Grizzly G1015: Short-sighted for next step grinder?

[Drew Riley]

https://smile.amazon.com/Ultimate-G...RGHARJPHTXW&psc=1&refRID=DSR69M29WRGHARJPHTXW

would this change anyone's opinion of the Grizzly? Also, can one use an external VFD to modify the speed of a motor like on the Grizzly that is set up for single speed?

You can't use a VFD for the type of motor that is on the grizzly. VFDs (at least the type that we use) require a 3 phase motor. I suppose you could attach a sheave to the Grizzly's shaft and run a secondary motor/vfd setup with a belt, but by the time you start buying all those parts and pieces, and the kit linked above, you're probably spending as much or more than some of the lower cost tool arm chassis grinders like the SRG, Reeder, etc.... which will likely be better machines in the first place.

As for the mod kit, it's an interesting idea, but I don't really see it as much of an improvement (if any) to the existing Grizzly design. Yes, it theoretically turns it into a tool arm style grinder, but you're still going to be limited by the dimensions/geometry of the grinder as far as what kind of attachments you can rig up for it, and I really don't see it ever being as good as a grinder that was designed to work that way from the start.

If you already had a Grizzly and wanted to save a few bucks over buying a new 4 wheel grinder, I can possibly see getting this kit, but I don't think it makes any sense to buy it all from scratch.

 

[Bill DeShivs]

That kit allows you to use a flat platen or a contact wheel.
Um- the Grizzly already has a flat platen and a contact wheel.
The kit looks useless, except you could grind on the small wheels.