Bench Grinders

[Sawyer]

Thanks for the replies folks. Tending toward the idea of the Axi low speed model... I haven't entirely ruled out a wet grinder but consider them rather overpriced.
Hmm, and then there is this at a fraction of Tormek price:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00DOYWJVW/r ... play0bb-21

Being so much cheaper, is it likely to be rubbish, or difficult to find replacement wheels? The one review I've found is not encouraging.

Or the Clarke model, which is rather obviously the same machine.

 

[carlb40]

Thanks for the replies folks. Tending toward the idea of the Axi low speed model... I haven't entirely ruled out a wet grinder but consider them rather overpriced.
Hmm, and then there is this at a fraction of Tormek price:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00DOYWJVW/r ... play0bb-21

Being so much cheaper, is it likely to be rubbish, or difficult to find replacement wheels? The one review I've found is not encouraging.

Or the Clarke model, which is rather obviously the same machine.

There are about 6 companies or more with the same machine.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200905898505? ... 1436.l2649
Quite a few accessories for them, plus i'm pretty sure both the tormek/jet holders etc fit those bars

This one shows the accessories and spare wheel
http://www.poolewood.co.uk/acatalog/Fox ... entre.html

 

[Spindle]

Hi

There are also the wet stone offerings from Jet and Record Power:

http://www.axminster.co.uk/jet-jssg-10- ... -sharpener

http://www.recordpower.co.uk/product/10 ... s5sKxvuP4Y

At the end of the day, I feel wet stones are 'kinder' to your tooling in that they remove the bare minimum of material, (I have never worn out a tool in over 12 years of turning), however profiling tools is painfully slow on a wet stone so the addition of some other form of grinder is desirable.

What ever system you decide to adopt, give some consideration to how you are going to present the tools to the stone(s), freehand / jigs and how they will interface with the grinder.

Regards Mick

 

[jimi43]

You might think that a Creusen is expensive as I did before I got one...but now I think differently.

This old boy was £20 at a bootfair...

[Fawlty Towers On} Lick of paint...lick of paint... [/Fawlty Towers Off}

...and still going strong. Turn it off...go inside...make a cup of tea...come back and it's still spinning down! The bearings on these things are that good!

Couple of wheels from Axminster in their sale...

Worth every penny!

And the white wheel is cool enough to shape turning tools and grind bevels on edges without losing the temper (either on the steel or with me!)

Would I pay full price for one new...yes...in a heartbeat!

Jim

(apologies to oldies here who have already seen this!! )

 

[Sawyer]

Is it a low speed, or a standard one?

 

[jimi43]

Is it a low speed, or a standard one?

It's a standard.

I was going to put a Norton cool wheel on it but the white one is a Creusen fine one...it was about £25 in the Axi Manager's sale at the time so I snapped it up.

The pink one is coarse. I use this for creating bevels on 01 gauge stock before hardening.

Old grinders then got relegated to other uses....

...polishing...wire brushing...linishing...that sort of thing.

I went through a phase of picking up cheap grinders at bootfairs...I have only ever seen a Creusen once...in all those years so I wouldn't suggest it as a shopping method! :O)

But it does go to show you can get bargains.

At the end of the day it's the quality of the wheel that counts if all other things are equal and I intend to get the Norton 3X cool grinding wheel one day...when I get around to it! :mrgreen:

Jimi