Bench grinder w. momentary switch

[curliejones]

A two/three part ??
I've read about one technique for sharpening shop tools where the guy recommended starting and stopping his bench grinder to sharpen chisels, etc. It lets him use his single speed grinder and catch the steel at diminishing speeds. I don't do a lot of sharpening and I wonder if this start and stop technique is hard on a good motor or just puts wear on the on-off switch?
If indeed it is not that bad for the motor, could / should a momentary foot switch be used and leave the grinder switch in the "on" position? As long as the amp rating is high enough for the switch, would a Big Foot switch for trolling motors work OK? A 15A rating on a switch and a grinder that is rated at 5A , for example?

 

[matt_i]

Save your foot switch for another 100 years and let a relay or contactor do the work of starting the motor.

In other words, use footswitch to control the coil of the magnetic device.

 

[rlitman]

Its hard on the motor. I wouldn't do it. How about getting yourself a variable speed grinder?

 

[PhysicsDude]

15A rated foot switches are plentiful, you don't need anything exotic.

I say go for it:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017T2J2NC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

cheaper and more to the point, the Harbor Freight 'router speed control's usually go awhile before they burn up. Just remember low voltage = more heat,so don't work the machine too hard going slow.

 

[MattT]

The rapid start/stop may overheat the grinder. And using a low voltage DC footpedal on an AC grinder is a very bad idea too.

I also don't see what this "catch the steel at diminishing speed" BS is supposed to accomplish? Dress the wheels and use common sense and a cup of water and you'll have no problem sharpening chisels with the grinder running.

 

[exmaxima1]

Get a decent white or pink friable grinding wheel ("cool" wheel) and the metal stays much cooler even at high surface speeds. No need to fuss with starting/stopping your grinder.

 

[dutchgray]

Get a decent white or pink friable grinding wheel ("cool" wheel) and the metal stays much cooler even at high surface speeds. No need to fuss with starting/stopping your grinder.

Or even an actual wet horizontal stone sharpening machine, since the OP says he does a lot of sharpening, and a machine designed for that is much better at it. Here in the UK 16" ones are relatively common used as schools bought them and they get sold off.