Bench grinder stands ideas/experiences

[justin1]

Hello,

I've got two 6" bench grinders and I'm looking for ideas and opinions on compact and portable bench grinder stands possibly with storage??

I was thinking of putting them back to back on a plate so I can spin then around and lock in 4 positions on a stand. But I would be interested in what others have came up with I would like to make the most use of a 16"x16" space if that counts for anything when it comes to small shop problems.

Also considered putting one on stand and maybe mounting on the wall but don't know would be nice to drag them around a bit.

 

[Chicken lights]

I used a heavy truck brake drum as a base, then made a simple post to mount mine. Did the same for my bench vise

 

[DPittman]

Your idea of rotating them around is a good one. I also have limited space and two grinders and have thought about mounting them both on one stand. One idea I've never "fleshed" out completely is having the grinder rotate vertically so one drops down out of the way when the other swings up.

I have one mounted to a bench and one mounted to a pipe stand with a cement filled tire rim for the base.

---

 

[kevin.decelles]

I’m on the same quest for grinder mounting happiness myself. I may modify my welding table with a piece of receiver tubing and then mount the grinders on recivers so I can swap them as required . Might even do a vise or two

 

[DPittman]

I’m on the same quest for grinder mounting happiness myself. I may modify my welding table with a piece of receiver tubing and then mount the grinders on recivers so I can swap them as required . Might even do a vise or two

Ya that can work for some but for myself, I can't be lifting up a grinder from who knows where every time I need it. I also regularly use bench grinder and wire wheel machine which are two separate machines.

I sure don't mean to dis' your idea, I just thought I'd add my perspective that you may also relate to.

 

[justin1]

I thought about doing the receiver under the table but like dpittman said it's kinda annoying lifting tooling around specially if you got a 8" vise suckers weight a few pounds. That and when I use bench grinders it's usually minute at a time lol grind a tungsten here and then sharpen drill bit there.

I got some 3"sch40 pipe laying around I was gonna use for stand part and then something heavy for base was eyeing up drive sprocket off d2 other day.

As far as making it rotatable I was thinking of making redneck rotary power connector with 2 legs of 110v so I can run 1 cord from stand and just hard wire both grinders into a box so I don't have to unplug and replug it everytime it spins. But if it's cheap enough maybe order one?

 

[justin1]

I may just give up on small storage box but still tossing some ideas around in head. More or less want something small as possible to hold few types of stones and threw some polishing compound in and maybe old wrench to live with grinders as I seem to keep finding more of them during my organization Frenzie I've been in.

 

[Shoprat]

Just went through this. Here’s my effort. ALL of the stand came from the garbage can at my local metal shop. ( nice guys!!). The base was a pc of I beam 24 inches long and then use what ever you need for up stands. What I like about this design is that it’s readily movable ,yet stabile. If you look closely you can see that the grinders can be swapped out easily. The large hood is my wire brush and scotch brite wheels,on a large 3/4 baldor. By cutting the lower edge of the beam it gives it some design and keeps it from rocking on uneven concrete.

 

[justin1]

Looks slick I like the beam idea may have a look around see what I can find kicking around

 

[Susquatch]

I love your Shop @Shop rat!

That center hydro post with 8 outlets on it is particularly cool! I don't bend very well anymore so I like stuff up high. (Heck, I even keep a dozen butt pinchers spread around so I can avoid getting down on all 4s to pick things up.) Is the power post feed on the floor or under the floor?

 

[Dan Dubeau]

I like that stand shoprat.

Right now I have this setup.

It "works" for now, but it definitely could be better. It's a much better arrangement than it was a couple months ago. I've learned over the course of my life that things need to be out and ready to go for me to be productive. I'd rather work in a messy, crowded shop where everything is out, plugged in and ready to go exactly when I need it than have to get tools out and put them away each time I use them. It's just the way my brain works. It's tough to accomplish in a small space, and compromises need to be made, but it's somewhat doable.

