Bench grinder purchase

[Brianp]

I'll be needing a bench grinder shortly, I'm reliably informed. As ever there's a huge array - would the advice be to make sure that the thickness of the wheels is at least the 20mm type? I'd think a 12.5mm wheel is a bit thin for sharpening gouges .... ?

(apologies, i guess, if this is a repeat query...)

 

[Vic Perrin]

Hi Brian,
Like many tools that you are bound to purchase over the coming years there is a massive selection available.
One piece of advise that I was given was to always but the best that you can afford.

When it came to purchasing my initial grinder I was like you and did not which way to go.

I eventually purchased a 20 mm grinder and thought it was ideal for sharpening my lathe tools.

My problem was confidence in using it and trying to get the right finish on the tools.

My sharpening skills left a lot to be desired using this grinder so I saved my pennies up and brought a Tormek wetstone system (second hand) and added to this over a period of time with the relevant jigs for the various tools in my collection. I am now able to get a good cutting edge in a matter of a couple of minutes using this system. It was initially costly but for me personally it was a good investment.

Regards

Vic

 

[Spindle]

Hi

I've also got a Tormek wet grinder and I love it - but it is expensive initially. I would suggest the minimum to aim for, if budget allows, would be a grinder fitted with a 40mm white wheel one side and a 20 or 25mm grey wheel the other. Something like this:

http://www.recordpower.co.uk/product/6- ... whitestone

or it's big brother:

http://www.recordpower.co.uk/product/8- ... whitestone

Regards Mick

 

[chipmunk]

Hi Brian,
The reviews of this grinder from Axminster are very mixed but I have had a Screwfix version for well over 10 years and it's still going strong.

http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-axminster-awdwsg-wetstone-grinder-prod781392/

Mine does not have the metal arm rest over the wetstone but has a homemade wooden platform toolrest in front of the dry grinder and a homemade bar toolrest made out of an M12 bolt shaft (unthreaded part) stuck in lump of beech in front of the wet grinder. Crude but effective. I freehand sharpen all of my gouges and tools with set up and it works for me.

I notice that some of the bad reviews complain about it getting hot after running for 15 minutes but I'm not sure that needs to be an issue when sharpening unless you're very slow or save up loads of tools and blitz them which makes sharpening a chore. I prefer little and often and the wet wheel is great for freehand touching up of gouges.

The wheel on my machine does wobble a bit but with freehand sharpening it's easy to accomodate the movement on a slowly moving wheel.

I'd love a Tormek but I really can't justify that amount of money for sharpening my woodturning tools when you add up the cost of the machine and the jigs.

I think that the Jet Wetstone jigs are good value for money and could be combined with the Axminster wetstone grinder above and, although getting the wheel balanced and true may be quite a long and frustrating process, I'm sure that you could achieve a pretty good set-up.

HTH
Jon.

 

[stevenw1963]

Don't get too uptight on sharpening systems!!

You could end up spending hundreds on a system when a grinder & freehand wil ldo.

I know a woodturner who took 2 seconds to sharpen his tools without problem or jigs, knobs, bells or whistles, whilst the rest of us where spending hours sharpening, hours that could be spent turning instead.

I started with a cheapo bench grinder then went onto a Tormek wet stone. I don't have any jigs but try to make sure the grind is the same as before.

Get what you can afford then move up but, don't use valuable turning time sharpening.

 

[Brianp]

Thanks all! I've quickly learned that there's plenty of help and advice here. The record grinders mentioned in a post aren't too expensive, nor are the axminster. I have a feeling that the really really cheap own brand models with a 16mm disc are just wrong so I'll shop around for something that can take 20 or more (maybe 40!) and a white wheel. Thanks again guys!

 

[Spindle]

Hi

One thing to bear in mind if you are comparing similar products is the motor power - some budget models are just low powered machines with larger wheels fitted.

Regards Mick

 

[Brianp]

I've gone with an "own-brand" type 6" grinder, with a 20mm wide (grey) wheel on the left and a sanding belt on the other. I've found the sanding belt a bit easier to use, does that make sense?

 

[Spindle]

Hi

Now all that's left is to learn how to use it :wink:

Guess you've gone down the freehand sharpening route - don't forget to get yourself some fine belts.

Regards Mick