Can you reccommend a good bench grinder?

Question

I am a home hobbyist, artist, and general do-it-yourself-er. I have a shop in my garage where I do metalworking, welding, woodworking, repair bicycles and work on my motorcycle and car. I want a high quality, relatively inexpensive, heavy duty bench grinder. I expect to use it for sharpening tools, chisels and blades and grinding small metal parts for welding and fabrication. I also want something well balanced with little wobble so I can hone my lathe gouges. I would like the unit to have either a flexible light or a wide lamp. I don;t need a stand, I can build that. My budget is around $50. I appreciate your thoughts.

JB

I am a home hobbyist, artist, and general do-it-yourself-er. I have a shop in my garage where I do metalworking, welding, woodworking, repair bicycles and work on my motorcycle and car. I want a high quality, relatively inexpensive, heavy duty bench grinder. I expect to use it for sharpening tools, chisels and blades and grinding small metal parts for welding and fabrication. I also want something well balanced with little wobble so I can hone my lathe gouges. I would like the unit to have either a flexible light or a wide lamp. I don;t need a stand, I can build that. My budget is around $50. I appreciate your thoughts.

JB

Adendum:

Everything suggested so far I already know. I know my options. I know where the flea markets and yard sales are. I want to know WHAT TO LOOK FOR when I get there. A crappy tool is still a crappy tool no matter what price I pay for it. I want details about specific models you have experience working with. Pros and cons. Prices. Craftsman tools suck.

Yeah, Craftsman is American made. So are DeWalt and Porter Cable. They both blow Craftsman out of the water in quality, versatility, design and durability.

I dont care whether it was manufactured in the USA, China, Canada, or Ecuador. All I care about is that it does the job I need it to without burning out.

Lathe gouges can only be honed on a bench grinder. The grinder must be balanced with zero wobble. I use a cup of water to prevent over heating and loss of temper.

I dont mind spending more than my $50 budget, if the tool will do what I need it to do and is durable. Just tell me which models to look for.

Thanks

JB

Adendum 2: NAMES! Brand names and model numbers. That's all I want. What is beefy and quality? I don't care about the price.

Answer 1

If you want the best grinder that would be the Tormek Grinder.
It has a water wheel that spins around 300 rpm and for honing it has a leather wheel.I personally use a two inch
strip belt sander to sharpen my lathe chisels. How ever I have
been turning for almost 40 years. Sharpening skills are
a learned skill that comes with lots of practice.The Tormek
sells for 399 and I have never ever seen it on sale anywhere
anytime.Tormek only makes one grinder as a matter of fact they only make one tool that I know of and that is the Tormek Grinder.

You can buy them at most quality woodworking stores it is
by far the best grinder on the market and built to last two life times. My buddy has one and he has managed to tear up
every tool he owns but the Tormek Grinder.I mean this guy is
so clumsy he has sanded thru the cord on my belt sander when I loaned it to him. He stepped on his slide compound
miter saw and broke it .He has cut the tip off one his fingers and he managed to cut the tip off one of his coworkers finger.Enough of him buy the Tormek and you will be happy you did it is one heck of a tool.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

2

Answer 4

Good Bench Grinder

Answer 5

First of all, at least Craftsman are made in the USA rather than China. Second, a grinder as you describe is high-speed and not too good for sharpening blades and chisels. You can easily ruin the steel by either ruining its temper or taking off too much metal. However, if you really want one, just remember that all a bench grinder is is a large motor that spins a grinding wheel. Look for one used and make sure to plug it in and turn it on. Make sure it speeds up smoothly, look at the wheels for wobble, listen for any funny noises (it should purr like a kitten), and after you turn it off and let it stop, grab the wheels and jiggle them a bit. Any looseness you can feel is a bad sign, it means the bearings are bad or getting there. Also, check the plug for all THREE prongs. If you are using a large motor to grind metal, it is a really good idea to make sure it is grounded. Other than that, get a good diamond stone or a Lanksy set to sharpen your blades and use the grinder for fabrication. Good luck!!

Answer 6

Well, if $50 is all you have to spend--expect to get a cheap bench grinder! So, get yerself off to the flea market, or frequent the garage sales!
years ago, i bought a large heavy bench grinder, at a garage sale, for $35. A heavy bench vise for $10, too. And a large pipe wrench for $1! I even found a bench grinder in somebody's garbage pile! Needed some oil on the shafts--works well!

Answer 7

You can get about any good bench grinder for less than $100

Answer 8

I would go with a Sears craftsman grinder. I'm not much of a craftsman fan on the lager tools anymore, but they still make pretty good small tools. I've had one for many years, and the motor still has good pull.

Answer 9

I have no idea of anything new for $50 or less, in a level you seem to expect in features and quality. Certainly USED is an option.

I have a Craftsman, probably 40 years old by now that still does what it's supposed to, and I have no desire to buy new, but you have options and should exercise all of them, such as actually shopping, or looking in bargain trader flyers, or e bay, pawn shops, garage sales, etc etc etc.

Answer 10

If you are planning to start on your woodworking project, this isn't something you should use, it's something that you would be insane not to. Go here https://tr.im/dkCUn
Truth is, I've been a carpenter for almost 36 years, and I haven't found anything like this for less than 10's of thousands of dollars.