I have a similar idea to shoprats, but it's project 4, or 5 of the shop rearrangement puzzle that I'm currently working on and, at this schedule and rate of completion I should get to in about 2047. Mine involves a couple grinder spindles (1" shafts w/mounted bearings) I've picked up and a 2hp 3ph motor with vfd. I want a wire wheel, scotchbright wheel, and 2 buffing wheels (mop/felt) ready to go at the flip of a switch with variable speed. I'll then put hard stones on my other grinders and build nice adjustable rest for sharpening tools/toolbits. That's the plan.....

 

[Susquatch]

Mine involves a couple grinder spindles (1" shafts w/mounted bearings) I've picked up and a 2hp 3ph motor with vfd. I want a wire wheel, scotchbright wheel, and 2 buffing wheels (mop/felt) ready to go at the flip of a switch with variable speed. I'll then put hard stones on my other grinders and build nice adjustable rest for sharpening tools/toolbits. That's the plan.....

What a fantastic idea! That will be project number 42 K on my priority list now.

 

[historicalarms]

My first home shop was in a single car garage so with lathe, mill drill and grinders ( one bench and two belt) and the wifes car, space was very limited. So I hung ( a 2x4 on each corner) a 2x10 long enough to hold all the grinders , from the rafters. This 2x10 would pivot up to be flush with the bottom of the rafters when I didnt need the grinders or the car was in. The grinders were spaced on the plank so that when being raised , they inserted themselves between 2 rafters. A simple pully system from a wall mounted small boat winch to the rafters and down to the plank made raising & lowering a 30 second job.
For my grinders now, I lucked into a small metal paint booth that a local shop had built for a guy and he never came to pick it up . Enclosed on 3 sides for spark arresting but Im like the OP, I havent anchored my 3 grinders I have now to it permanently , just use a C-clamp on whichever one I need at the time.
That is all my own grinder usage but I did some winter repair work one time in a shop that had the cats ass for a grinder pedestal he used the same brake drum Chicken mentioned. He also attached a steel plate (1/4" or less thickness) to the brake drum that when you stood up to the grinder, you were also standing on this plate so your weight kept the pedestal from leaning away from you when you pressed a work piece to the wheel. The best pedestal outfit I've ever used.

 

[Susquatch]

This 2x10 would pivot up to be flush with the bottom of the rafters when I didnt need the grinders or the car was in.

I confess that I am shocked that you are still alive. My wife would have executed me in the longest most painful way she could devise if I ever mounted a grinder that dropped iron dust on the top surface of her car paint at the slightest puff of air from an open door. Iron dust is a clear coat paint killer.

 

[Shoprat]

I love your Shop @Shop rat!

That center hydro post with 8 outlets on it is particularly cool! I don't bend very well anymore so I like stuff up high. (Heck, I even keep a dozen butt pinchers spread around so I can avoid getting down on all 4s to pick things up.) Is the power post feed on the floor or under the floor?

I did several circuits to each pole. What you can’t see is a 50 amp welder plug on the back side. Same set up on all poles. On the wall every 8 feet , there’s a 110 plug and 2 feet over a220/20 plug. With 50 amp welder plugs every 30 feet total of 8 welder plugs.
I learnt a long time ago that wire is a lot cheaper when building than when retrofitting.

 

[historicalarms]

Old cars that weren't worth much LOL

 

[Susquatch]

I learnt a long time ago that wire is a lot cheaper when building than when retrofitting

Amen.

 

[Shoprat]

Like Dan said if it’s a production to use a machine,it eventually goes away. I’m inherently lazy and want to walk up to a machine and use it instantly. The big hood I have on my buffing station is killer. I’m going to do a similar set up on the grinder side of this station. Oh yeas second thing, it’s got to be easy to sweep up,,,,,thus the mobility thing. With my pallet jack I can easily raise it slightly and move allowing me to sweep around.

 

[thestelster]

This is the set up I'm using. Really tight for space in the shop, hence the double decker scenario. The grinder is a little high, but gets me close to the action, (probably not the safest, but only light grinding is used.)

 

[Everett]

I used a heavy truck brake drum as a base, then made a simple post to mount mine. Did the same for my bench vise

I have 3 truck brake drums on my shop floor at this moment waiting to become tool stands. Even have old hubs to go in them to mount the posts. One for the abused vise, one to have two 6" bench grinders back to back, and one for the 4"x60" belt sander.

Working at a truck shop has its perks