Recommendations for a bench grinder

[Welshie]

My father in law has hinted he's love a bench grinder for his birthday. I want to get him a good quality one but not pay through the nose either. It will be used occasionally at a hobby level, not a full on industrial used daily example.

This Sears Craftsman one has good reviews:

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-1-6-hp-6inch-bench-grinder-with-lamp/p-00921124000P?prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2

So, what are peoples recommendations?

 

[1982fxr]

1/6 hp is about the lowest I've ever seen. Does he do any wire wheeling?

You can get s better built more powerful better balanced old USA machine on cl in most places for around the same money. But it may not be a beauty queen. Do looks matter?

 

[riscal33]

DEWALT DW758... I couldn't be happier with mine.

 

[erty67]

If it needs to be new, i wouldn't go with a 1/6th hp. Look for a 1/2hp grinder. I also agree an older us made grinder, like a craftsman block, is a better choice. I replaced a new grinder with my 1974 block and its so much nicer.

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[bcradio]

I also agree an older us made grinder, like a craftsman block, is a better choice. I replaced a new grinder with my 1974 block and its so much nicer.

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Agree with this 100%... and I'm typically a 'buy new' kinda guy.

 

[Davefr]

You can't compare HP because they all lie. Look for amps.

The one in your link is only 2.1 amps which is real wimpy. For 6" grinders you really need >3.5 amps. (especially if you ever plan to buff or use a wire wheel).

However if he's just a lite duty hobbyist it might be sufficient.

 

[Stompit]

DEWALT DW758... I couldn't be happier with mine.

+1.. yep.. Alot of grinder for the money.

 

[Welshie]

Thanks guys, I'll look into it more. Yes 1982 he has since told me he'd do wire wheeling so I will look for one with a grinder one end and wire wheel the other

 

[Tony G]

We bought an 8 inch Ryobi 3 weeks ago and it lasted a week. It sits there and hums until you give the wheel a head start turning. I cant recommend that brand. The few bench grinders that I have bought new always came with 2 stones. You probably have to get a wire wheels separately.

 

[Toolfool]

Check out the block thread. Someone may have one to sell you. http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=157794

 

[txvwnut]

DEWALT DW758... I couldn't be happier with mine.

I've got one of these too, can't complain about it at all.

 

[Murphy4570]

Look for a used Baldor, and be sitting down when you see the cost.

I have an older 1980's Black and Decker model, 4 amp motor. Listed as 5/8 HP, but if you do the math it comes out to 1/2HP. Like stated above, look at amps. HP numbers have been a sales pitch lie since the 1970's at least.

Your best bet is buying used. New ones are mostly Chinese junk at the lower end of the scale, and upper end ones are frightfully expensive.

 

[steveja]

I just found a Baldor 712 on Craigslist in mint condition that I was just about to pull the trigger on when I read that 7" grinding wheels are difficult to find. This one has a 5/8" arbor and I guess it's likely because I'm not a tool pro OR that this size is really a PITA to find? The Baldor is $120 which I thought is a steal but if I can't find wheels maybe I should go back to Plan B which was going to be a Dewalt 8" DW758? Guys?

 

[gearhead1]

We bought an 8 inch Ryobi 3 weeks ago and it lasted a week. It sits there and hums until you give the wheel a head start turning. I cant recommend that brand. The few bench grinders that I have bought new always came with 2 stones. You probably have to get a wire wheels separately.

+1 on not recommending Ryobi. I bought gut a Ryobi sawzall years ago because I didn't want to spend the money on a Milwaukee or Dewalt. I used it two times before the brushes started making all kind of noise. Then I bought a Dewalt and still have it and it works perfectly.

I bought a 8" Delta bench grinder from Lowes and have had no issues with it.

 

[Bcom]

Well it would be nice to know how much you want to spend. If youre being thrifty the WEN 4276 seems to be a decent entry level grinder at $40 without breaking the bank. This grinder is mentioned many times in almost all bench grinder tests across the net. Its not a show stopper but constantly gets good ratings for its performance to price ratio. From there you can move up to the Dewalt DW series. After that your gonna start spending some money and getting into the heavy duty grinders. Anything Baldor is good if you can afford it. JET is also another good brand youre gonna pay for. I personally use a Wilton 8 inch bench grinder. Works awesome with plenty of power.

