Bench Grinder??

[1jjpop]

I need to replace my bench grinder ,the one I have is old, & it was cheap when I bought it new [ on special sale type & under powered] I mainly use it to sharpen & clean lawn mower blades. One side I place a stone & on the other side a wire brush . Any ideas ????

 

[Cope]

Baldor is hard to beat.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Baldor-602E...111045?hash=item3f705d6ec5:g:BcUAAOSwpDdU71Gr

 

[Cahark]

+1 for baldor. It's all I use at home, and all we use in the machine shop

 

[1982fxr]

What's your budget?

Will you be doing any heavy wire wheeling?

Baldor is the best but also most expensive. Next in quality are the old USA built grinders like the old craftsman, wissota, doerr and a couple others. Last is all the current imported Asian ****. Some are worse than others but imho none are as good as any comparable sized and powered American ones from the 60's-80's. And I've had a lot of them.

 

[1982fxr]

What is the brand and the specs of your current machine? A pic would help...

 

[Bcom]

Baldor is probably #1 but super expensive. If you're on a budget and you want something that works, the 6" WEN gets great reviews and very affordable.

 

[Dr Stan]

Baldor is hard to beat.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Baldor-602E...111045?hash=item3f705d6ec5:g:BcUAAOSwpDdU71Gr

No doubt about that. Granted Baldors are expensive when new. I have two Baldor grinders which I found on Craig's List with some patient searching. One came from Boston and the other I cannot remember.

Both were in like new condition and cost about 1/2 of the list price or about the cost of a new Jet Chicom that sounds like a concrete mixer. One is a 8" bench/pedestal unit and the other is a carbide tool sharpener. I do not believe either of the sellers had any idea of what they had.

Check local estate sales and use Search Tempest to cast a wide net.

Forget FleaBay as they'll be asking 99% of new pricing.

 

[bubinga]

What's your budget?

Will you be doing any heavy wire wheeling?

Baldor is the best but also most expensive. Next in quality are the old USA built grinders like the old craftsman, wissota, doerr and a couple others. Last is all the current imported Asian ****. Some are worse than others but imho none are as good as any comparable sized and powered American ones from the 60's-80's. And I've had a lot of them.

USA Daytons are good too

 

[exmaxima1]

USA Daytons are good too

Most of those were made by Doerr (family relative of Baldor). I made a belt grinder for my Dayton (Doerr-made) 1/3hp using the idler assembly from a V12 BMW

 

[IndyGarage]

Don't fall for the Ryobi 8 inch from HD. I did and they are junk sloooow start, and not much torque until it's flying.

 

[1982fxr]

Most of those were made by Doerr (family relative of Baldor).

Yupper

 

[cajunfirehawk]

Don't fall for the Ryobi 8 inch from HD. I did and they are junk sloooow start, and not much torque until it's flying.

Home Depot had some black friday Ryobi bench grinders for $29 and I was in my local store today and they had quite a few left IMHO, buy a few and toss them when they go out, for $29...? Unless you can afford a primo grinder to do mower blades?

 

[Dr Stan]

__________________
You are the mechanic on a space shuttle voyage. You may bring one set of tools. Made in USA Snap-On, or made in China harbor freight. Which one will it be? That's what I thought, now shut the f up.

I sure like that sig file.

 

[mbshop]

I got an 8 in craftsman professional for under a 100 bucks on sale a few years back. Works fine so far.

 

[bubinga]

Most of those were made by Doerr (family relative of Baldor).

Good to know
I just sold a real nice 7" Dayton for $50.00.

Sent from my MotoG3 using Tapatalk

 

[goingtoarizona]

__________________
You are the mechanic on a space shuttle voyage. You may bring one set of tools. Made in USA Snap-On, or made in China harbor freight. Which one will it be? That's what I thought, now shut the f up.

I sure like that sig file.

