Should I get a surface grinder?

wachuko

wachuko

Professor of Pending Projects
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This one showed up locally... is this something that, as a newbie, I will benefit from having?

Do not ask where the heck I will place it... but, if the price is right, should I try to get it and add it to the machines that I have?

What would be a fair price for it?

SG-BS2.jpg
 
I watch a lot of the Inheritance Machining videos over on YouTube. He seems to use it a lot when making tools and fixtures that will then help him when machining the actual projects he wants to make. Dialing in collet blocks, and custom rotary table chuck adapters, etc. So, if you can get it for a great price I would say go for it. I check Facebook marketplace at least once a day for a good surface grinder deal. But I've bought so much tooling recently the deal would have to be worth the wife's wrath when she sees another machine for my "hobby", lol.

Now would you benefit from having it right away as a newbie, probably not.
 
coolidge said:
Following. I find the precision of a surface grinder pushes my precision buttons, but I can't think of one thing I'd grind with it. :(
Click to expand...
That is my thinking as well... Doubt I would make something that requires that level of surface finish... This is why it is dangerous to read so many threads in the forum and watch videos on YouTube... I get the itch that I need one just seeing what others are doing... but I am not doing those things...

But if I ever need/want one, now is the time to get it. I will not be able to get anything else after I retire...

wnchstrtnfldvlle said:
I watch a lot of the Inheritance Machining videos over on YouTube. He seems to use it a lot when making tools and fixtures that will then help him when machining the actual projects he wants to make. Dialing in collet blocks, and custom rotary table chuck adapters, etc. So, if you can get it for a great price I would say go for it. I check Facebook marketplace at least once a day for a good surface grinder deal. But I've bought so much tooling recently the deal would have to be worth the wife's wrath when she sees another machine for my "hobby", lol.

Now would you benefit from having it right away as a newbie, probably not.
Click to expand...

Inheritance Machining, This Old Tony, Jonesey Makes, etc... yeah... I was just watching this video from This Old Tony:


and the itch for a surface grinder hit me again...
 
Yes, a surface grinder at the right price is indispensable.
Industry has found ways around using grinding operations, so they aren't nearly as expensive as they were.
Price is based on condition, options/tooling, brand and LOCATIONS.
In Ohio that would be in the 500.00 to 2500.00 range, again based on condition, options/tooling and brand.
Once you have a surface grinder you will find uses for it
Enjoy
 
Grinding to critical dimension
For material to hard to cut with other tooling
For higher finish
For hard to hold parts where you need to remove material, magnetic chuck
For more accurate parallelism
Sharpening
 
The answer is always yes. :)


They seem to be a useful tool to have, both for hard materials and extreme precision. The fact that I don't know anybody that has one to lament buying one, I have to assume they are useful.

I can't tell you much about their use as I have intentionally not gone down that rabbit hole, due to size and weight of most. I'm afraid if I learn to much about them, I will want one and the smaller ones that I could possibly manage rarely turn up cheap.
 
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