Thread: low budget grinder V2.0

Here are some pics of my new grinder, it has two speeds-1350 and 2700 feet/minute. It is mostly made of ½” birch ply. The tracking is adjusted with the big handle on the post. I have to pickup the motor and move it to change the speeds. It has an 8" contact wheel.

Charlie

Charlie, your ingenuity is very refreshing and inspiring. Thank you for showing off your well made grinder!

Chris L

I ended up tossing the handle. The idea for the handle was good in theory but not in practice. As soon as backed of the big wing nut on top of the post the weight of the motor would make the post twist toward the wheel. I added an adjuster.

I wanted to make a pure “form follows function” type of machine and keep it simple as I could. The handle worked but was a pain to use, so I made it more complicated.

Charlie

I've looked at pictures of your old grinder so many times. Now I have another one to bookmark. I'm just amazed at both its simplicity and its versatility. Nice job!

Hey Charlie
That's beautiful! Love what you've done there. It'll get all messed up when you start using it though! Dust & grit everywhere!

another thread where i just have to say, 'man do i ever hate you'.

great friggin job. i really gotta come hang out with you one weekend.

vgod

Nice, clean workmanship! Your tracking adjustment is really inventive.

Nice job. That looks like a well thought out grinder.

Love your work Charlie. You definitely are "Mr. Ingenuity."

Thanks for the nice comments. I had a chance to use the grinder for a while. It is several steps above any thing else that I have built. It works very well, I am more than happy with it. The contact wheel runs true and is vibration free. I think the big wooden post, sealed bearings, and a 1/2 mounting bolt add a lot of stability. I have to clamp the whole unit to the work bench or it will walk around. Now I need to build some smaller contact wheels.

I think that a grinder of this style would be easy to make by anybody with wood working tools. It is no KMG but it is a lot easier to use than the curved platen on my other belt sander.

I was hoping for Mr. Congeniality.

Charlie