Westinghouse Bench Grinder

[asallwey]

I was just given an old Westinghouse 1/3 hp 5" bench grinder/polisher. I have to do a little wire replacement, but it does run smooth.

But what kind of wheel do I have on it???
It is 1 x 5" and seems to have a slight green cast to it. Plus it glitters with tiny sparkles. The wheel goes back 30+ years. One flange appears to be sweged or pressed on a thru tube that slides on the motor shaft, the flange on the other side is just pressed on. I've not seen a mounting like this.

A last question. There is a oil cap over the shaft on each end of the motor. What type of oil should I use on this? Some type of light oil like 3-in-1? What about ATF?

 

[454ragtop]

Welcome to the site. You need to post a pic of what you have. From your description, it sounds suspiciously like a plain motor with a wheel mounted on it.

 

[exmaxima1]

Welcome to the site. You need to post a pic of what you have. From your description, it sounds suspiciously like a plain motor with a wheel mounted on it.

I was thinking the same thing...

 

[asallwey]

As you can see from one of the attached, this is not just a motor performing grinder duties. It appears to be original.

The tiny sparkles in the wheel seem to be random and throughout. My real interest is in what type of wheel this may be. I assume it was a general purpose one. Any ideas?

The right side shaft held what appears to be a leather wheel, kind of like a sharpening strop or polishing wheel. It doesn't appear that there was ever a guard on that side.

 

[exmaxima1]

The left wheel looks like some type of fiber polishing wheel. I can't explain the metal specks, but maybe it was used for deburring and has some debris left in it.
The rpm of that motor is way to slow for most grinding operations with those small wheels, so again it makes sense that it was used for polishing and deburring only.

 

[gnpenning]

The specks might be aluminum, you shouldn't grind aluminum with a normal wheel. If that's what has happened replace the wheel.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

The specks might be aluminum, you shouldn't grind aluminum with a normal wheel. If that's what has happened replace the wheel.

Could the wheel just be trued up to get rid of the Aluminum residue?
By the way that is a nice setup, I like the possibilities of what you will do with the other side.

 

[asallwey]

Aluminum?? Come on, that typically shows as larger specks and quite often it sort of smudged as it flowed on the wheel.

I think exmaxima1 is on the right track. The motor speed is about like a buffer I have. The leather wheel on the right has a label that says it is for knife sharpening or polishing. The left wheel doesn't have a label. Maybe if I can get a flange off there may be a clue. Probably my best bet is to see if the former owner remembers what it was used for, either by him or the owner before him. Hopefully he can give me some clues, but he is 82 and has a poor memory. I'm just curious as I've not seen a wheel like this.

Any thoughts about type of oil for the oil cups? Light oil like 3-in-1 or maybe ATF??

 

[notlob]

Is the green wheel vitreous or is it soft like a deburring wheel?

Apparently that was sold as a bench grinder - first I've seen.

From 1952-53 Republic Hardware wholesale catalog:
https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=8516897080&searchurl=sortby%3D17%26an%3Drepublic%2Bhardware%2Band%2Bsupply%2Bcorporation&cm_sp=snippet-_-srp1-_-title1

A couple on ebay right now.

https://www.ebay.com/i/152982135213?chn=ps

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vtg-WESTINGHOUSE-1-3-HP-Adaptall-Motor-SINGLE-PHASE-Bench-GRINDER/112958994647?hash=item1a4ce178d7:g:ihcAAOSwGW9awlG~

 

[notlob]

Forgot this:

https://www.amazon.com/3-IN-ONE-Motor-Oil-3-oz/dp/B0083V8MMG

 

[454ragtop]

I wonder if that is a Cratex wheel?

 

[Ben Buck]

Could that wheel be silicone carbide ?

 

[Lassen Forge]

Free is always good.

My WAG is a vitreous wheel used for tool bits... I've even seen them "deformed" like yours (that radius on the inside edge) to replicate a certain tool shape. It could also be from someone either not maintaining the wheel, or poor practice to begin with.

 

[asallwey]

Notlob, "Is the green wheel vitreous or is it soft like a deburring wheel?" No, it is hard. I looked at some lapidary sites and they sell a silicon carbide that is similar, and the original owner's hobbies included stones and jewelry.

Apparently that was sold as a bench grinder - first I've seen." Thanks for the ad! I haven't dug into it's history yet so you saved me some time.

I found the 3-in-1 oil site. Turns out I have some sewing machine oil so I'll use that till I get the other stuff.

454ragtop, "I wonder if that is a Cratex wheel?" You got it! I just got one of the flanges off this morning that is on the label. It apparently has some abrasive on it.

Ben Buck, "Could that wheel be silicone carbide ?" Yes I believe it is, see my comment above.

Thanks all for your comments. Now to find a new wheel to replace the green one, and I have some diamond lapping disks that I'll try on other side.