Where to find grinding wheels...

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DennisM

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Joined
Apr 30, 2009
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637
Location
Northern Illinois
Ok I picked up a ryobi 6" grinder today, not VS but the cost was better, plus I have been told that with HSS the slower speed isnt that much of an issue.

BUT now where do I get replacement wheels for it, the alum. oxide i guess?

Dennis
 
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nava1uni said:
Do they make an 8"? The 8" is better for sharpening tools and getting a hollow grind. I had a 6" and moved up to an 8", much better sharpening now.
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yes they also have an 8in for $25 more. Watching the woodsmith pod cast on sharpening, said a 6 is fine, actually he preferred it since its a smaller spinning mass and less speed that way..

Will an 8 be that much better? I could take it back and exchange it, or take it back and get this one from HF http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=90022 and use a Nice 20% off coupon..
 
80% of all hardware stores sell them. 6" should be ok. The issue is the motor size and stock slowing it down. So long as the stock your working with isnt slowing down the motor you shoud be fine.
 
There's only about .002" more hollow ground (in typical bowl gouge grind) between 6" and 8" wheel, which really does not matter in the grand scheme of things. People get way too obsessed about these little things.

Use whatever grinder you have and spend your money on quality wheels, a diamond dresser, and a sharpening jig if you don't know how to freehand grind.
 
My Wheels have allways been right there on my grinder, very easy to find. Alright so much for my friday morning humor.

I have heard both sides of the wheel size issue. If you want a hollow grind then a 6" wheel will give you more of one. there are times that this is exactly what you want. you will get a shallower hollow grind with an 8 inch wheel.
some other issues between the two sizes is that on the 8 inch machine you get more wheel this begs to argue that it lasts longer. nothing to back that up though.
Also the Wolverine system is engineered to fit an 8 inch grinder and even that has to be jacked up just a bit. a 6 inch grinder woudl at most have to be jacked up just a little further.
To get real nit picky. an 8 inch wheel spinning at the same R.P.M as a 6 inch wheel will grind faster. that is because the surface you are actually applying the tool to is moving faster.
I am not sure there is much of a difference in available wheels for each machine.
Finally I do know that every machine shop I have been in has nothing but 8 inch machines. can't tell you why but I have noticed that.
 
Bench grinders not really designed for precision work. Cost for both grinders and wheels have become ridiculous. Most consumer and industrial grade grinders regardless of brand name come from China today. Only exception to China grinder can think of is Baldor. You can find mixed reviews for most name brand grinders. So just, buy what you can afford locally.

Jigs give you the ability to repeat grinding bevel angle each time. A sharpening jig can turn your grinder into a precision sharpening machine. You still need a light touch or waste a lot of steel.

A six-inch grinder with ¾" or 1" wheels can sharpen all your turning tools. Most come with either 1/3 or ½ HP motors.

An 8-inch grinder with 1" wheels makes sharpening free hand a little easier. I would not buy an 8" grinder without ¾ HP motor and one inch wide wheels.

A true slow speed grinder does not exceed 1,000 RPMS. So forget the advertising hype. 1725 or 3450 RPM grinders, both will blue your tools if not careful. Variable speed on a grinder nice to have but not necessary.
 
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Sharpening HSS, turning tools on a grinder require friable aluminum oxide wheels. White or pink wheels will work just fine for sharpening M2 HSS. Yes, white and pink wheels wear down faster than blue wheels. Generally blue wheels will last a little longer, but cost more.

Three common grit wheels used by turners is, medium (36-60 grit), fine (80-120 grit), super fine (150 grit & higher). I run 46 & 80 grit wheels on my grinder. Use fine 80 grit wheel 99% of the time. The medium 46-grit wheel is for fixing damaged edge, or changing bevel angle on a tool. I do not use the 80 grit wheel after using the 46-grit wheel. Just continue to turn, and hit the 80 grit wheel next time I sharpen the tool.

I go straight from the grinder to turning. May hone a skew if remember and can find diamond card.
 
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