Author Topic: Any safe way to gear down a grinder?  (Read 2285 times)

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Offline Hawkdancer

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Any safe way to gear down a grinder?
« on: June 10, 2019, 11:14:40 pm »
Is there any safe, practical, (and inexpensive) way to gear down a standard grinder-polisher?  I am getting too lazy for manual sharpening, and my grinders are high speed.  A slow speed sharpening rig is 2 or 3 C notes or more! And the tax man cometh!
Hawkdancer
Life is far too serious to be taken that way!
Jerry

Offline Pat B

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Re: Any safe way to gear down a grinder?
« Reply #1 on: June 11, 2019, 05:35:31 am »
Add a large pulley to the grinder motor and an off set frame with a small pulley on it driving the polisher.
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline Woodely

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Re: Any safe way to gear down a grinder?
« Reply #2 on: June 11, 2019, 07:50:50 am »
A electric  fan control may work or a dedicated speed control a cheap one could cost $60.  Controls are adjustable so you can vary your speed and find a happy medium no matter what you are grinding.
"Doing bad work is an exercise in futility, but honestly making mistakes is trying your best."

Offline Pat B

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Re: Any safe way to gear down a grinder?
« Reply #3 on: June 11, 2019, 08:42:12 am »
Maybe a rheostat if the motor can take it. It might be a little cheaper.
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline Woodely

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Re: Any safe way to gear down a grinder?
« Reply #4 on: June 11, 2019, 03:05:50 pm »
You probably know more about electrical stuff than me. :)  ya; a rheostat  that could work.
"Doing bad work is an exercise in futility, but honestly making mistakes is trying your best."

Offline Pat B

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Re: Any safe way to gear down a grinder?
« Reply #5 on: June 11, 2019, 07:11:53 pm »
Don't bet the ranch on my electrical knowledge.  (A)
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline DC

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Re: Any safe way to gear down a grinder?
« Reply #6 on: June 11, 2019, 07:54:28 pm »
The only trouble with a speed control is that the power seems to drop more than the speed. If you get the thing down to the speed you want it will dern near stop if you put a load on it. Using the belt reduction, on the other hand, increases the power so the speed will stay nice and constant. I notice this when I was making the arrow lathe that I posted a while ago. If I just used the sewing machine speed pedal I could almost stop it with thread tension. I made an idler shaft with a couple of pulleys and it works great. Nice and slow and it will break the thread if I want.

Offline Hawkdancer

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Re: Any safe way to gear down a grinder?
« Reply #7 on: June 11, 2019, 09:52:25 pm »
I'm trying to visualize all this!  So I can put it together!  Thanks!
Hawkdancer
Life is far too serious to be taken that way!
Jerry

Offline Pappy

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Re: Any safe way to gear down a grinder?
« Reply #8 on: June 12, 2019, 04:38:52 am »
Rheostat will work but is hard on the motor, pulley change is the way to go if you can work it out.  :)
 Pappy
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