Need Help with my Wilton grinder!!!

G

godogs57

Joined
Apr 16, 2004
Messages
782
Does anyone know why my Wilton Square Wheel Grinder is now shocking the daylights out of me when I grind?? I am out in the shop grinding away, and when I am finishing my knives (handle material already glued and screwed), if I spend more than a second or two grinding the blade instead of the handle, I will receive a spark from the flat platen of the grinder. This is more than I can bear, as I have been struck by lightning before and static electricity will just about floor me. This shock is a bit more severe than static electricity, as it will arc 4" or so to get to my hands! I had to walk away from the grinder today, as I could actually feel static electricity, or whatever, actually going through my right foot and, what am I trying to say, grounding out on the cement floor of my shop!

This happens more during the winter on those cold, dry nights, but today it is dry and warm. I actually build up so much static electricity in my body, I quit grinding, put the knife down and walk away and will, really and truely, receive a jolt from my drill press or shop saw, whatever I touch that might be metal. As you can tell, I am not an electrician, but I do know that the grinder is wired right, shop is wired correctly...and this is about to blow my mind. Any help at all will be sincerely appreciated.
 
Try one of the anti static wrist bands from Office Max, or a computer store.
Hook that to the grinder when using it. It should help.

I have a pyroceram platen liner on mine, and in dry weather(like now), it shocks pretty good(I don't have a ground strap yet).

Edited to add; Welcome to BFC! Enjoy! :D
 
I have a willton but that's not your problem.
your shoes can make a world of difference
I get it on the buffer too. :(
:eek: it makes a good snapping sound too loud :eek: ouch .
the two dissimilar materials are causing it from the rub of the belt. your a human magneto. :confused:
I rap a bead chain around my wrist and ground it to the metal bench when I've had enough of that fun for a while :D
 
Mine is a Wilton, and I get a little static from it and my buffer. NOT near as much as you are receiving, though.
 
We talked about this a while back, someone recommended dumping water on the floor. This does help, but adds to the "aroma" of the shop (mine is in the basement so the humidity is pretty thoroughly trapped). I know what you mean, it's a nasty shock and I jump like crazy when I'm not expecting it. But it's sure pretty! :D (Too much of the 70s still in my blood? :D )
 
Thanks for all your suggestions folks! I am wearing sneekers when I grind, and you should feel the sparks fly through my toes headed to the floor! It feels just like I stepped on a nail barefooted. The spark arcing 4" to zap me blows my mind with that blue spark and the "snap!" sound....good Lord I jump 10 feet when it zaps me. I have tried to get one of those anti-static wrist bands at Home Depot, Lowes, etc, to no avail. May try a chain around my waist, grounded, to see what happens. Interesting point: I have had a few of my buddies complain about getting zaped by their buffer, but not me...lucky I guess, but that grinder just about kills me. Thank you so much for your suggestions, they are appreciated.

Mr. Denning, I have met you a time or two at the blade show and the SE Wildlife Expo.....love your knives, especially the black micarta handled fighter that you build...first class work, but you would expect nothing less when you learn from the best in my opinion! Take care folks.
 
I was just thinking, check the wire from the motor to the plug. Open up the motor Jbox, and check to see that the ground wire is actually grounded.
Make sure there is no paint to stop wire to metal contact.
 
I'm thinking if it were anything but static he wouldn't be here talking about it right now
:( just my thoughts on it..110 won't jump 4" :eek:
 
godogs57, thank you for the compliment and hope to see you again-Atlanta bound this June. Mine gives me a jolt so I try to be faster than it can get me, weather and temperature does have an effect on it but I do believe I would be tempted to check the wiring too or have you got your warranty you can fall back on first? Hope something gives. Nothing like standing there feeling like your holding a spark plug wire. GenO
 
Try separate ground wires on the frame and platen to a good ground. The static is created from the belt backing in sliding contact with the platen but it is conducting to you trying to find the path of least resistance.
 
smokinbasser said:
Try separate ground wires on the frame and platen to a good ground. The static is created from the belt backing in sliding contact with the platen but it is conducting to you trying to find the path of least resistance.
Click to expand...

won't help,, mine sets on a steel welding bench setting on a cement floor.
you'll get the same thing slack belting too.
the two dissimilar materials are causing it from the rub of the belt
you're making yourself a human magneto,,
the machine is grounded with an internal ground and a external ground
which ends up the same out on the pole.
you can use a wire/bead chain to ground the blade to the grinder
if you ground your wrist you'll get it through your hand,
which is better than down through your sneakers but still can. :mad: ouch
edited to add.
godog do you get lifted when grinding just a blade with no handle?
or grinding just handle material ?
I'm guessing it's when the two are together Right?
dissimilar materials metal and nonconductive materials
 
Get a can of anti stactic spray for clothes and use a little on the belt as it is moving. It will do wonders for stopping the static problem. It's simple and it works. Frank
 
It has never popped me when grinding blades...only when I am slack grinding, finishing up a knife. I wonder if I wore different shoes or, perhaps, bought a rubber mat to stand on...I don't know if this would help, but would be willing to try anything to keep from getting popped. It got really strange Friday when I walked away from the grinder and was still popping things metal (like the band saw)! The saw is about 4 years old and never really did this except on rare occasions when I knew the conditions were right for static electricity to get me.

I don't know, but perhaps it is the extremely dry weather we are having here in South Georgia....only two-tenths of an inch officially in March...

Any more suggestions are appreciated....Thanks so very much.
 
Try different shoes. I had the same problem and switched to safety shoe with a static dissapiative sole. The problem went away. The static dissapative soles are used in industries where static discharge can be a problem...such as semiconductors, munitions....etc.

Or clip a couple of wires to your your pants cuffs letting the bare ends drag on the ground. The idea is to let the electrical charge on your clothes and body, dissipate to a grounded source before it builds up enough that it arcs. You frequently see fork lifts with static discharge straps dragging behind......this is because they have rubber tires that don't conduct.

Sincerely,
Rob
 
I hate to bring up a low tech solution but I have gotten so used to slapping the frame when I let up on a grind that it has become automatic.

It's like the dance of the dwarf's. Grind, slap, dunk, grind, slap, dunk.... :yawn:
 
Thanks again for all your suggestions...seems that the common denominator from most of the replies is for me to strap some sort of metal around my waist or pants and ground it to the floor or grinder. Will give it a try and let you know what happens.

Take care and have a great week.
 
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