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General => Lounge => Topic started by: havinnoj on April 25, 2014, 05:31:40 PM

Title: Recommend a Bench Grinder for Polishing Aluminum - Thinking About Baldor
Post by: havinnoj on April 25, 2014, 05:31:40 PM
I've been using a little JET bench grinder to do polishing in the garage but want to upgrade to something more robust like a Baldor (120V).  Anybody have experience with these or other good setups?  Single or dual speed?  Other things to look at?  I know [MENTION=9]Pumashine[/MENTION] will have some comments but I'm thinking you probably have some bigger machines (220V even?) at the shop?
Title: Recommend a Bench Grinder for Polishing Aluminum - Thinking About Baldor
Post by: Rupp250 on April 25, 2014, 05:48:18 PM
You thinking something like this.

http://www.eastwood.com/1-hp-buff-kit.html
Title: Recommend a Bench Grinder for Polishing Aluminum - Thinking About Baldor
Post by: havinnoj on April 25, 2014, 07:15:24 PM
Quote from: Rupp250;32405
You thinking something like this.

http://www.eastwood.com/1-hp-buff-kit.html

Yes something like that.  Haven't looked at Eastwood much.
Title: Recommend a Bench Grinder for Polishing Aluminum - Thinking About Baldor
Post by: Higgy87trx425 on April 25, 2014, 07:44:53 PM
U want more then 1hp!!! Mine is 1hp and I want more!! Also you can get them is speeds of like 1800rpm and I think like 3600rpms You gotta be able to put some pressure on it!!
 Thanks Higgy
Title: Recommend a Bench Grinder for Polishing Aluminum - Thinking About Baldor
Post by: Hawaiiysr on April 25, 2014, 08:39:14 PM
Tony's stuff is heavy duty for sure. What did he say 14, 15 hp? I would think baldor is good stuff
Title: Recommend a Bench Grinder for Polishing Aluminum - Thinking About Baldor
Post by: Pumashine on April 25, 2014, 09:05:11 PM
Baldor 2HP would be great but your looking at $1800. Try finding something local 2 HP for $300. I got a Caswell 2HP on ebay and had it shipped for $350. Oh yeah I am spoiled with two 15 HP lathes and one is variable speed. I use the 2 HP for small stuff
Note the shaft size on the used one.

used
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-HP-BALDOR-12-BUFFER-GRINDER-2-HP-CINCINNATI-DUST-COLLECTOR-SINGLE-PHASE-/370629224433?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item564b3927f1
new
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Baldor-1251-Buffer-2-HP-1-PH-3600-RPM-NEW-/190566662742?pt=Power_Tools&hash=item2c5ea88256
Title: Recommend a Bench Grinder for Polishing Aluminum - Thinking About Baldor
Post by: havinnoj on April 25, 2014, 10:10:02 PM
Quote from: Higgy87trx425;32410
U want more then 1hp!!! Mine is 1hp and I want more!! Also you can get them is speeds of like 1800rpm and I think like 3600rpms You gotta be able to put some pressure on it!!
 Thanks Higgy

Coming from 1/2hp I think 1hp would hold me over for a bit!

Quote from: Pumashine;32416
Baldor 2HP would be great but your looking at $1800. Try finding something local 2 HP for $300. I got a Caswell 2HP on ebay and had it shipped for $350. Oh yeah I am spoiled with two 15 HP lathes and one is variable speed. I use the 2 HP for small stuff
Note the shaft size on the used one.

used
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-HP-BALDOR-12-BUFFER-GRINDER-2-HP-CINCINNATI-DUST-COLLECTOR-SINGLE-PHASE-/370629224433?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item564b3927f1
new
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Baldor-1251-Buffer-2-HP-1-PH-3600-RPM-NEW-/190566662742?pt=Power_Tools&hash=item2c5ea88256

I'll take a look at bigger power guys - only issue is that I don't have a 220 circuit and even on 120 these 2hp guys draw 20 amps!  Sounds like 1-2hp is a good range.  Looked like I could get a 3/4-1hp Baldor for $6-700.  That's even hard to justify since most of my stuff just gets chromed now.

