dayton grinder or hf....

[88-1175]

well my "cummins"tool grinder is now layin out in the yard,and i need to replace it with something else,it was a 6 inch.i got two choices,the hf 8 inch which i see has mixed reviews,and which is a 3/4hp,or i fdound a grinder on craigslist within 20 miles of me,it is a 1/2 hp dayton that looks to be a 8 or 10 inch model.it also has a stand,the guy doesnt seem to know much other than it weighs over 100 lb,is 110 volt and takes 3-4 min to stop turning after its shut off,he also said its made in usa.this is probably a no brainer,but which would you choose,the dayton is 70$ too.i do use it a few times a week also...
 

[JD Seller]

To me I would give more for the Dayton grinder. It is US made and sounds like an older heavy one. It would out last the HF one I am sure.
 

[GeneMO]

Sounds like you need to go get the Dayton.

Gene
 

[2x4]

ditto
 

[Dusty MI]

Where did you say this Dayton grinder is ?



Dusty
 

[markiz41]

Dayton. I would even if I had to replace the bearings
 

[greygoat]

Dayton, is a "Grainger" brand. American made,
excellent customer support, all parts available.
I have a Dayton 3/4 horsepower model and it is a
rebranded Baldor.
 

[George Marsh]

This may sound crazy, but it works. I have an old craftsman radial arm saw. NEVER buy a radial arm again. I went to the lawn mower parts store and saw a 3/4 hp 8 inch professional grinder for mower blades, around $400. Thought I could make one. Looked at my radial arm saw and said to myself, I already have one.

Went to HF and bought a 5/8 inch arbor, 3/4 wide, and 8 inch wheel. I screwed a 2x6 to saw table, angled it and I use it to sharpen my 2 ft mower blades off woods mower.

Looking for another 5/8 inch wheel, 3/4 inch wide and 8 inch 36 grit. The wheel from HF is a 60 grit. The arbor on saw isn't long enought for a 1 inch wide wheel.

Put metal on wood table of radial arm so sparks won't start a fire. Best, cheapest, and most powerful grinder you can ask for especially if you have a radial arm saw that you can't even give away.

Please don't tell me this won't work unless you have tried it. Been using mine for years to sharpen mower blades.
George
 

[Wayne in MN]

Sounds like a good deal to me! The older, heavier grinders are rebuildable if the arbor bearing ever gives out.
The stand is worth about 1/2 the price being asked.
IMHO that is a good price.
 

[Brad Buchanan]

OK George, now you have insulted my '70's era Craftsman Saw! Mower blades indeed!

Actually I almost let this saw go for $200.00. I was going to replace it and to get one with the cast iron parts was going to top $1,000.

I devoted a few evenings to the project. Parts are still available (for the most part) and when I was done I built a little infeed table.

Very accurate to do many different cuts and way handier than those aluminum lawn chairs with a circular saw taped on!

Actually, that sounds like a pretty good idea. I usually just stick the blades in the vice and go at them with a 4 1/2" grinder.

Your way sounds much more accurate.

Brad

 

[Brian G. NY]

George,
I had the same idea......I won't convert my 12" Radial saw (altho it is way outdated) because I do still use it now and again.
I picked up a smaller radial arm saw at a garage sale for 15 bucks but the LH thread nut is missing. The Darned nut will cost me more than the saw did! LOL
Anyway, the wood table is totally missing so I intend to build a steel frame to hold the blades.
I am glad to hear it works well....it might just motivate me toward finishing this project; one of many!
 

[MisterT]

[George Marsh]

Brad, sorry for insulting your craftsman radial arm. I bought one in the 70's and a friend gave me a second one. The only thing I use them for, besides a grinder, is cross cutting aluminum soffets. If I want to get a clean precise cross cut, up to 6 inches, I'll use a compound miter. I have 2 of them on a compound miter table with extensions and wheels. I've never been able to put any wood working tool in a stationary place like you.

All my wood working tools are on wheels, bandsaw, 13 inch wood planner, jointer, table saw, and yes even my radial arm. I love my radial arm so much, about 20 years ago, I purchased a diamond blade to cut brick. Sprayed water on the blade to keep the dust down. I put 20,000 brick on my house. Only needed to cut a few around windows and air vents.

I'll never buy another radial arm saw again. Go to sears and where I live, you would have to special order one, if you can still get one.

Please enjoy yours, sorry for the insult.
George
 

[Pops1532]

To the OP....It's a no brainer. Buy the Dayton!

George, I inherited my Dad's Craftsman radial saws. He got the oldest one back in the early 60's. He rigged up an 8' table for it. He used it to rip miles of paneling. Sometime around 1980 he got a new one. We set that one up with a 12' table. We set it up to crosscut cutting towards the fence rather than pulling the saw back like they come set up from the factory. They cut better and safer pushing the saw away from you (like you would with a circular saw) rather than pulling it back. Anyway, with the 12' table, and the fence set back the radial saw is way more useful than they come set up from the factory. The only drawback is the big table is a handy place to set stuff on rather than putting it away.

I did pick up a like new new saw like Dad's old one at an auction recently for $5. I bought it to use the adjustable column on an english wheel I plan to build. I'll use some of the leftover parts to restore Dad's old saw.