Should I get a surface grinder?

[jwmay]

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?

Probably not.

 

[Pevehouse]

Just don’t do what I always do and take it home and take it apart for rebuilding,lol. Bad habit. However I must say, I am happy with all my rebuilt tools and I enjoy the journey. My harig 618 is coming along nicely. Here’s a little eye candy

 

[wnchstrtnfldvlle]

That looks great!

 

[Janderso]

I just recently acquired a Harig 612 hand-feed. I've been looking for one for a couple of years now, waiting for the right price and distance. This one came in at $400 and 40 miles, perfect. The flat way shows some wear (flaking partially erased) at the ends, but otherwise they are in very good shape. The lube system was not working, had to get a new pump. It now occupies the space where my radial arm saw used to live.
I've been doing a fair amount of milling at the limits of the capabilites (precision, flatness and finish) of a BP type mill. The grinder has shown me just how imperfect that work has been. I've been acquiring the accessories, grinding vise, magnetic parallels, v-block, wheel dressers etc. They haven't been that expensive.

For the work I'm doing, a SG has been a valuable acquisition, and not nearly as expensive to tool as a mill.

Very much agree with you on a milling machine accuracy.
You run a face mill or fly cutter and think, heck yeah, that’s flat.
Put it on the SG and realize it’s within .002 or so
A good SG will get you flat down to the low tenths.
The five block test on mine came within a tenth.

Do I use it? Very rarely
I think about selling it more and more.
I need the space!!

 

[Pevehouse]

That looks great!

Thank you

 

[Pevehouse]

That looks great!

Took me about three tries painting it to get it right

 

[benmychree]

Good eye, I think that is like Bob Korves(RIP) had. Besides the semi insane belt drive of table motion it has a super precise spindle bearing that somehow Bob got going. I don’t remember the details but if I remember right he got it cheap because nobody wanted to mess with it or couldn’t get it right. That one put the fear in me.

Bob Korves got the #2 B&S surface grinder from me, for a decent price because I was given a 6 X 18 B&S hydraulic SG for free that was in excellent condition, all the #2 needed was to have the plain bearing spindle fit up, which Bob did an excellent job of. Someone said 30 or 40 years old --- 80 years old would be more like it, these were mostly WW-2 vintage machines, but one in good order would have been of the highest quality machines as built, in its day. I have owned several of them over the years; for the most part, taking the table off will tell the story, firstly, if there is any galling to be seen, it's a pass. if original scraping is to be seen its a go if in inspection of the spindle bearings are OK. As to value on the #2, there are variables, first is condition --- I'd think at best, perhaps $1500, does it have a mag chuck? does it have power feeds? they came with and without. No chuck, no power feeds? Value plummets.

 

[Pevehouse]

Bob Korves got the #2 B&S surface grinder from me, for a decent price because I was given a 6 X 18 B&S hydraulic SG for free that was in excellent condition, all the #2 needed was to have the plain bearing spindle fit up, which Bob did an excellent job of. Someone said 30 or 40 years old --- 80 years old would be more like it, these were mostly WW-2 vintage machines, but one in good order would have been of the highest quality machines as built, in its day. I have owned several of them over the years; for the most part, taking the table off will tell the story, firstly, if there is any galling to be seen, it's a pass. if original scraping is to be seen its a go if in inspection of the spindle bearings are OK. As to value on the #2, there are variables, first is condition --- I'd think at best, perhaps $1500, does it have a mag chuck? does it have power feeds? they came with and without. No chuck, no power feeds? Value plummets.

I have a B&S Challenger deluxe sitting on my trailer right now for sale. She needs restoration but all the acid are smooth as glass

 

[wnchstrtnfldvlle]

I have a B&S Challenger deluxe sitting on my trailer right now for sale. She needs restoration but all the acid are smooth as glass

You’re in Alabama right? Do you want to send me some pics and a price? I’ve got a Christmas bonus coming soon, lol

 

[Janderso]

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

Just for kicks I ground both sides of a piece of hardened D2. (Thanks Steve)
I then checked it on my surface plate and came up with some strange measurements.
So, I checked some thickness (parallel) comparisons in 4 places.
The largest discrepancy was .0003".
Heck, if you ever needed to make something flat a SG is the way to go.
.0003" is a bit more than I would have guessed.
A freshly dressed wheel, maybe the chuck needs to be dusted? Maybe the table?
But for a 60+ year old machine, It's not so bad.