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Reviews
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Views
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Date of last review
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1
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5593
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Fri August 17, 2007
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Recommended By
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Average Price
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Average Rating
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100% of reviewers
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None indicated
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10.0
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Description:
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Eastwood Co., Bench Grinder/Buffer combination. 1/2-hp, 3450 rpm, 110V motor. 5/8-in spindle. Requires 8-in. grinding and buffing wheel.
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Keywords:
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1/2-hp, 3450 rpm, 110V motor. 5/8-in spindle.
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Hib Halverson
Technical Writer for Internet & Print Media
Registered: January 2001
Location: Southern California
Posts: 2439
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Review Date: Fri August 17, 2007
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: None indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Excellent value for DIY shop use
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Cons:
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Probably not a good choice for continuous use in a service shop environment.
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Last Fall, I was out in the shop on a Sunday afternoon, sipping a cold beer, watching a late season NEXTEL Cup race and cleaning up my work bench. I got to thinking: I was one of the few advanced DIYs who didn't have a bench grinder and more and more often, lately, I was wishing I had one.
At the next commercial, I went in the office, fired-up the computer, got on Eastwood's web site (www.eastwoodco.com) which sells a lot of DIY automotive tools, and looked at bench grinders. Everyone has told me, when I get a grinder, I should get a Baldor because they're the best in the business. Eastwood sells Baldors and I looked at them long enough to read the prices. Baldor is cool stuff which I can't afford.
Eastwood, also, sells a more reasonably priced "8-in. Buffer/Grinder Combo" (PN 11930) at 99 bucks, a price I could handle. This high value tool offers the utility of both a buffer and grinder. It comes with an 8" spiral sewn buff wheel and an 8" grinding wheel. The grinding wheel is shielded by bolt-on guard. The grinder part also has a built-in work rest and movable eyeshield. The Eastwood requires 110V power and delivers 1/2-hp at 3450 rpm, perfect most of the buffing and grinding tasks a DIY might do. I ordered Eastwood's Buffer/Grinder Combo along with an Eastwood Variable Height Tool Stand (PN 43512) on which to mount it.
When this rig arrived, because I wasn't going to do much buffing but I did want something for removing paint or polishing stuff, I removed its buff wheel then bagged and stored it. I also removed the heavy, stone, grinding wheel and stored it too. On the end where the buff was, I installed a pair of 6.5-inch, very-find-grade, Buff and Blend Discs (PN 850708) from the Standard Abrasives Motorsports Division. Open-weave, non-woven nylon, Buff & Blend wheels have abrasive grain throughout. They can be used with lubricants and solvents. They cut labor time but not into the part. B&B works best for fine finishing and cleaning of light scratches on aluminum. They quickly remove carbon from pistons and valve stems. Great for light deburring head bolts and studs. One disc is flexible when run alone, but you can stack discs to stiffen the wheel for the desired finish and removal rate. "B&B" wheels are safer than a wire wheel and leave a much nicer finish.
On the other end of the Eastwood Buffer/Grinder, I installed an 8-inch medium-density, fine-grade, Convolute Deburring Wheel (PN 853393), also from SA's Motorsports Division. Convolute Wheels are constructed by wrapping non-woven, abrasive-grain-impregnated, nylon around a hard core. Each layer is bonded with an adhesive to form a homogeneous wheel. SA's Convolute Wheels are much lighter than traditional grinding wheels. Convolute Wheels deburr parts more smoothly which reduces user discomfort and fatigue. Their dense, non-woven nylon construction has them lasting longer and holding an edge for a greater period of time. The medium-density, fine-grade Convolute Wheel is best for general purpose deburring work.
The combination of the Eastwood 1/2-horse Grinder and Standard Abrasives Buff & Blend and Convolute Wheels has worked very well in my shop for about 8 months. While a more expensive Baldor grinder might be a better choice for a professional shop which uses a buffer or grinder 8-hours a day, the more cost-effective Eastwood unit, fitted with Standard Abrasives products serves my DIY needs of occasional general purpose grinding and deburring much better. In fact, I don't understand how I got along without that Eastwood grinder for all these years.
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Hib Halverson
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;)
;)
Registered: September 2000
Location: CAC