Your Grinder?

[Gary Conklin]

What grinder do you use? Do you like it? What would you buy?

[Mike Minto]

I have a slow speed grinder from WC, and like it alot. I'd like to have a Creusen, but they only have 6" wheels and are sold in the UK - for alot of money.

[Bernie Weishapl]

Woodcraft slow speed grinder. Works well.

[John Hart]

I have a craftsman high speed dual wheel super deluxe standard bench grinder. One gray wheel...one white. I like it. Although... I am a free-hander so my input doesn't really mean much I'm afraid....I'm not exactly a sharpening guru. ;)

[John Keeton]

WC 8" slow speed. I like it, but only because I have nothing to compare to!!

[Jeff Luedloff]

WC 8" 2 speed grinder, one wheel 80 git for shaping and 120 git white wheel for touching up.

[Lance kanaby]

I have an older WC 8" slow speed grinder, you know the ones with a rear dust port. The newer models don't have a dust port and are really messy when the wheels are trued up. If I really wanted the best grinder I would get the Baldor 8" grinder, but these suckers cost a small fortune, over $600.00!

[Sean Hughto]

I apparently spent a small fortune as per the attached pic. I dunno, I see sharpening as right up there with ripping (How much for a 3HP cabinet saw), turning (lathe prices anyone?), jointing (anything over 6" starter models are plenty $$$), bandsawing (at least a grand for a nice one), chainsawing (Huskie's ain't cheap) etc. I don't see why folks don'e think twice about spending $1800 or $3500 on a lathe, but would balk at buying an equivalent quality grinder. Same with respect to dust collection and masks. I think Trend and 3M "expensive" models are money well spent.

Buy good tools the first time and enjoy using them everytime.

[Kyle Iwamoto]

I apparently spent a small fortune as per the attached pic. I dunno, I see sharpening as right up there with ripping (How much for a 3HP cabinet saw), turning (lathe prices anyone?), jointing (anything over 6" starter models are plenty $$$), bandsawing (at least a grand for a nice one), chainsawing (Huskie's ain't cheap) etc. I don't see why folks don'e think twice about spending $1800 or $3500 on a lathe, but would balk at buying an equivalent quality grinder. Same with respect to dust collection and masks. I think Trend and 3M "expensive" models are money well spent.

Buy good tools the first time and enjoy using them everytime.

Well said.... But I have a Stihl and a Tormek..... I really like the Tormek. Sharpen the kitchen knives and make the boss happy.:D

[Jeff Willard]

What Sean said. I have a similar Baldor-8", 3/4 hp, but I sprung for the illuminated shields. Tormek too, but only for flat stuff.

The Baldor is silk smooth. And compare the spin-up time to any of the others in the $50-200 range, and you won't ever want to go back. I started years ago with a 6" Delta grinder. I know the Baldor has ball bearings, don't know what the Delta has. Prolly just a bronze bushing. Never could get a wheel true. The Delta has been relegated to powering the Automach.

I really don't see the necessity in a slow-speed grinder on high speed steel. Just takes twice as long to accomplish a task.

[Keith Burns]

I have used a WC 8" slow speed grinder and it has worked well. However I just got a new Delta 8" variable speed grinder and really like it. Lowes had the for $138 but had them on clearance for $35 but the only one they had left was the display, so I talked the down to $10

[Wayne Leach]

I have a 6" Baldor that I have had for 30 years and its a wonderful piece of equipment.
I also have recently purchased the WC 8" slow speed grinder and despite the wheels wobbling it does a fairly good job. I like the 8" for turning tools but for everything else, the Baldor gets the nod!
Wayne

[Gary Conklin]

So 50/50 split so far. Those that have the WC seem pleased, those with high end always pleased. Hum?:confused:

BTW Sean is that a verticle solution on the flat platform?

[Sean Hughto]

Yup, I have Mr. Geiger's truing tool and his vertical solution. I highly recommend both.

[David E Keller]

I've got the WC and it does the job. I'm not sure I could justify the expense for a deluxe grinder at this point only because there are other things I want more. If you've got the money, I can't imagine you'd ever regret buying a top of the line tool.

[Gary Conklin]

If you've got the money, I can't imagine you'd ever regret buying a top of the line tool.

Your darn sure I'd never admit to it anyway!!

[Clint Baxter]

I have a Jet 8" grinder. Works quite well since I replaced out the washers. Have a couple of the Norton "K" wheels on it. Also have a Tormek with the black wheel that I use for skews, some gouges and all my flatwork tools. Finally, have a Delta 10" wet wheel grinder with a 5" high speed wheel that no longer sees the light of day.

[Jim McFarland]

WC slow speed grinder with Tormek grinder mount for "shaping" tools and a Tormek for all subsequent sharpening. Lighter wallet but no regrets.

