Inexpensive occasional use bench grinder?

[A930Rocket]

My Craftsman bench grinder is at least 40 years old. I keep the stone on the right side all the time, but interchange a wire wheel or buffing wheel on the left side.

Which reminds me, lately when I turn it on, there’s a humming noise. Then the breaker trips. I have to turn it on for a few seconds and let the RPMs build up. Then turn it off. Turn on. Turn off. Repeat until the max RPMs are running and it’s all good.

Would that be some kind of solenoid or ???

[908/930]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

My Craftsman bench grinder is at least 40 years old. I keep the stone on the right side all the time, but interchange a wire wheel or buffing wheel on the left side.

Which reminds me, lately when I turn it on, there’s a humming noise. Then the breaker trips. I have to turn it on for a few seconds and let the RPMs build up. Then turn it off. Turn on. Turn off. Repeat until the max RPMs are running and it’s all good.

Would that be some kind of solenoid or ???

Is there a capacitor sitting somewhere on that motor, possibly under the base? Try changing that. When removing them keep in mind capacitors can hold charge for a while.

[wdfifteen]

Be patient and find an old Craftsman on Craig's list or FB marketing. Save money, get a better machine. The old Craftsman square grinders have quite a cult following. People restore them like they were old cars.

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by Rot 911

Since I got a Bauer harbor freight cordless angle grinder and 4 inch flap discs I don’t remember the last time I’ve used my grinder. It’s a lot easier to sharpen mower blades, chisels, etc. by putting them in my vice and using the flap discs. And those discs are cheap and seem to last forever.

I do the same for my mower blades. I have (2) 60" three bladed ganged finish mowers, one 60" zero turn and one 72" three bladed PTO finish mower.... Much quicker using a coarse grit flap disk to quickly hog off a bunch of dull edge from hitting dirt clogs on the edge of the runway and the occasional rock protruding from the edge of our pond.

I have one old bench grinder that with a fine green stone on one side for sharpening carbide lathe bits and a fine regular wheel on the other side. I have one 15 or so year old cheap Harbor Freight bench grinder with a coarse wheel on one side and a wire brush on the other. The Harbor Freight unit has very little power if one pushes hard, but it works good enough for me. I also have a Harbor Freight bench unit with extended shafts made for buffing. It works great on the rare occasion I use it.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Rot 911

Since I got a Bauer harbor freight cordless angle grinder and 4 inch flap discs I don’t remember the last time I’ve used my grinder. It’s a lot easier to sharpen mower blades, chisels, etc. by putting them in my vice and using the flap discs. And those discs are cheap and seem to last forever.

I've thought of doing that. The only thing holding me back is that neither of my bench vises are in a place where I can throw a lot of sparks.

You sharpen chisels this way??

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I've thought of doing that. The only thing holding me back is that neither of my bench vises are in a place where I can throw a lot of sparks.

You sharpen chisels this way??

Just c -clamp it to a saw horse or something and do it outside. I do stuff like that all the time when I need to cut or grind metal to avoid stinking up the shop or having to clean up the metal dust.

[masraum]

Lots of good info, folks. Thanks

[911 Rod]

1 of 2 of my Craftsman block grinders. Paid $75.00 for it.

[aschen]

I was thinking about trying to use my angle grinder or a manual file to sharpen my lawnmower blade a few weeks ago, since I don't have a bench grinder.

However 24$ delivered the next day for a new blade from amazon was my chosen approach. I have the disposable world we live in but here I am. Last blade went about 3 years.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by aschen

I was thinking about trying to use my angle grinder or a manual file to sharpen my lawnmower blade a few weeks ago, since I don't have a bench grinder.

However 24$ delivered the next day for a new blade from amazon was my chosen approach. I have the disposable world we live in but here I am. Last blade went about 3 years.

I need to sharpen the blades at least every 2-3 mowings.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by 911 Rod

1 of 2 of my Craftsman block grinders. Paid $75.00 for it.

I like the beefy tool rests on that one. Mine has the chintzy stamped rests. The data plate is completely faded out, too. I can't remember what I gave for it.

[911 Rod]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

I like the beefy tool rests on that one. Mine has the chintzy stamped rests. The data plate is completely faded out, too. I can't remember what I gave for it.
]

I made the tool rests.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by 911 Rod

I made the tool rests.

Nice! I have a new project!!

[masraum]

Originally Posted by 911 Rod

I made the tool rests.

I'll even bet you did some grinding on them!

[911 Rod]

Originally Posted by masraum

I'll even bet you did some grinding on them!

I did! And the first time I used the rests I put scratches in them. Oh well.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by 911 Rod

I did! And the first time I used the rests I put scratches in them. Oh well.

You could get a buffing pad for one side and polish them to a mirror finish!

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by masraum

I need to sharpen the blades at least every 2-3 mowings.

What in the samhell are you mowing?? You know you're not supposed to mow rocks right? I sharpen mine in the spring and then swap them out for my other pair about mid summer. Come spring, I sharpen both sets. I also have a "beater" set that I use if I'm going to mow a lane along a ditch or something like that.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by cabmandone

What in the samhell are you mowing?? You know you're not supposed to mow rocks right? I sharpen mine in the spring and then swap them out for my other pair about mid summer. Come spring, I sharpen both sets. I also have a "beater" set that I use if I'm going to mow a lane along a ditch or something like that.

The wife does it, and she does it like she's driving a tank. Our property is not flat and has lots of rocks, sticks, etc... Only about 1 acre is "yard" while the rest is pretty wild. I try to keep the "WTF are you doing?!?" speeches to a minimum. It's better for me if she does something and has to come to me to fix it later.

[LWJ]

A note. My generic POS looks just like the Craftsman above. I paid $10 or so at a garage sale.

Deals are there. Patience.

[A930Rocket]

Originally Posted by 908/930

Is there a capacitor sitting somewhere on that motor, possibly under the base? Try changing that. When removing them keep in mind capacitors can hold charge for a while.

Nothing under the base, so I’ll have to open it up to take a look. It all started, after it fell off my folding work platform.

Mine looks like this and I’m thinking it’s from late 80s or early 90s. I bought it new.