Stupid question about bench grinders & pedestals

[cheechi]

I have 3 Craftsman Block grinders. One 1 HP 8", two 1/2 HP 6". They all have different wheels on them, and while I don't use any of them as often as monthly I do use them all. I recently got a HF pedestal stand and after drilling and tapping the thing is very sturdy. Without drilling and tapping, for example the one they had on display, it is the opposite of sturdy. Anyway I had a 4 legged stand that would walk with any of the grinders mounted on it, this one does not. So it's an improvement already.

With the 4 legged stand (similar looking to this but made by Kobalt many years ago) I could mount two grinders back to back if I wanted. I miss being able to do that now, as two of these pedestals will take up more floor space than the one stand they were on, let alone 3 should I choose to mount the third.

So that's the reason for the question. Now here's the question. Is it a bad idea to make a plate from say 3/4 osb or ply to mount the 3 grinders to the plate of the pedestal? The weight of each would be cantilevered but just eyeballing how far they would need to go, wouldn't stick out much further than the 3 feet on the pedestal itself. Does anyone have photos of multiple tools mounted to a pedestal or similar stand? I don't want to use bench space for any of these if I can help it.

Or, another stupid question, assuming I get separate pedestals for each grinder. the 3 bolt holes in the feet that are meant to bolt it to the floor. Locking casters?

 

[Dirty Diesels]

Why not just mount, them on a workbench! I used to have one mounted on a Black and Decker workmate, it was stable and when I finished what I were doing, it still folded away for storage!

 

[Alchymist]

Why not build a flip stand - could easily built the flip table as a triangle and mount three grinders. I did it with a spindle sander and a planer, I would think one for three grinders would be smaller yet as to floor space.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

^^^ nice.

 

[Bobioz1]

I always thought an engine stand would be a good starting point for a rotating grinder stand.

 

[1982fxr]

Never liked the idea of wood/fuel under a bench grinder...but I've done it

 

[cheechi]

Never liked the idea of wood/fuel under a bench grinder...but I've done it

This is one of the things I'm trying to avoid if I can. And also my current work benches really aren't set up for being a real home to a grinder. I'd like if I can help it to give them permanent homes. I've seen the trailer hitch idea here and the flip/swivel type ideas in the past.

The only workbench space these could really go I don't want to put them there. I'm going to have about 9ft of cabinetry here eventually, and do plan to put a vise on one corner, but otherwise what tools get put there are intended to be hand tools. Mostly it's planned for storage. The existing workbenches I have I don't want to put bench tools on them as sometimes I work with big dirty things and other times small things, but usually want them as free as possible for assembling things (like that grinder pedestal) and so on.

I have thought about taking a spare 18" cabinet that needs a top and putting wheels on it to mount two of them back to back. Would be more work to put a top on it than to buy a second pedestal, and the cabinet is planned to house a belt/disc sander once it gets a top. We'll have to see.

Alchymist. I like your flip stand. That being said I don't know if it would work for me. If I get a planer, I'm pretty sure that's what I would do though.

 

[timbitca]

I have mine clamped into one of my Workmate's currently. I eventually want to use Outlaw's idea and create bases for my tools that allow them to clamp easily in the workmate, but currently only have the 1 grinder that could use it.

Works for me, but then again I don't do any grinding heavy enough that the wood could potentially create a fire hasard.

 

[2oolhound]

I have a stand on wheels that holds 5 tools. The big 10" is permanently bolted to the centre and 4 other tools can be slid into bayonet mounts at 90' around. The whole top section rotates easily and can be locked in position quickly. Since this photo I've added 2 more receivers at 90' to give 4 receivers on the top.



It's kind of a long painful post but more info can be seen here if you sift through it.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=242906

 

[SweetD]

Here's what I did - cut a piece of plywood to fit over my smaller table saw, mount the grinders to it, and c-clamp it to the table. Mobile and easily removeable.





Dave

 

[cheechi]

2oolhound how stable is that stand on what looks like 3" casters? If you dig in does it lean like its going to tip over? My idea for casters was just to use the through holes and get stud casters to go through them so only having 3. I can't tell from here if your wheels are locking or not. I am guessing though yours is much heavier than mine.

 

[2oolhound]

In the photo it's on a small dolly but I've set it on a barrel dolly. It moves around better but has a slightly smaller foot print.

Because of the weight of the huge wheel and drum it's not tippy at all but if I lean into the 10" with a piece of steel it will roll. I either throw a rag under the wheels (the wrinkles in the rag act as tiny wheel chocks), or place a wood wedge under the back of the steel ring of the barrel dolly (after that it won't move sideways either) or it or park it up against something. In an 8' wide shop it's almost always pushed up against something anyway so I just have to rotate the top. I've buffed with the 8" extensively for hours without it moving. My floor is asphalt so it's not smooth and flat like a concrete floor. I think it finds a divot and anchors itself there. Originally I thought I'd weld nuts on the edge so I could screw down anchor feet but I haven't needed to worry about it.

It's not solid like a stand bolted to the floor but for me the trade off of being able to wheel it around and outside is the clincher. I'm extremely happy with it. With the 10" bolted on I'd guess it weighs about 180 - 200 lb.

