Sanford SG48 Surface Grinder Score

[tedster100]

Been a lurker for a while, figured I'd post up my latest find. I've only used a surface grinder a few times but always though it would be a handy tool. Most are very large and I just don't have room, so when I came across this on Craigslist I couldn't pass it up. The guy wanted $400, I offered $300 and he accepted.

Now I didn't know anything about it but figured the magnetic chuck was worth at least $150 so what the heck. He said it needed a belt, easy enough. I plugged in and ran so I brought it home. Once I got home I started looking it over. It's in excellent shape. After doing a little research I found that they are a pretty desirable tool going for 700-1000 on ebay.

Only issue with it was that it didn't have any wiring for the magnetic chuck. It had the plug but nothing else. I did a little more research and found the parts / wiring diagram and ordered the parts. I'm still waiting on one resistor but can't wait to get it running. I cleaned it up and oiled it and that's when I noticed the it didn't have any mounting holes for the mag chuck. I did notice a little flaking of the powder coat finish on the tables mounting surface so I removed it from just that surface and there were the holes, tapped for the chuck. At that point I realized that the machine had really never been used.

I'm expecting the last electrical part this week and can't wait to fire it up.

 

[davethorik]

All the surface grinders ive used, the table has t-slots and you bolt the magnet down to those, then grind top of magnet flat. They are very handy to use, but don't hurry on the downfeed or you can risk burning the part or blowing the wheel up, both of which are unpleasant.

 

[Karl's Garage]

Very well bought.

 

[MShaw]

That is an excellent, accurate grinder if in good shape. I used one in the metallurgy lab at my first job in the 1960s.

 

[NJchevyman]

Been a lurker for a while, figured I'd post up my latest find. I've only used a surface grinder a few times but always though it would be a handy tool. Most are very large and I just don't have room, so when I came across this on Craigslist I couldn't pass it up. The guy wanted $400, I offered $300 and he accepted.

Now I didn't know anything about it but figured the magnetic chuck was worth at least $150 so what the heck. He said it needed a belt, easy enough. I plugged in and ran so I brought it home. Once I got home I started looking it over. It's in excellent shape. After doing a little research I found that they are a pretty desirable tool going for 700-1000 on ebay.

Only issue with it was that it didn't have any wiring for the magnetic chuck. It had the plug but nothing else. I did a little more research and found the parts / wiring diagram and ordered the parts. I'm still waiting on one resistor but can't wait to get it running. I cleaned it up and oiled it and that's when I noticed the it didn't have any mounting holes for the mag chuck. I did notice a little flaking of the powder coat finish on the tables mounting surface so I removed it from just that surface and there were the holes, tapped for the chuck. At that point I realized that the machine had really never been used.

I'm expecting the last electrical part this week and can't wait to fire it up.

Just found this site and have info. on these Sanford SG 48's. I worked at a tool shop that specialised in small cutting tools for 40+ years. We used these little Sanfords for precision production work, but they were modified in house to be more powerfull. The original spindles were removed & replaced with Dumore grinding spindles & powered by a swing arm setup with a 1 HP standard elect. motor. The Dumore spindles had interchangable quills, so you could quickly change grinding wheels while leaving them on their quills, such as different grit or harder wheels or cut -off wheels.
With this modification, these grinders were very accurate and able to take much heavier cuts than with the standard tiny motor & spindle. We used many in house grinding fixtures & dressed the wheels with J& S dressers to do lots of complex grinding operations & sharpening of cutting tools.

 

[Tim Wells]

Just picked one of these up at a model engine show in Lebanon, PA this weekend for $800 with 4 boxes of assorted wheels and a larger (manual) magnetic chuck. You and I lucked out!

 

[Faust]

Been a lurker for a while, figured I'd post up my latest find. I've only used a surface grinder a few times but always though it would be a handy tool. Most are very large and I just don't have room, so when I came across this on Craigslist I couldn't pass it up. The guy wanted $400, I offered $300 and he accepted.

Now I didn't know anything about it but figured the magnetic chuck was worth at least $150 so what the heck. He said it needed a belt, easy enough. I plugged in and ran so I brought it home. Once I got home I started looking it over. It's in excellent shape. After doing a little research I found that they are a pretty desirable tool going for 700-1000 on ebay.

Only issue with it was that it didn't have any wiring for the magnetic chuck. It had the plug but nothing else. I did a little more research and found the parts / wiring diagram and ordered the parts. I'm still waiting on one resistor but can't wait to get it running. I cleaned it up and oiled it and that's when I noticed the it didn't have any mounting holes for the mag chuck. I did notice a little flaking of the powder coat finish on the tables mounting surface so I removed it from just that surface and there were the holes, tapped for the chuck. At that point I realized that the machine had really never been used.

I'm expecting the last electrical part this week and can't wait to fire it up.

To make everyone green, I have a Sanford I picked up at a "farm auction" for $10.00. I was the only one in the crowd who knew what it was. Even the auctioneer referred to it as :this piece of equipment". But there is a problem. The power supply for the chuck is toast, rusted, broken vacuum tubes, etc. Can you tell me where you found the " parts / wiring diagram"?