Need platen for old Wilton Square Wheel

MountainBilly

MountainBilly

Joined
Nov 13, 2007
Messages
402
Hello, I'm a neophyte who hasn't progressed beyond finishing blanks but I got too good a deal to pass up on an old Wilton 2 x 72 grinder. It has the 8" contact wheel and I need to get a platen assembly. I'm looking for advice on where to get either a Wilton or some other platen assembly that can be made to work with the Wilton.

Any other advice on recommended accessories is also welcomed. It comes with a 1 hp 3 phase Dayton motor and an old engineer friend who designs electric motors for Emerson is going to help me add a controller for variable speed.

Thanks.
 
I could use a platen also for mine.But in the meantime,ive gotten pretty good at free hand hollow grinding.Give it a try,it makes a nice grind line.Good luck,I love my Wilton.
 
Factory platens for a square wheel are tough to find, and if you can get Wilton Tool Group to sell you one, it's a chunk of change. The platen that I make works with the Square wheel...... Caffrey Platen
 
Thanks for the link, Ed. I've been on your site but somehow missed your platen. It looks like a fabulous design and great construction. A little rich for me at the moment but the odds are better than 50 / 50 that I'll end up buying one.
 
You can get a platen from Jamie at Polar Bear Forge http://www.polarbearforge.com/grinder_kit.html He sells the platen separate from the grinder kit. You'd have to build it out, buy wheels and such from Tracy at USA Knifemaker Supply or Beaumont . Don't forget the machine bushings for spacers/washers for the wheels or the bearings inner and outer raceways will both rub on the washers.
 
The Wilton platen casting itself is not too bad at $125, but it is not in stock(the two rollers are $336 and are in stock) and from what others are saying there seems no point in waiting. If I don't hear back from Jamie I'll get Ed's plans and build one.
 
There is a reason the origional wiltons are that expensive.

The wheels are mounted on eccentric centres so you can adjust the wheels in or out to match the platen
 
Happy days. Just bought a Wilton platen assembly (with bad bearings in the small wheel) in the Sale section for $99. Thanks for the suggestions.
 
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