Garage Gazette

TOOLS AND THE SHOP => GENERAL TOOL AND MACHINE DISCUSSION => Topic started by: ken w. on February 05, 2019, 08:22:10 PM

Title: DELTA 8" VARIABLE SPEED GRINDER
Post by: ken w. on February 05, 2019, 08:22:10 PM
I picked up this Delta  Shopmaster GR-450 Variable speed  grinder tonight when I went with a friend of mine to pick up a dust collector off CL. The guy was selling his grandfathers woodworking tools. It's missing the tool rest , but I found them online and there on the way. I ordered 2 sets as I broke one on my other Delta 6" grinder. When you shut this off it spins forever before it stops. It pretty heavy too. I think I'm going to get a grinder stand for this one. The best part is that it has a working light on it and it was $ 30.00 .
Title: Re: DELTA 8" VARIABLE SPEED GRINDER
Post by: ken w. on February 05, 2019, 08:25:12 PM
More pics.
Title: Re: DELTA 8" VARIABLE SPEED GRINDER
Post by: slip knot on February 05, 2019, 08:31:44 PM
Looks like he had upgraded the wheels already. they come with pretty crappy wheels. if so your way ahead of the game there.

Did the 8in come with the slotted rests like my 6in did? it makes the rest really hard to use. The right hand side has a slot in the top of the rest at a 45angle. @1/2in deep.  Next time I got some epoxy its gonna get filled in.
Title: Re: DELTA 8" VARIABLE SPEED GRINDER
Post by: ken w. on February 05, 2019, 08:45:59 PM
My 6" delta has the slotted rests. They do suck . I broke one of them. This grinder was missing the rests. I couldn't see the rest that I ordered. It was called a tool rest hardware pack # 901930. It just showed a pic of the rest and bolts. Not a close up. But a crappy rest is better than no rest.
Title: Re: DELTA 8" VARIABLE SPEED GRINDER
Post by: pep on February 05, 2019, 10:03:45 PM
Looks alot like the Craftsman with different labels. Upgrade the bulb to an LED bulb.... you'll like it
Title: Re: DELTA 8" VARIABLE SPEED GRINDER
Post by: ken w. on February 05, 2019, 10:21:18 PM
The white stone has a Delta label on it. I didn't notice the other one. An LED does sound nice. I'm just glad it has a light.
Title: Re: DELTA 8" VARIABLE SPEED GRINDER
Post by: Matt_T on February 05, 2019, 11:43:11 PM
Did the 8in come with the slotted rests like my 6in did? it makes the rest really hard to use. The right hand side has a slot in the top of the rest at a 45angle. @1/2in deep.  Next time I got some epoxy its gonna get filled in.

Filled the one on my Ryobi with either J-B or Devcon Plastic Steel. Been a while so I'm not sure which. Filled it a little proud then filed it flat after it cured.
Title: Re: DELTA 8" VARIABLE SPEED GRINDER
Post by: DeadNutz on February 06, 2019, 10:02:37 AM
That is a nice grinder and no way you could pass it up for that price.
Title: Re: DELTA 8" VARIABLE SPEED GRINDER
Post by: fatfillup on February 06, 2019, 03:54:32 PM
Sweet deal for sure. 
Title: Re: DELTA 8" VARIABLE SPEED GRINDER
Post by: lauver on February 06, 2019, 04:23:14 PM
ken w.

NICE GOING!  That looks like a serious "worker" at a bargain price.
Title: Re: DELTA 8" VARIABLE SPEED GRINDER
Post by: ken w. on February 06, 2019, 09:25:56 PM
Well , my bubble burst with the tool rests. I got an email saying they don't have them and they are discontinued. When I placed the order it said they were in stock.  I'd say that's piss poor inventory control. I ordered 2 sets. Oh well , I'll keep looking or have a friend of mine fab a set where he works.
Title: Re: DELTA 8" VARIABLE SPEED GRINDER
Post by: Conductor562 on February 06, 2019, 10:40:06 PM
Nice score Ken! I don’t know why we don’t see more variable speed grinders.
Title: Re: DELTA 8" VARIABLE SPEED GRINDER
Post by: Matt_T on February 06, 2019, 11:27:44 PM
I don’t know why we don’t see more variable speed grinders.

