Baldor 6" grinder - and - 42"belt/8"disc sander/grinder

[CWret]

Is this a good deal? I've read that Baldor grinders are premium grinders (made in the USA) and are worth the premium price.
He is asking $350 - today I offered $300, subject to inspection
He just replied & said OK - should I rush over or look for an inspection reason to walk away?
(FYI - for me, it is either 300 or walk, in my mind the price negotiations are over)

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[Ironman]

I paid 250 for mine, I am very happy with it.

 

[CWret]

Tks @Ironman
Is yours a similar 6" size? Is $300 a good price for a kijiji in the box crap shoot?
I'm thinking about ditching my CT Maximum 8" bench grinder for a better-quality smaller bench grinder (like this Baldor) & then adding a 42" belt/8"disc grinder to the shop.

 

[YYCHM]

Aberdeen Ave, Hamilton

 

[Jswain]

For brand new in a box, yeah I would say good deal.

They aren't the most heavy duty but they are still a very nice high quality grinder.

Be a good unit to dedicate to drill/tungsten sharpening. If you want something for heavy duty wire wheel/or grinding I would want 1/2hp+ but nobody says you can't have 2....

 

[Tom Kitta]

I paid about 150 or so for a Baldor 3hp grinder 10" about 7 years ago. It was on auction. Seen them go for around 250 today.

 

[Susquatch]

Tks @Ironman
Is yours a similar 6" size? Is $300 a good price for a kijiji in the box crap shoot?
I'm thinking about ditching my CT Maximum 8" bench grinder for a better-quality smaller bench grinder (like this Baldor) & then adding a 42" belt/8"disc grinder to the shop.

How bad is the Crappy Tire one?

Generally, I'd rather have 8" than 6". Seems weird to downsize - even for better quality.

Mine is an old Craftsman 8". I'd like to get a nicer one too. But I can't see myself going to a 6" other than as a second grinder.

 

[justin1]

Is this a good deal?

I would say compared to buying it new yes usually when they come up they are pretty beat up and missing guards or tools rests so finding on new in the box I would say is a bonus.

I've seen used ones all over the maps from 50$ because someone doesn't know what they got cause tag is usually missing. But usually I would say around 150$-250$ is probly avg in used condition for a Baldor bench grinder.

Like any bench grinder you still need to balance the stones or the things will rattle and vibrate like crazy when slowing down. The baldors can tolerate more vibration while running but still isn't good for any bearing long term.

I got Baldor 6" and I like better than my master craft 6" lol but a 6" bench grinder isn't a work horse by any means

 

[Tom O]

I’ve put on rubber pucks from Princess Auto on mine to stop it from wandering out the door it works great.

 

[Ironman]

If you use one of these balancers your stones will last a long time, and it will take 5 minutes to spin down and no vibration, none. It will sit on a table and run silently with no rubber feet for hours. Made in Canada and cost about $70 for a 6" grinder.
I use mine exclusively for sharpening drills, end mills and other cutting tools. One side has 120 grit greenstone and the other 100 aluminum oxide. If I want to move metal I have an 8" for that, or an angle grinder.

 

[Susquatch]

If you use one of these balancers your stones will last a long time, and it will take 5 minutes to spin down and no vibration, none. It will sit on a table and run silently with no rubber feet for hours. Made in Canada and cost about $70 for a 6" grinder.
I use mine exclusively for sharpening drills, end mills and other cutting tools. One side has 120 grit greenstone and the other 100 aluminum oxide. If I want to move metal I have an 8" for that, or an angle grinder.

This is an interesting idea/system. If I understand correctly, you also have to buy all new stones with bigger center holes?

Would it be cheaper and easier to just add epoxy as needed to balance the stones on a fixture like that?

 

[Ironman]

This is an interesting idea/system. If I understand correctly, you also have to buy all new stones with bigger center holes?

Would it be cheaper and easier to just add epoxy as needed to balance the stones on a fixture like that?

Most stones have a central plastic insert to be able to fit a variety of shaft sizes. Unless you have the real old stones with a 1/2" lead lined bore. IIRC, the balancers need a 1" bore. The first time I was slow at getting the three weight bolts into the right positions, but then it became easier.
I have seen no need to dress my stones since installing the balancers, and the quality of the grind is superb. An unbalanced stone will soon have an out of round about 1/8" inch and continue to get worse, til you rip that 1/8" off the stone and it is then good for a couple of grind, and it starts all over again.
I do not think epoxy will have enough weight, and I would not attempt to guess how much and where to put it.
But a good white stone is $80+ and being able to triple the life of the stone and reuse the balancer on the next one is worth it to me.
I would think you could make the balancing wheel stand yourself, and $36 per wheel is not bad. but the whole kit with 2 balancers and instructions is worth the $80

 

[CWret]

How bad is the Crappy Tire one

The 8" Mastercraft grinder is good but not great. I have not had any problems/issues with it other than its small and flimsy tool rests (fabricating better ones is on my to-do list). Its 5 amp motor has more power than I’ve needed. Therefore I think a less powerful but better quality (smaller) grinder would work for me and put a smile on my face. Also, I'm not a fan of Crappy T motorized stuff, and not sure why I bought it in the first place (I paid $69.99 for it in 2007, and a couple of weeks ago the same one was on sale at 99.99).

