Which bench grinder?

[radhak]

Finally I have come to admit that my chisels need sharpening, and from all that I have read, looks like a bench grinder is a must.

Seeing that I must sacrifice my lunch money to get this, and that I don't want to go hungry for more than a week , is this one from HF good enough ?



Or should I spend hugely more and get this from HD?

:

[dbhost]

I personally prefer the Ryobi with the built in light on the wheel guard. The 6" version is the BGH616, the 8" version is the BGH827... Mind you, I am not HF hater, I just like that Ryobi is all. If you can pony up the extra bucks, the 8" is well worth the $59.00 they ask for it... (It may have gone up or down, not sure, the site doesn't have them listed...)

After owning an 8", I won't go back to a 6"...

[fbrend123]

Except for the eye shields, they look like the same grinder to me.

[radhak]

After owning an 8", I won't go back to a 6"...

< You knew this question was coming, didn't you ? >

Why is the 8" so much better? Stronger motor? Lesser noise?

[radhak]

Except for the eye shields, they look like the same grinder to me.

Funnily, neither of the specs are not complete (to compare): one gives the amps, the other HP and RPM.

[pelligrini]

For bench chisels and plane blades I just normally used a honing jig, a granite tile, and some sandpapers and honing films. I have the 6" Ryobi, but I hardly ever use it. Maybe to quickly grind down a bad plane iron I got off of ebay.

I did get a Worksharp 3000 last spring. It has certainly sped up my sharpening process, and I seem to get better results as well.

[Richard in Smithville]

I have a Ryobi ( what else? ) for my turning chisels. I bought an eight inch grinder as it doesn't give as much "curve" on your grind. I know many turners who use a jig with their grinder and do just fine. For the amount of sharpening I do on my turning chisels, I would spend more time sharpening than turning. Here is what I have done.







The jig slides in and out of the base and sets the chisel angle. All it takes is a couple of swipes and the edge is keen enough for turning.

[Ed62]

It looks like there is only a $5.00 price difference in the 2 you gave links to. But if you really don't want to miss a meal,........

For bench chisels and plane blades I just normally used a honing jig, a granite tile, and some sandpapers and honing films.

That's what I do too.

Ed

[chopnhack]

I am on the fence on this one as well. The 8" model is what I am leaning towards for two reasons, more room between arbors allows for plane iron sharpening without bumping into the housing and the 8" wheels usually are wider. (not always) I know of no other way to put a hollow grind on a chisel, do you?

[cwsmith]

That photo that is posted on the Home Depot website is a much older model. Richard's post shows the current model.

The older Ryobi grinder had the gooseneck lamp while the newer models have the lights integrated into the wheel guards.

I couldn't find a price listed on the Home Depot's page that was linked. But I would think it would be either about the same or less than the Harbor Freight. Actually, have the older 8" Ryobi bench grinder (which had the goose neck lamp) and a couple of years ago, this current model of the 6" Ryobi was on sale during the holidays for only $20 or $25.)

But, wouldn't a bench item like a honing guide setup like Pelligrini suggested, be more appropriate? (I too use a granite tile as a base.) I use my grinder for doing some reshaping and touching up of old tools, etc., but I've always been of the understanding that using a normal bench grinder is fairly risky in that the heat can change the temper, if you're not very careful.

I hope this helps,

CWS

[dbhost]

It depends. turning tools you really aren't honing like a plane iron, or a bench chisel. I have used my grinder ONCE to regrind a bench chisel that I chipped the blade on by dropping it. Usually I use various grits of sandpaper on a slab of granite, and a honing guide...

For my turning tools however, I have the Ryobi BGH-827 (the 8") with the Wolverine jig, and Norton white oxide wheels... I have used many different bench grinders, and I find the 8" models to typically run smoother, and at least for me, is easier to get consistent results with the wider stone of the 8", not to mention less of a hollow to the grind (of course if you WANT a more hollow grind, pick a 6" grinder...)

[radhak]

For bench chisels and plane blades I just normally used a honing jig, a granite tile, and some sandpapers and honing films. I have the 6" Ryobi, but I hardly ever use it. Maybe to quickly grind down a bad plane iron I got off of ebay.

I did get a Worksharp 3000 last spring. It has certainly sped up my sharpening process, and I seem to get better results as well.

But, wouldn't a bench item like a honing guide setup like Pelligrini suggested, be more appropriate? (I too use a granite tile as a base.) I use my grinder for doing some reshaping and touching up of old tools, etc., but I've always been of the understanding that using a normal bench grinder is fairly risky in that the heat can change the temper, if you're not very careful.
CWS

Frankly, I don't want to buy that grinder; but I am not sure turning chisels can be sharpened without a grinder, or at least not quickly enough. Somebody correct me if I am wrong, please.

I do have a sharpening stone that I use for my hand plane blades. I tried last night to use it for one of the bowl gouges, but was at a loss to see how this could be achieved given the curvature of the blade.

[avbclark]

If Money were no object....

I use water stones and a jig. Actually now mostly Diamond stones. However if I were rich:

http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/st...pro_edge?Args=

[Richard in Smithville]

but I've always been of the understanding that using a normal bench grinder is fairly risky in that the heat can change the temper, if you're not very careful.

I hope this helps,

CWS

That might be true if you are grinding a new edge on a tool, but when maintaining the edge, I have the turning chisel on the stone for only a second or two. I have been doing this for over a year with no noticeable loss in temper or shortening of the chisel. When honing a bench chisel on the other hand, I use "scary sharp".

[dbhost]

... but I've always been of the understanding that using a normal bench grinder is fairly risky in that the heat can change the temper, if you're not very careful.

And that is exactly why you see so many people using the various oxide wheels. For example mine fitted with the Norton white aluminum oxides, I see lots of guys running the blue, and pink wheels too... Not sure what they are oxides of, but the whole point behind them is that they grind MUCH cooler than the OEM gray stones... PLUS there IS a cooling tray on the BGH-616 and BGH-827 for gooood reason... Even with the cooling tray, I tend to use a disposable plastic cup of water to dunk the tool edge in. Keep it cool, you won't change the temper...