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So, want one of these for general household work as well as occasional bike related stuff, budget of about I hve seen plenty of models in the £30-£50 mark but want something decent. It'll be my first so I have no idea what's decent.
Any helpful suggestions? Max budget is around £100, liked the look of the Record ones but then read multiple shonky reviews so now open to suggestions.
[url] http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hilka-91600012-6-Inch-Craft-Grinder/dp/B008OZTLDU [/url]
i inherited one of these when a friend moved to oz.....
it replaced my crappy 15 quid performance power one from bnq - all i ever did with that was sharpen drill bits as it stalled out doing anything mroe taxing...
the hilka one seems unstoppable and has done everything i ask of it.
bolt the bloody thing down though - or at least bolt it to a big base so it cant fall over.
What household work? I use mine to shape and sharpen lathe tools and very occasionally sharpen a drill bit. Its not that useful and not a tool I'd spend a lot on. What would an expensive one do extra?
Titan from screwfix for 35 quid has been really good.
One of the best things you can do with a bench grinder is to replace one of the wheels with a wire brush wheel, great way for cleaning rusted threads.
I've got a Clarke one from Machine Mart that's twenty years old and a nicer Bosch one that's nearer thirty years old. Only difference is the smoothness of the motor and bearings. The Bosch is quiet the Clarke is like a high speed cement mixer.
The Bosch is quiet the Clarke is like a high speed cement mixer.
cheap motors, I have a super cheap 120mm chop saw and I swear its louder than a 747 taking off.....
If you can, find an old Wolf - I got one off eBay for £50, and it's amazingly quiet and powerful compared to the £100 Machine Mart one I had before.
The Hilka one looks decent, so far that's the front runner.
And yup, it'll be bolted to an oak workbench. which weighs as much a small family car.
I have a cheapo B&Q performance one. Grind stone on one side and belt sander on the other. The belt snapped about a week after B&Q changed the model and stopped doing any replacement sanding belts. Now I have a grind stone which is enough for most stuff.
Might be worth getting one will interchangeable wire brush / polishing wheel / something else.
Thinking about it, I might go see how easy it is to deconstruct mine and do this.
yep that hilka as well as being more powerful is also quieter than the bnq performance one i had.
Know what you mean about cheap saw motors footflaps , i have an evolution rage chop saw thats louder than my grinder and an elu bench saw(with induction motor) that when running (and not cutting) you could have a conversation beside no issues
Mine is a Woodstar
[img] http://www.powertooldirect.co.uk/images/sl%2010%20d%20Basis_popup.jp g" target="_blank">http://www.powertooldirect.co.uk/images/sl%2010%20d%20Basis_popup.jp g"/> &w=300&h=400[/img]
Very cheap and nasty...
I have an older slow speed version of one of these :
http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-trade-series-at8g2-heavy-duty-grinder-505196
Its probably overkill for you but reasonable value and it is quiet and runs smoothly , 30kg though so not at all portable.
Having a light is really useful - as is having decent tool rests.
I would also glue a hook above the on/off switch and hang a pair of safety specs off it so that they cover the on/off switch and you have to wear them to start the grinder - do this if you get a wire wheel .