Jerry Allen
01-20-2008, 11:56 AM
GRINDER:
I normally use a modified drill press with an 8" disk to sharpen my chisels. Lately I have been using my 6" grinder to do my scrapers and wanted to try a slow speed 8".
I bought a Woodcraft 8" grinder last week based on comments here and elsewhere.
It seems to be pretty much a crap shoot, with an advantage of getting one that works right.
I received mine yesterday and out of the box it stalled because the left wheel was hitting the guard. I took it apart and messed with it to get rid of a severe wobble. As it turned out, the step on the motor shaft that the flange butts against was tapered instead of square. The factory had not finished turning the motor shaft! The right side was fine. Othr than that not a bad grinder.
The good news is that it's Sunday, and Woodcraft processed a replacement going out tomorrow with a return label included so I will not have to wait twice as long or pay for shipping the return. I am very impressed with their customer service.
I started looking at Delta's instead of trying again, but looking at the reviews, it looks like that's a crap shoot also, so I'll try one more time to get a good one.
TOOL REST:
I also got a new grinder tool rest from Craft Supply USA called an Apprentice Tool Support. For the most part it looks almost identical to the Versa-Rest sold at Hartville Tool, shown at Hart Design, and the one reviewed by Fine Woodworking. The difference is that the side arms are much beefier, The adjustment knobs are ratchet type like the Veritas model, it is on sale for ~$27, and includes the sliding tool holder clamp. CSUSA does not sell the extra bases, but it looks like the ones at Hartville are exactly the same for $3.99/pr. There are other ways to move the rest to the other wheel though.
I have used it and it is very stable and easy to adjust. I highly recommend it at the price. I chose USPS (~$6) shipping and it still got here in 3 days.
http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/store/Sharpening___Universal_Jigs___Apprentice_Universal _Tool_Support___apprentice_tool_support?Args=
I normally use a modified drill press with an 8" disk to sharpen my chisels. Lately I have been using my 6" grinder to do my scrapers and wanted to try a slow speed 8".
I bought a Woodcraft 8" grinder last week based on comments here and elsewhere.
It seems to be pretty much a crap shoot, with an advantage of getting one that works right.
I received mine yesterday and out of the box it stalled because the left wheel was hitting the guard. I took it apart and messed with it to get rid of a severe wobble. As it turned out, the step on the motor shaft that the flange butts against was tapered instead of square. The factory had not finished turning the motor shaft! The right side was fine. Othr than that not a bad grinder.
The good news is that it's Sunday, and Woodcraft processed a replacement going out tomorrow with a return label included so I will not have to wait twice as long or pay for shipping the return. I am very impressed with their customer service.
I started looking at Delta's instead of trying again, but looking at the reviews, it looks like that's a crap shoot also, so I'll try one more time to get a good one.
TOOL REST:
I also got a new grinder tool rest from Craft Supply USA called an Apprentice Tool Support. For the most part it looks almost identical to the Versa-Rest sold at Hartville Tool, shown at Hart Design, and the one reviewed by Fine Woodworking. The difference is that the side arms are much beefier, The adjustment knobs are ratchet type like the Veritas model, it is on sale for ~$27, and includes the sliding tool holder clamp. CSUSA does not sell the extra bases, but it looks like the ones at Hartville are exactly the same for $3.99/pr. There are other ways to move the rest to the other wheel though.
I have used it and it is very stable and easy to adjust. I highly recommend it at the price. I chose USPS (~$6) shipping and it still got here in 3 days.
http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/store/Sharpening___Universal_Jigs___Apprentice_Universal _Tool_Support___apprentice_tool_support?Args=