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Variable Speed bench grinder??

10K views 16 replies 9 participants last post by  CanuckGal 
#1 ·
Is there a variable speed bench grinder available? I bought ($5.00) a Craftsman and the thing scares me!! It just goes like hell, turning toward me, and I have a tough time trying to do anything other than use a wire brush wheel to clean stuff. I figured if I could CONTROL the speed my life would be easier. And safer!! I mean, I bumped that wire wheel with two fingers last week. Yikes! I lost enough skin to make a nice pair of moccasins!!
 
#2 ·
Warren, by "turning toward me" do you mean it "walks" on your workbench? This is just the nature of the beast, the vibration of the spinning stones cause it to move. It needs to be mounted solidly. I screwed a board to the bottom of mine and just clamp it to the bench when I need it. And, yes, there are variable speed grinders available. I have an older VS Craftsman model but I use it full speed all the time anyway.
 
#5 ·
Okay you guys. Good ideas. Bob, like the idea of the speed control. By turning toward me I mean the wheels turn toward me and tend to slam the work down onto the tool rest. I am not very comfortable with that thing spinning like hell and me with a sharp chisel or knife in my hand!!
Thanks. I'll peek at the vs Delta.
 
#6 ·
1) I promise you that you would be much less comfortable if the wheel spun the other way round.

2) Router variable speed box will *not* work on an induction motor such as is in the usual bench grinder.

3) Should you be getting someone to teach you how to use power tools safely?
 
#7 ·
Hi

Would you call a router,Roto-Zip,drillpress,6" combo belt sander,Dremel a induction motor, it works on them...so why not the bench grinder..

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#8 ·
I must admit I was pretty horrified at the OP's comments. Bench grinders are fundamentally dangerous and should not be used without instruction.
Safety glasses are an absolute must for starters.
Grinding wheels can burst if not used correctly and big chunks of grindstone flying around can kill you. The glasses will only stop grit. They won't stop a chunk of stone flying through the air.
Bench grinders must be fixed down. You cannot expect to introduce a tool correctly to one if it can move around.
The tool rest should be set close up to, but not touching, the wheel, otherwise the tool can wedge between the wheel and the tool rest with a liklihood of the wheel bursting.
Grinding should not be done on the side of the wheel unless you are very familiar with grinding, as wheels are only intended for edge grinding and undue lateral pressure can cause a wheel to burst.
The protective shields on most grinders are pretty flimsy and unlikely to stop all of a bursting wheel. They are a last resort. Better working safely so the thing doesn't burst in the first place.
The speed of the wheel is the least of the problems.

Cheers

Peter
 
#12 ·
Okay.....okay. I GET it. I know about bursting wheels,flying steel bits from edges or from brushes. I wear glasses almost ALL the time when using power tools. I know about CLOSE tool rests and my tool is BOLTED to a bench especially the bench grinder. I wear a leather apron when using the angle grinder.
I used to be to called Captain Cautious! for a reason.
I double think EVERY cut I make on a table saw. I don't turn my drill press on until I DOUBLE check that my work piece is clamped to table. I ALWAYS make sure table is clear on my miter saw even if I am making a quick clip on a piece of 1/4" trim.
Okay......I'll go back in my hole now.
 
#13 · (Edited)
Take the wire wheel off the grinder, and turn it on. If the thing is still running with a lot of vibration, then you need to tru the wheel. I use a diamond to tru my wheels but I've worked around grinding wheels for 17 years, and I wouldn't recomend the way I do it unless you are comfortable putting your hands and fingers that close to the wheel.

Get a wheel dresser from your local supplier and tru up that wheel it's most likely out of round; if the wheel wobbles from side to side you have a bad wheel get rid of it, and get another wheel, you should never have to tru the sides of the wheel just the face of it.

Stay Safe. :moil:

Grinding wheel dresser
 
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