Inexpensive occasional use bench grinder?
 

Anyone get any recommendation for an occasional use bench grinder? It'll mostly get used to sharpen mower blades, but I'm sure that there will be other occasional uses for it.

So, 6" or 8", HF or someone else?

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1746474800.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1746474800.jpg

I have a 50 year old Craftsman bench grinder that I think was my Dad's fathers.

I used it a lot when we got here 30 years ago, but now I frankly only sharpen mower blades or but put on the other wheels (like buffers) for specific stuff. It is not variable speed so I can't help you there.

I use it maybe 10 hours a year.

Me? I'd get the 8" Bauer with the light if the reviews are good. The light really helps.

I'm into old bench grinders.
They are twice the machines as the ones in your pictures and less than 1/2 the price.

When we downsized, I sold an 8" grinder and a smaller grinder rather than put them into storage. Now that I'm looking to buy, I find myself thinking "damn!"

The problem with that is that I live in BFE, so there aren't people out here selling any. And if I went into Houston or a suburb looking for an old one, all of the FB MP ads for any sort of tool seems to be at full retail price, and/or is someplace that's an hours (or more) drive away.

I have that $50 wen grinder mounted to a 2x6. I clamp it down on the bench when I need it.
I pretty much only use it to sharpen mower blades and it’s fine for that.

I’d go HF all day long and be happy. Honestly their quality is equal or better to most big box store brands.

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.

If your main use is sharpening steel, a larger wheel that turns slower is your best bet to prevent overheating. 8” and 1,750 is usually considered a good grinder for sharpening.

I use an angle grinder for blade sharpening. To me, it's WAY easier than using my 8" bench grinder.

A good sharp file will sharpen a lawn mower blade better than a bench grinder with about the same time and effort.

I have a bench grinder similar to those pictured above but have only used it a few times in 10 years.
I was sure I needed it when I bought it but that did not turn out to be the case.

I've been using a file, and it does work well, but takes forever. We've got ~5 acres that gets mowed. The blades get DULL, and there are 3 of them. I think a grinder will speed up the process a bit.

I used to have a small portable grinder, and never used it. My other was, I'm pretty sure an old 8" model that had a 4" sanding belt on the other side. That was nice and got used from time to time.

A flap disc on an angle grinder is my go to.

I'd be looking at FB MP or Crglist for something old but local.
Lots of them at garage sales, etc that are much better then new from HF if you ask me.

I have some ancient low quality grinder. It works great.

I would advise to check out craigslist or similar and buy one for pennies.

Yep, mine is also an old Sears Craftsman that I use for sharpening blades, rounding off cut corners, and wire wheel to remove rust. Single speed, plenty of torque, bulletproof. They can probably be found used for $20 on FB MP.

No opinion on the new ones.

You might get lucky on CL or FBMP and find an old Sears block grinder, for cheap, but they have a big fan club and most owners 'know what they have', so to speak.

Yeah, that's the problem. Folks in Houston don't sell cheap, at least, when they list stuff, they don't list it cheap. I saw one of the $180 HF models up on FB for $150. No fargin' way I'm paying nearly retail. I'd rather have new and not have to worry about what some knucklehead did with it. And I'm not going to offer half price either. Checking FBMP, I found one or two that were really cheap and either looked thoroughly used or like they were probably super cheap to begin with and are ancient.

But the big problem is that anything that I try to buy from Houston will end up being a 1-2hour drive (one way).

That's what I had was some good old stuff, and I wish I still had it, but the odds of me running across it are slim to none around here.

A bit more expensive, but if you’re just doing mower blades, something like this might be a better choice.

https://www.vevor.com/bench-grinder-c_11010/vevor-lawn-mower-blade-sharpener-2-3hp-500w-with-7-inch-ceramic-grinding-wheel-p_010770163297?adp=gmc&utm_source=google&utm_mediu m=cpc&utm_id=20922352686&ad_group=152802351250&ad_ id=687107254260&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gad_campaig nid=20922352686&gbraid=0AAAAACq8bLVfK3Zku7kBLGt4tS 5Fkzbhn&gclid=Cj0KCQjww-HABhCGARIsALLO6XxE0ATI4Yjlz6Ief-DtMu59J5y3PSYvOPFyxlNVb-xJe4qBEveW_2kaAsPkEALw_wcB

I use an angle grinder for mower blades then finish with a flap wheel. But as for a bench grinder I fabricate and use one almost every day. I have a grinding wheel on one side and wire wheel on the other. The one i mainly use is a delta 6" I like it because its not that strong. If I get something snagged horribly it will stop. My other craftsman one is stronger and one must be more careful with it. So dont feel like you must get a big one because you might find yourself avoiding using it

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.

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.

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.

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.

Lots of good info, folks. Thanks

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

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1746556657.jpg

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.

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.



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I made the tool rests.

Nice! I have a new project!!

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

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!

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.

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

Deals are there. Patience.

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.

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