bench grinder recommendations

Hello,

Following my recent question about sharpening sds chisels, I would like to buy a bench grinder. I know nothing about these. I had a look at the Screwfix web site. the basic Titan model has a dozen good reviews.

Sorry to ask such a silly question but which wheel would I use to sharpen the chisels or do I use both (starting with coarse and then going onto fine)?

I see there is a "wet and dry" model. What's the wet wheel for? Surely not for my chisels; would they go rusty?

Thanks.

Reply to
Stephen
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Not a reccomendation, but Lidl have one for £19.90 on the 16th

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Reply to
Toby

Given that they're all pretty cheap now (assuming Happy Shopper quality), I'd suggest one of the single ended fast wheels with a big slow wet wheel at the other end. Costs a little more but it's a lot more useful.

The big wheel is big, wet & slow. This gives a slower and cooler grind, which is better for sensitive steels such as better woodworking tools. You can sharpen them to be sharp, without risk of overheating and burning them. The fast wheel makes things "wedge shaped" rather than actually sharp. It's OK for SDS chisels and even metal-cutting cold chisels, but it's not good enough for wood.

A bigger wheel is also "flatter", so you get less of a "hollow ground" effect. Although a good thing for some razors, this isn't a good thing in a wood chisel, as it gives a tip shape that's less well supported.

TBH, I don't use a bench grinder like this for much at all - HSS wood turning chisels on the big wheel and that's about it. Most things like SDS chisels I do instead by clamping the chisel in a vice an taking an angle grinder with a flap wheel to it instead. An angle grinder is generally a much more versatile piece of kit and well worth owning (get lots of varied disks too).

Reply to
Andy Dingley

Lidl has one next week for not a lot. I've got a couple of their power tools - a big angle grinder and an orbital sander and I'd say they are at the top end, quality wise, of cheap power tools.

Reply to
Dave Plowman (News)

Thanks for the fast replies. I shall look at the Lidl one, though that is dry only. Sorry if this is a daft question but why don't the wood chisels rust when used on the wet wheel? Or is it that the wheel is just moist rather than splashing water everywhere like a tile cutter? Is that a better way of sharpening wood chisels than an oil stone?

I have both sizes of angle grinder so I could give that a try (with the smaller one). Why do you find that to be a better method than the bench grinder?

Thanks.

Reply to
Stephen

Well they will do, except that you dry them afterwards. You also drain the water bath out, or else it gets a bit clarty in there with rust.

I usually sharpen my chisels by hand on waterstones, then dry them off and treat them with camellia oil. If I'm rescuing old ones that need a lot of grinding though, or making new edged tools from forged, then I'll do the initial grinding on a wet wheel grinder. Mine's a Record (actually a Scan) that's about 80 quid, so rather cheaper than a Tormek. This is slower, albeit smaller diameter, and has a very good quality stone.

Oil stones aren't great, as they don't leave a particularly good edge. Generally one of the water-lubricated stones (Japanese / Belgian waterstones, diamond, ceramic (Shapton) or Scary Sharp (Wet & dry sandpaper stuck to glass) ) will give a better edge.

I use an angle grinder a lot more than I use a bench grinder, so I'm more dexterous at putting just the shape I want onto something. Generally I'm either doing crude cold chisels any old how, or else subtle curves on a woodturning gouge and I find I can form these better with an anglegrinder. YMMV, especially if you have a gouge grinding that holds them for you.

Reply to
Andy Dingley

You use a wet wheel to keep the job cool. I used to have the job of sharpening stone cutting drills and boring bits for mining. Used a 12 inch 120 grit cup wheel with a continuous stream of water directed at the job. Not nice in winter when you have 500 double headed bits to sharpen in a morning. I used to keep a bucket of warm water to dip my hands in to stop them freezing.

Wood chisels and plane blades should only be sharpened on a grinder when they have lost their profile. Use a wet wheel if possible or keep dipping in coolant. Finish with an oil stone.

A small bench grinder is well worth having if you use a lot of metal cutting drills or masonry drills.

I've never used an angle grinder to sharpen a chisel but for cold chisels it should be okay with a bit of care. Just make sure you don't get the job too hot so it loses it's temper.

Reply to
Alang

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