Assistance in helping an amateur choose a bench grinder

[Santos]

Hello all,

I’ve been turning now just a little over a month. So far I’ve absolutely enjoyed it, and haven’t looked back since. However, when I first managed to buy a lathe I decided not to buy a bench grinder, simply because I wasn’t 100% sure that I’d take to the hobby. But one month down the line I’m finding that I’m talking most of my friends to sleep about lathe related topics So in other words I was hoping that a few of you would talk me through what I would need as a very armature hobbyist, in terms of just maintaining my gouges and chisels, et cetera. Currently I am able to maintain my tools using a grinder at my collage, but I would like something permanent which is mine to use.

The bench grinders I have considered so far are:

http://www.axminster.co.uk/product.asp? ... e=1&jump=0

http://www.axminster.co.uk/product.asp? ... e=1&jump=0

-Although I’m not sure I’m happy with the speed of the Axminster AWBGDL, as it runs at 2,800 RPM, which for an armature like me may result in ruining my tools.

So far I’ve put aside £130-150 for this, although, I’d prefer that I didn’t go over £150


Thanks in advance for any help.


-Dan

 

[Gitface]

Hi Santos

As far as I'm aware any bench grinder will do, including the 20 - 30 quid ones, as I'm sure quite a few on here use them, me included. One thing you should do is change the gray wheel that comes with them for one of the aluminium oxide wheels ( must remember to change wheel )

Sharpening your tools is a very contentious subject and one that come up alot with many views. if you do a search I'm sure you'll dig them up.

Mark..............

 

[Richard Findley]

Hi Santos,

I've got the first of the 2 you linked to, the slow running 8" grinder. My old 6" was a little out of step with H&S and as I now do tuition I thought I should get all H&Safetied up!! While doing this I figured an upgrade wouldn't go amiss so this one was my choice!!

I'm happy with the grinder, I use a Tilting shelf/platform to sort my angles and it works fine but you could add one of those jigs if you feel the need. Depends really how you are doing with your sharpening.

My original grinder:

My upgrade:

Hope this helps,

Richard

 

[big soft moose]

like gitface said pretty much any grinder will do if you put decent wheels on it -- for ages I used a performance power chaiwanese special (£19.99) as i recall , ive just upgraded to the cruesen slow speed http://www.axminster.co.uk/product-Creu ... ne-Grinder but either of those you have highlighted will be fine

if you dont want to spend a lot of cash this http://www.axminster.co.uk/product-Axmi ... 789070.htm will be fine - just use the wide white stone for sharpening not the narrow grey one

 

[wizer]

I have a slow speed cruesen which is very nice but recently I've been wishing I had an 8 incher (don't we all? ).

 

[matt]

FWIW - I've preference for wetstone grinders because it seems to stop all those nasty metal particles getting in to the air.

I'm not an experienced turner (or sharpener of turning tools) so this may not be a recommended route.

 

[wizer]

The Tormek seems to be very popular among turners but I think those with them would admit to it being a very slow method of sharpening. Most turning tools don't need that level of honing.

 

[CHJ]

Santos, the grinding motor is not the critical item, but well balanced wheels of suitable grit are.

I've been running a cheap grinder since 2005 with no motor problems,the white wheel as supplied was unbalanced and needed fixing and I think this is possibly the main problem buying budget. But the machine is still going strong

 

[Jenx]

Hi Santos ... I also agree with previous sentiments ...
a 25 to 30 quid grinder is ample. 2850rpm is fine.. you only need a light touch on the stone.. go for a white wheel though ( Aluminium Oxide 80 grit jobbie ) ... honestly, you don't need to spend a fortune ... I think I'm right in saying Loz's grinder was about a tenner, and he manages great with it ! ... ( he may confirm this ! :wink: )

CHJ ( Chas ) has a fantastic 'how-to' on making a Jig for yourself somewhere... there may well be others too.. check back posts by guys like Cornucopia etc.. there's a ton of info on here about grinders etc...
and these fellas really know their onions..
Honestly bud.. you don't need nothing like £150 to sort this one out :wink:

 

[Blister]

The Tormek seems to be very popular among turners but I think those with them would admit to it being a very slow method of sharpening. Most turning tools don't need that level of honing.

The Tormek is only for honing / sharpening , not for shaping your tools :wink:

My advice is buy a slow speed quality grinder , or as I am a fan of the Sorby Pro Edge ,save up for one , they are fantastic

Have a look on Sorbys web site , they have some video on it :wink:

 

[tekno.mage]

£150 is a big budget for a standard grinder. As has already been said here, you really don't need to spend that much on one. I have a cheap £15.00 chinese one I fitted a white wheel to and that works just fine. Unless you are planning on doing an awful lot of grinding for hours at a time, it's unlikely you'd need to get a really expensive machine.

However, you may well need the rest of that budget to spend on a grinding jig of some kind unless you are very skilled at tool sharpening and can manage to sharpen a fingernail grind gouge freehand, or are wanting to make your own jigs.

I actually use a cheap copy of a Tormek wet grinder (a Sheppach - which takes the Tormek jigs) for most of my sharpening, only reverting to a dry grinder for shaping of new tools (or re-shaping old ones) and for sharpening scrapers.

tekno.mage

 

[duncanh]

I'd go for the 2nd one you linked to. I have the Perform version of it and it's worked faultlessly since I bought it 5 years ago.
You get a wide, 80 grit white wheel which works well and saves you buying one separately.

You'll also need to buy a devil stone for cleaning the wheel and dressing tool to remove ridges and grooves (either diamond or star wheel).

You'll probably need a jig - their was a Tru-grind one on sale here a few days ago. Don't know if it sold but I have one and like it. You could, as others have said, also make one.

 

[NikNak]

Hi Santos.....



like you i've only been turning for a short while, and was also a bit wary of cheap grinders ruining my nice new (& expensive) chisels. I went for the second one you've listed....

but also invested in the Ax toolrest as well (similar to this one http://www.axminster.co.uk/product.asp? ... e=1&jump=0 )

and haven't looked back....



Nick

 

[Santos]

Well guys, I can’t begin to show my appreciation for the help given here. I think I’ll end up buying the £50 Axminster grinder, unless my tutor strongly rips into me

I’ll keep everyone posted on what decision I make. As I suspect I’ll start asking about jigs next………O.O

 

[petercharlesfagg]

For the last 16 years I have been using a Clarke grinder from Toolmart that originally cost me £16.00.

I have fitted a very coarse wheel (Cannot remember the grit) and a 100 White wheel, neither of them have I replaced!

Whatever you decide to purchase do not forget to buy a Devil Stone at the same time so that you can get a flat surface and remove the metal that imbeds itself in the wheels.

Regards, Peter.

 

[Santos]

Well just to keep you guys informed I’ve just brought:

http://www.axminster.co.uk/product.asp? ... =1&jump=96

&

http://www.axminster.co.uk/product-Axmi ... -21161.htm