Frankenstein Grinder

[exmaxima1]

A few months ago I bought a 40's era Atlas 1/2hp grinder that needed some tlc. Bearings were dry, and the right side guard & rest were missing. I soon realized that it would be near impossible to source a guard and/or rest, so I decided to add a belt grinder to that side.

This Atlas grinder would not directly mount a Multi-Tool grinder, so I opted to buy the MT wheel and fab the rest. I made the belt a bit larger at 2x42 since I already had a grinder that used that size belt. At first I was going to emulate the MT tracking scheme of twisting the wheel, but decided to go with the traditional angle adjustment design. The drive wheel is a composite of aluminum and nylon scraps. Since the belt arm can be quickly positioned up/down/back/forth I have the options of the platen side or the slack belt side.

When I was done I was torn between installing a grinding or wire wheel, but since I rarely use a wheel anymore and I already have a block grinder with a pair of wire wheels I went for a cutoff wheel. I never used one before, but I already see that it will come in handy for trimming or cutting small steel parts. The light is the takeoff from my Baldor grinder that got a MT belt adapter years ago

While rated for only 1/2hp, this motor is a brute. I haven't been able to stall it yet, and it runs like silk. Weighs 77 lbs and doesn't budge on the bench as well. I'm not sure if this really belongs in the vintage grinder thread, or the belt grinder thread, or even the "Blockmeister" thread so I started a new one.

 

[The Cobbler]

nice work!

I scored a vintage B&D 1/2 hp grinder , can't stall it with anything I've put to it.

a true 1/2 horse, not these new fangled ratings

 

[PFSard]

Very nice creation. If you cannot find a device to fit the bill, create one!!!! LOL

 

[bonneyman]

Love the ingenuity!

If I didn't know it was a franken-job, I wouldn't have guessed it.

 

[G_P]

Nice job!
I have a Stanley that looks remarkably similar to your machine.

 

[tyjoja]

both your atlas and the other stanley looks like they were made by Baldor. The best grinders I have ever seen.

 

[exmaxima1]

Nice job!
I have a Stanley that looks remarkably similar to your machine.

It is the SAME grinder, just different logo plate. Yours looks awesome!

 

[exmaxima1]

both your atlas and the other stanley looks like they were made by Baldor. The best grinders I have ever seen.

Actually they were made by Kingston-Conley. They made those massive early grinders for Stanley, Millers Falls, Atlas, Thor, Walker-Turner, and Skil. The quality of the components exceeds Baldor from my experience.

 

[Ed ke6bnl]

thats nothing I have 6HP shop vacuum. thats what they say anyway, not really

 

[stonesfan68]

I'm not sure if this really belongs in the vintage grinder thread, or the belt grinder thread, or even the "Blockmeister" thread so I started a new one.

It belongs in The Thread of Awesome!

 

[exmaxima1]

It belongs in The Thread of Awesome!

Ha! Thanks, I really enjoyed building it.

 

[Lassen Forge]

Really, really beautiful craftsmanship. I like the idea of the cutoff wheel; it's in the "now why didn't I think of that" file.

 

[G_P]

It is the SAME grinder, just different logo plate. Yours looks awesome!

Thanks! It didn't look so hot when I first got it...

 

[Packard V8]

Those are the best small grinders I've ever seen. With having been sold under that many labels, one would think I'd have owned one by now, but I've not seen one in fifty years of used machine tool shopping.

Congrats on a fortunate find and a very professional build. Now, where are the plans, so the rest of us can do one?

jack vines

 

[zkling]

Thoughts off the top off my head in no particular order.

-Great job, looks real nice

-Glad to see I'm not the only one that put a cut off disk on a bench grinder, just watch side loads and twisting. Otherwise it is very handy for that hard ~1/4" and smaller stock.

-I NEED that grinder for my matching stand. Yes, need.

-How many belt units are you up to now? I appreciate a good belt machine as much as the next guy , but geeze seems you have one of every flavor

 

[pcmeiners]

Nice reno..
Have a used Baldor which came with a cut off, but yours is really nice. Will redo mine to a large support plate like yours.

