Grinder types available?

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Situation:  I'm an amateur, with a home shop, in a semi-isolated location, with a modest shop budget.  Right now I own a 6" double-wheel bench grinder (a good one), a 4" electric angle grinder, and some smaller pneumatic grinders.Tool/equipment question:  I'm interested in a more "heavy duty" grinder to work with mild and carbon steel - but also with aluminum, occasionally.  I've been considering an 8" double-wheel pedestal grinder.  (I'd probably then switch one of my 6" grinder's wheels to wire brush.)  But a couple people have told me "Don't do that - get a heavy-duty belt sander that also runs a disk.  You can get h.d. belts and grinding disks suitable for metal.  This is a more versatile tool."But I'm unconvinced that the belt/disk sander is actually anything much more than a sander.  I'm not a knife maker (and I do realize that knife makers like them).I'm not so keen on another and larger angle grinder, as I want to be able to hold pieces up to a stationary machine, and not have to put pieces into a vise all the time.Can anyone here discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the two types (8" wheel grinder vs. belt sander with "ginding" belts), please?  Thanks.Last edited by Joel_BC; 02-01-2010 at 05:53 PM.
Reply:Alum and most grinding wheels don't get along well. The wheels load up. You can buy special wheels to grind alum, I have them for my 4 1/2" grinder, but they are more expensive than the standard ones.I find myself usingthe pedestal grinder less and less with a wheel. I use the wheel to sharpen chisels & bits, with the wire brush, or to grind tungstens, but usually use the 7" hand held on most heavy work. Actually I only swiped back the grinder from my buddy's shop mostly to do tungstens. I do tend to find I am using the small belt disk sander more and more, usually for deburing and finish work on flat material and putting bevels on alum..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:http://www.vansantent.com/multitool.htmI have the 6" Multi Tool grinder/Sander and it is sweet. I should have purchased the 8" since it has a 1hp Motor.I just noticed they state "out of stock"Anyhoo a Good belt Sander will definitely remove some metal and with the Various Grits you can just switch out the Belts for Finish work.The Disk is handy when I want to Square up and endEd Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:Originally Posted by Broccoli1I have the 6" Multi Tool grinder/Sander and it is sweet. I should have purchased the 8" since it has a 1hp Motor.  Anyhoo a Good belt Sander will definitely remove some metal and with the Various Grits you can just switch out the Belts for Finish work.The Disk is handy when I want to Square up and end
Reply:want a great sander/grinder the grizzleg1183 is one of the best tools ive gotmade in taiwan and the ease of changing belt but it is 150lbs Attached Images
Reply:Joel,The Sanding Machines will work but ya gotta spend a little coin and usually busts the budget.A cheaper solution may be just a Disc Sanderhttp://grizzly.com/products/12-Disc-Sander/G7297Ed Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:If you want a belt grinder and your short on cash, you might try making your own.  Here's one I made about 7 years ago.  I bought the contact wheel from MSC Direct, and made the rest from whatever I could scrounge.  I made mine so I could grind into a corner on both sides of the wheel, but you could make one that was a lot simpler.With a 36 grit belt, it will chew through steel pretty good, and I can put a 220 grit on it and sand my fingernails down without taking the hide off my finger. Attached ImagesMiller 250x & Lincoln V205-TSmith Oxy-Prop torch
Reply:Thats a pretty trick set up there Chuck i like it. Joe a belt/disk sander is far more versitile than a bench grinder.That was one of the most used tools i had in my shop.just get good belts and they last a long time i think you will be happier with the belt.If you can get the wider belt setups 6-8 inch they give you more belt surface to use.After the arc has died the weld remains
Reply:I use sandpaper flap wheels on my 4.5" angle grinders for grinding aluminum.  Works good.  You can find them cheap at Harbor Freight and they are just as good as the more expensive ones at Home Depot.  Sometimes they're even the same brand.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Originally Posted by Broccoli1The Sanding Machines will work but ya gotta spend a little coin and usually busts the budget.A cheaper solution may be just a Disc Sanderhttp://grizzly.com/products/12-Disc-Sander/G7297
Reply:I like the Alooominum Oxide http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INPDFF?P...MITEM=385-0018Ed Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:is this 4.5" grinder thread ..?    i've got to have a regular and a paddle.  I use the regular for lots' of grinding or stripping and the paddle for more dangerous stuff like lying under or when using small cutting disks instead of stone.i cant see not haveing both.        thermal arc 252i  -  millermatic 350P -   miller XMT, cp300ts, 30a 22a feeders, buttload of other millers, handfull of lincolns, couple of esabs  -   Hypertherm 1250 G3
Reply:Delta makes a 12" disc sander without a belt. It is the most handy tool I think I own. I use it for everything, including tungstens. I think it was very reasonable at around $250. I also use a small hand held belt sander for tight areas, mostly on aluminum. Attached ImagesMiller Syncrowave 200
Reply:My local industrial-supply business recommended zirconium belts & disks.  Any comments on this type?
Reply:Those are good also- mainly for Metal only as they'll Clog up when used on wood and make the belt appear "Dull" as  wood is too soft to break the surface and keep the Abrasive "Sharp".Ed Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:I use the blue alumina zirconia abrasive discs and belts on my machines- they work great.I like CS 411 in a 50 grit from Klingspor- this is a special grade of cloth backing, rather than paper, that is designed for metalworking, and they last and last.