Thread: Mounting bench grinders

A reoccurring problem in my shed is space. The other day I bought another bench grinder. The one I have sits on a plain column and has a GP wheel on one end and a wire wheel on the other. With this one I want to mount a diamond hone and a Al oxide wheel for tool sharpening. I should really have a dedicated wheel for the TIG too. That's 3 grinder's worth. How to mount them so they take up minimal space?
Below is a sketch of 4 options I've come up with so far. Unplugging and coiling up a cord is not an issue, but at the same time I don't want to spend more than a couple of minutes doing any change overs. These things are only 6" but I also want to avoid lots of bending and lifting. Anyone have any other ideas or concerns?

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Michael

Different axis but here is Bob L's 3 header - http://www.woodworkforums.com/f65/wh...ml#post1484716

I think design no2 would be the most space efficient by far, although the detritus may prove a problem with the capacitors housed in the bottom section. I only have two grinders, but as they're only used front on I have them mounted side by side as close to the wall as I could get them.

Michael, I went through all of your designs, plus a few others in my head when I was designing mine.

Now that I have been using mine for over a year here is a brief "what would I do next time" review.


The unit is still standing within 6" of where I first put it on the large wooden cross piece ie not bolted down, as it is very stable and does not move or "walk" when any of the grinders are running

- Structurally the robust construction works fine - it does not flex or bend.
- The turntable locking mechanism works very well although the whole turntable plus grinders is so heavy I rarely bother to lock it. This make switching between grinders very quick and this can be done without waiting for the previously running grinder to spin down. Sometimes I have two grinders running and rotate back and forth. I usually only lock the turntable if I am going to do some heavier grinding.
-The cords do not tangle and although it would look tidier I have not got around with the mod suggested by Dave J.

On the con side it still takes up more room than I would like it to; ie it has to stand too far away from the shed wall. The arms, on which each grinder sits are constructed so that each grinder can be moved outwards and turned sideways, work very well, but I don't use them often this way, but when needed they work really well and I'm very glad I incorporated them into the design. On reflection they are probably 50 - 75 mm too long. The arms just need to be long enough so that each grinder can be moved and turned.

RE: Michael G's designs

Designs 1,2,3 all require a positive locking mechanism.

Designs 1 and 4 would take up least room in that they can stand closest to a wall
Design 2 has one grinder poking out the front down low which I think would get in the way of using the one on top.
Design 3 is better from that point of view and could also easily use the extendable arm principle that mine uses.
Design 4 would be a bit of PITA and I usually like to have a grinder fixed down a little more than just under it's own weight

One thing I like to have around any grinder is good clearance, which is why pedestals are often used, so from that point of view designs 1 and 2 have the least clearance around the wheels. I don't like using grinders on bench tops for that reason and is why I went for the ability to better isolate each grinder along an arm.

Overall I still think my design works best for me. If you have limited workspace depth then your design 1) is probably the best, If you have limited workspace width then 3) is probably the best.

I also would opt for number 2. I have seen this type of arrangement on a forum build thread but I have no idea where. I recall some very good ideas included. It depends of course on the space requirements and the dust and chip would have to be considered. Power connection another consideration for convenience.

Dean

Depends on the size of work you do. If you were doing a lot of big stuff I'm thinking 1 but with the grinders moved to one corner of the triangle and able to pivot through 90 degrees. This would mean the stand would be more like a post. Maybe even make it a little higher and turn the triangle forward 30 to 60 degrees? 60 degrees might make the switches tricky to reach. I guess this idea is really more for linishing discs, wire brushes or polishing than grinding.

Stuart

For the occasional piece of big stuff I don't mind spending some time moving things, but typically I'm sharpening lathe tools, wire brush deburring small parts, sharpening TIG electrodes scraper blades etc. Nothing that needs enormous clearances.
Bob's tree is nice, but still takes up too much space that I have not got. NB - Option 4; there is the intent to fasten the grinders down (toggle clamps perhaps?). Vertical seems to be the most wasted space in a home workshop, hence the thoughts on stacks and carousels that use it a bit more effectively. However, I do need to be able to move it, so nothing coming down from the roof on pulleys guys...

Michael

If its going to be movable so you can get to both sides. How about a trolley with enough room on the top for two grinders back to back and a way to flip the top? Of course then you'd need another grinder . As I think 4 would be a little tippy as a trolley.

Stuart

Michael, I've seen grinder stands of 2 or 3 grinders based on your #2 design and I believe they worked well. The shelf they were bolted to was secured with a simple latch or bolt. I may have to consider something similar for myself.

Pete

+1 for #2. I have two bench grinders and they take up more room than they really need to. I guess it would be easy to allow room for bench grinder that had a basic tool holder attached to it too.


Cheers,


Simon

Originally Posted by Michael G

Vertical seems to be the most wasted space in a home workshop, hence the thoughts on stacks and carousels that use it a bit more effectively. However, I do need to be able to move it, so nothing coming down from the roof on pulleys guys...

Michael

Have you got somewhere you could set them up on something like a vertical carousel type arrangement? I know a vertical carousel normally goes right around, but if you only need to move 3 grinders up and down enough to use them, you could just single side it - or maybe keep it double sided, go floor to ceiling and put storage boxes of some sort in all the other spots?

Terrible sketch in MS Paint attached to try and make it clearer. I see it as the sort of thing you could bolt to the side of a cupboard for example, or maybe the back of a rolling tool cabinet... Depends what you have in your workshop, and where...

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May I say, for want of stronger language..... what a bloody good idea!

I like BobL's idea, might build one myself, with a few changes to avoid copyright issues of course

This is a 'Rota Store'

Used rota store 2000 aa.jpg

As previously mentioned, this idea could be used to house several grinders.... albeit a somewhat ambitious one

Hi Michael, I use a system similar to the Hayman Reece towbar, mounted vertically on the corner of my workbench. I can fit either a vice, grinder with wire brush/linisher, a tool sharpening grinder with special stones even a bar bender. 65mm square X 6mm RHS welded to the side of my bench with a corner bolt to hold solid, and 50mm sq RHS welded to some 5mm plate to mount the grinders on, for the vice/bender I used 12mm plate.
They are stored on a shelf where it is easy to get to, no bending or lifting.
Kryn

Originally Posted by KBs PensNmore

They are stored on a shelf where it is easy to get to, no bending or lifting.

I assume you mean vertical lifting - they still have to be carried from the shelf to the bench ?

I have a vice on a post that it is able to be moved to a hinged holding post underneath the bench.

While I do so from time to time I find it a bit of nuisance to move it so it stays on the bench 95% of the time