Wilton Square wheel??

valcas1

valcas1

Joined
Feb 25, 2007
Messages
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With all the wisdom here I figure this is the place to ask this question. I am looking at buying a used but working Wilton square wheel grinder. 1hp motor and 32 belts. Is $700.00 a fair price for something like this?

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again

Paul
 
Assuming it's in good shape and runs well, yup. A thing to pay attention to are which size drive wheel it has. Some of the Wilton's can really scream speed wise. It's a swappable pulley and fast isn't always bad, but just a thing to note.

-d
 
The machine is listed on trugrit for almost $1800 and for $1500 in the Jantz calalog. Sounds like an excellent deal. Power is adequate - company is respected - dust housing - tools all at same level - easy adjustment and changeover. Are the belts new?

I believe the Wilton Square Wheel is Ed Caffrey's choice - and he has used a pile of grinders.

http://www.caffreyknives.net/wilton.htm

Rob!
 
Actually, I do believe that Ed has a KMG as his primary girnder now that has some mods so he can use it like his old Wilton.
 
I believe the prices quoted were for the variable speed model, at least the $1800.oo price. I have the original Olympic square wheel, and it is still going well since 1976. I also recently added a Wilton I picked up used for $400.oo. The Wilton is quieter, but time will tell about it's life span.
 
I love mine,, if it's in resonable shape be it variable speed model or not
it should do you well at that price.., Mine is not variable speed, but the next one will be .
and it will be a Wilton
 
One thing you need to realize is that if it is the one on ebay that it does not show a wheel with it only the flat platten. Wilstons now are about 1495. They are pretty noisy but their high speeds really can grind fast. RW Wilson offers a balanced wheel and bearing assembly for a little over 200 which would rellay work well. The WHeel is a ten incher. Mike
 
Yes, it is actually the one off ebay. I believe it does come with the wheel as well. Everything that I have looked at was far more money than what I paid and I believe it is a quality machine. I guess time will tell. I already have someone willling to make me a new wheel to slow it down a bit.

Thanks for the replies.


Paul
 
Is it a variable speed? If so, that is a fair price. I bought a new one from Kovall a few years ago for $850 and Mr. Kovall (God rest his soul) loaded it in my truck for me at the Blade Show. It was a single speed. No way I would pay $700 for a used one if it is not variable speed.

Deker is dead on with his comment: The original large drive wheel hauls butt and is basically too fast for practical use. I ended up having to get a reduced size wheel to get a reasonable working speed...and the old one was hell to get off.

Just my 2 cents...
 
godogs57 said:
Is it a variable speed? If so, that is a fair price. I bought a new one from Kovall a few years ago for $850 and Mr. Kovall (God rest his soul) loaded it in my truck for me at the Blade Show. It was a single speed. No way I would pay $700 for a used one if it is not variable speed.

Deker is dead on with his comment: The original large drive wheel hauls butt and is basically too fast for practical use. I ended up having to get a reduced size wheel to get a reasonable working speed...and the old one was hell to get off.

Just my 2 cents...
Click to expand...

dang you got a deal on yours.. Mine was like 9 bills at least 6 something years ago..
I still think $700. is good now adays IF, it's in good shape..but s/H could brake that deal for me 7 is pushing it.... JMO
 
As I understand some of them can be high quality and some not so high...I don't know if it is the earlier models or the later models....

Mine is one of the good ones and is the earlier model if I am not mistaken....all blue color. The later ones have some parts painted white and I seem to remember those are not the ones held in the highest regard. But, I can always be wrong...I've seen me do it before.

Hank
 
mine is all blue
am I corect to think that the new ones do not have the cast steel or cast iron work rest?
 
Mine is a newer one, the original platen, work rest and tool arm are both cast. I've heard a few people comment that the old ones seemed better than the new ones, but my experiences differ. Of the several older Square Wheels I've seen and used, they all felt flimsy compared to mine. The side cover and top deflector were made of much thinner material, and little things like the switches seemed cheaper. I didn't notice much of a difference in how they felt when they ran, however.
I've done a number of additions and modifications to mine that make it usable. The removal and replacement of the drive wheel with a smaller 'slow-down' wheel was #1, and completely necessary. Most likely I should have spent the money on a variable speed setup.
Another modification I did was removing the separating material on the tool arm:
Image-F5E80671E15811DB.jpg


This allows me to compensate for the smaller drive wheel (as now there's more slack in the belt to take up because of the reduced circumference), and it allows for just enough room to use a 12" wheel:
Image-F5E81CACE15811DB.jpg


It's funny, looking at this picture it occurs to me that I never use the work rest I made for the big wheel... I just freehand everything, and for whatever reason I make fewer screwups without it!



If had to do it all over again, I'd spend the long dollar and buy a 2hp variable speed Bader BIII. The grinder is the machine that does the most for me, and the one I enjoy using the most, too... nothing wrong with driving a Chevy, but if you could drive a Bugatti, wouldn't you?
 
LRB said:
I believe the prices quoted were for the variable speed model, at least the $1800.oo price. I have the original Olympic square wheel, and it is still going well since 1976. I also recently added a Wilton I picked up used for $400.oo. The Wilton is quieter, but time will tell about it's life span.
Click to expand...
Jantz is still holding the price of the Square Wheel Model 1403 til current stock runs out. Wiltons new list price (effective June 1) is now $1895.00!!!! Yes it is a good deal if it has not been abused. These are great machines (Industrial quality) supplied with Baldor motors from the factory. Make sure it has an 8 or 10" contact wheel. and that the motor has not been replaced.
 
I bought my Square Wheel back in 1981, good machine but I like my two B-III's a whole lot better.

KMG's are also super grinders.
 
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