Axminster bench grinder??

[woden]

Hi, this is my first post here. I'm from Northern Ireland and as there doesn't seem to be any Ireland based - North or South - forum I thought I'd post here.

I'm interested in buying a bench grinder and aftermarket tool rest for grinding my chisels/plane irons. This one that Axminster do is a slow speed version with 1425 rpm. Has anyone got one like this and if so do you find the slower speed much of an advantage for cool running?

I was thinking that I might ask if they could change the grindstones to something like a 60 grit white wheel in place of the 120 that it comes with and a hard felt wheel in place of the grey wheel. I wonder could they do this :? The way I see it the 60 would remove steel faster and cooler than the 120 and I could use the hard felt wheel for stropping in place of the useless grey wheel.

What aftermarket tool rest would you guys recommend? I've read that the Veritas rest can give problems as it's aluminium and this tends to stick to steel apparently?!!

Also, has anyone used those new blue grindstones... I think the Norton version is called 3x. Are they much better than the white wheels for cool grinding?

 

[woden]

That hyperlink I've put in the post hasn't come up right - it's got 'report to moderator' in it. Is it just me seeing that or does the link have to be checked or something as I'm new? :?

 

[Newbie_Neil]

Hi Woden

Welcome to the forum and our spamulator.

This is the link from your post.

Once you've posted a few more, you'll be ok to post a link.

Thanks
Neil

PS We suffered from 'bots that thought we needed links to their sites.

 

[Alf]

Welcome to the forum, Woden. Yep, it's 'cos you're new I'm afraid; it'll wear off in a bit. In the meantime: link

Cheers, Alf

 

[j]

Welcome to the forum wooden.

It's th eanti spam filter which is used on newer members.
Once you've got a few posts under your blet, I think it sorts it's self out.

No doubt a moderator will be along shortly to fix your links.

Edit: Alf is quick off the mark as usual

J

 

[Waka]

Wooden

Welcome to the forum.

I have one of these slow running grinders, it was the first I bought and still in use albeit only used for fast removal and reshaping.

I'm not sure that Axminster will replace the wheels for you (if I'm reading the post correctly) I think that is something you will have to do once you have bought it.

 

[George_N]

Welcome to the forum. I have the Veritas tool rest and think it is great. I can't see where the problem is likely to be with it being made out of aluminium. The rest stands separate from the grinder, not attached in any way and it is all anodised so that where the adjustable parts are connected with steel bolts there is no direct steel to aluminium contact. Different metals can weld themselves together (galvanic corrosion?) if they are clamped together in conditions that favour corrosion... try getting an aluminium seat post out of a steel bike frame if it has not been properly greased and left too long in damp conditions...but is that likely to happen with a grinder tool rest that you need to adjust quite often?

 

[Alf]

Ooo, photo finish between me and Neil there - steward's inquiry!

I'm sure Axminster would be delighted to provide alternative wheels, but only in an order-the-additional-ones-and-we'll-put-them-in-the-same-shipping-box-for-you kinda way I fear. Personally I use a coarse grey wheel all the time and reserve fancy wheels for turning tools used straight off the grinder, but you pays your money and takes your choice.

I also use the Veritas rest with no trouble. The apparent problem is the aluminium is a little "sticky" in metal terms which isn't the most ideal for a jig where parts sliding across it are its raison d'être. In practice I haven't found it a problem after many years of use, although a thicker steel version would be nice just to act as a heat sink as much as anything.

Cheers, Alf

 

[promhandicam]

. . .In practice I haven't found it a problem after many years of use, although a thicker steel version would be nice just to act as a heat sink as much as anything.

Cheers, Alf

Hi Alf,

I think you will find that if the thermal conductivity properties of a tool rest are important to you, then an aluminium one will out perform a steel one. Aluminium is a much better conductor than steel which is why things like heat sinks in your 'puter are made of aluminium and not sheffields finest :wink: - not sure about the mac however :roll:

Steve

PS. Please reply to this as your 'batting' average is a bit off according to my estimations :lol:

 

[woden]

Having a late night so thought I'd post a response. Thanks for all the replies and welcomes, this seems like another great forum.

A number of things I'm wondering about are:

Is Axminster a good and reliable manufacturer - does their stuff tend to last or is it all rubbishy stuff made in China? No harm to China or anything but you know what I mean.

