Ludell Help Please

[BadMonk]

I recently inherited several tools from my father-in-law. He never bought junk tools, depending on one's perspective. For him, low end tools were Craftsman which he used for drill presses, table saws, band saws and so on. He did major hand carving so those were high end tools. Anyhow, here's my question.

One of the tools that I recived was a Ludell bench grinder. It's Model BG-6W. Like all his tools, this must be an older model. It's a 6" grinder with a 1/2 hp motor...I think that's unusual nowadays. It seems six inchers are now 1/3 hp.

The grinder is in fantastic shape except it's missing the tool rests and the eye protectors. They're nowhere to be found either in his shop or online, as far as I can tell.

Does anyon have experience with Ludell? They are or were USA but I can't find anyone selling parts. I'd like to get OEM rests or at least as close as possible. The eye protectors OEM or not would just be a bonus at this point.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[Milton Shaw]

If it is a second grinder just turn it into a buffer, no tool rest required then. I suspect if you want one you would have to fabricate it out of something like 14 gauge steel. A piece of 14 gauge 2" wide would make one about the size you find on most grinders. I would prefer a bigger one myself and have made several out of 1/4 inch plate and welded the bracket on the plate to give it a very flat surface and good slot for adjustment. I did cut a slot so that the rest extends beyond the cutting face of the wheels.

 

[dkroth]

Eye shields and tool rests are prone to go the way of socks in the dryer!

That Ludel just screams Taiwan to me. It's still a decent unit, just [probably] not USA. The shape, the stickers, the switch and the stamped steel wheel guards are all very common.

Sorry, no source for factory parts. it should be easy to make some rests from some steel bits or angle iron.

 

[woody 73]

The Ludel is made in Asia, one of many names coming from overseas; not exactly what you would call top of the line but still having a grinder is better then no grinder at all, so always keep that in mind.

Now if you want some very nice tool rests I can help you out on that one but beware as they say (the tool rests will cost you more then the grinder itself). As for eye shields try e-bay.

The following is a store bought product or you can make your own: Keep in mind this is just one example of the many tool rests out there for your bench grinder:

http://www.rockler.com/oneway-wolverine-grinding-jig

http://www.finewoodworking.com/tool-guide/article/tool-rests-for-bench-grinders.aspx

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=grinder+eye+shields

 

[BadMonk]

Thanks for all the help with my new Ludell. I was under the (mis)understanding that Ludell was a USA product but the tell tale signs are Asian. Appreciate the heads up on that.

I've had an eye on the Wolverine grinding jig for a long time, before I got the Ludell. But, like you said Woody, the cost will be more than the grinder which I'm ballparking now around twenty or twenty-five bucks.

It's a decent grinder in many respects, not great, but it was my father-in-law's. He turned out some masterful woodwork in his shop so I almost feel compelled out of respect to at least try to restore and use it.

So I may follow Milton's lead and see if I can make something suitable for his old grinder. The tool rest itself shouldn't be too hard with some patience to get everything squared away but the attaching bracket may be a little tricky.

 

[neilreeveszz]

Is not the statement "Made in Taiwan" at the bottom of the blue tag pretty definitive?