My Baldor 1/2HP Grinder-Buffer Resto

[Southern]

I've used you guys every step of the process. I made a thred when I bought it, made a thread when I took it apart, made a thread when I put it back together, so here I am showing the result of the Baldor grinder that garagejournal.com restored. Thanks for all the support.

Stumbled into a little consignment shop to buy a 397 Craftsman block that I saw in the background of a craigslist picture they had selling a little giant ladder. Once I got there, I saw this puppy and took it instead. $50.00 paid for everything.

<a href="http://imgur.com/eLRpu"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/eLRpu.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a><a href="http://imgur.com/YebMK"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/YebMK.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a><a href="http://imgur.com/cMszq"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/cMszq.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a><a href="http://imgur.com/9F9Rn"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/9F9Rn.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>

So I set apart shocking all the cast iron once I got her apart.

<a href="http://imgur.com/5tUAa"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/5tUAa.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a><a href="http://imgur.com/gZXtv"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/gZXtv.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a><a href="http://imgur.com/IxdAl"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/IxdAl.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a><a href="http://imgur.com/q3BVq"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/q3BVq.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>

While it all cooked, I set about stripping and polishing the brightwork, cleaning the rotor, and giving the stator all the attention in needed as far as cleaning/varnishing/liquid taping.

<a href="http://imgur.com/bKKlz"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/bKKlz.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a><a href="http://imgur.com/2CCPI"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/2CCPI.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a><a href="http://imgur.com/Atovj"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/Atovj.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a><a href="http://imgur.com/Al7Xj"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/Al7Xj.jpg?1" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a><a href="http://imgur.com/lIqar"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/lIqar.jpg?1" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>

Apparently I didn't have the presence of mind to photograph the iron when it came out of the tank. Check out the trashcan tank I made for the pedestal

<a href="http://imgur.com/QN1PL"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/QN1PL.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>

Once everything came out of the tank, I wire brushed it, it it with some steel wool, rubbed it all down with WD40 and sent it out for sandblast / powdercoat.

While I was waiting on that, I replaced as much hardware as I could with new stainless hardware. The body bolts and a few other parts were really custom, so I just oped to restore them with a generous amount of kerosene and a wirebrush on the end of a drill (if only I had a bench grinder...hmm). The restored stuff (including the capacitor bracket and mounting gasket because I'm ****), were soaked in vinegar for about 4 hours, doused in WD40 and ran through the wire cup with a light steel wool afterward. I hit the mounting gasket with a sanding paddle afterwards.

<a href="http://imgur.com/mDgl4"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/mDgl4.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a><a href="http://imgur.com/WaAoR"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/WaAoR.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a><a href="http://imgur.com/byg2k"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/byg2k.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a><a href="http://imgur.com/kNI3e"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/kNI3e.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a><a href="http://imgur.com/5IG1w"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/5IG1w.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a><a href="http://imgur.com/xoV8a"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/xoV8a.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a><a href="http://imgur.com/UtsE7"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/UtsE7.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>

I rewired it with a new cord. All of the wiring coming off the motor was old and cloth covered, as well as just contact soldered to the capacitor and switch. Instead, I double-coated all the wiring in heatshrink and attached electrical quick connects to all the ends I didn't really take any pictures of the wiring or any of the metal separate. Or the new quick connect capacitor or the polished bracket or any of that. I'm not good at this sharing thing.

What I did do was make some cool BALDOR stickers in metallic silver high performance vinyl. Having a plotter has its benefits. Once I got it all back together, including a frantic threat about OMG IT WONT START ONLY BUZZES, I got everything to fire up perfectly. I tinkered with it for a minute to get the magnetic centers and balance corrected. Everything got a fresh round of lube and grease, now it starts up, runs with almost 0 vibration at all, is damn near whisper quiet, and actually runs under 120 degrees under load.