 

[exmaxima1]

Thoughts off the top off my head in no particular order.

-Great job, looks real nice

-Glad to see I'm not the only one that put a cut off disk on a bench grinder, just watch side loads and twisting. Otherwise it is very handy for that hard ~1/4" and smaller stock.

-I NEED that grinder for my matching stand. Yes, need.

-How many belt units are you up to now? I appreciate a good belt machine as much as the next guy , but geeze seems you have one of every flavor

The grinder came with the matching cast iron pedestal stand, but I havent decided whether I will use it. Its not quite art deco, more like the Baldor stands.

I have to think about how many belt sanders/grinders I have. AFAIK, I currently have 9. I guess its time to thin the herd...

 

[OCD]

A few months ago I bought a 40's era Atlas 1/2hp grinder that needed some tlc. Bearings were dry, and the right side guard & rest were missing. I soon realized that it would be near impossible to source a guard and/or rest, so I decided to add a belt grinder to that side.

This Atlas grinder would not directly mount a Multi-Tool grinder, so I opted to buy the MT wheel and fab the rest. I made the belt a bit larger at 2x42 since I already had a grinder that used that size belt. At first I was going to emulate the MT tracking scheme of twisting the wheel, but decided to go with the traditional angle adjustment design. The drive wheel is a composite of aluminum and nylon scraps. Since the belt arm can be quickly positioned up/down/back/forth I have the options of the platen side or the slack belt side.

When I was done I was torn between installing a grinding or wire wheel, but since I rarely use a wheel anymore and I already have a block grinder with a pair of wire wheels I went for a cutoff wheel. I never used one before, but I already see that it will come in handy for trimming or cutting small steel parts. The light is the takeoff from my Baldor grinder that got a MT belt adapter years ago

While rated for only 1/2hp, this motor is a brute. I haven't been able to stall it yet, and it runs like silk. Weighs 77 lbs and doesn't budge on the bench as well. I'm not sure if this really belongs in the vintage grinder thread, or the belt grinder thread, or even the "Blockmeister" thread so I started a new one.

That beast is too cool!!

 

[kazlx]

Sweet, I like it. Nice job. I've been eyeballing a belt conversion like that. I have a few grinders and rarely use them. It's rare that I need to grind something that I don't do on the surface grinder or disc sander.

 

[twertsy]

That's a sweet setup. Ya just made me google/price conversion kits. Now, which one to convert.......

 

[Hammer1963]

I really appreciate and like the thought and detail that you have put into this setup. It just flat out kicks ***!

 

[exmaxima1]

I really appreciate and like the thought and detail that you have put into this setup. It just flat out kicks ***!

Thank you for the kind remarks. This is the first project I did since I became semi-retired, and it was alot of fun.

 

[Mike007]

I like the cutting disk. Seems like it would be handy. I may take one of the wire wheels off my 8" grinder and put a cutting disk on it.

 

[exmaxima1]

Congrats on a fortunate find and a very professional build. Now, where are the plans, so the rest of us can do one?

jack vines

There are no plans as I built it on the fly using whatever scraps I had. The spring arm is stainless rod, the knob shoulder spacers are bronze, the main assembly was a block of aluminum (later anodized), and various cutoffs of steel angle and aluminum plates. The only use I made of Autocad was to determine the angle needed on the the tracking head. It is not a cost effective design for a DIY, but worked out ok for me.

 

[drivesitfar]

Ex: sorry i missed this thread last month. I've been welcoming new members, checking out new garages in garage gallery and giving golf lessons in the Free Parking sections so I'm missing a few things that are very cool.

you did make a sort of BlockMeister 2 only with a cool looking older grinder. excellent work sir and nice design and color too. now that you've had it for a while how do you like it compared to your other belt grinders? also how many belt grinders do you own?

i'm thinking of buying this kit or if i hit the lottery i'd maybe consider buying a www.burrking.com belt grinder. have you ever used a BurrKing?

cheers and thanks for the link from the block thread.

