disk sander or dry grinder?

[David Wadstrup]

Hello,

I've written about this before, but as I'm about to take the leap, I'd like to take one last poll of opinions. Namely, should I buy a disk sander like this (http://www.amazon.com/J-41002-2-Inch-42-Inch-4-Horsepower-8-Inch/dp/B003J69ET0/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1368372492&sr=8-3&keywords=jet+disc+sander) or a dry grinder like this (http://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/store/item/MS-BALD.XX/Search/baldor/Gramercy_Custom_Tuned_Baldor_Bench_Grinders)? I will use it primarily to regrind primary bevels on my larger plane irons. And maybe to regrind severely chipped chisels. I will continue to use my Sigma waterstones for all honing and even for reestablishing primary bevels on my chisels and smaller plane irons. I should mention that I do all of my woodworking, as well as this future grinding, in the living room of my apartment. Is one machine messier than the other? Which would you buy?

Thanks for you you help with this. I really appreciate hearing about your experience.

Thanks!

David

[David Weaver]

dry grinder. A disc sander will burn your irons.

If you want to use sanders, buy a purpose made belt grinder. Anything dry will be very messy in your living room, and you would probably be better off with a coarse friable stone or a wet grinder (wet grinders are not mess free, either).

[Joe Bailey]

this:
http://www.kalamazooind.com/products/belt-sanders/1sm-belt-sander/
about 260.00 at Enco, and ships free

[Jim Koepke]

This (http://www.leevalley.com/us/wood/page.aspx?p=48435&cat=1,43072) is what is used on my tools.

If not careful it can overheat tools. That was my reason for buying extra tool holders. One tool can be worked while others are cooling.

Either a disk or a wheel will throw swarf all over the place. Most of the time my power sharpening was used for getting the nicks out of old abused blades found at yard sales and ebay.

Now it is mostly used on shovels, axes and other grinding jobs. Though it did get some use on a center bit last week. It was a bit awkward, but someone put a bevel on the wrong side of the cutting edge that had to be reworked.

As with so many things in the world of sharpening there are advantages and disadvantages to every method. It all depends on what works for you.

Other considerations may be the noise factor. The MkII system is fairly quiet.

Another option of mine is a large hunk of granite with some 80 grit adhesive backed sand paper for doing a lot of metal removal. It is quiet and the metal filings do not go all over the place.

jtk

[Joel Moskowitz]

A good grinder is fairly to very quiet.
A Baldor grinder is 50 lbs of cast iron - which means it might be a great grinder but you ain't moving it in and out of your living room so quickly.
A belt sander won't do as good a job/ as fast a job at hollow grinding as will a dry grinder but it is more versatile.

Come by the shop, bring something to grind, try my grinder, see it it's right for you. (call firs