btdobie
Well-known member
Let me preface this by begging you not to laugh, but I don't own a bench grinder.
I've gotten by so far by using other tools or taking parts into work with me and grinding them there. I keep intending to buy one, but every time I try, I can't find one I like. Whether I'm looking at the cheapest of Chinese imports or the big brands such as DeWalt or Jet, it's the same story, endless reviews of units that were shipped with unacceptable run out, motors that quit after a few months, weak motors, and generally cheap production. I've become used to the fact that most consumer tools these days are built to a price and are essentially disposable. However, I have generally found that as long as you are willing to pay there are companies out there who still do things the right way (SK, Proto, Mac, SO, ECT) and I try to reward these companies with my business. Unfortunately finding such a company for bench griders proved to be far more difficult than I would have expected for such a simple tool. I have finally determined that I have 2 options.
Metabo: This is a German company, but they now manufacture in China, but so far people seem to agree that their quality hasn't suffered much from the move. They can be had for $200. The catch is that US size grinding wheels don't fit which is a deal breaker for me.
Baldor: Specifically the Baldor Big Red. This grinder is everything I wanted: built with heavy cast metal parts, well balanced, backed by endless glowing reviews, and generally seems like the last bench grinder I would ever buy. The only problem is the $300 price tag. For a professional this would be a no brainer; for a hobbiest the fact that I'm even considering it at that price makes me question my own sanity.
So now I'm stuck in the middle. On one side I have my desire to wage a one man war against this disposable tool fad by spending my money with companies that make good quality tools. On the other side the logical part of my brain says I can trash 5 Harbor Freight bench grinders over my lifetime and still be out less money. I also have to face the reality that I will probably only use this thing once a week at most.
So as I continue to wrestle with this decision I remain without a bench grinder. I just find myself in a state of disbelief that I am this stuck on a decision about a bench grinder. For cryin' out loud it's just a motor with the shaft coming out both ends and a cover/base. Honestly though, I think the bench grinder is just a scape goat for my general displeasure with the current state of the tool industry. So many people buy these cheap tools that the makers of quality tools have to charge increasingly ridiculous prices to keep their profit margines up which in turn pushes more people to buy cheap tools. The cycle just goes on and on until only professionals can justify the cost of quality tools. I think we have already hit that point with power tools, but I think we'll still get a couple more decades out of the hand tool industry. Maybe if I procrastinate long enough I can pick a bench grinder up for a couple bucks at a garage sale. At that price, I won't really care about the quality.
I've gotten by so far by using other tools or taking parts into work with me and grinding them there. I keep intending to buy one, but every time I try, I can't find one I like. Whether I'm looking at the cheapest of Chinese imports or the big brands such as DeWalt or Jet, it's the same story, endless reviews of units that were shipped with unacceptable run out, motors that quit after a few months, weak motors, and generally cheap production. I've become used to the fact that most consumer tools these days are built to a price and are essentially disposable. However, I have generally found that as long as you are willing to pay there are companies out there who still do things the right way (SK, Proto, Mac, SO, ECT) and I try to reward these companies with my business. Unfortunately finding such a company for bench griders proved to be far more difficult than I would have expected for such a simple tool. I have finally determined that I have 2 options.
Metabo: This is a German company, but they now manufacture in China, but so far people seem to agree that their quality hasn't suffered much from the move. They can be had for $200. The catch is that US size grinding wheels don't fit which is a deal breaker for me.
Baldor: Specifically the Baldor Big Red. This grinder is everything I wanted: built with heavy cast metal parts, well balanced, backed by endless glowing reviews, and generally seems like the last bench grinder I would ever buy. The only problem is the $300 price tag. For a professional this would be a no brainer; for a hobbiest the fact that I'm even considering it at that price makes me question my own sanity.
So now I'm stuck in the middle. On one side I have my desire to wage a one man war against this disposable tool fad by spending my money with companies that make good quality tools. On the other side the logical part of my brain says I can trash 5 Harbor Freight bench grinders over my lifetime and still be out less money. I also have to face the reality that I will probably only use this thing once a week at most.
So as I continue to wrestle with this decision I remain without a bench grinder. I just find myself in a state of disbelief that I am this stuck on a decision about a bench grinder. For cryin' out loud it's just a motor with the shaft coming out both ends and a cover/base. Honestly though, I think the bench grinder is just a scape goat for my general displeasure with the current state of the tool industry. So many people buy these cheap tools that the makers of quality tools have to charge increasingly ridiculous prices to keep their profit margines up which in turn pushes more people to buy cheap tools. The cycle just goes on and on until only professionals can justify the cost of quality tools. I think we have already hit that point with power tools, but I think we'll still get a couple more decades out of the hand tool industry. Maybe if I procrastinate long enough I can pick a bench grinder up for a couple bucks at a garage sale. At that price, I won't really care about the quality.