I'm lovin it too, it also answers the OP's question. I had an old table saw motor that I put a grinding wheel on until it died. I fretted forever about a bench grinder. I'd check out the ones at the box store for super cheap (and crappy) and then close to $100 and still kinda crappy. Finally I bought a nice used Craftsman grinder from the 70's. It's so quiet, powerful and smooth, it's a fricken shame that anyone would buy a piece of **** Cineseium that might last a year under light use. My grinder is older than 90% of my co-workers, and that's just fine with me!

 

[Cope]

Good to know
I just sold a real nice 7" Dayton for $50.00.

Sent from my MotoG3 using Tapatalk

I bought a new 7" Dayton in the early 1980s from a flea market. All of the covers were missing so I got it for $35.00. Spent another 50 on the missing parts, and it is still going fine. That said, my 7" Baldor is a whole 'nother grinder.

 

[1982fxr]

Home Depot had some black friday Ryobi bench grinders for $29 and I was in my local store today and they had quite a few left IMHO, buy a few and toss them when they go out, for $29...? Unless you can afford a primo grinder to do mower blades?

If doing moderate to heavy work especially wire wheeling those are completely useless. Plus a few = $100+ so ya could have had a good older one anyway.

A POS Skil from Lowes was what got me into old stuff. Had no idea there was such a **** level of grinders 'til I bought that thing. Hit Google and here I am.

 

[mattgood65]

I normally stay away from the foreign stuff, but I've had good luck with my two "Jet" bench grinders.

 

[rsanter]

I have a spare Cman block grinder if you are interested in that

Bob

 

[skruft]

Often there will be nice old ones at garage sales and at automotive swap meets - although I had to buy two because one did not work.

 

[bcradio]

What's your budget?

Will you be doing any heavy wire wheeling?

Baldor is the best but also most expensive. Next in quality are the old USA built grinders like the old craftsman, wissota, doerr and a couple others. Last is all the current imported Asian ****. Some are worse than others but imho none are as good as any comparable sized and powered American ones from the 60's-80's. And I've had a lot of them.

So which ones are better, the ones from the 60s to the 80s or the Baldors?

 

[bcradio]

__________________
You are the mechanic on a space shuttle voyage. You may bring one set of tools. Made in USA Snap-On, or made in China harbor freight. Which one will it be? That's what I thought, now shut the f up.

Neither... thank god we have choices.

 

[JoJoSnap]

Home depot selling ryobi grinder 6" for 29.99 cant beat that deal


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Badasssapper67]

Used Dayton is a good choice if budget is an issue.

 

[1982fxr]

So which ones are better, the ones from the 60s to the 80s or the Baldors?

I did word that confusing didn't I ? Imho and experience...

1. Baldor
2. The old USA stuff besides baldor
3. Everything else

 

[Cope]

If you have the money, buy Baldor, either new or used. As mentioned, Dayton is another good grinder.

 

[exmaxima1]

If you have the money, buy Baldor, either new or used. As mentioned, Dayton is another good grinder.

For sharpening mower blades, and wire brushing, it doesn't take too much of a grinder. Also consider the vintage Craftsman grinders ("block style"), as well as any grinder made before the 90's. Good luck

 

[IndyGarage]

Home depot selling ryobi grinder 6" for 29.99 cant beat that deal


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As I said, they work, but you'll hate yourself for buying it every time you use it - like I do...

They take forever for the one millionth hp motor to spool up. Life is too short for bad tools.

 

[3TV]

My old HF bench grinder quit working on me about two weeks ago, and I have been looking for a better quality replacement. I like the Dayton Model# 2LKR9, but have not bought it yet

I had not seen the ebay links to the Baldor bench grinders that were posted at the start of this thread though. I think I will check them out.

 

[Autoguy]

BALDOR

I have one since 30 years

 

[Oldsmobile]

I don't know a heck of a lot about grinders, but my dad was thrilled to find a Sioux grinder for a good price. I think he paid ten to twenty dollars in the early 2000s for it, and he told me at the time that Sioux had been used at the tool and die manufacturer where he had worked as a young man. Are Sioux worthwhile?

 

[Scout Driver]

I don't know a heck of a lot about grinders, but my dad was thrilled to find a Sioux grinder for a good price. I think he paid ten to twenty dollars in the early 2000s for it, and he told me at the time that Sioux had been used at the tool and die manufacturer where he had worked as a young man. Are Sioux worthwhile?

