Shopsmith Forums

After a recent sharpening class, I want to get the Wolverine sharpening system. This would be the primary use of the grinder. As far as brands,

Woodcraft has a grinder (forgot the brand name) for around $120 I think

Amazon has a Dewalt 8" on sale for about $140

Amazon has a Jet 8" on saled for about $240

Is the Jet so much better? Does dewalt make good powertools? (I know the battery powered tools are pretty hardy from what I've heard)
Or, does it really matter that much and should a guy go to HF for something as simplle as an 8" grinder?

My lovely wife gave me a Delta 8" variable speed grinder for Christmas several years ago.....it's worked extremely well for me. Since Delta and Porter-Cable merged, it looks like the Delta label has been replaced by a Porter-Cable label and is now a PCB575BG.

The only issues I have with it have to do with the wheels.....Put the 'standard' set aside to be used for really coarse grinding and buy a set of good higher grit wheels for sharpening tools.

Bud

That Porter Cable 8" grinder with light is $119 at Lowes and $199 at Amazon if anyone is interested.

I don't have any complaints with the Harbor Freight model I paid $40 for. It's not variable speed, but it has a light! lol

I recommend you look at Steel City. It is American Made and comes with a 5 year warranty. I have this one and it is a great variable speed.

http://www.steelcitytoolworks.com/produ ... tool=15420

It just so happens I too am interested in picking up a grinder.

I have a really nice older 6" that will most likely get passed on to one of my kids. It was a big ticket item back when and is was designed for production shop use, the way I use it that could take another 20 years.

The other grinder is equipped with a wire brush and general purpose buffing wheel, that one was less then $20 20 years ago. It has done its duty and needs to be replaced. So next year budget will have money set aside for that.

As of now I'm trying to figure out what I want in terms of features and where that puts me on a price line. I will be mounting my Veritas tool rest and it works with wheels up to 8".

1)So I think I want to go up to an 8".

2)Variable speed sounds good, seems to be another couple of options, a two speed or even a single low speed version. Right now all I have are single speed. So I haven't made up my mind yet on this point. I mean if I leave it on slow most of the time why not get one with this single speed.

3)Motor size. Most of the ones I've looked at seem to use induction motors, inflated HP ratings, actual current numbers of about 5 amps seems common. For grinding that seems reasonable to me but without having actually used one I still question that it has enough actual power.

4)Since weight more or less equals vibrations and stability being heavier should be better. This is not always given in the description. For a staring point I'm thinking of using 40 pounds. (I'm planning on "bench" mounting so I will not have the option of a pedestal bolted to the floor.)

5)Light or lights, I think in my shop that would help a lot. Of course you can buy them with the light(s) or add your own. Kind of a toss-up on the advantages of one over the other. If I find everything I want in a grinder and it doesn't have a light I'd still buy it.

6)All the ones I have looked at seem to have generic grinding wheels. I'm pretty sure I will want to replace those. That is a pretty significant investment, a pair of say white wheels will run $70. It would be nice to get the grinder with either the wheels I want or no wheels at all. I haven't seen that option yet.

7)Shaft size, minimum of 5/8", of if I could perhaps 1". In my price range I'm thinking it will be 5/8"??

8)Body shape. This seems to be critical in terms of working on longer items. The problem is almost all of the grinders look like each other when looking on line. Maybe a visit to the tool store will show up the differences.

Anyway that is my take on the subject to this point. If anyone cares to comment or provide a review of your favorite addressing some of the points above that would be great.

Ed

I'm curious why would a SS owner want a bench grinder?
After all we have the disk sander which does an excellent job on grinding.
Strip sander cited by the experts as be able to provide the sharpest grinds.
Conical sander which can shape or grind most anything.
Belt sander to really hog down metal.
And I think SS still sells grinder and grinder stone setup for SS.

Along with these we have the sharpening jig, and tons of homemade jigs to sharpen just about any tool or tool surface.

I have a bench grinder that I don't think I used since I got the SS. So I'm curious what is up with a bench grinder?

I for one find tool sharpening with the shopsmith system a pain. I enjoy having a separate sharpening system so I can dress a tool when necessary rather than interrupt a project so I can retool the shopsmith. Truth be known I did not enjoy the sharpening system when I tried it. Okay I know that makes me dumber than a post. So be it. Jim

I like the WorkSharp 3000