Recommend a Bench Grinder for Polishing Aluminum - Thinking About Baldor

[havinnoj]

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?

[Rupp250]

You thinking something like this.

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

[havinnoj]

You thinking something like this.

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

Yes something like that.  Haven't looked at Eastwood much.

[Higgy87trx425]

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

[Hawaiiysr]

Tony's stuff is heavy duty for sure. What did he say 14, 15 hp? I would think baldor is good stuff

[Pumashine]

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

[havinnoj]

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!

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?

[Hawaiiysr]

Maybe Dayton. That's Graingers brand.

[udontknowme]

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

[trx250scar]

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

[Higgy87trx425]

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

[rsss396]

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

[havinnoj]

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!

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?

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!

[Pumashine]

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.

[croat1]

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