[Richard Madden]

Mine's a Craftsman Professional 8" variable speed. Must have been on sale, don't remember. Norton K grade wheels, 46 and 80 grit. At slow speed it runs smooth, but crank up the speed and it vibrates.

[Mike Davis NC]

I have a Wilton 2 x 72 inch belt grinder with belts from 36 to 600 grit. It is fast, smooth and easy to grind anything from awl points to hand plane blades.

[Rich Aldrich]

I have a variable speed Porter Cable with 8" wheels. I think this is a newer model, just purchased in April at Lowes. I really like this grinder. I keep it at the lowest speed setting.

[Alan Zenreich]

I use a Bader III 2"x72" belt grinder (with either an 8" wheel or a flat platen) with a Nova Sharpening Centre.

My wife uses a WC slow speed grinder with a Oneway Wolverine jig.

It's nice to have options <s>

[Don Geiger]

Hi Sean:
I copied your photo of my vertical support for the patform rest' installed on your Baldor. Do you mind if I use it in my demo and training presentations?


Don Geiger



I apparently spent a small fortune as per the attached pic. I dunno, I see sharpening as right up there with ripping (How much for a 3HP cabinet saw), turning (lathe prices anyone?), jointing (anything over 6" starter models are plenty $$$), bandsawing (at least a grand for a nice one), chainsawing (Huskie's ain't cheap) etc. I don't see why folks don'e think twice about spending $1800 or $3500 on a lathe, but would balk at buying an equivalent quality grinder. Same with respect to dust collection and masks. I think Trend and 3M "expensive" models are money well spent.

Buy good tools the first time and enjoy using them everytime.

[Sean Hughto]

Feel free, Don. I love the products, and appreciate you offering them. Thanks!

[Gary Conklin]

Sean, what were the mods to be able to use it with the platform?

Man those Baldors are a small fortune! Are they really that different from a mid grade grinder???

[Sean Hughto]

Hey, Gary. There were no significant mods. The Wolverine platform just attaches to Mr. Geiger's adjustable post, really.

As far as whether the baldor is really that different, I suppose it's like anything else in woodworking, you can probably get by with less in many instances, but it's sure nice to use an excellent tool. I come from flat woodworking, so I'd think of it like asking "Are cabinet table saws really that different from a mid-grade contractor's saws?" Well, they both rip boards pretty well, but ... Or asking "Are Lie-Nielsen planes really that different from vintage Stanley's?" Well they'll both plane most normal grained woods well, but ... Or in Vortex terms, "why buy a $3500 Powermatic 1352 when a $1800 Jet 1642 is pretty close?"

Strangely enough, I have a contractor saw and a 1642! Yup, you could get by with much less grinder than a Baldor, but sometimes it's nice to have a great quality tool that you know will last a lifetime and be a pleasure to use over and over.

[Thom Sturgill]

Sharpening & Honing - Delta 8" variable speed w 150grit white wheel and MDF wheel with honing compound.
Grizzly wet grinder - Tormek clone
Ryobi 6" HS grinder with grey wheel for reshaping & heavy grinding

This ought to be a survey type question....

[Gary Herrmann]

WC 8" slow speed. Having gotten to use a slow speed Baldor recently, I'm hoping my WC dies soon so I can upgrade.

[Darci Sowers]

we have the WC 8" slow speed grinder, and use the wolverine sharpening system. Works well. Sharp tools are awesome!

[Wayne Spence]

For all turning tools I use a WC slow speed 2 wheel with wolverine jig and for chisels and carving gouges a cardboard 2 wheel setup with the wheels turning away from the edge. Both setups are more than adequate. If I were to change for some unforseen reason like the motors going out I would go to a belt , the wider the better. Would still need a wheel for shaping.

[Jeff Willard]

Man those Baldors are a small fortune! Are they really that different from a mid grade grinder???

See the post above by Wayne Leach. 30 yrs.

[Matt Owen]

I have a DeWalt 6" grinder with 1 white and 1 gray wheel. I like it because the tool rests are large enough to be usable. I made a wolverine varigrind and sliding v-notch platform out of wood, and my total cost for all of it was < $100. I can sharpen my tools quickly, and they cut wood cleanly.

[Reed Gray]

I have a WC slow speed grinder and then got a 1 hp Baldor. The difference is like the difference between a Ryobi table saw, and a Powermatic cabinet saw. Well worth the money. I would like to have a high speed grinder for the occasional shaping that I do, but I could take them to a saw shop and have them shape them as well.

robo hippy

[JerHall]

and it makes it dead smooth. But you have to replace the wheels with a larger Dia hole. So maybe use up the WC wheels first, unless you want it to run more smoothly.

[Gary Conklin]

Well I stumbled upon a great deal on a barely used Delta variable speed grinder, so with my drill bushing inserts I am all set and ready to go again. I will have to start looking for a deal on a Baldor though..