My Grinder
- Thread starter Junkmanryan
- Start date
lots of threads/info on craftsman grinders here
McBrownie
Well-known member
That's a 115 model, or what people here call a "pre-block" motor grinder. I think they were made by Packard Electric and, if I'm reading that 1-55 stamp in the label correctly, an early 1955 model. They are solid machines and worth holding on to.
jakemac
Well-known member
We call them Pre-Block Grinders, but in the 1955 Craftsman Mechanic's Tools catalog Sears called them Flat Faced Grinders. They used it as a selling point to bring attention to the fact that the face of the grinder sat back, allowing more room for the work area on the wheels. In the 1956 catalog they dropped the descriptive and just called them Grinders, but still pointed out that the wheel wasn't flush with the face.
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McBrownie
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It never ceases to amaze me. $35.95 in 1955 is the equivalent of $317.56 in 2014. I would not pay $300+ for that grinder new today. I'm too spoiled by cheap chinese imports and even cheaper old USA-made iron.
Fretters
Well-known member
It never ceases to amaze me. $35.95 in 1955 is the equivalent of $317.56 in 2014. I would not pay $300+ for that grinder new today. I'm too spoiled by cheap chinese imports and even cheaper old USA-made iron.
So in condensed form, that means you're just a tight git?
drivesitfar
Well-known member
McB: also just to be fair motors were the most expensive part of a machine pre 1950. so inflation prices are a bit skewed.
Fretters: McB might seem that way, but he's the only member on here to post a $1,400 bench grinder twice. also have you ever seen his Blockmeister??
Junk: i agree a pre block grinder and start reading the Craftsman block grinder thread and you'll see we all love those old Craftsman grinders. also a lot of the information in that thread will help you spiff yours up if you want to.
Fretters: McB might seem that way, but he's the only member on here to post a $1,400 bench grinder twice. also have you ever seen his Blockmeister??
Junk: i agree a pre block grinder and start reading the Craftsman block grinder thread and you'll see we all love those old Craftsman grinders. also a lot of the information in that thread will help you spiff yours up if you want to.
drivesitfar
Well-known member
Fretters and all: here's McB's Blockmeister in case you didn't see it yet. McB doesn't own the $1,400 bench grinder yet, but it has adjustable speed control and some very very cool and expensive wheels.
Junk: did you say how your pre-block grinder runs? please wear a full face shield and some thick clothes if you are using that or any grinder with open wire wheel. they spit out wires while you are working and I've had them go through thick sweatshirts and they stick nicely to skin. don't put an eye out because you only have 2.
Junk: did you say how your pre-block grinder runs? please wear a full face shield and some thick clothes if you are using that or any grinder with open wire wheel. they spit out wires while you are working and I've had them go through thick sweatshirts and they stick nicely to skin. don't put an eye out because you only have 2.
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Junkmanryan
Well-known member
drivesitfar, the machine works good. It doesn't have a wire brush, so that isn't an issue. I do still wear safety glasses while using it, though.
McBrownie
Well-known member
So in condensed form, that means you're just a tight git?
I have some Scottish blood in me that causes all kinds of monetary-related stress.
McBrownie
Well-known member
McB: also just to be fair motors were the most expensive part of a machine pre 1950. so inflation prices are a bit skewed.
Fretters: McB might seem that way, but he's the only member on here to post a $1,400 bench grinder twice. also have you ever seen his Blockmeister??
Drives, I agree that those numbers can't be translating correctly. But, I guarantee that they didn't cost the equivalent of $50 or less new.
Cope
Well-known member
It never ceases to amaze me. $35.95 in 1955 is the equivalent of $317.56 in 2014. I would not pay $300+ for that grinder new today. I'm too spoiled by cheap chinese imports and even cheaper old USA-made iron.
Me either, since you can get a better built Baldor in that range.
Fretters
Well-known member
I have some Scottish blood in me that causes all kinds of monetary-related stress.
You poor sod. Reminds me of the old joke:Copper wire was invented by a Scotsman and a Yorkshireman fighting over a penny.
McBrownie
Well-known member
Copper wire was invented by a Scotsman and a Yorkshireman fighting over a penny.
Aha! Now I get a joke that Jeremy Clarkson said on Top Gear about being a Yorkshireman. Thanks!
Fretters
Well-known member
Have I missed a recent thread? Can't recall seeing mention of that. Looks an intriguing setup.
