what surface grinder to get

Fish30114

Fish30114

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Jan 5, 2014
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I didn't want to derail salem's thread on his 're-wheeled' surface grinder, but I have a AMK and a Northridge belt sander and I wanted input on what way to go to get a surface grinder. Is Travis Wuertz's one a good option for one of my current grinders, or is there another one that would be better that will go onto one of these grinders--or should I purchase a dedicated surface grinder of some type. I would love to hear from users of course, and any options (specifically) are very welcome. Also any input on use and management of surface grinders is appreciated.
 
Travis makes a nice attachment, and certainly an option of you're very limited on space, but I just couldn't personally justify the cost (at least not at this point in my knife making career). I bought a full sized surface grinder AND converted it belts, and I'm still at several hundred less than what the attachment costs, and have a much more capable machine.

All that said, buying a surface grinder used can be a trick bag. There are a lot of things to check for wear and run out, and any one of them can make your machine worth little more than a 1000lb paper weight, or a really expensive repair. Surface grinding in and of itself is kind of a dying art, and there are a pretty good number of variables involved to get a perfect finish.
 
If you can afford it, it would be nice to find a dedicated one with coolant and automatic feed. If not, doing it manual isn't terrible, just not as easy.
It's not very difficult to convert to belts. It's one of those tools that you'll fall in love with and use it on every knife you make.
 
I think those guys nailed it. If you have the space, there's never been a better time to get into a nice used surface grinder for cheap. Your mileage may vary, depending on where you live. Atlanta is quite a metro area so that could be good, although SG's are priced like solid gold mostly in Seattle. I had to go to New Jersey for work a couple years ago, to find a killer deal on mine.

Auto feed is a huge plus. Coolant is not hard at all to add, provided your machine is designed to be able to catch it at the table and funnel it into a drain. I built a reservoir for mine from a $15 plastic tub from Walmart. A submersible pump such as a Little Giant, some hose, a valve and light piping, and you're good to go. Or, convert to belts.

Regarding the art of surface grinding, yes the knowledge is fading a bit, and not a lot ever made it online. A perfect surface finish is not required usually, I don't go with a surface ground finish on pretty much anything- just grind it up to where hand sanding takes very little time. Or, just within a few thou of the thickness you want if processing billet fodder.

You can also make use of carpet tape, glues and things, and thickness grind almost anything that won't stick to the magnet, including wood or G10 if you have a belt conversion.

There are options near you- for instance, if I lived in Atlanta, I'd already be over looking at this machine:
https://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/bfs/5980519974.html

I mean, YESTERDAY!
 
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Thanks for the input guys, Salem is that one on Craigs List and easy to use unit--and would it have liquid coolant capability and also is it a belt or wheel type unit?--unfortunately I am super-ignorant about these things!

Thanks for the help!
 
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All I can say from looking at that thread, and I looked pretty hard, is that it's a decent sized machine and older. Thompson made some of the best, although this machine is at old as least as the 70's and likely decades older than that. You'd have to know what to look for, and give a good inspection.

At $500 it's not a huge risk to buy, but you'd have to be a guy that enjoys researching and overhauling old machines. Could be great, or could be a 3000 lb. doorstop.

I'd bet it's hydraulic, although the controls can't even properly be seen in the pictures. Thompson didn't make any small or lightweight or intermittent use machines...
It's 3 phase, so you'd need a VFD to run it. That's not too expensive or difficult.

You would be able to run it with coolant- at least the machined is designed for it, but I can't see what if any of that infrastructure may be left.
 
Thanks Salem, I am moving forward to check it out--I have a good friend who is an actual dealer of used machine tools, he may be of some help on this guy.

Appreciate it--Don
 
I'm surprised that thing is still for sale. I NEVER saw a unit that inexpensive while I was looking (unless it was a pile of parts).
 
A purchasing "trick" for obtaining old iron.
When searching Ebay for the machine you need filter by "nearest first". The advantage of being able to pick something up yourself rather than a $500-$800 shipping cost can give you a great advantage over non local bidders. I nabbed my excellent 6x18 B&S this way for $500. Just wish it was hydraulic.
 
Don, that's really good to hear- I hope that it's still there, that you can bring your friend, that it is in decent shape, and that it ends up working out! That's a lot of "ifs" but one step at a time!
Perhaps it's still there because the pictures are terrible, and the one picture does show that it's a 3 phase machine. Dang I'd like to have that Thompson, but that's the thing about old iron. I have an 18" Hendey lathe but was just torturing myself over a Seattle Craigslist $1500 16" Lodge and Shipley model X lathe...
 
Jonathans said:
A purchasing "trick" for obtaining old iron.
When searching Ebay for the machine you need filter by "nearest first". The advantage of being able to pick something up yourself rather than a $500-$800 shipping cost can give you a great advantage over non local bidders. I nabbed my excellent 6x18 B&S this way for $500. Just wish it was hydraulic.
Click to expand...

That's what I did. Found an auction for a Reid 618p about 30 miles down the road. Snagged it for a little over $400, and it was in more than usable shape. The 6x18 magnetic chuck didn't work, but that turned out to be a loose prong on the power cable. There were a couple of other really minor issues, but they were easily fixed as well. Still working on dialing a couple things in just a little bit more, but for the money, I can't beat it.
 
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