What machine next?

S

Sbranch

Joined
Feb 7, 2015
Messages
15
Hey everybody, been watching for a while and finally have a question I haven't found the answer to yet.
So far I have OBM 2X72, homemade forge from a small air tank, crappy ASO, and a 6 inch HF buffer.

I picked up a 1/2hp motor (1800rpm) from a sale for next to nothing. Wondering what I should make out of it.
Got it down to a disc grinder or a bigger buffer.
Leaning toward the disc grinder, but is there something else I haven't thought of?

I do forging and stock removal. Been doing this for about 6 months, just picking it up as I go along. Not pretty yet, but getting better all the time.
 
I'm guessing the motor is not 3ph so VFD is out of the question. Personally for me 1/2hp is to small for a disk grinder. Mine is 1-1/2hp and I'm happy with it but I would not want a smaller one, the only thing I don't like is it's not reversible.
Is the more open for cooling or is it a TEFC style. If it's open then grinding grit and steel dust will get in there and destroy the motor over time.
 
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JTknives said:
I'm guessing the motor is not 3ph so VFD is out of the question. Personally for me 1/2hp is to small for a disk grinder. Mine is 1-1/2hp and I'm happy with it but I would not want a smaller one, the only thing I don't like is it's not reversible.
Is the more open for cooling or is it a TEFC style. If it's open then grinding grit and steel dust will get in there and destroy the motor over time.
Click to expand...

I have one disk sander like that , disc is from MDF ,27cm dia. and 3cm thick .It works perfectly for any task ............was quite heavy and has an excellent torque ....I can not feel the difference between 2HP disk sander and this with 1/2hp ...............
 
No VFD. 1.5hp running 3450rpm.
Have the wheel set to lower the rpm's for grinding after HT.
 
Natlek said:
I have one disk sander like that , disc is from MDF ,27cm dia. and 3cm thick .It works perfectly for any task ............was quite heavy and has an excellent torque ....I can not feel the difference between 2HP disk sander and this with 1/2hp ...............
Click to expand...

Wow MDF for a spinning disk, your a little more gutsy then I am.
 
:)It's great , on the surface of MDF I have glued 2mm. thin composite glass / something like G10 but much , much more harder/ can not scratch with knive . . . That way it is easy to glue sandpaper and to clean glue from disk when must...
 
Sbranch said:
Hey everybody, been watching for a while and finally have a question I haven't found the answer to yet.
So far I have OBM 2X72, homemade forge from a small air tank, crappy ASO, and a 6 inch HF buffer.

I picked up a 1/2hp motor (1800rpm) from a sale for next to nothing. Wondering what I should make out of it.
Got it down to a disc grinder or a bigger buffer.
Leaning toward the disc grinder, but is there something else I haven't thought of?

I do forging and stock removal. Been doing this for about 6 months, just picking it up as I go along. Not pretty yet, but getting better all the time.
Click to expand...

What are you referring to as a "disk grinder"? Do you mean a the flat disk bench sander, or an angle grinder? Or bench grinder with stone wheels for that matter?

If you are referring to an angle grinder, I say yes! I use mine every time I make a blade. Nothing is faster to cut steel. And the cut off wheels are cheap!

If you are referring to a disk sander, I can't comment. I have never had a need for one.

My most used machine tools are my belt grinders. A 2x72 & my little 1x30(still gets used), & my angle grinder, and a drill press. I also use a jig saw mounted upside down to a plate, which serves as a ghetto band saw, & an electrical-chemical etching/marking machine I made.
 
I use my 12" disc sander nearly as much as my 2x72
I have an 8" one too, but personally I'd go for a 12" over the small ones. Especially for handle fitting work.
Both are nice, but I can live without the 8". The 12 is on par with my 2x72 for usefulness
 
Would you post a pic of the 12" disc grinder ? Or a link ? Thanks. I am in the stages of putting together my equipment. Be safe
 
I have a 1.5 hp 9" disc grinder. I had a vfd 1/3 hp on it and it worked great, though I just use mine to flatten and square up materials. The motor you have notwithstanding, I would get a drill press then a metal cutting band saw next. BTW, what's an ASO?
 
Since I don't need a larger grit surface than a 9" disc provides, I prefer it, as I can use standard size paper on it.
 
I can understand that, but I've found a 12" to be far nicer to work on, especially for shaping longer curves. I use it for all my bolster and scale fitup as well.
The problem I found with the small one was abrasive life. Sure the sheets are cheaper, but I'd go through at least 5-10 of them for every one 12" disc. That ended up being about a break even for me, and I'd sooner not stop and swap discs as constantly.
The 12" discs can be found for about 1/3 of the price of what woodworking places sell them for if you go through industrial suppliers.
 
DavidHoback said:
What are you referring to as a "disk grinder"? Do you mean a the flat disk bench sander, or an angle grinder? Or bench grinder with stone wheels for that matter?

If you are referring to an angle grinder, I say yes! I use mine every time I make a blade. Nothing is faster to cut steel. And the cut off wheels are cheap!

If you are referring to a disk sander, I can't comment. I have never had a need for one.

My most used machine tools are my belt grinders. A 2x72 & my little 1x30(still gets used), & my angle grinder, and a drill press. I also use a jig saw mounted upside down to a plate, which serves as a ghetto band saw, & an electrical-chemical etching/marking machine I made.
Click to expand...
I am seeking an etching/marking machine and am loath to spend $375. Any tips on self made would be greatly appreciated. I was going to buy a battery charger but apparently the new ones come with a fail safe that prevents use on anything other than a battery.
 
Kevin McGovern said:
I have a 1.5 hp 9" disc grinder. I had a vfd 1/3 hp on it and it worked great, though I just use mine to flatten and square up materials. The motor you have notwithstanding, I would get a drill press then a metal cutting band saw next. BTW, what's an ASO?
Click to expand...

Got the drill press and bandsaw already.
ASO, anvil shaped object. The harbor freight pos that you can dent with a rubber hammer. It has made me get more precise at hammering if nothing else.

After considering it I am gonna make it into a disc grinder after I get a good anvil and a VFD+motor for the belt sander.
 
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