<a href="http://imgur.com/n0TDs"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/n0TDs.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a><a href="http://imgur.com/2bkeZ"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/2bkeZ.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a><a href="http://imgur.com/MZyf2"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/MZyf2.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a><a href="http://imgur.com/SUJ5g"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/SUJ5g.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a><a href="http://imgur.com/l4ZIo"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/l4ZIo.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a><a href="http://imgur.com/kNlhv"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/kNlhv.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>

A note on the podwercoat. I actually don't care for the color that much, but everything I ever get coated, they say "what color are we doing this?" and I say "I don't care. put it in with something else you're doing this week and call me when it's done." This turned out pretty awesome in a way the pictures don't show. They did a double coat, first an iridescent/metallic sky blue, then baked it. After, that powdered it again with a deep ocean blue and baked it another time. When you see it in the light, it's this cool kind of layered iridescent blue that changes colors as you walk around the room. I wouldn't have picked it, but I'm pretty happy with it anyway. I get a deal on my stuff, but apparently this is about a $390 powdercoat job O.O

I also realize I have to make a new label for it. I was thinking about just soldering the old one back on as kind of a throwback to the before state of it. Might be kind of unique. Thoughts?

Thanks for the support. It works great and I've already started using it to restore a couple of sears grinders I will then sell (no powdercoat on those, just paint). Hopefully I did it right and this grinder will work until I have to hand it down to someone.

<a href="http://imgur.com/YebMK"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/YebMK.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a><a href="http://imgur.com/SUJ5g"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/SUJ5g.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>

Cheers!

 

[woody 73]

Fantastic Job I bet you could get your money back on CL several times over in that brand new condition! But then again it will look great in your shop

 

[Outlawmws]

Just stunning! I like it! I like it a LOT!

 

[harrytbagger]

Beautiful!!!!

 

[Catalyze]

Insert a Big Gasp when I saw the finished photos!!
Two slices of vise pie for you tonight for such an outstanding result. The Baldor graphic up the stand is wonderful.
Craig

 

[Amitygravel]

Southern
First off , you score a Baldor WITH a stand for 50 bucks.


YOU **** on that note. Nice score !!
Second ,
Wow ! What fantastic job on the re conditioning of the setup !
Photos and the details you posted are very helpful for any future rebuilds anyone might attempt.

 

[jtbinvalrico]

Nice work.....the details make it!

 

[hobie1dog]

awesome, I love the color, couldn't imagine a better looking buffer.

 

[mustanginky]

what exactly did you do to "shock" the cast iron parts? how does that work?

 

[Outlawmws]

what exactly did you do to "shock" the cast iron parts? how does that work?

He's talking about Electrolysis rust removal. Quite a few of us on GJ do this routinely.

 

[d.mcfarland]

I never know what to do with badges! It is a subtle reminder of it's once forgotten/used state, but it also brings the visual appeal down when the old badge is throw back on. What options do you have so far?

 

[Southern]

what exactly did you do to "shock" the cast iron parts? how does that work?

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=154196

 

[BJ42LX]

OMFG. That is off the charts.

 

[Southern]

I never know what to do with badges! It is a subtle reminder of it's once forgotten/used state, but it also brings the visual appeal down when the old badge is throw back on. What options do you have so far?

I decided I'm going to put the original badge back on it in exact condition. I think it will be a kind of cool juxtaposition, the immaculate clean rebuilt completely-wrong-color grinder with the original beat up grimy painty nasty worn off label right in the center. Kind of a throwback to the condition the grinder was once in.

Besides, the original condition of the grinder, while it was ugly as ****, did have kind of a cool petina to it and a character that has been completely lost.

I'm pretty excited about the decision.

 

[mustanginky]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=154196

thanks!

 

[d.mcfarland]

Besides, the original condition of the grinder, while it was ugly as ****, did have kind of a cool petina to it and a character that has been completely lost.

Completely agree that the patina is something that will never return, but you will still remember when you see that badge.