Which Baldor Grinder ?

[Wamsutta]

https://www.baldor.com/brands/baldor-reliance/products/motors/grinders--buffers--lathes/grinders

Which one would you choose? I can't think of a reason to ever use the grinding wheel. I'd probably have a wire wheel on one side and a solid Scotch-Brite wheel on the other side. What's the difference between 2-pole and 4-pole?

 

[Stuart in MN]

The 2 pole grinders are 3600 rpm, the 4 pole grinders are 1800 rpm. Baldors are great, but they aren't cheap...

 

[timgunn1962]

It's the pole count on the motor. Each pair of poles "uses" one cycle per revolution.

On 60 Hz mains, there are 60 cycles/sec and 60 sec/min, so 3600 cycles/min.

A 2-pole motor has one one pair of poles and turns at 3600 RPM.

A 4-pole motor has 2 pairs of poles and turns at 1800 RPM.

In the parts of the world where mains power is at 50 Hz, speeds are 3000 RPM and 1500 RPM.

There are motors with higher pole counts: 6-pole gives 1200 or 1000 RPM, 8-pole gives 900 or 750 RPM and so on. These are not often used on grinders, but it's useful to know.

 

[shawhite]

Money not an object I would have the baldor 248-181TD

 

[matt_i]

I have something along the lines of a 248-151TD....a belt grinder, not an abrasive-wheel grinder...

Its super for detailed work, and because of the belt speed takes of a surprising amount of metal too. The one I have comes with 3phase motor and that's probably why it was lower cost, also its far from new but works well.

A 2" wide isn't going to be a do-all machine. If you could have only one then I'd probably go with a 6x48.

 

[exmaxima1]

Money not an object I would have the baldor 248-181TD

When I retired I sold off 2 of those Baldor 2x48 belt grinders. I just don't like how there is no exposed contact wheel during operation. One of the nicest features of belt grinders is the ability to work directly on a rubber contact wheel for shaping and removing lots of material. When you work against a fixed platen it heats up and loses power. With a contact wheel, it rolls with the belt---instead of pinching it---and you can really push into it.

I would buy a 3/4hp Baldor (min) and add a Multi-Tool belt adapter. It is very useful and convenient having the contact wheel extended out front.

 

[seber]

If you are just going to mount deburring and wire wheels, I wouldn't buy a grinder at all. A buffer will work just fine and cost a lot less.