Need advice about a surface grinder

[Phillip Patton]

I know a guy that has an old Brown and Sharpe Model 2LB surface grinder. It works, though there's some play in the feeds. (It's manual feed.)

He wants $400 for it. Is it worth it? It's obviously been well used, so I'm wondering how much life it has left in it. Anybody here have experience with these?

He's also throwing in a bunch of wheels for it.

Thanks,
Phillip

 

[12345678910]

I've used a similar but smaller one.

Play in the feeds x & y left - right, in - out won't matter, as you run the piece all the way off the stone anyway.

Down feed is the only one that has to hold anything.

Check for the power input required, 3 phase needs a vfd or converter



Stones are cheap, $20-25 ish
Try to get a diamond dresser and holder, and magnet thrown in.
Shoot for a manual too.

Magnets are a large cost.

I'd buy it for that price, around here they usually run $1,000 ish


even if it has wear you can't tighten the gibs and nut for,
it was made to hold .0001 and will still likely do what you need it to.

 

[Carl_First_Timer]

My only addition to the above, is to make sure the ways look in good working order.

 

[drewfacehotm]

you can also put shim stock between the ways on the adjustment side, hope fully the wear is even enough, if not get the scraper and a straight edge and get to it!

 

[Robert Dark]

I will have to agree that the "Up and Down" movement of the wheel is the key. You can put up with a little "slop" when going from side to side, but if that thing drifts down, you could ruin a perfectly good project.

Be careful..... those things have been known to sling a piece of metal into outer space (unless of course it hits you first)

Good magnet.........think good magnet..........think good down-feed control. Did I say "Be Careful" ?????

Robert

 

[Phillip Patton]

Hi Guys,
Thanks for the input so far.
The down feed seemed very solid. Also, the magnet seemed very good. I couldn't budge the piece of scrap he put on it.

 

[Salem Straub]

That sounds pretty awesome. In case you buy it, I'm already jealous. Good luck.

 

[blindhogg]

If it comes w a good magnet, snatch it up.
Cw

 

[Phillip Patton]

Forgot to mention, it does have a manual, even if it is soaked in oil. Can still read it fine.

 

[Carl_First_Timer]

Forgot to mention, it does have a manual, even if it is soaked in oil. Can still read it fine.

And it won't rust.

 

[Phillip Patton]

And it won't rust.

Mice won't eat it, either.

 

[Nathan the Machinist]

$400 is pretty cheap for a working surface grinder.

With the spindle running, put your fingers on the spindle casting. Ideally it should feel dead smooth, as if it were off. Some small amount of vibration doesn't necessarily mean there is a problem with the grinder, and for $400 you have to have realistic expectations. A lot of vibration is not a good sign.

The chuck is dressed with some frequency, meaning the distance from the chuck to the stone is usually very consistent. However, as the ways wear the table no longer moves in a flat plane. This can be confirmed by putting a straight edge on the magnetic chuck and looking for any gaps (use a light source).

Getting a clapped out grinder working again can be an exercise in frustration. Everything has to be spot-on to really work right.