Dakoto Water Stone Horizontal Grinder

[Fred Page]

I know I've asked this question in the past but just in case current opinons have changed - what do people think of the Dakota Water Stone Grinder?
I'm surprised that Axminster don't appear to favour these horizontal grinders and this causes me some concern. Does anyone have strong views based on their own experience?

 

[HandyTim]

sorry I don't have personal experience, but I can give you my 2p worth if you like :wink:

 

[ike]

I'm surprised that Axminster don't appear to favour these horizontal grinders and this causes me some concern.

Well Fred, your concern is justified.

Does anyone have strong views based on their own experience?

There are several 'clones' of this tool around. I bought the Rexon version. At first it seemed a good buy. I used it to flatten the backs on a new set of chisels. After which the stone had worn unevenly. I subsequently set up the planer blade fixture and ground a set of planer knives. The result was terrible. No way would that grinder ever grind a planer knife straight. I sent them off to Tewkwsbury Saw who brought them back to proper condition with a double grind.

The problem as I see it now (and I should have worked it out before I bought it) is that the peripheral speed varies across the width of the stone. As a result, the wear rate varies across the stone. Within a short period of use, the stone starts to taper from inside edge to outside edge. Also as I discovered, the wear varied radially, so the stone surface begins rising and falling.

I do not recommend this type of grinder. You would be much better off with a vertical wetstone grinder, of which there is a wider choice as well.
I later bought the JET grinder and have been very pleased with it (although I would no longer attempt a planer knife grind - I don't think ANY of these bench grinders, even with the planer knife jig, will do anything like an accurate enough job that you get from a sawyers). Straightness is so crucial with planer knifes since they work in unison as (at least) a pair and should take an equal cut at any point along their length. My believe is that nothing less than an engineers horizontal surface grinder with magnetic fixture is a suitable grinding setup to achieve the required level of accuracy and BALANCE. :wink:

regards,

Ike

 

[HandyTim]

Fred

There are a few things to think about.
I always wonder whether replacement stones will be available in 5 years time when you need one.I presume it's not a standard size.
The grind is flat (this could be good or bad depending on your pov)
Where your blade touches the stone further away from the centre the cutting action is greater. This could be a problem, I'm not sure.

Hopefully someone who has used one will come along soon and prove me wrong! Looks like a nice machine.
Cheers
Tim

EDIT i've just read ike's post

 

[wizer]

I recently learned that Dakota is Taiwanese for Rubbish.

 

[mark_h]

I bought a Draper horizontal wetstone grinder a few years ago. The jig that came with it was plastic and useless, but it works OK for the money (about £90) if I recall. Stone wear is a problem as they are very soft and can easily get out of shape if you are not careful and keep your chisel/plane iron moving around.

These days I tend to make more use of the dry grinder that is part of the unit, and finish off things by hand on my Japanese waterstones.

I also find the wetstone grinder a bit messy as you need a constant flow of water across the circular stone that sprays all over the place on a regular basis.

If I was buying again I would get a good dry grinder and some good quality Japanese waterstones (or a Tormek if I win the lottery).

Mark