 

[valentine]

Nice grinder. Reminds me of the kind of belt grinders I've seen knifemakers use. Never saw one with a cut off wheel though. Good luck with it.

-Valentine

 

[nine4gmc]

As awesome as it is, I would hate to see it get smothered in the Awesome thread, it truly deserves it's own thread!!

Love it better than the Block grinders but I have a soft spot for Atlas, great job!

 

[exmaxima1]

As awesome as it is, I would hate to see it get smothered in the Awesome thread, it truly deserves it's own thread!!

Love it better than the Block grinders but I have a soft spot for Atlas, great job!

I've owned at least 6 or 8 blocks, and this Atlas just smokes them in smoothness and build quality. Jeez, the motor rotor w/shaft alone weighs as much as a complete block grinder (sans wheels). I recently picked up a sister to this grinder, labeled Skil, but passed it on to a machinist friend of mine as he plans to duplicate my Frankie. Took the 2 of us to lift it out of my trunk---these are awesome grinders!

 

[drivesitfar]

Ex: the more i look at your Atlas grinder it looks better. you had those spare parts just laying around the shop?

i almost picked up a Stanley 1/2 HP grinder last year that was almost unused. i was at my client's house because he was selling a vise and I noticed he had a Stanley grinder sitting under a bench. when i asked about it he said he hadn't used it for a while so i asked how much. he himmed and hawed and finally said he'd let me know if he would sell it because it was his Dad's so i didn't press further. it looked heavier than my 3/4 HP baldor buffer.

was your Atlas missing parts or was it complete and you just wanted to make it better for you use?

here's a belt grinder one of the college professors that teaches welding is selling to a few of his students which isn't cheap, but looks like it might work great. it's over a grand, but still a lot cheaper than a Burr King and i don't own one belt grinder currently.

 

[bagged89s10]

A few months ago I bought a 40's era Atlas 1/2hp grinder that needed some tlc. Bearings were dry, and the right side guard & rest were missing. I soon realized that it would be near impossible to source a guard and/or rest, so I decided to add a belt grinder to that side.



This Atlas grinder would not directly mount a Multi-Tool grinder, so I opted to buy the MT wheel and fab the rest. I made the belt a bit larger at 2x42 since I already had a grinder that used that size belt. At first I was going to emulate the MT tracking scheme of twisting the wheel, but decided to go with the traditional angle adjustment design. The drive wheel is a composite of aluminum and nylon scraps. Since the belt arm can be quickly positioned up/down/back/forth I have the options of the platen side or the slack belt side.



When I was done I was torn between installing a grinding or wire wheel, but since I rarely use a wheel anymore and I already have a block grinder with a pair of wire wheels I went for a cutoff wheel. I never used one before, but I already see that it will come in handy for trimming or cutting small steel parts. The light is the takeoff from my Baldor grinder that got a MT belt adapter years ago



While rated for only 1/2hp, this motor is a brute. I haven't been able to stall it yet, and it runs like silk. Weighs 77 lbs and doesn't budge on the bench as well. I'm not sure if this really belongs in the vintage grinder thread, or the belt grinder thread, or even the "Blockmeister" thread so I started a new one.

This thing is badass!

 

[sberry]

I like that for a couple reasons, the main one being it will get used. My neighbor beat me to a sale with a 1 inch belt sander, I am going to get one, they are super handy for so little investment.

 

[exmaxima1]

Ex: the more i look at your Atlas grinder it looks better. you had those spare parts just laying around the shop?

i almost picked up a Stanley 1/2 HP grinder last year that was almost unused. i was at my client's house because he was selling a vise and I noticed he had a Stanley grinder sitting under a bench. when i asked about it he said he hadn't used it for a while so i asked how much. he himmed and hawed and finally said he'd let me know if he would sell it because it was his Dad's so i didn't press further. it looked heavier than my 3/4 HP baldor buffer.

was your Atlas missing parts or was it complete and you just wanted to make it better for you use?

here's a belt grinder one of the college professors that teaches welding is selling to a few of his students which isn't cheap, but looks like it might work great. it's over a grand, but still a lot cheaper than a Burr King and i don't own one belt grinder currently.