What is the variable speed good for? It looks like a solution in search of a problem to me.
Title: Re: DELTA 8" VARIABLE SPEED GRINDER
Post by: fatfillup on February 07, 2019, 07:22:10 AM
I don’t know why we don’t see more variable speed grinders.

What is the variable speed good for? It looks like a solution in search of a problem to me.

While I can't answer your question directly, it is likely handy for those who grind a lot and different materials.  For folks that know more then we do :D

I know i have had a few sharpening grinders that are slow and good for wood chisels but they are for sharpening not necessarily general grinding
Title: Re: DELTA 8" VARIABLE SPEED GRINDER
Post by: ken w. on February 07, 2019, 08:46:55 AM
This grinder was set up for sharpening. That's why the tool rest are missing. There was a sharpening jig on it. The jig wasn't for sale.
Title: Re: DELTA 8" VARIABLE SPEED GRINDER
Post by: Conductor562 on February 07, 2019, 11:12:00 AM
I don’t know why we don’t see more variable speed grinders.

What is the variable speed good for? It looks like a solution in search of a problem to me.

Sharpening is the most obvious answer. I don’t really do much sharpening with my bench grinder, but I have mine set up with a wire wheel on 1 side. Trying to wire wheel smaller or irregular shaped items would be a lot easier with a speed slower than the standard 3,500 rpm or whatever it is. The speed setting just adds a little versatility IMO.
Title: Re: DELTA 8" VARIABLE SPEED GRINDER
Post by: ken w. on February 07, 2019, 11:22:07 AM
I have a 6" grinder set up with a knotted or twisted wire wheel and a stone for rougher work. I took off the outer wheel cover for the wire wheel to get better access for cleaning things up. I'll be sharpening things with this new one. I would like to see how well this grinder works sharpening chisels at a slower speed.
Title: Re: DELTA 8" VARIABLE SPEED GRINDER
Post by: J.A.F.E. on February 07, 2019, 11:53:53 AM
My former boss, the troll, who has the patience of a dope addict two days out cooking up a fix sharpens his chisels on the grinder. If there was a textbook of how not to do it watching him would be a graduate course. He just jams them into the wheel throwing sparks for a while and if they turn blue he pays no mind. If they turn red no matter. The bevels are a mess and there is no discernible edge. In use he gets frustrated because "these junk chisels won't hold an edge I just sharpened them" and he ends up using a flat blade screwdriver as a chisel. His woodworking results are about the same as his sharpening until he randomly proclaims the work "good enough".
Title: Re: DELTA 8" VARIABLE SPEED GRINDER
Post by: J.A.F.E. on February 07, 2019, 11:57:56 AM
I would love to use a grinder to sharpen chisels but I'm not good enough. I do it by hand with stones and a hone. A slower speed wheel might help and I'd love to try it - hand sharpening takes (me anyways) a long time.
Title: Re: DELTA 8" VARIABLE SPEED GRINDER
Post by: slip knot on February 07, 2019, 03:56:05 PM
My late FIL had one of those horrible freight grinder sharpeners brand new in a box that I inherited. I figured it would be somewhat crappy but was pleasantly surprised at how well it sharpens. the big 10ish in wheel runs off a really crude 90box and has a water tray. Final rpms @150ish. no heat buildup and the stone is actually pretty hard. Crappiest part is there is no guide on the big stone, freehand only.
Title: Re: DELTA 8" VARIABLE SPEED GRINDER
Post by: fatfillup on February 12, 2019, 05:50:14 PM
I would love to use a grinder to sharpen chisels but I'm not good enough. I do it by hand with stones and a hone. A slower speed wheel might help and I'd love to try it - hand sharpening takes (me anyways) a long time.

I sharpen chisels often with my bench grinder.  The trick is a light touch to the side of the stone keeping parallel and square at the correct angle all at the same time.  Grind a little, inspect, adjust angle as needed, flip over and repeat.  Little at a time with a close eye will yield good results.  Flip often and go slow and light.  Really doesn't generate a ton of heat.

Took me a while to get the hang of it, but they come out looking great with 0 signs of heat. 
Title: Re: DELTA 8" VARIABLE SPEED GRINDER
Post by: J.A.F.E. on February 12, 2019, 06:22:46 PM
It's funny I used to be able to sharpen drill bits on a grinder but never got decent results with a chisel. I can no longer sharpen drill bits guess the eyes aren't what they used to be.

