Cheap slow wet grinder (Aldi, SIP, Clarke, Draper etc)

[JohnPW]

Hello all,

There seems to be this cheap slow running water cooled grinder, sold under various brand names; Aldi, Lidl, SIP, Clarke, Draper.

It's actually a "Wet and Dry Bench Grinder", basically a normal high speed grinder with a slow wet wheel attached on one end. I'm really only interested in using the wet wheel, as a cheap version of a Tormek. And I don't need any blade holding jigs either.

But I've read a few reviews (from 5 years ago about the Draper version) where they said the slow wet wheel is driven by a plastic worm gear running off the main high speed shaft. And this plastic gear gets worn out quickly or just breaks.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Draper-78456-23 ... B000MPO8LU

Has anyone bought one recently, in particular the Aldi or Lidl version? Does it still have the plastic gear? Aldi has it at the moment for £30 and Lidl Ireland had it last week for £40. The other brands seem to be about £65 so the Aldi one is quite a bargain if it doesn't break down after a few uses.
I know the Aldi one comes with a 3 year guarantee.

Lidl version:

 

[Sawyer]

I've had one of those for a good few years: not Draper branded, but clearly the same machine. Never had any trouble with the gearing, although I rarely use the wet grinder. I use the dry wheel (having replaced the original wheel a good quality one) a lot however, for turning tools.

The wet wheel I have found disappointing because the plastic trough, which doubles as a tool rest is very flimsy, which makes accuracy nigh on impossible. I wouldn't be difficult to fabricate your own however and I suspect there is even a proprietory one on the market.

The other problem is the coarseness of the grit - too coarse in fact to be of any real use and a very strange choice since the machine already comes with a coarse dry wheel. Having done the heavy grinding on the dry, little refinement is possible on the wet wheel as it's just too coarse. I daresay a replacement can be obtained - probably costing as much as the machine itself.

All in all though, it's a cheap machine, still going strong after several years; so I've had my value for money from it.

 

[worn thumbs]

I've had a clone of that for quite a few years.Quite happy with it,but I wish it had better tool rests.There is absolutely nothing to use as a tool rest on the wet wheel and the tiny rest for the high speed wheel is very limited.If the makers had spent a couple of quid on some small pieces of metal the Tormek would have been beaten.

 

[ejtrent]

I've got one of the lidl prkside grinders, it's ok just a big plastic fantastic!

 

[AJB Temple]

Depends what you want. Had one a few years ago and gave it away as in my view it is a cheap step too far. Useless tool rests. Too much plastic. Not very good quality stones. Unfortunately Tormek T7 or even T4 is a lot more expensive. But also a lot better.

 

[DiscoStu]

I've got a Clarke version of it and it seems ok. I'd echo the views above about the wet stone not being very fine. I tend to use the coarse wheel for my turning tools.


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