Horizontal/Vertical Disc Grinder

silver_pilate

silver_pilate

Joined
Oct 30, 2002
Messages
3,974
I picked up a 3/4 HP 3 phase motor from Grizzly the other day to use for my disc grinder. I wired a switch for my VFD output so that the same VFD and remote mounted controls control both my KMG and my disc grinder. The grinder is fully variable speed and reversible.

I will probably pick up a 54-C face motor in the future to use with the Beaumont vertical mounting plate I have, but until then, I set this grinder up to be used in both the horizontal and vertical position. I prever flattening on a horizontal surface (vertical motor mount with horizontal disc), and I prefer grinding blades on a vertical surface (horizontal motor mount). The way I mounted this motor, I can have my cake and eat it too!

I stacked and screwed a couple of pieces of 2x12" together to get to a comfrotable horizontal height, and then I drilled holes for pins that go through the work table. This holds the grinder securely when used in a horizontal mount:

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And yes, that's a flat Beaumont disc on the motor with a beveled disc with neoprene/plexi covering sittin behind the motor :D.

Since the back of the motor is flat, I cut the boards so that they were even with the back of the motor housing. This way, I can knock out the pins quickly and set the motor on it's back securely for a vertical motor mount and horizontal grinding surface:

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If necessary, I'll fashion a piece of angle to clamp to the base to prevent movement in this position.

O happy days! :)

--nathan
 
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Okay, now this is a stupid question, but I've never actually seen one of these types of grinders in person, just on videos, and no one has ever told me much about them. So, how do you attach abrasive to the disc? I'm assuming it's a stone of some kind, but I'm not sure.

Thanks!

~Noah
 
Noah, no such thing as a dumb question. :) You use weak spray adhesive and attach sand paper discs or sheets (and trim the sheet). To change grits/paper, you peel the paper off, using a heat gun if necessary to weaken the adhesive.

--nathan
 
B, I'll have to come up with some kind of work rest setup for certain procedures, but I do my blade bevels freehand. So I'll primarily be using the horizontal position for truing up/flattening bevels and maybe the vertical position for flatenning scales and tangs (if I even change positions for that). I'll have to play around with it and see what I like better. Thanks for the suggestion! :thumbup:

--nathan
 
Thanks for the info, Nathan! Someday I'll actually get a grinder, and I've actually wanted to try using one like this ever since I saw one that used a stone in a video of a Japanese knifemaker somewhere on YouTube

~Noah
 
The maker that I apprenticed under had a foot switch to operate the disk grinder in the horizontal position, made it a looottttt easier to use during flattening operations. I think Ed Caffrey has wiring diagrams (not that you need them) available for we mortal beings. :)
 
Just a thought Nathan , why don't you put a hinge on the blocks to put the motor in the horizontal position ?
 
I'll have to look into that, Jack. I want to keep the work bench in the same orientation it is in now so that it is more stable when grinding with the motor horizontally. A hinge would put the grinder in the middle of the table when in the vertical position. I'll have to see how that feels when I get out there this afternoon. Thanks for the thought!

--nathan
 
Well, I did indeed end up mounting it using some hinges. I can still drop the pins in to really solidify it in the horizontal position.

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--nathan
 
Looking at that last pic....MAN, I need to clean out that green rocking chair so I can chill between projects! I really need to fashion some sort of hanger for my Breathe Easy instead of dumping it in the chair. I also need a bin for all my misc. towels/rags and gloves :D.

While I was in the shop tonight, I also made a new work table for my hor/vertical bandsaw out of 1/4" plate to replace the stamped POS table it came with.

--nathan
 
glad the idea worked Nathan . It just looked like the easy thing to do . If you clean out that chair , you will end up sleeping in it , I would .:D
 
I hear you, Jack. Thanks for the idea, BTW. The unit my shop is in measures 20x40' with high ceilings. Most of my shop is in the front 20x20' and along the wall of the last 20'. The rest we use for storage, tarping everything that needs to be protected from metal dust (the TV you see is broken...works for about 30 minutes before the picture goes out...don't know why my wife insists on keeping it around).

We're probably going to build a house in the next couple of years, and my only stipulation is that we get a yard big enough to build a 20x20' shop at some point (maybe 20x25'). I'm tired of having to drive to build knives (about 4 miles)! I want to walk instead. :D

--nathan
 
what kind of vfd do you have--is it the one for the 3hp kmg comes with.?-marekz
 
Marek, I have a TECO FM50 rated at 2 hp. It's not dust resistant so I had to build a clean box for it and wire up the remote moutned controls (it's actually located in that red toolbox on the wall behind the disc grinder). Basically, I kept the controls/VFD the same and wired in some appropriately rated DPDT switches to the VFD's output. That way, I switch over to one side, and the KMG receives the power. I switch to the other side, and the disc receives the power (middle position=off). The controls are conveniently mounted on the left side of my KMG, really between the KMG and the disc grinder and easily within reach.

--nathan
 
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