Help me choose: bench grinder/belt sander attachment or disc sander?

[Threadkiller]

Good morning all,
I recently purchased a multitool 2x48 belt grinder attachment and I thought I had the perfect 8" grinder for it. Turns out that the grinder is more tired than I thought and it won't start up with the tension from the belt. It even has trouble if I help start it with my hand. So now I'm unfortunately/fortunately (who doesn't love more tools?) in the market for a new 8" bench grinder. While perusing Harbor Freights website I saw the Bauer grinder/belt sander combo which is tempting so I thought maybe sell my multitool attachment and just buy that and be done with it, orrrrrrrrrr just buy the 12" disc sander and be done with grinders all together (they are kind of annoying to get set up vibration free). If I do that I could free up some floor space for maybe a drill press....Idk what would garage journal do? BTW I would be using said belt grinder/disc sander for Metal work, mainly welding and machining work.

 

[seber]

I can only tell you what works for me. I have two 8" grinders and a belt disc. One of the grinders is three phase so I can vary the speed. It is the only one with a grinding wheel. That is a white wheel for sharpening. The other three shafts are for wire wheels, deburring wheel and flap sander. The belt gets 90% of the use and the disc has never been touched.

 

[Threadkiller]

Thanks for the reply. I do have one other 6” grinder that I’d be keeping for a wire wheel and a fine wheel for touching up some HSS tools…should have included that in my post

 

[ez-duzit]

...I would be using said belt grinder/disc sander for Metal work, mainly welding and machining work.

At a minimum, you need a bench grinder with a grinding wheel and wire brush, plus a stationary (6" x 48") belt/disc sander. You can add to that a belt grinder.

 

[Nutria]

Before you give up on the old grinder (sorry) maybe check out the start and/or run capacitor? You might be able to put it back in service quickly.

 

[B_Bimmer]

The multitool with a quality grinder will be a better machine than the harbor fright special.

 

[Threadkiller]

Before you give up on the old grinder (sorry) maybe check out the start and/or run capacitor? You might be able to put it back in service quickly.

I’m open to try I just have no idea what I’m doing. I’ll have to try to find some info

 

[Nutria]

I’m open to try I just have no idea what I’m doing. I’ll have to try to find some info

You would want to be able to discharge the capacitor(s), although it's usually not a problem, and also have a meter that would measure capacitance. If that's new or uncomfortable stuff, I'd suggest disregarding and going back to Plan A and enjoy picking out an alternative.