Any other brands besides Baldor or Creswell I should look at?
Title: Recommend a Bench Grinder for Polishing Aluminum - Thinking About Baldor
Post by: Hawaiiysr on April 25, 2014, 11:20:16 PM
Maybe Dayton. That's Graingers brand.
Title: Recommend a Bench Grinder for Polishing Aluminum - Thinking About Baldor
Post by: udontknowme on April 25, 2014, 11:42:28 PM
if your only doing small stuff on your own machines once in a while i cant see spending much money but thats just me. quit a few years back i polished a few things and got a 120v 2A 3600rpm ryobi. ya i could of used more power but the few times i used it it got the job done. if i were polishing as a business full time i would definatly get something more industrial strength if you know what i meen. im not sure how that JET compares to the ryobi i have, so maybe its similar in size and power
Title: Recommend a Bench Grinder for Polishing Aluminum - Thinking About Baldor
Post by: trx250scar on April 26, 2014, 12:55:28 AM
Quote from: havinnoj;32424
Coming from 1/2hp I think 1hp would hold me over for a bit!



I'll take a look at bigger power guys - only issue is that I don't have a 220 circuit and even on 120 these 2hp guys draw 20 amps!  Sounds like 1-2hp is a good range.  Looked like I could get a 3/4-1hp Baldor for $6-700.  That's even hard to justify since most of my stuff just gets chromed now.

Any other brands besides Baldor or Creswell I should look at?
If you need a 220 outlet I could walk u thru it
Title: Recommend a Bench Grinder for Polishing Aluminum - Thinking About Baldor
Post by: Higgy87trx425 on April 26, 2014, 02:40:27 AM
I have a Dayton 1hp 1800 RPM, and the lights will dim if the air compressor kicks on when I polishing, they're obviously on the same circut.  I guess I should see how many amps its drawing. It does the job though. 1-2 hp will work.
 Thanks Higgy
Title: Recommend a Bench Grinder for Polishing Aluminum - Thinking About Baldor
Post by: rsss396 on April 26, 2014, 08:46:34 AM
I use a 1HP grinder I bought from Menards which is like a Home Depot and use 5/8thread - 6" extensions like these (they sell both right hand and left hand thread which you will need)
http://www.caswellplating.com/buffing-polishing/buffing-adapters/shaft-extenders/extra-long-shaft-adapter-5-8-bore-right-thread.html

I also use 10 buffing wheels, they work much better than 8"

If you can find more HP all the better and maybe look on ebay and see if there are higher HP versions than 1HP that is pretty much the biggest you can find locally at a home improvement store
Title: Recommend a Bench Grinder for Polishing Aluminum - Thinking About Baldor
Post by: havinnoj on April 26, 2014, 09:29:49 AM
Quote from: trx250scar;32438
If you need a 220 outlet I could walk u thru it


Thanks man - I'm really trying to avoid adding a new circuit to the garage!

Quote from: Higgy87trx425;32441
I have a Dayton 1hp 1800 RPM, and the lights will dim if the air compressor kicks on when I polishing, they're obviously on the same circut.  I guess I should see how many amps its drawing. It does the job though. 1-2 hp will work.
 Thanks Higgy


Makes sense - I know compressors can draw a lot and I think you have decent sized guy (or big tank anyways).  I don't know what RPM my JET turns but is 1800RPM what I want?  Any reason for dual speed?

Quote from: rsss396;32451
I use a 1HP grinder I bought from Menards which is like a Home Depot and use 5/8thread - 6" extensions like these (they sell both right hand and left hand thread which you will need)
http://www.caswellplating.com/buffing-polishing/buffing-adapters/shaft-extenders/extra-long-shaft-adapter-5-8-bore-right-thread.html

I also use 10 buffing wheels, they work much better than 8"

If you can find more HP all the better and maybe look on ebay and see if there are higher HP versions than 1HP that is pretty much the biggest you can find locally at a home improvement store


Thanks Dave.  Looks like another vote for something larger than 1hp!
Title: Recommend a Bench Grinder for Polishing Aluminum - Thinking About Baldor
Post by: Pumashine on April 26, 2014, 09:31:01 AM
Quote from: rsss396;32451
I use a 1HP grinder I bought from Menards which is like a Home Depot and use 5/8thread - 6" extensions like these (they sell both right hand and left hand thread which you will need)


