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