Looking for a Good Entry Level Bench Grinder / Linisher

mr626 on 15/02/2024 - 21:50

Hello

I restore old hand tools as a hobby (things like bench vices, chisels, hammers etc). Up until now I've been doing most of my work using a combination of power drill, angle grinder and a tiny, purchased-from-Aldi bench grinder.

I feel like I'm ready to progress to something a bit beefier. I am considering something like this:

https://www.totaltools.com.au/power-tools/bench-top/158616-a…

Most of the restoration process is about returning things to bare metal / polishing them up to a nice finish. I don't really do that much actual grinding (unless I'm fixing up something like chisels that are completely munted). So maybe a 'regular' bench grinder with a grinding wheel and polishing wheel would be a better option?

And, other than buying new, maybe I should instead keep an eye out for one of those vintage green bench grinders that every old dude seems to own?

Max budget would be around $400, but I'm pretty cheap lets be honest, so the cheaper then better.

Your thoughts and suggestions greatly appreciated.

Find Me A Bargain Bench Grinder

Comments

  • pinchies on 15/02/2024 - 22:32

    I could be wrong, but it looks like the photo for that listing on their site is wrong. I think that link is the cheaper 150mm bench grinder + linisher attachement kit, compared to this one which is 200mm bench grinder + linisher kit. It is more expensive at $479, but you're getting a substantially more powerful motor at 600W vs 280W.

  • jonathondriver on 16/02/2024 - 07:11

    I bought one of these last year, not the best quality I am sure, but it wins on the cheap front.

    https://www.bunnings.com.au/ryobi-150mm-250w-grinder-sander-…

  • apsilon on 16/02/2024 - 08:29

    maybe I should instead keep an eye out for one of those vintage green bench grinders that every old dude seems to own?

    You''ll find those are Abbott and Ashby. Been around forever, last forever, you won't be disappointed. Do you really need the linisher though? If all you're doing is polishing you may not have much use for it unless you can get scothbrite belts in that size.

    Look at something like evapo rust to do the bulk of the rust removal.

  • saltypete on 16/02/2024 - 08:31
    +2

    Buy secondhand. There are scads of them secondhand that will do the job fine. Then put your money into the discs you actually want.
    In fact restoring an old bench grinder may be a good little project…….

  • mr626 on 16/02/2024 - 17:00

    Thanks for the feedback all. I will try for second hand as my first preference.
    Restoring one is a great idea, although I'm not sure I have the skills to fix a non-working one, cosmetic / minor structural things I can do.

    • apsilon on 16/02/2024 - 18:33

      Don't worry about cosmetics, if you're using it for polishing it and everything in line with the mop is going to be covered in compound.

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