Sub $75 grinder advice - Mission Impossible?

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thewishman

thewishman

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Your mission, should you choose to accept it:

Upgrade Subject's sharpening system from a $4.95 oilstone. The budget is low, but the needs are simple:

Main tools to sharpen: 1/2" oval skew, 3/4" roughing gouge

Secondary tools: 1/2" and 1" flat skews

Subjects's first choice was the Woodcraft 8" slow speed grinder, but it went off sale: http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?FamilyID=4605

The tools are all HSS - Benjamin's Best oval skew, the rest are HF. Subject does not want to buy a $45 grinder and then need to replace it in a few months with something more appropriate. Should Subject just pay the extra $20 and get the Woodcraft or is there something else that could do the job decently for less than $95?

If you are caught, the Secretary will disavow any knowledge of your mission.

This message will self destruct in 5...4...3...
 
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I have three slow-speed wet grinders from Sears ($30ish each). One travels to the craft shows, one had a cracked wheel within a week and the spare sits in the box, in case the craft show one gets a cracked wheel.

Remember, they don't get ANY care, they travel. If I left it at home and drained it when not in use, I think I could get a couple years out of it, and it is REVERSIBLE. My Tormek won't do THAT!!! Oh, and my Tormek wheel is worn down to where I should replace it ($139.99 - don't hold your breath!!!)

Is this a recommendation - not really, but I WOULD use the Craftsman if I only turned a couple times a week (I turn 3-4 hours a night and all day each weekend. The craftsman wheel would be the size of a rollerskate wheel in a couple months!!!

FWIW[;)][;)][;)]
 
FWIW, I hardly ever put my skews to a grinder. Harbor Freight has a set of 3 diamond stones that are 180, 260, and 320. I use these to touch up the skews all the time (I hardly ever use a gouge, and never on pens) I have been eye-balling that Woodcraft one and I think with the wheels, it's a great buy for the money.

However, if you don't mind buying a $30.00 wheel, I think that the Craftsman VS 8" ginder is a better buy for about the same price ($109 right now) and it will run 1750 or 3450 and anywhere inbetween. Plus, it has a nice light with it.[:D]

918071.jpg
 
Unless you can find someone who is willing to part with there old stuff, I think your goal is not possible. I took the plung this year and bought the Tormek used. That was in January. I have just paid it off with the last show I did. I think it was worth it.

You could always keep bidding low on Ebay and hope a grinder falls to you.
 
The above Craftsman light is apparently identical to the Delta at Lowe's...$139 marked down to $119 with a $15. store mail in credit..for a total of $104......

sold my 6" for $20.......so I'm down to $84........when I get paid.......[:)]
 
Chris,

Consider a used grinder. I would check Craigslist regularly. It took me awhile, but I found a Jet 1236 lathe for half price less than a 2 hour drive from the house. The previous owner upgraded to a Oneway. It was immaculate.

FWIW,
 
A little more than you want to pay but here is a HF sharpener that is similar in purpose to the Tormek and Jet sharpener.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=95236

Here is a 4 sided HF diamond sharpener that goes to 600 grit:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=92867
 
The problem with a used grinder, as well as most new grinders, is that they are 3450 rpm. You really want a slow speed grinder, while the Woodcraft one does meet that, the VS grinders are a better bang for the buck because they will run at both speeds and in between.

Hank, I am still kicking myself for not getting that 4 sides one over the 3 thin flat ones. I am blown away with how awesome they are for the price. The 180 one will flat out rip a new edge on a hand plane blade yet will stay perfectly straight. I will buy the 4 sided one someday, I have been using my sef all summer and they cut like day one.
 
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