Suggest a good bench grinder?

[uoficowboy]

I'm hoping to get a bench grinder for my shop. Mostly for use with wire wheels for removing rust...

Anybody have a favorite American made grinder? All the modern stuff is imported it seems...

Also - it seems like variable speed is just not an option on the older grinders. Can anybody confirm that? It seems like a useful feature.

 

[whateg01]

I used to have a router control on a bench grinder, but never changed the speed, so ymmv. I have a few old Craftsman grinders, but my go to is a Dayton 3/4 HP that I picked up for $30 a few months ago. I have no idea where it was made, though. Before that, I used a B&D that was my first bench grinder. Not the smoothest, but it has never let me down. It sits in the corner now. I doubt it was USA made, as it's only about 20 years old. Every once in awhile I see a Baldor grinder for big $$$. I have a friend with a Baldor buffer and it is the smoothest running thing! He also has an old 1 hp (I think) Craftsman block grinder that seems to run pretty nice.

Dave

 

[exmaxima1]

Find an older US-made 3-phase grinder, and run it off a single phase input VFD (variable frequency drive). Three pahese grinders are generally pretty cheap, since they won't run off residential power without the VFD (or some kind of converter).

 

[uoficowboy]

I used to have a router control on a bench grinder, but never changed the speed, so ymmv. I have a few old Craftsman grinders, but my go to is a Dayton 3/4 HP that I picked up for $30 a few months ago. I have no idea where it was made, though. Before that, I used a B&D that was my first bench grinder. Not the smoothest, but it has never let me down. It sits in the corner now. I doubt it was USA made, as it's only about 20 years old. Every once in awhile I see a Baldor grinder for big $$$. I have a friend with a Baldor buffer and it is the smoothest running thing! He also has an old 1 hp (I think) Craftsman block grinder that seems to run pretty nice.

Dave

Maybe variable speed just isn't important? I don't have a ton of grinder experience so it's possible that is not something I need? I do see that some modern grinders have it.

 

[woody 73]

I don't have your city or state in order to search your local CL, but a search on mine turned up a bench grinder...Now before you get too excited this guy has had this up for a long time without any takers because it is overpriced and he is not getting any takers at his asking price. (mind you just one example of many out there...

https://columbus.craigslist.org/tls/d/dayton-bench-grinder-tig/6855453643.html

 

[exmaxima1]

I don't have your city or state in order to search your local CL, but a search on mine turned up a bench grinder...Now before you get too excited this guy has had this up for a long time without any takers because it is overpriced and he is not getting any takers at his asking price. (mind you just one example of many out there...

https://columbus.craigslist.org/tls/d/dayton-bench-grinder-tig/6855453643.html

Looks like a nice Taiwanese Dayton, probably 6-inch. Yes, the price is high. Similar grinder routinely sells for less than $50 locally---here's one for $30:

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/336738667191536/

 

[zkling]

https://www.burrking.com/catalog/p-100016/model-800-deburring-polishing-machines

Once you use one, you will never want to go back to a wire wheel on a bench grinder.

 

[redragoon]

The sears block style grinders are very good and can be found in estate sales and garages. I also would recommend the WEN grinder. While definitely an import, WEN seems to be using a good amount of cast iron in their benchtop tools. If the grinder is built as well as their sander and drill press, it will work great for the cost.

 

[ALinCarolina]

I have had a variable speed 8" Delta for well over 15 years and it has been set on the slowest speed when I first set it up and the knob has never been moved. Maybe I'm missing something though.