Thread: Small Surface grinder

I would like to incorporate surface grinding capability into my workshop. I only intend grinding small items such as thrust washers and such.
I like many have a couple of limitations, space and available funds.
Are there any really small surface grinders that are worth owning or is there another way to achieve surface grinding on a budget.

Thanks Steve

Power made a small SG - all hand cranked (I have one of those), as did Macson. Hard to find though.
You may be better off looking at small T&C grinders as most of those look like they would take a small mag table. The only downside is that the down feed may not be as fine as on a S/G. A couple of members have CC T&C grinders and might be able to advise whether they could take a small mag table.

Michael

I use a small mag chuck on my vintage C.C. Engineering T&C grinder. Quite successful actually.

Hi Guys,

When I made my Modified Brooks T@CG one of the considerations was whether I could do any rudimentary surface grinding ! The column is on a M10 X 1.5 threaded screw and although the thread is quite coarse, I can easily move in very small increments. I don't have a magnetic chuck but have got away with using powerful magnets salvaged from old computer hard disc drives and an aluminium fence. If needed the grinding head can be swung through 90 degrees and the length of table gives you about 6 inches by 3 inches. With the M6 threaded drive spindles a 1 thou positioning is quite achievable.

Have a look at https://metalworkforums.com/f303/t20...oks-tc-grinder

For my build log !

HTH.

Originally Posted by Reidy41

I would like to incorporate surface grinding capability into my workshop. I only intend grinding small items such as thrust washers and such.
I like many have a couple of limitations, space and available funds.
Are there any really small surface grinders that are worth owning or is there another way to achieve surface grinding on a budget.

Thanks Steve

Steve you could probably build a simple flaring cup wheel grinder fairly easily, you would need something like a small mag chuck and an electric motor with a cup wheel fitted to the shaft, the motor would be mounted to a column via arms and have a mechanism to adjust the height of the motor/cup wheel in relation to the job to be ground, the motor/cup wheel is pivoted on the column from side to side by hand to advance the wheel across the job.
Here are some examples.

https://www.machinestock.com/en/mach...+2#prettyPhoto[diashow]/2/

https://www.machinestock.com/en/mach...achine/ATHENA/

https://www.werktuigen.com/delta-lf+350/wt-660-0934

I've wondered if a radial arm saw could be used as a rudimentary surface grinder. With a grinding wheel in place of the saw blade and lowered slowly in theory it would mimic a metal shaper with a wheel rather than a cutter. Anyone know if it has been tried before or reasons why it won't work? I was thinking along the lines of an older industrial saw rather than a hobby machine.

Pete

I do not believe the bearings on a Radial Arm Saw would be accurate enough to give a truly level finish

Even the movement on the arm of the saw would negate any form of required consistency. IMHO
Kryn