Shopsmith Grinding Wheel

timster68 · Post by **timster68** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 8:47 pm

Has this been around for a while or is it new? I just go an email offer on this.
including grinding wheels, etc.

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/cata ... lguard.htm

Anyone have this or know anything about it? Is it any good?

Thanks,

tim

a1gutterman · Post by **a1gutterman** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 11:05 pm

timster68 wrote:Has this been around for a while or is it new? I just go an email offer on this.
including grinding wheels, etc.

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/catalog/sh_grindingwheelguard.htm

Anyone have this or know anything about it? Is it any good?

Thanks,

tim

Can knot answer any of the other questions, but the answer to your first question is: It is knot new; they have been around for a while!

cincinnati · Post by **cincinnati** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 11:42 pm

It's been around for a long, long time. I would love to have one because of the variable speed. I just don't like the 5" wheel size. Kinda an odd size. Would get one in a heart-beat if it were 6" or 8"

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 12:35 am

I've had one for the last couple years! I really like it!

The best feature for me is the ability to rotate the guard to allow grinding with the wheel going up, instead of down. Just work from the backside of the SS.

Of course there is the variable speed available on the Mark V.

I don't think there is a big problem getting a replacement 5" wheel. Might take the Internet, but should be no real problem.

I like to have a concave cutting face on my bench chisels. This brings me to the one issue I've had with the unit. The tool rest (actually two tool rests) are small and mine are not flat. They have a small swale in the center. It is very hard to use the tool rest and get a single uniform grind. Actually this is not a show stopper deal. (Just not as pretty as could be.) The secondary bevel can still be straight and square.

I've since bought an aftermarket tool rest from Lee Valley that can ride on the SS tool rest. Haven't used it yet, but it fits!!!! Should work good.

RobertTaylor · Post by **RobertTaylor** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 8:09 am

i have had one for years. i like the smaller wheel for sharpening the cutters on the pen mill and other small items. shopsmiths rubber bonded wheel is a great accessory with it as charlese has already stated rotating the cover to the opposite side to change the direction of rotation. i also added another rest so it would be flat. i use a different grinder for sharpening my lathe tools.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 10:57 am

One downside(shared by any grinder wheel used on the SS). The grinding operation creates gritty objects and throws them towards the way tubes. If they take up residence between the way tube and the headstock bearing surface, . . . . . .

bucksaw · Post by **bucksaw** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 8:12 pm

I guessing the grinding wheel stands off the headstock far enough that the headstock does not get in the way when grinding long items?

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 10:27 pm

JPG40504 wrote:One downside(shared by any grinder wheel used on the SS). The grinding operation creates gritty objects and throws them towards the way tubes. If they take up residence between the way tube and the headstock bearing surface, . . . . . .

Oh My, JP! The theory behind this thought is sound, however there is no such problem with the SS grinding attachment. Most of the little gritty stuff stays inside of the wheel cover. While the lower tool rest is adjusted for grinding, the upper one (yes there are two) can be adjusted to surround the wheel and almost close the area between the safety cover and the grinding wheel.

mickyd · Post by **mickyd** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 9:04 am

cincinnati wrote:It's been around for a long, long time. I would love to have one because of the variable speed. I just don't like the 5" wheel size. Kinda an odd size. Would get one in a heart-beat if it were 6" or 8"

They most likely have designed around a smaller diameter wheel for safety reasons. The ShopSmith max RPM exceeds some of the larger wheels max recommended RPM's. Wheel in face equals BAD DAY. And there are a number of folks who would first blame ShopSmith for that vs. themselves.