What makes Baldor bench grinders desirable?

[Lx460]

So what makes Baldor so desirable? More power, better bearings, motor? I see they fetch pretty good prices. The reason I ask is because I've been looking for a grinder and ran across this one for $40.

Is it one specific Baldor that's more desirable? How about the new manufacture grinders?

 

[Lx460]

I guess it would help if I actually posted the pic.

 

[Fretters]

If the one I have sat here is anything to go by, pure and simple build quality is the answer. This one I have, if you'll pardon the expression, is built like a brick *********.

 

[2oolhound]

$40 is way too much for that thing. Tell me where it is and I'll set him straight.

I'm not an authority on baldors
but I have a 1/3 hp one I got for $35 (never thought I'd own a 1/3 hp bench grinder) but I love the little thing. It is super smooth and quiet with lots of power for it's size. I wish my other grinders ran 1/2 as nice. Why are you wasting time reading this? Go grab that sucker because that's a good price if it runs. If it's over 1/3 hp then that's a bonus! Good Luck!

 

[Fretters]

$40 is way too much for that thing. Tell me where it is and I'll set him straight.

You're all heart.

 

[Lx460]

It is 1/3 HP. A model 620? I know absolutely zero about them. I see I'll need to fab up some tool rests.

 

[drivesitfar]

LX: Baldor makes some of the best motors in the world. if it runs and doesn't have any weird sounds buy it for $40. even if doesn't run for that price you can probably rebuild it or sell a few of the parts for that much.

they are built to run all day long and I've actually done that a few times with mine and they run great all day. I've probably have owned 10 or 15 of them over the years and the only reason I've sold them is to buy a bigger one or a buffer.

1/3 HP Baldors are enough HP for about 95% of all regular non GJ member's households and i bet over 80% of the members here would love to own that one. if it doesn't have tool rests i'd make put wire wheels on it and not bother trying to make some rests, but if you are handy and want to use it for stones then by all means do so.

good luck

 

[CNGsaves]

You'll find out all you need to know by going to websites and pricing a Baldor grinder comparable to that one. Not uncommon to be $275 to $300 for 6" and 1/2HP. The 1/3 HP one you're looking at is great grinder even at $40 full CL asking price . . . . reason is new they're well into $240+ range. Heck, I found new one being sold for $269 at this website
http://www.acmetools.com/shop/tools/baldor-612r

Make the roadtrip to snag that Baldor as nothing will run like that for the money. Motors are top notch, and likely last you a lifetime. Negotiate the $40 down to $30 or $35 . . . "because" you don't like the wirewheel, or some other BS just to get a better price !! . .

Good luck. Hope you get it.

 

[lilredex]

There is lots of Baldor info. on here, including this one:


http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=166363



Go get it for $40....that is what I paid for mine in 1970.

 

[DaveT]

I guess it would help if I actually posted the pic.

Nice I just picked up one that looks almost exactly like yours last night for $20. It feels like a really solid grinder, bearing still feel really smooth. I live right across the river from St Louis were this was made. The serial number / date code is 8-60 which makes it older than me!

 

[Rileysan]

Nice I just picked up one that looks almost exactly like yours last night for $20. It feels like a really solid grinder, bearing still feel really smooth. I live right across the river from St Louis were this was made. The serial number / date code is 8-60 which makes it older than me!

You got a sweet deal on that grinder. Grats!

Brian

 

[DaveT]

You got a sweet deal on that grinder. Grats!

Brian

Thanks
I fired it up tonight and dressed the wheels. I can’t believe how smooth this runs for a 60 year old grinder.

 

[ndnchf]

Baldors are darn near the standard of the industry. I had my eye out for one for quite a while. I finally got this 120v, 1/2hp grinder at a local auction. I put new wheels on it, made a quench cup and made fire retardant spark catchers from Nomex long underwear ;-) It works great.

 

[DaveT]

Baldors are darn near the standard of the industry. I had my eye out for one for quite a while. I finally got this 120v, 1/2hp grinder at a local auction. I put new wheels on it, made a quench cup and made fire retardant spark catchers from Nomex long underwear ;-) It works great.

Wow that’s a beauty!! Love the matching stand. That spark catcher is a great idea I’m going to have to remember that.

 

[drivesitfar]

ND: I agree your Baldor on it's Baldor cast iron stand is a beauty, but I think i like the lighted shields you have even more. that is a pricey upgrade and i've got a pair sitting on a shelf as i try to figure out which grinder to put them on or maybe i'll try to put them on my Baldor buffer.

Dave: great little baldor you found and not surprised that you like it or that it runs great. it looks like its been sitting on the floor of a damp warehouse, but happy to hear it works like it should.

All: anybody put shields or the baldor lighted shields on a baldor buffer or another grinder? pics and fab work you had to do would be great to get a few ideas on how I can do it.

 

[torqueman2002]

.... All: anybody put shields or the baldor lighted shields on a baldor buffer or another grinder? pics and fab work you had to do would be great to get a few ideas on how I can do it.