That said when I take the time to sharpen the chisels I like to get them really sharp. I'd like to say it's a Zen like thing or I get into or I find a zone but none of that happens. It's not something I particularly enjoy but I do like having chisels that are scary sharp.

On a related note on drill bits, my former boss, the troll, got a Drill Dr. He is incapable of reading directions (or as he calls them DIE-wreck-shons) since he's functionally illiterate and needs to sound out words out loud. Not all words just big complicated ones with two or more letters. He doesn't have the patience to sit through the video either but in typical ego driven fashion he just proceeds to sharpen them. It's really amazing how fast he can take 20 or 30 bits and reduce them to 1 1/2 or 2" stubs with no cutting ability at all.
Title: Re: DELTA 8" VARIABLE SPEED GRINDER
Post by: Matt_T on February 12, 2019, 06:59:21 PM
I sharpen chisels often with my bench grinder.  The trick is a light touch to the side of the stone keeping parallel and square at the correct angle all at the same time.  Grind a little, inspect, adjust angle as needed, flip over and repeat.  Little at a time with a close eye will yield good results.  Flip often and go slow and light.  Really doesn't generate a ton of heat.

Took me a while to get the hang of it, but they come out looking great with 0 signs of heat.

I guess you're talking metal cutting chisels. They're easy to sharpen with a bench grinder. Just take your time and dunk them in a cup of water when you feel them getting warm.

J.A.F.E. appears to be talking about wood chisels. They're real easy to screw up with a bench grinder. To be honest woodworking never occurred to me when I questioned the usefulness of variable speed earlier in the thread. And I'm still not convinced. An 8" wheel at  ~1,700 rpm, on the low end of that grinders range, isn't that much lower SFM than a 6" at 3,500.
Title: Re: DELTA 8" VARIABLE SPEED GRINDER
Post by: J.A.F.E. on February 12, 2019, 09:04:21 PM
Matt_T I am speaking of wood chisels.

Metal chisels no problem on the grinder although a slower speed would be a bit better for me.

I am sorry for the confusion.
Title: Re: DELTA 8" VARIABLE SPEED GRINDER
Post by: Matt_T on February 12, 2019, 09:12:55 PM
J.A.F.E.

No apology needed. It was pretty obvious you were talking about wood chisels. To everyone except Phil :))
Title: Re: DELTA 8" VARIABLE SPEED GRINDER
Post by: fatfillup on February 13, 2019, 08:31:40 AM
J.A.F.E.

No apology needed. It was pretty obvious you were talking about wood chisels. To everyone except Phil :))

Hey now :-[  And yes I was talking cold chisels.  I will dress up wood chisels on the bench grinder also, again light touch and go slow.
Title: Re: DELTA 8" VARIABLE SPEED GRINDER
Post by: pep on February 13, 2019, 01:15:59 PM
This tool rest, and mounting look the same ?

@Matt_T
Variable speed tools such as this, offer a great deal of options for an owner. I also have V-speed 5'' angle grinder.

Grinders or Belt grinders, do not need to run at lighting speeds to preform well.
Title: Re: DELTA 8" VARIABLE SPEED GRINDER
Post by: ken w. on February 13, 2019, 02:09:24 PM
I am going to assume that's what the tool rest looks like. My grinder has none. What is the model # of yours ? I'll see if sears still sells them.
Title: Re: DELTA 8" VARIABLE SPEED GRINDER
Post by: pep on February 13, 2019, 04:38:34 PM
Here  this should be all you need Model 152.211620,

Part list and pictures PDF
Title: Re: DELTA 8" VARIABLE SPEED GRINDER
Post by: ken w. on February 13, 2019, 07:43:18 PM
Thanks , but also discontinued .
Title: Re: DELTA 8" VARIABLE SPEED GRINDER
Post by: pep on February 13, 2019, 08:21:03 PM
Ken

If serious about the tool rest, you need to visit HD, lowers or a Northern, Look at the tool rest, you will see it is a generic part and mount, one grinder to another. Pick one and order it from a current model. Only specific variance I can figure will be the wheel size so shop 8in models

Pep
Title: Re: DELTA 8" VARIABLE SPEED GRINDER
Post by: ken w. on February 13, 2019, 08:59:18 PM
I will do that. Thanks.