What's the best surface grinder and why?

[coolidge]

I feel like I should be on the hunt, keeping an eye out for a surface grinder as machining steel/cast iron is what I have in mind for the giant bed mill. But I have no idea which brands, models, and sizes are best.

Used, maybe up to $5k max. How do Chevalier surface grinders compare? Avoid, grab, or are they middle of the road nothing special? I ask because they seem to be available in abundance.

Any help is appreciated thanks!

 

[GeneT45]

Two big things jump out at me: Condition and power feed. Condition is obvious, but power feed might not be. If you're going to use it quite a bit, you're going to get tired of cranking really quickly with a manual machine. If it's for occasional use, manual might be fine. Any of the 'real' brands are probably fine assuming reasonable condition.

I've owned a ton of surface grinders - which is to say one, which is a bit more than a ton - and the Brown & Sharpe Micromaster checks the boxes for me.

GsT

 

[coolidge]

Two big things jump out at me: Condition and power feed. Condition is obvious, but power feed might not be. If you're going to use it quite a bit, you're going to get tired of cranking really quickly with a manual machine. If it's for occasional use, manual might be fine. Any of the 'real' brands are probably fine assuming reasonable condition.

I've owned a ton of surface grinders - which is to say one, which is a bit more than a ton - and the Brown & Sharpe Micromaster checks the boxes for me.

GsT

Anything specific you like about the B&S? What size? I did a quick search and see 5x10, 6x18, 8x24 sizes.

 

[GeneT45]

Anything specific you like about the B&S? What size? I did a quick search and see 5x10, 6x18, 8x24 sizes.

Mine is a 618. Things to like: it's massive / rigid - much stouter than most machines with that work envelope. Continuous automatic lubrication (I was surprised to find out that not all grinders have that...), power (hyrdraulic) motion in X & Y. All built with B&S quality (there are several generations, mine is probably 50-60 years old).

Things not to like: takes 15 gallons of an expensive and somewhat difficult to source hydraulic & way oil (Vacuoline somethin' or other).

GsT

 

[mmcmdl]

Anther vote for the Micromaster here. I had the 618 also which did most of what I needed to do . If I needed something larger , the company had large B&S's , Okamotos and a few Chevaliers which I could use for grinding angle plates etc .

 

[tjb]

I bought a Reid 618 about a year-and-a-half ago. Like GsT, mine is about fifty years old and dinosaur-massive. Living on a farm, I have quite a bit of heavy equipment, but I actually had to borrow a friend's heavier track steer to unload it. It easily outweighs both my mill and lathe.

I'm very near the end of a thorough maintenance and upgrade on the machine. It operates flawlessly and also has power feed in both axes. A good friend, who is a machine maintenance specialist for a large production factory, helped me upgrade the entire electrical supply system. It is now wired like any modern piece of 3-phase equipment. I ordered a DRO kit for the head - I will (hopefully) begin on the installation this afternoon. The only thing missing when I bought the machine was a spanner wrench. Rather than buying or making one (where's the fun in that?), I just finished fabricating an upgrade (at least, in my opinion) using a crank handle I had when I added power feed to the table on my mill.

I can find nothing about this machine that I don't like. So far, I've done nothing but play with it - taking scrap pieces of metal and putting mirror finishes on them. I'm not sure I'll ever need it for over-the-top precision work, but it is definitely a nice piece of equipment to have in the shop. Obviously, I can't offer any comments on the particular machine you're looking at, but if it checks out mechanically and electrically, and you have the time, space, and spare change, you'll probably enjoy having it.

Regards

 

[mmcmdl]

I bought a Reid 618 about a year-and-a-half ago. Like GsT, mine is about fifty years old and dinosaur-massive.

My neighbor has the Reid 618 also . It's rather large to say the least ! He wants to sell it along with a BP and Logan lathe . If I was a younger lad I'd take him up on it as it would be a 100 ft move at best into the basement . Looks like a 618/612 would fit the bill for most hobbyists here though . Anything larger would take some big time rigging along with some large forklifts . The best SG is the one you own as I always say .

 

[benmychree]

I have a 6 X 18 Micromaster also, the only thing that it lacks is automatic cross feed reversal. When sparked out, it shows immediate sparks with only one tenth of downfeed, very sensitive! Best thing, it was given to me for free! I did have to change out the oil and replace a couple of Bijur metering fittings.

 

[mmcmdl]

Best thing, it was given to me for free!

That's the BEST kind !

 

[Ulma Doctor]

I returned a Blanchard #11 grinder to service , beautiful machine.
I purchased a Boyar Schultz 618 Challenger, very nice - but manual operation .
Many folks like the B&S Micromaster , for good reasons
Sanford and Rockwell/Delta made some grinders too