what to do with small motors?

[IH8U]

Since I have been slowly trying to put together a half assed shop, I have been collecting some small motors. Some are from sewing machines with the nice foot pedals and some are just your basic small motors. I did get one that has a 1550 rpm and was thinking of turning it into a buffer, but I'm still not quite sure.

Any other ideas of neat shop tools and time savers I can make with light duty motors?

Thanks
Rob

 

[Sweany]

small detail belt grinder, cutoff saw for mosaic pins, cratex mounted wheel,finger notch grinder, spine work grinder,little drill press,cord twister,saw for wood inlays,drink mixer,disc drinder,fan,flex shaft grinder,....

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

If you use pulleys to gear them down, you multiply the torque. So a 1/4HP 1500 RPM motor geared 3:1 will turn the buff/disc/etc. at 500 RPM, but will have the power of a 1/2HP motor (more or less). This allows for low speed disc sanders, buffers (much safer) and sharpening wheels and grinders.
I have a paper wheel unit that runs at 200 RPM.
Stacy

 

[Mark Redmon]

I have a paper wheel unit that runs at 200 RPM.
Stacy

Stacy, If you don't mind me asking.. What advantage do you find running your sharpening wheels at 200? is it more controllable? I've been hit and miss with my setup, but I'm running it on a 1750rpm Grinder. I use the slotted wheel a lot, I just fond the grit wheel a bit hard to keep even. I probably know the answer to this (Yes, exactly... why wouldn't it...), but I'd like to hear your opinion.

(Sorry to butt in)


-Mark

 

[go mike]

What I'm going to do sometime is get some small motors (like a hand drill kind) and basically make it a buffing wheel that I can use compound on easier than on the bench grinder.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

The slow speed wheel is used for stropping. I use a leather belt on the grinder, running at dead slow, now, but used to use the slow paper wheel to strop.

I find that any grinding done on a bench grinder running at 1750 RPM will leave all sorts of bumps and divots. For rough shaping, I guess a bench grinder is OK, but it takes a large wheel to get smooth flats. The size can range from one to two feet, which won't fit a bench grinder, and those are screaming at 1750. Shaft size and balance ( don't you hate those bumpy wheels) will determine the limits of a bench grinder, but most are maxed out at 6-8".
There are units made to handle big wheels and buffs. A 1HP Baldor with a 1" shaft is a lot different than a 1/4HP HF grinder with 1/2" shafts

Also, For sharpening, 1750 is too fast, IMHO.

Stacy

 

[LX_Emergency]

small detail belt grinder, cutoff saw for mosaic pins, cratex mounted wheel,finger notch grinder, spine work grinder,little drill press,cord twister,saw for wood inlays,drink mixer,disc drinder,fan,flex shaft grinder,....

In the shop? Alcohol and powertools....hmmm.....

 

[Sweany]

who said anything about alcohol?

 

[Mark Redmon]

The slow speed wheel is used for stropping. I use a leather belt on the grinder, running at dead slow, now, but used to use the slow paper wheel to strop.

I find that any grinding done on a bench grinder running at 1750 RPM will leave all sorts of bumps and divots. For rough shaping, I guess a bench grinder is OK, but it takes a large wheel to get smooth flats. The size can range from one to two feet, which won't fit a bench grinder, and those are screaming at 1750. Shaft size and balance ( don't you hate those bumpy wheels) will determine the limits of a bench grinder, but most are maxed out at 6-8".
There are units made to handle big wheels and buffs. A 1HP Baldor with a 1" shaft is a lot different than a 1/4HP HF grinder with 1/2" shafts

Also, For sharpening, 1750 is too fast, IMHO.

Stacy

Thanks Stacy, and yes, my wheels are a little bumpy. I may experiment with my setup a bit. I have 8" wheels on the grinder motor, but I have a set of 6" that i don't use anymore. Might run those off a bench mandrel and step down another motor I have.

 

[IH8U]

Thanks for the ideas, now I just need to figure out some belt rigging. The larger motor I think would be great as a buffer because the bench grinder is way to hairy for me. I like the idea of a small wheel for finger grooves too, that might work out good.