Drives:

The Atlas was complete except for one guard and rest (even has the matching cast iron base), and those parts are hard to find. The belt conversion is ideal since this grinder has shoulders on the end bells to allow guard---OR BELT MECHANISM---to swing into any position. The "spare" parts were essentially chunks of aluminum and steel that I milled into shape.

If you have no belt grinder and you want to invest into something decent, I would recommend a Baldor 2x48. Mine came as 3 phase, so I added a VFD which makes the grinder even more versatile. As all Baldors, they run smooth and very quiet, unlike alot of those multi-wheel monsters everyone is making lately. You should be able to get a nice used one for $500-800. I suspect Burr-Kings are significantly more than that. You could buy a Multi-Tool adapter and build your own Blockmeister for even less (you could install it on your 3/4hp Baldor in minutes and---trust me---you will never use a stone wheel again!)

What do you plan to do with the belt grinder? If you're not building a race car or grinding weldments all day long, a 2x48 belt is a nice size.

 

[drivesitfar]

EX: very cool that you milled your own parts for you Frankengrinder.

i'm not exactly sure what i'm going to use the belt grinders for but i know they work on old steel and metals better than any stone wheel.

thanks for the tips on the Baldor belt grinder and I haven't seen a used one in maybe 5 or closer to 10 years around here. new ones i think are about $1100 last time i looked and the Burrkings were 2 or 3 times that much.

the home made high quality one i posted pictures of does come with a new baldor motor.

how many belt grinders do you own and do you have them set up with different belts for an assembly line and what do you use them for if you don't mind me asking?

 

[exmaxima1]

how many belt grinders do you own and do you have them set up with different belts for an assembly line and what do you use them for if you don't mind me asking?

I've sold off a few, so I'm down to maybe 6 or 8 at this time

I like the Baldor 2x48 when I need to shape a part, such as forming a radius. It is essentially a "square grinder" since there is a platen between the wheels that holds the belt at right angles to the table. It is very smooth and quiet, and with the VFD I can find a balance between the material, finish, and how much I want to risk my fingers (sometimes slower is more comfortable in use).

For deburring and breaking the edges on parts, I go to my Multi-Tool belt grinder (built on a 1/2hp Baldor grinder). It is nearly silent when running, and the rubber contact wheel doesn't bounce like hard wheels do. Belt changes take about 30 seconds max, and if a belt breaks it won't injure you like a hard wheel does. It's a civilized machine and probably the most useful. I built my Frankenstein grinder so I would have a similar machine at home.

The balance of my grinders are for special jobs like getting inside nooks and crannies, sharpening, cleaning tubes (using a slack belt) and shaping very small parts. I know I don't need them, but it's a sickness like vise collecting!

 

[sberry]

I was thinking more along the 30$ my bud got his for at a sale, its a dinky thing with 1x36 I believe.

 

[drivesitfar]

EX: would my 3/4 HP Dayton be a good candidate for a franken grinder? how much would the parts cost me to make it close to your Atlas?

 

[nine4gmc]

That's a complete grinder Drives, it would be a shame to convert that one IMHO.

 

[drivesitfar]

Nines: you have a point, but these don't grow on trees so unless i want to buy a new belt grinder it's got the makings of one. as you probably know i do have a few other complete grinders and a baldor buffer so a belt grinder is on my needs list and Ex's looks too cool.

 

[McBrownie]

Ex,

I'm late to the party, but how did you make the drive wheel? Looks like Delrin or something similar. Did you put a crown on it?

 

[exmaxima1]

Ex,

I'm late to the party, but how did you make the drive wheel? Looks like Delrin or something similar. Did you put a crown on it?

It's a hybrid of aluminum hub with nylon sleeve that I pressed onto it. It's not a solid wheel, as I think the aluminum part started out an ashtray or something similar. Total weight is about a pound or so. There's a very small crown on it, pretty much the same as a MT drive hub. Works well.