Cdstahlman
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2014
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Real pos there, you should probably donate it to me and I'll get rid of it for you..... [emoji6]
drivesitfar
Well-known member
Fretters: McB started with a $20 3/4 HP block grinder and i'll let him tell you how much $ he has put into making it the Blockmeister. here's the thread in case you did miss it.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=277798
ALL: here is the picture and link to the $1,400 bench grinder we've mentioned that might be a little better than Junk's little pre-block. also found a YouTube video of this grinder at work.
so if you squeeze enough pennies you can own a block and another very cool grinder. i know i would like to own one.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=277798
ALL: here is the picture and link to the $1,400 bench grinder we've mentioned that might be a little better than Junk's little pre-block. also found a YouTube video of this grinder at work.
so if you squeeze enough pennies you can own a block and another very cool grinder. i know i would like to own one.
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McBrownie
Well-known member
Thanks for the video Drives. That DC motor sure is quiet. Nice machine, but way beyond my needs. If I'm around in 40 years, maybe there will be an old rusty one I can pick up for $20.
Fretters
Well-known member
What's the special appeal with that rather expensive grinder. Am I missing something?
drivesitfar
Well-known member
McB: me too.
Fretters: i know you like to do everything by hand, but you honestly don't see any advantage to having diamond wheels with adjustable DC motor? or are you using your English humor again?
Fretters: i know you like to do everything by hand, but you honestly don't see any advantage to having diamond wheels with adjustable DC motor? or are you using your English humor again?
Fretters
Well-known member
I wasn't joking this time. Honest.
I can see the wheels being a nice change, but what I was meaning is that there's nothing on that machine which justifies the price, and which isn't easily replicable or improved upon for far less cost, using either similar or older methods.The wheels, for example. They'll eventually wear the same as any other, and will probably cost several times more than a standard coloured wheel would cost. Conversely, If they're a standard type of readily available wheel, then obviously they could be fitted to any grinder. Speed control is easily sorted using 3 phase machines and VFD or an old pulley driven grinder, if speed control is a requirement. Plus you also have the fact that long term reliability of a DC system is unlikely to be similar to an AC unit, as there's some circuitry in there which is likely to fail in time.
There's absolutely nowt on that system that justifies even remotely a $1400 price tag. A novelty it may be, but that's all, IMHO.
drivesitfar
Well-known member
Fretters: hence the beginnings of another grinder prototype by a GJ member. it's in your court to make something like this and sell us each one. of course $1,400 is a steep price tag and some of us can buy a car for that much or less.
good luck on the design and I'll be waiting to see what you come up with on your new thread in the general tool section. there is a market for a tool like this, but i'm leaning towards a nice 3 wheel belt grinder with 20 different grades of belts to use like this one which costs about $1,500.
with all this talk about expensive grinders i'm still planning on using my 1/2 HP Block with wire wheels on it until i die that i paid a tenth of this price.
good luck on the design and I'll be waiting to see what you come up with on your new thread in the general tool section. there is a market for a tool like this, but i'm leaning towards a nice 3 wheel belt grinder with 20 different grades of belts to use like this one which costs about $1,500.
with all this talk about expensive grinders i'm still planning on using my 1/2 HP Block with wire wheels on it until i die that i paid a tenth of this price.
I wasn't joking this time. Honest.
The wheels, for example. They'll eventually wear the same as any other, and will probably cost several times more than a standard coloured wheel would cost. Conversely, If they're a standard type of readily available wheel, then obviously they could be fitted to any grinder. Speed control is easily sorted using 3 phase machines and VFD or an old pulley driven grinder, if speed control is a requirement. Plus you also have the fact that long term reliability of a DC system is unlikely to be similar to an AC unit, as there's some circuitry in there which is likely to fail in time.
There's absolutely nowt on that system that justifies even remotely a $1400 price tag. A novelty it may be, but that's all, IMHO.
Concur.......its a novelty......a quite elegant novelty, to be sure, but a proper Hammond, or even Baldor, carbide wheel grinder, carrying diamond wheels, is a far more practical and cost-effective investment.
(the old Delta make is equivalent to the Baldor, but the modern Chinese copies are not.....one may find some videos on the 'you-tube' internet video programme, of a very capable engineer going through quite a project of attempting to rebuild a 'Chinese counterfeit' carbide grinder into proper functionality.)
For whatever its worth, I use a Baldor carbide grinder which I keep set up with green silicon carbide wheels for 'rough-grinding' Carboloy tools, and a Hammond, set up with coarse and fine diamond wheels, for finishing.....and the first cost of both (found used and wanting some cleaning-up, to be sure), and including their expensive wheels, was nowhere near that $1400.
cheers
Carla
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