Grinder stand--how to secure?

[49 Fastback]

My dilemma is this: I am setting up a bench grinder on a pedestal-type stand, and I don't want to bolt it to the garage floor (I'm in a rental house). Does anyone have recommendations of what to attach to the bottom to secure it? I was thinking a big piece of MDF--that's heavy stuff, no?

Thanks,

Tucker

 

[Piper]

IN one of the shops I worked at a few years ago there was a pedestal grinder mounted on a sheet of plywood big enough to hold the grinder and the operator. So, you could stand on the plywood which added to the stability of the machine yet the grinder could be moved if needed. It worked great.

I'd dissuade you from using mdf as it's like a sponge when/if it gets wet and structurally poor. Plywood would be better IMHO.

Piper

 

[MAD]

I think that more than half of the grinders in the world are mounted with old steel auto rims as the base. bent steel rims are often free at your local tire shop or from the "roadside store".

 

[-lecroix-]

Go to a local auto salvage yard and find an old steel wheel ... weld the post to the center/hub hole of the wheel ... maybe $5 invested.

 

[49 Fastback]

And the wheel won't "walk"? That's my main concern--stability.

Thanks

Tucker

 

[1320stang]

I haven't had a problem with it walking, you can always put your foot up on the rim. My biggest problem is the grinder dust in the rim. I'm going to use dust tape to fill the holes in the rim and use a sack of cement to grout the top of the wheel up. Should give more stability and it'll be easier to sweep the grinding dust off.

 

[MAD]

And the wheel won't "walk"? That's my main concern--stability.

Thanks

Tucker

No, a bench grinder is not the kind of tool that works better when you push harder so a steel rim is generally plenty stable. At least I have no problem on my bare concrete floor. Maybe if you have one of those fancy coated floor treatments that you can eat off of you should wait for some other folks to chime in.

 

[49 Fastback]

No fancy pants floors here. Just good old cement that when poured, the neighborhood kids wrote obscene messages in! Funny, it looks like my handwriting back in the day...lol

Thanks everyone. One wheel coming up.

Tucker

 

[eschoendorff]

I made up a base out of some locking casters and some 2x12. Put the grinder stand on that.... works well.

 

[wilbilt]

Here are a couple of mine. One is made from a hub/drum from a 1970s 1-ton pickup. The other is made from a harrow disc. Although the disc is a larger diameter than the drum, it is really not heavy enough to provide a solid base. The drum base wins, hands down. It has enough mass to be stable, but very easy to tilt and roll when it needs to be moved.

 

[sasquatchpa]

I used a slight variation. I used a 13" tire, cut a 14" circle of plywood and forced it in. I screwed a 4x4 to the center of the plywood pizza and filled the tire with quickcrete. Its easy to tilt and move, but when flat the rubber and the weight don't let it slide.

 

[Major Ramifications]

Wilbilt, very nice set up. I hadn't thought of an old brake drum. What kind of drill press(?) is that old green one in the picture?
I am in the same boat, more or less. I don't want to bolt mine down because of the limited space I have. When I need it, I drag it out. When I don't need it, it gets pushed closer to the wall.
I will add this, though. Where I used to work, we had a Delta bench grinder in our test shop that made a lot of noise and vibrations when running, even when it was on the pedastal. After we bolted the pedastal to the concrete, that thing was as quiet and smooth as could be.

 

[wilbilt]

Wilbilt, very nice set up. I hadn't thought of an old brake drum. What kind of drill press(?) is that old green one in the picture?

It's a Walker-Turner. I found it locally on craigslist a few weeks ago for $55. It definitely needs cleaning and painting, but runs very well.

I have basically zero space, and everything is sort of halfway outside all the time. I still keep collecting projects (like the drill press), though. It is truly a sickness.

 

[Major Ramifications]

$55! You *******!
As punishment for getting such a good deal, get out there and rake up all those leaves!

 

[wilbilt]

Rake?
What is this "rake" of which you speak? Is it like the flame of a torch?

 

[49 Fastback]

I could understand if you didn't know what a snow shovel was, but a rake???

I think I will go for the wheel, loaded with cement. Dang, I want my own place. 2 more years of saving and maybe I can! (If I don't blow it all on cars and tools, of course!)

Thanks for the help, fellas!

Tucker

 

[wilbilt]

I could understand if you didn't know what a snow shovel was, but a rake???

I think I will go for the wheel, loaded with cement. Dang, I want my own place. 2 more years of saving and maybe I can! (If I don't blow it all on cars and tools, of course!)

Thanks for the help, fellas!

Tucker

Yes, you definitely want some weight to stabilize the base. The added mass helps dampen vibration, too.

Darn Pin Oak trees won't drop their leaves in the fall like all the rest. They wait until spring, when everything else is turning green. They are just starting to drop, so I will wait until they are done before torching them.

 

[Thumper]

Big *** truck flywheel works good too.

 

[russlaferrera]

Rake?
What is this "rake" of which you speak? Is it like the flame of a torch?

You need an electric leaf blower. Cleans garages fast. Great for leafs on a windy day. Get them in the air...god brings them to the neighbors yard

 

[wilbilt]

You need an electric leaf blower. Cleans garages fast. Great for leafs on a windy day. Get them in the air...god brings them to the neighbors yard

I feel the same way about leaf blowers as I do about air ratchets...way too much noise generated in relation to the amount of work being done.

 

[-lecroix-]

That's what I consider the cool part ... the LOUD noise.

 

[Sack]

You could always bury a trailer receiver hitch in the ground, then just weld a straight square tube to it and slide it in when you need it. Dunno, just a thought. I keep mine mounted to the benches.

 

[jeepgod]

I used a steel rim, then welded some 1/2" steel on the top of it and 1/4" on the bottom, torched out the top plate for the tube.... insterted the tube and welded it up... it's heavy.. and it works awesome.. and being round.. i can roll it to where i need.

 

[TNToy]

People make it way too complicated:

Use a small wheel, like a 15" steel wheel, so it won't take up much floor space.
Weld the pipe for the stand to the wheel flange.
Set the wheel on a piece of plywood
Mix concrete
Pour into wheel
Slide off of plywood when dry

Boom. Small, heavy base that's stable, but easy to roll around when titled on it's edge.