 

[sberry]

I keep a 6 inch for a wire wheel mostly for threads and a crude grinding wheel I rarely use. I got a big unit in storage that one of these days might set up, a couple of them but I just never use it anymore and am almost all hand held. I have specialized attatchments on a few air things and work from the bench top or vise.
Its a rare day I use a drill press anymore, I am done with most stuff using a clamp or rotating vise that they are still jigging.
If a guy could make it with 2 units it would be fairly efficient.

 

[FullRaceMerc]

...Is it a bad idea to make a plate from say 3/4 osb or ply to mount the 3 grinders to the plate of the pedestal? The weight of each would be cantilevered but just eyeballing how far they would need to go, wouldn't stick out much further than the 3 feet on the pedestal itself. Does anyone have photos of multiple tools mounted to a pedestal or similar stand? I don't want to use bench space for any of these if I can help it.

Or, another stupid question, assuming I get separate pedestals for each grinder. the 3 bolt holes in the feet that are meant to bolt it to the floor. Locking casters?

I like your 3 tools on a single pedestal concept. If it were mine, & I had the room, I'd bolt it to the floor. Without bolting it to the floor, it seems like it might not be stable enough with the grinders moved that far away from the center. Then try a piece of 3/4" ply cut in a triangle to mount all 3 with their own face. If I liked how it worked, then I'd make it permanent & replace the ply with maybe 1/4" or thicker steel. Possibly build a rotating mount with a hold down slot like a vise base to allow it to rotate if there wasn't room to work all the way around its location.

 

[cheechi]

If a guy could make it with 2 units it would be fairly efficient.

You're right. I have 3 because 3 came up in a short time after being part of this forum for years and never seeing one. Figured if I don't buy this one, it will be the last one I ever see. Well the third one I bought over a year ago and still haven't seen another since.

I have one 6" with wire wheel and flap disc. That's the one that gets used the most often. Great for misc things but not an every day thing anyway. The other two have 36, 60, 120, & 180 wheels on them and I have a few in betweens I think 80, 100, 160, who knows I have a bunch of wheels. I could do with just one but having an 8" and 6" for wheels means if I find a good one it doesn't matter what size I will be able to use it.

The idea of using one ped with the 3, and bolting it down, yes bolting it down would be best. The way my shop is, I intend for everything to be on wheels that I can. I probably won't be able to get a cabinet type table saw, I don't have the room. Every single piece except the drill press and this ped are planned to be on wheels. The ped if it turns out to work, and if so it won't get 2 or even 3 on it, I'd get 3 peds on wheels and wheel them into the corner.

 

[2oolhound]

You might consider the receiver hitch system also. After learning about it on this site I've gone whole hog into it and think it's great for people who are cramped for space.

 

[cheechi]

I still might do the receiver hitch with the planned cabinets & bench that's coming. Hard to say now how it would happen but it's not a definite yes or no.

A little bit of an update I tried with some 2x4's & ply scrap to see how far away they'd need to be to put 3 on the pedestal. its doable but its a little more than I thought form eyeballing.

So I picked up a second pedestal from HF and 3 locking casters. I'm going to put it all together with no grinder and see if I can get it to wobble or tip over from just having it around in the shop with some heavy box or a few bricks or something less significant. if it works out I will put one of the grinders on.

 

[[email protected]]

Hello,

In the past when I have had a similar situation, I mounted a piece of plywood on the bottom of each tool. That gave me the ability to place the tool on top of a wooden bench and throw a few wood screws in it to hold the tool to the work bench. Yes, it is not an optimal situation to put a grinder on a wooden bench, but you can place a fairly thin piece of plate metal under where the sparks would hit the wooden bench to act as a heat shield.

Thanks!

 

[Dirty Diesels]

I have mine clamped into one of my Workmate's currently. I eventually want to use Outlaw's idea and create bases for my tools that allow them to clamp easily in the workmate, but currently only have the 1 grinder that could use it.

Works for me, but then again I don't do any grinding heavy enough that the wood could potentially create a fire hasard.

Mine never was a fire hazard, either, just used it on the workmate to re-dress chisels and punches, so it weren't on for long. Saying that I went and brought a new workmate over the weekend, so I can do the same thing again!

 

[Alchymist]

Never liked the idea of wood/fuel under a bench grinder...but I've done it

This is one of the things I'm trying to avoid if I can. And also my current work benches really aren't set up for being a real home to a grinder. I'd like if I can help it to give them permanent homes. I've seen the trailer hitch idea here and the flip/swivel type ideas in the past.

That's why they make sheet metal and angle iron!

 

[cheechi]

The 4" casters make it too tall and the weight too high off the ground, to make it stable. Even with no tool on the stand, and locking the casters, it wants to lean on the wheel and tip if I put any force in any direction.

But since I got the second ped I think I'm going to mount two side by side on it and keep the one bigger grinder on its own. Won't be too bad to pick up and move out of the way that way. Hopefully 'finished' photos coming soon.

 

[2oolhound]

You can put 2 wheels on one side that don't touch until you tilt the stand. That way you can roll it around when you need to move it.

 

[Plombob]

I have two mounted on a pedestal. Works fine for me.

View media item 37627