I’ve been looking (wanting/needing) to get a CBN wheel. I thought a good CBN wheel would better match a premium-quality grinder.

Also - I have read that Baldors are made in the USA, are industrial strength with a 100% duty cycle, and will outpower a 6" Chinese version.

@Ironman - I think the balanced stone makes a lot of sense. I also was thinking/looking at getting a 120-grit green silicon carbide wheel for one side and the CBN on the other side. The 6" sizes are a lot less expensive than the 8" size (and a bit slower sfpm is likely a good thing).



PS - one of my bigger grinding jobs is the lawn mower blades but now I prefer using a course 5" flap disc (on a 10.5 amp Metabo angle grinder) instead of the 8" bench grinder.

 

[Jswain]

The 8" Mastercraft grinder is good but not great. I have not had any problems/issues with it other than its small and flimsy tool rests (fabricating better ones is on my to-do list). Its 5 amp motor has more power than I’ve needed. Therefore I think a less powerful but better quality (smaller) grinder would work for me and put a smile on my face. Also, I'm not a fan of Crappy T motorized stuff, and not sure why I bought it in the first place (I paid $69.99 for it in 2007, and a couple of weeks ago the same one was on sale at 99.99).

I’ve been looking (wanting/needing) to get a CBN wheel. I thought a good CBN wheel would better match a premium-quality grinder.

Also - I have read that Baldors are made in the USA, are industrial strength with a 100% duty cycle, and will outpower a 6" Chinese version.

@Ironman - I think the balanced stone makes a lot of sense. I also was thinking/looking at getting a 120-grit green silicon carbide wheel for one side and the CBN on the other side. The 6" sizes are a lot less expensive than the 8" size.



PS - one of my bigger grinding jobs is the lawn mower blades but now I prefer using a course 5" flap disc (on a 10.5 amp Metabo angle grinder) instead of the 8" bench grinder.

Yeah hard to beat a flap disc & a nail on the wall for sharpening mower blades.

 

[CWret]

nail on the wall

explain the nail, please
I put the blade in the bench vise. I treat an angle grinder with LOTS of respect and want nothing to be move around

 

[Susquatch]

explain the nail, please
I put the blade in the bench vise. I treat an angle grinder with LOTS of respect and want nothing to be move around

A nail in the wall makes a decent Lawn Mower Blade balancer.

I have a magnetic blade balancer on my wall for that.

 

[Ironman]

I’ve been looking (wanting/needing) to get a CBN wheel. I thought a good CBN wheel would better match a premium-quality grinder.

Also - I have read that Baldors are made in the USA, are industrial strength with a 100% duty cycle, and will outpower a 6" Chinese version.

@Ironman - I think the balanced stone makes a lot of sense. I also was thinking/looking at getting a 120-grit green silicon carbide wheel for one side and the CBN on the other side. The 6" sizes are a lot less expensive than the 8" size (and a bit slower sfpm is likely a good thing).

If you are going to run a CBN, it is absolutely critical you have a good grinder like a Baldor. Those wheels do not like to be dressed

 

[Jswain]

explain the nail, please
I put the blade in the bench vise. I treat an angle grinder with LOTS of respect and want nothing to be move around

Like Susquatch mentioned a nail on the wall is a quick, easy balancer.

We had a magnetic one too but I just stuck a nail on the wall next to the vise I was using to sharpen the blades.

Good enough for a 27 hole golf course in Calgary, good enough for me.

 

[CWret]

@Jswain - definitely not a 72 hole course - but for my 2 acres I like to keep the blades sharp - I do them once or twice a year. I think I can find enough MT wall space in my crowned garage to hammer a nail - thanks for that tip. Not sure what the magnet version looks like.

going to run a CBN, it is absolutely critical you have a good grinder

That's kinda what I was thinking - thanks for confirming that I'm on the right track (that doesn't happen often)

 

[Jswain]

@Jswain - definitely not a 72 hole course - but for my 2 acres I like to keep the blades sharp - I do them once or twice a year. I think I can find enough MT wall space in my crowned garage to hammer a nail - thanks for that tip. Not sure what the magnet version looks like.


That's kinda what I was thinking - thanks for confirming that I'm on the right track (that doesn't happen often)

Picture a live center on the wall with a magnetic ring around it that pulls up against the blade to centre the hole on the taper.

A nail you can slightly influence how it sits on there depending on the blade type but it's easy to get them good enough that you won't have any vibration.