Low Cost
Right Now

But you can only choose two!

It doesn't really sound like you have a life-or-death need to have a low cost, quality grinder immediately, so give it some time, keep your finger on the pulse and something will eventually come along that will meet your important desires and that you'll be happy with.

 

[Roju1985]

I bought a 1/3hp 6" Dayton from zoro and it was great for all the years I owned it until I got a baldor basically for free, if I hadn't I'd still have it.

 

[bob15]

Look on C-list and F-book Marketplace for an older used US-made one.

 

[exmaxima1]

If you buy new, ignore the Horsepower rating as it is generally way optimistic. Look at the Amperage rating instead, and shoot for at least 4 amps to be a useful grinder.

 

[erty67]

I agree with seeking out a Dayton or a Craftsman block. I went from a HF grinder to my block and there's no comparison, especially wire wheeling as mentioned.


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[Jay H 237]

I have the DeWalt, ordered off Amazon, and am very happy with it. Considering getting a second one.

 

[juddspaintballs]

I have the 8" Harbor Freight grinder. The only real problem is has is that the orange paint keeps flaking off.


I also have an 8" old Craftsman that I got for free from work. It was missing the rests and any sort of guard, so our Safety section said it needed replaced. They replaced it with a HF grinder and I got to keep the old Craftsman. The wheels on the Craftsman spin for nearly 5 minutes after you shut it down.

 

[exmaxima1]

I also have an 8" old Craftsman that I got for free from work. It was missing the rests and any sort of guard, so our Safety section said it needed replaced. They replaced it with a HF grinder and I got to keep the old Craftsman. The wheels on the Craftsman spin for nearly 5 minutes after you shut it down.

That is an indication that the bearings are totally dried out. If you like that grinder, the bearings should be replaced before they seize and ruin the end bells.

 

[oldwino]

I've been real happy with my 8" Sunex. Not made in USA unfortunately but has been a very good machine. Runs smooth with plenty of power.Had a slight wobble with the stock wheels but they trued up easily and held up well

 

[American Locomotive]

A bench grinder is a really simple piece of equipment; unless you're going full industrial size, there isn't much performance difference.

The quality of attachments is normally what you want to look at.

I run a 400 grit 3M Bristle disk on one side and a grinding stone on the other; takes care of pretty well all applications.

Eh, there's a pretty huge difference in performance compared to a cheap bench grinder and a better. one.

I have a no-name/HF special that says 3/4 HP, but it's rated at ~2 AMP. It's honestly borderline useless for any kind of real grinding. Yeah if you only grind for 3-4 seconds at a time it will be okay, but any kind of sustained grinding just bogs it down. I don't think a wire wheel would be usable at all on it.

My 3/4 HP Dayton grinder on the other hand is rated at 7A, and it blows that HF special out of the water in terms of power.

 

[sk farmer]

That is an indication that the bearings are totally dried out. If you like that grinder, the bearings should be replaced before they seize and ruin the end bells.

don't believe it.

i have a 1/2 hp wissota that was a bucket of ****. the bearings were out. lots of play, wobble and rough. it ground to a halt in a few seconds when you turned it off. i did a restore with new stones, bearings, paint, the works. it spools on for about a minute now with new bearings and balanced wheels. a quality made grinder that is true and balanced with a lot of rotating mass will spool on for a significant amount of time after turning them off.

i have had ****** grinders with crappy bearings, poor balance and very little to the windings and other rotating mass. they quickly stop when you turn them off. all of my old us made quality grinders spin for some time before stopping. even the one with oil-lite bushings.

 

[noid]

Eh, there's a pretty huge difference in performance compared to a cheap bench grinder and a better. one.

I have a no-name/HF special that says 3/4 HP, but it's rated at ~2 AMP. It's honestly borderline useless for any kind of real grinding. Yeah if you only grind for 3-4 seconds at a time it will be okay, but any kind of sustained grinding just bogs it down. I don't think a wire wheel would be usable at all on it.

My 3/4 HP Dayton grinder on the other hand is rated at 7A, and it blows that HF special out of the water in terms of power.

I should clarify that I wasn't referring to the majority of bench grinders being the same power; just that there isn't much complexity inside of them to justify needing to go fancy.

That being said, yes buyer beware when looking at the amp rating vs HP rating; but certainly don't let price/COO dictate what you purchase. This all doesn't apply if you're going full industrial, in that instance, its very hard to get an off brand unit in the power range required.