Is a slower (1425 rpm) grinder really necessary to avoid heat build up - does it take much practice to avoid recking tools with the 3000+rpm version?

Can you get white wheels coarser than 60 grit and if so would something that coarse be advisable? It seems to my mind at least that the coarser the grit the better as this will result in faster grinding and less likelyhood of my, er... impatience resulting in a burnt edge.

How does Axminster's own aftermarket tool rest compare with the Veritas version?

Oh dear, that reads as if I've compiled a questionaire for you all - very serious. Hmm, apologies for the lack of subtle indirectness but it's late and I'm tired. Anyway, thanks in advance. <- Ps. way OT an' all but does anyone think that smile emoticon has a slightly cheeky chappy appearance. Right that's it, must... go... to... bed... yawn.

 

[Alf]

I think you will find that if the thermal conductivity properties of a tool rest are important to you, then an aluminium one will out perform a steel one.

Really? Well there you go, I've learnt something. Now presumably (and I hesitate to presume 'cos I obviously know nuttin' about dis) the chunkier the aluminium the better the heat sink effect?

Cheers, Alf

Just making conversation to get the post count up... :lol:

 

[Alf]

Is Axminster a good and reliable manufacturer - does their stuff tend to last or is it all rubbishy stuff made in China? No harm to China or anything but you know what I mean.

I think it'd be fair to say "variable" - their grinder I've had for a while seems okay, for whatever that's worth.

Is a slower (1425 rpm) grinder really necessary to avoid heat build up - does it take much practice to avoid recking tools with the 3000+rpm version?

With the right technique the fast version shouldn't be a problem. The absence of a light touch is usually where everyone goes wrong.

No idea on t'others.

Cheers, Alf

 

[woodbloke]

If you can stretch the budget a little this one might be a better alternative for grinding, no risk then of overheating plane blades etc.
I've always found Axminster stuff to be reasonable, bearing in mind allot of the machinery is made in the Far East. Depends really what you're doing. Hammer it all day in a busy trade 'shop and it will soon buckle under, light use in a home 'shop and it will last forever. The beginning of the Axminster catalogue does give a very good guide to the various performance categories from Hobby thru' to Industrial, an indication of how much use and abuse on a daily basis a piece of kit will stand - Rob

 

[Jake]

Now presumably (and I hesitate to presume 'cos I obviously know nuttin' about dis) the chunkier the aluminium the better the heat sink effect?

You need surface area, lots of it. Fins a-go-go. And maybe some fans.

 

[Alf]

You need surface area, lots of it. Fins a-go-go. And maybe some fans.

Not sure about fins and fans on a grinding rest... :-k

 

[Nick W]

I think you will find that if the thermal conductivity properties of a tool rest are important to you, then an aluminium one will out perform a steel one.

Really? Well there you go, I've learnt something. Now presumably (and I hesitate to presume 'cos I obviously know nuttin' about dis) the chunkier the aluminium the better the heat sink effect?

For best results your tool rest should be made of Silver, with fins and a fan. You also need to ensure a good thermal bond between the rest and the tool. The best thermal bonding methods tend to involve adhesion/welding so would be of little use in this situation. One, non-adhesive method in general circulation is to use Glycerin, which I guess would have the added attraction of getting to lick sticky fingers afterwards, but then again maybe the added grit and filings would lessen that attraction somewhat.

 

[Alf]

D'you know, I think it's probably easier to stick with a pot of water? :roll: :lol:

Cheers, Alf

 

[Nick W]

D'you know, I think it's probably easier to stick with a pot of water? :roll: :lol:

Cheers, Alf

D'you know, I think you may be right. :wink:

 

[Jake]

You need surface area, lots of it. Fins a-go-go. And maybe some fans.

Not sure about fins and fans on a grinding rest... :-k

Really? I could have sworn it was an excellent idea.

 

[SeanG]

Woden,

I got my tool rest idea from here: http://www.thenewchinkyworkshop.com/neanderthalparadise.htm about 2/3 on the way down you see a picture of the blokes grinding station and the book he got it from.

As to the grinder - it's a slow speed but a 8" wheel - I've heard that the heat build up is the same as the faster 6" grinders due to the speed at the tool being similar (but I'm very willing to be corrected). The 6" grinders are much cheaper though. 8-[

HTH