Good point Dave. Any motor with longer shafts called polishers are 5 times expensive as your bench top grinder. Harbor freight sells a 3/4 HP polisher for around $80 on sale. You can find a much cheaper 1 HP locally and put the shaft extensions on them. The taller your wheel the faster the surface speed at the wheel edge. Most understand this and realize that the taller the wheel the more HP it absorbs from the motor. So a 1/2 HP grinder will bog down with a 10 inch wheel. I have 15" - 18" wheels with 15 HP and can burn metal in a few seconds. Thats extreme but the part needs to be hot for the compound to work. If you have a small machine you can preheat the parts with a torch or oven. Seanktm on here polished his Puma cylinder with a 1/2 HP grinder. He used a torch to heat the cylinder up. I gave him some c-3 and got the shine put on that cylinder. Traxman I believe uses a 3/4 HP and he has done cases and cylinders. Its just a matter of the time you have to spend on your toy.
Title: Recommend a Bench Grinder for Polishing Aluminum - Thinking About Baldor
Post by: croat1 on April 26, 2014, 10:51:14 AM
OJ, keep an eye on your local Craigslist listings for larger bench grinders/polishers.  might be able to pick something up cheap to offset the cost of upgrading the electrical service.

Joe
Title: Recommend a Bench Grinder for Polishing Aluminum - Thinking About Baldor
Post by: havinnoj on April 26, 2014, 12:27:56 PM
Thanks for all the advice.  What speed is best for polishing - 1800rpm or 3600rpm - and any reason to get a dual speed?
Title: Recommend a Bench Grinder for Polishing Aluminum - Thinking About Baldor
Post by: GO OVRIT on April 26, 2014, 01:22:33 PM
I don't know about your area, but around here there are plenty of old industrial quality tools in local flea markets and craigslist.  I buy far more used tools than new. Id rather spend the same for quality used tools than cheapo new ones.  As far as new, Josh mentioned Dayton.  For the money, I've had good luck with their motors on my air compressors.  I get longer service life out of the 1800rpm motors than the 3600.  I don't know how that relates to polishing though.
Title: Recommend a Bench Grinder for Polishing Aluminum - Thinking About Baldor
Post by: Pumashine on April 26, 2014, 02:02:50 PM
Quote from: havinnoj;32465
Thanks for all the advice.  What speed is best for polishing - 1800rpm or 3600rpm - and any reason to get a dual speed?
That has to do with how much HP you have. If your using 4-6 inch wheels you will need 3600rpm to get  any work accomplished. If your using 10" wheels at 3600 with 1/2 HP you won't do anything without bogging down. Remember the surface speed is the speed at the wheel edge. Which is Circumference (Diameter times Pi) multiplied by the RPM. Polishing efficiently is having the surface speed as great as possible (doing the most work) without slowing the motor down. So the only advantage to having multiple speeds is if you want to run efficiently with which ever wheel diameter you are using. Here we stack the wheels together. 4 wheels will give you a 2" flat to work with, this gives a much better overall finish on flat parts.
Title: Recommend a Bench Grinder for Polishing Aluminum - Thinking About Baldor
Post by: Higgy87trx425 on April 26, 2014, 02:11:05 PM
Yeah I've been heating up my Larger parts in the oven first!! Ask Puma, about 3600 verus 1800 rpm? I'm not sure which is better?? I do like the larger wheels though, however I can get my machine to bog down pretty easily. Thats what u want more power! I like that extension idea I'll be buying some of those real soon!!!
 Thanks Higgy
Title: Recommend a Bench Grinder for Polishing Aluminum - Thinking About Baldor
Post by: rsss396 on April 26, 2014, 11:36:31 PM
The 1 hp motor is fine for a hobby polisher same with the extensions but if you are serious then go with a real Baldor polisher at the higher Hp you can afford and work with the electric power available to you.
i have polished allot of metal with my cheap menards buffer but have wished for more power most any time I did any thing large.
Just remember also I have a pretty light setup that can be moved around very easy and even outside move the mess with it instead of my garage.