 

[bobcatdan]

For at home, I'd say the DeWalt is more than enough bench grinder most guys need. The craftsman blocks don't pop up like they use to. While a great grinder, I wouldn't hold my breath for one. A used 6" baldor, good luck, I haven't seen one of those pop up in years.

 

[lafester]

A minute or so is about right with new bearings.
5 minutes or more is most likely too much depending on the size of the wheels of course. Hand spinning the wheels to check for resistance is probably an easier method.

It's just a sign to check them and add grease or replace as needed.
If you are only an occasional user the dry bearings can still last awhile and a little oil will help.

don't believe it.

i have a 1/2 hp wissota that was a bucket of ****. the bearings were out. lots of play, wobble and rough. it ground to a halt in a few seconds when you turned it off. i did a restore with new stones, bearings, paint, the works. it spools on for about a minute now with new bearings and balanced wheels. a quality made grinder that is true and balanced with a lot of rotating mass will spool on for a significant amount of time after turning them off.

i have had ****** grinders with crappy bearings, poor balance and very little to the windings and other rotating mass. they quickly stop when you turn them off. all of my old us made quality grinders spin for some time before stopping. even the one with oil-lite bushings.

 

[1982fxr]

5 minutes? No way.

 

[exmaxima1]

don't believe it.

i have a 1/2 hp wissota that was a bucket of ****. the bearings were out. lots of play, wobble and rough. it ground to a halt in a few seconds when you turned it off. i did a restore with new stones, bearings, paint, the works. it spools on for about a minute now with new bearings and balanced wheels. a quality made grinder that is true and balanced with a lot of rotating mass will spool on for a significant amount of time after turning them off.

i have had ****** grinders with crappy bearings, poor balance and very little to the windings and other rotating mass. they quickly stop when you turn them off. all of my old us made quality grinders spin for some time before stopping. even the one with oil-lite bushings.

I recently had to throw away a Pre-Block because the worn bearings spun on the shaft and ruined the arbor. I've also had to repair bell housings where the bearings spun and ruined the bore in the end bells. That said, it's not the end of the world if a cheap grinder falls apart from bad bearings.

 

[sk farmer]

I recently had to throw away a Pre-Block because the worn bearings spun on the shaft and ruined the arbor. I've also had to repair bell housings where the bearings spun and ruined the bore in the end bells. That said, it's not the end of the world if a cheap grinder falls apart from bad bearings.

i never said bearings don't go out. i have replaced more than my share of bearings.

,that said, when a bearing goes bad, a vibration, rumble or some other out of normal sound or feel is a much more telltale sign of a bad bearing than something that spools on for a long period of time.

my take on a dry bearing may be one that rolls freely for a time but then suddenly gets loud or vibrates under a certain rpm. they are pretty obvious when they are bad.

 

[TheJudge]

I'm actually in a very similar boat.
My father and I got 2 bench grinders, a 6" craftsman and a 5" no name $5 auction special. Joining them is a (older) Delta Belt sander.

In doing some research, I'm finding some decent units, the Metabo and Dewalt units for being of decent quality, yet still affordable.

My conundrum is, I stumbled across this gizzy:
https://multitoolgrinders.com/2-x-36-belt-7-disc-grinder-attachment-w-mitre-table/
Which would effectively kill 2 birds with 1 stone for all of our grinding and sanding needs.

My dilemma is I'm leaning towards the Metabo, but specs state it has a 1" Arbor, whilst that device linked above will only work on 1/2-5/8" shafts, which just about cancels out that Metabo...

What do GJ?

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[BBQguy]

https://www.zoro.com/dayton-bench-grinder-3450-max-rpm-1-phase-499f65/i/G4445149/


This looks to be about what i need.

Do i want something now, as one poster stated?... Yes
Do i need it now?... Yes, i have a project that i need a grinder for. I have angle grinders that would do the job clamped in a vice. However i am going to involve my son in this project. He will figure out his own ways of improvising and using tools in non conventional ways. I need to teach him safety first and foremost. Part of that involves using the correct tool for the job.
Being that a grinder of any kind can really ruin your day if something goes wrong i want to give him the safe foundation to learn on.

Lots of good points brought up guys and i appreciate each and every one of them. While i do lurk around and read a lot. I ask questions when i need something answered.

 

[jg4660]

I recently bought a Wen 8'', its a decent grinder for the money. I'd buy it again. Also have a Craftsman block grinder i picked up for $25, it works great also.

JG