I believe Sioux primarily makes ice-skate sharpeners now (as far as bench-type grinders). That said, if you find a used Sioux grinder for a price you are comfortable with, they are a top-of-the-line grinder and are very much worthwhile picking up.

My grinder is a King which is an old, re-branded Sioux. I found it in a garage I was tearing down. A little cleaning and TLC and its been an awesome grinder!

Scott

 

[exmaxima1]

I don't know a heck of a lot about grinders, but my dad was thrilled to find a Sioux grinder for a good price. I think he paid ten to twenty dollars in the early 2000s for it, and he told me at the time that Sioux had been used at the tool and die manufacturer where he had worked as a young man. Are Sioux worthwhile?

I think alot depends on the model and the era. The early versions appear to be made by Sioux, and have massive castings and really nice lamps (first pic below). Later models were made outside for them, such as the Doerr-made grinder shown in the second pic.

 

[torqueman2002]

"I mainly use it to sharpen & clean lawn mower blades. One side I place a stone & on the other side a wire brush ."

I like 1/2-HP Craftsman Block motor style bench grinders for this application.

Depending on your area, CL and estate sales are good sources. Ebay is very expensive!

I find a steady supply of them ~$50, here in the SE Michigan area.

Expect to put some time and spend a little money replacing the consumables. For example:

• stones/wheels
• power cord
• bearings
• capacitor, if fitted

See the links in my signature line for more information.


If you want a good, new grinder, I have found the Dayton from Grainger to be a good value.

It's shown below, in line with the restored 1-HP & 3/4-HP Block grinders.

 

[1982fxr]

I believe Sioux primarily makes ice-skate sharpeners now (as far as bench-type grinders). That said, if you find a used Sioux grinder for a price you are comfortable with, they are a top-of-the-line grinder and are very much worthwhile picking up.

My grinder is a King which is an old, re-branded Sioux. I found it in a garage I was tearing down. A little cleaning and TLC and its been an awesome grinder!

Scott

I think that is Wissota actually. Made in Minnesota. They got out of the bench grinder game when the Chinese junk hit the shores and decimated the market. For a time st least they supplied Sioux...

 

[1982fxr]

I think alot depends on the model and the era. The early versions appear to be made by Sioux, and have massive castings and really nice lamps (first pic below). Later models were made outside for them, such as the Doerr-made grinder shown in the second pic.

For those wondering about the old USA Dayton being mentioned, the second pic is what they look like, with the on/off switch sitting up on a step.

Also some daytons were supplied by Wissota. I had an old 8", closest thing to a baldor I've seen.

 

[exmaxima1]

For those wondering about the old USA Dayton being mentioned, the second pic is what they look like, with the on/off switch sitting up on a step.

Also some daytons were supplied by Wissota. I had an old 8", closest thing to a baldor I've seen.

And here's what a Wissota grinder looks like. Like many Wissota grinders, it has an integral quench tray. The switch on most Wissotas is located in a recess on the base, while the Doerr-made Daytons had the switch on a bulge on the base (sort of the opposite of the Wissota). Also note the distinctive modern lines, similar to some of the Taiwanese grinders of the 80's---Wissota was first! This happens to be a 10-inch model and is a rather large grinder (that was the only beer bottle I had handy at the time), yet since it is made of die-cast aluminum it is only about 75 lbs or so.

 

[crewchief888]

Home depot selling ryobi grinder 6" for 29.99 cant beat that deal


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

As I said, they work, but you'll hate yourself for buying it every time you use it - like I do...

They take forever for the one millionth hp motor to spool up. Life is too short for bad tools.

i bought a ryobi 6" @ HD a few years ago.....

it works great for sharpening drill bits, other than that, it's a turd

 

[zkling]

Most of those were made by Doerr (family relative of Baldor). I made a belt grinder for my Dayton (Doerr-made) 1/3hp using the idler assembly from a V12 BMW

Is that your modern Colchester in the background?