 

[oldwino]

I'e been pretty happy with a Sunex 8". Bought about a year ago and it gets about 2 hours a week of hard grinding. A little over a hundred bux off Amazon

 

[Davefr]

I just found a Baldor 712 on Craigslist in mint condition that I was just about to pull the trigger on when I read that 7" grinding wheels are difficult to find. This one has a 5/8" arbor and I guess it's likely because I'm not a tool pro OR that this size is really a PITA to find? The Baldor is $120 which I thought is a steal but if I can't find wheels maybe I should go back to Plan B which was going to be a Dewalt 8" DW758? Guys?

7" wheels are easy to find. It's a standard size.

(Zoro, Enco, Amazon, Mcmaster, Grainger, Enco, etc, etc, etc)


Go back and get that Baldor.

 

[crab]

Metabo has a good looking grinder, about 250 at H.D. Probably what I'll buy when my old POS quits me. Metabo is hard to beat, you can buy a baldor new for about that also from Grizzly. It's one of the less expensive Baldors but it's still a Baldor, they have a lot of different models.

 

[steveja]

Thanks Dave, I'm on it!

 

[exmaxima1]

Everyone seems to be raising the spending, so I'll jump in. If you are heading significantly north of $100, skip bench grinders and go directly to a BELT grinder. You can buy a combo machine with belt on one end (2-inch wide), and install a wire wheel at the opposite end. No need for an outdated grinding wheel. Once you try belts, you will never go back.

 

[exmaxima1]

Metabo has a good looking grinder, about 250 at H.D. Probably what I'll buy when my old POS quits me. Metabo is hard to beat, you can buy a baldor new for about that also from Grizzly. It's one of the less expensive Baldors but it's still a Baldor, they have a lot of different models.

Even $250 seems very high for a Chinese-made grinder. I think you could find a used US machine for well under that...

 

[Davefr]

Once you try belts, you will never go back.

But you will be going back to the bank many times to fund belt purchases.

I agree belt sanders are nice, but good quality grinding wheels can last a very long time. On the other hand belts wear out pretty quickly and the price adds up fast. You also need several different grits and it takes time to do belt swaps.

Bottom line, there's a place for both.

 

[Yost]

But you will be going back to the bank many times to fund belt purchases.

I agree belt sanders are nice, but good quality grinding wheels can last a very long time. On the other hand belts wear out pretty quickly and the price adds up fast. You also need several different grits and it takes time to do belt swaps.

Bottom line, there's a place for both.

All depends on what you want to do of course. Belt grinders will remove a lot of material FAST, but they do wear out and cost a bit. Needing several different grits is not just a belt problem it is the same for a wheel as well, however belts can be changed in 10 sec with no tools at all unlike wheels, and you can guy belts from 36-600 grit which is pretty great if you care about how your piece ends up looking.

 

[crab]

I understand the appreciation for older tools a lot of guys have. I recently restored a Blackhawk jack but for tools I use a lot I'd just as soon buy new and be done with it. I would rather have U.S. made stuff but if Q.C. is good and the design is good there is no reason an offshore grinder wouldn't give good service, as good as any other. I have been guilty of thinking made in China meant poor quality but that really isn't the case. A lot of it is made to a price point and that stuff usually is junk but they also produce some quality stuff.

 

[exmaxima1]

All depends on what you want to do of course. Belt grinders will remove a lot of material FAST, but they do wear out and cost a bit. Needing several different grits is not just a belt problem it is the same for a wheel as well, however belts can be changed in 10 sec with no tools at all unlike wheels, and you can guy belts from 36-600 grit which is pretty great if you care about how your piece ends up looking.

Decent belts are only a few dollars each, and if you need to grind a "wheel no-no" like aluminum, wood, or plastic, and it clogs, just toss it. Plus, it is hard to convey the smoothness of grinding on a rubber contact wheel--its just so effortless. Very like those flap wheels on angle grinders, you find you prefer them almost immediately for general grinding tasks.