Drives: See this thread, you may get some ideas.
Baldor GA9 Eye Sheild, 'Glass' replacement
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=443586


All, nice finds on those vintage Baldors. A 1/3 & 1/2 HP Baldor are plenty powerful enough for most GJ shops. They are very stout.

Update, pics of lamp/shield mounting.

 

[exmaxima1]

Baldors are darn near the standard of the industry. I had my eye out for one for quite a while. I finally got this 120v, 1/2hp grinder at a local auction. I put new wheels on it, made a quench cup and made fire retardant spark catchers from Nomex long underwear ;-) It works great.

Wow, that looks like the Baldor I keep at work. I believe it's a model 7307D. I installed a belt adapter on one side and it indeed runs smooth as silk. And very quiet.

 

[drivesitfar]

ALL: anybody tried to put eye shields on a baldor buffer? I'm thinking of putting wire wheels on them and even though I have a full face shield i'd like to use these and get a bit more light on my wheels.

 

[nutjob]

ALL: anybody tried to put eye shields on a baldor buffer? I'm thinking of putting wire wheels on them and even though I have a full face shield i'd like to use these and get a bit more light on my wheels.

I think even if you fab up some type of mount, the eye shield will be in the way of the wheel for a buffer and in the way of your sight line. You want lots of room all around the wheel for a buffer.

If you want light on your part, get a Moffatt.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0089DVW3Y/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I had the Baldor lighted eye shields on my 8" grinder and they sucked, always in the way.

Kevin

Kevin

 

[torqueman2002]

... I had the Baldor lighted eye shields on my 8" grinder and they sucked, always in the way.
Kevin

Send them to me, I won't complain.

 

[neophyte]

One way to tell a good bench grinder, is to turn it on, let it spin, and then turn it off, and see how long it keeps spinning.
Baldor grinders keep spinning so long you almost want a break on them.
The machining and bearing must be about as good as are used.

 

[torqueman2002]

One way to tell a good bench grinder, is to turn it on, let it spin, and then turn it off, and see how long it keeps spinning.
Baldor grinders keep spinning so long you almost want a break on them.
The machining and bearing must be about as good as are used.

That can also be due to 'dry' bearings.


New bearings, with fresh grease, have more drag and will result in a relatively shorter spin down time; all others things being equal (stones, ... ).

 

[Luntz]

Any reason you can't take the guard off and use it as a buffer?
Is the RPM ok for that?

 

[pcmeiners]

"Baldor grinders keep spinning so long you almost want a break on them.
The machining and bearing must be about as good as are used."

Bearings have an open face with a felt pad, so little drag from grease packing as in sealed bearings .


To the proud newbe Baldor owners, open up the bearing covers, clean felt pads, clean and re-grease bearings. Not to much grease, as it does cause friction if over greased...that should be all the mechanical maintenance needed for the next 80 years.

 

[lis2323]

I think even if you fab up some type of mount, the eye shield will be in the way of the wheel for a buffer and in the way of your sight line. You want lots of room all around the wheel for a buffer.

If you want light on your part, get a Moffatt.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0089DVW3Y/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I had the Baldor lighted eye shields on my 8" grinder and they sucked, always in the way.

Kevin

Kevin

I refurbished this 8” Baldor with eye shields a few years ago but I will most likely sell it. I NEVER use it.




I find traditional bench grinders archaic. Belt grinders are so much more versatile.

 

[exmaxima1]

I refurbished this 8” Baldor with eye shields a few years ago but I will most likely sell it. I NEVER use it.




I find traditional bench grinders archaic. Belt grinders are so much more versatile.

+1
I like how you can swap belt grits in seconds, and sand/grind soft metals and just toss the belt away when it gets clogged. No worries about exploding wheels or needing to constantly dress them.

 

[lafester]

Grinders are pretty versatile in what they can do, I think both have their place.
Belts can also wear out quickly or break at the worst possible time.

 

[lis2323]

Agreed. Not much injury from a broken belt comparatively speaking, though.

A pic of my Baldor powered belt grinders. A Kalamazoo and a Burr King. ( not to be confused with Burger King) [emoji23]

 

[Mintgrun]

I added to the tool rest on one of my grinders and installed a cut off wheel. It works great for cutting, as well as shaping parts with 'concave' profiles. You could try that and see if it makes your grinder more useful.

 

[lis2323]

I added to the tool rest on one of my grinders and installed a cut off wheel. It works great for cutting, as well as shaping parts with 'concave' profiles. You could try that and see if it makes your grinder more useful.

That is an excellent idea. Thanks for posting... and the pic!

 

[Mintgrun]

Thank you... and you're welcome.

I put a thicker cut off wheel on a radial arm saw recently and found that it was 1/8" out of round, which is probably why it had been donated to the Habitat for Humanity store.

Anyway, I tried a diamond tipped wheel dresser and it just bit the tip right off. That one may have been about done anyway, but I did not want to feed it another one; so I put a little diamond wheel in a right angle grinder and dressed it with that. It's messy, but that is a very effective way to true up a cut off wheel. (It looks like you have plenty of right angle grinders to choose from!)