Searching for a “Bench Grinder with Sanding Belt”

[dcostaParticipant @dcosta]

[dcostaParticipant @dcosta]

Hello,

Would any of you gentlemen have opinions about "DRAPER 150mm 370W 230V Bench Grinder with Sanding Belt and Worklight" sold by Chronos. I ask because I have no idea of ​​the quality attributes of the item and specifications, as we know, do not tell us everything about the subject. The fact of being away (in Portugal) and relatively isolated (in terms of engineering) not knowing anyone who knows anything about the item makes it even more risky to order such an item.

Thanks in anticipation
Dias Costa

[Trevor WrightParticipant @trevorwright62541]

Have had one of these for 6 years now and love the thing.

**LINK**

Trevor

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

As I've got a bench grinder and smaller one powering my T&C grinder I bopught one of THESE: It works really well. I could kick myself as about two weeks after getting it I found one of the regulars (Chester?) shifting them for nearer £50.

Sold for wood but the standard belt works a treat on steel, great for finishing unmachined flat surfaces and rounding corners.

Neil

[NJHParticipant @njh]

Agreed Neil

…..or even touching up a HSS lathe tool !

I also have a heavier duty belt and disc sander which I picked up, second hand, about 20 years ago from an ad in the local paper. I think thats had more use than any of my machines – I use it for wood , steel etc – you name it.

Norman

[John CoatesParticipant @johncoates48577]

I've bought one of these

**LINK**

the table up against the disc is useful

[RobboParticipant @robbo]

Dias,

Can't tell you about the specific machine from personal experience, but it is one of several "clones" made in China to this design. Others are sold by Sealey and Scheppach, among others. (Made by Scheppach was once a guarantee of a quality item made in Europe, but like everyone else they have moved production to China.)

So it is one of several on sale for under £100, for a much better quality machine you would be looking at £200 plus as a minimum.

The Draper brand contains many small machines for home use, and quality is similar to those mentioned by Trevor and Stub. I have a linisher/sander in the same quality range,similar to the one in John's link, and it is OK.

If you are happy with Asian quality, and it may need a little personal touch to improve it, then I should go ahead. I assume Chronos are able to ship to Portugal without problem, that being why you have chosen them.

Phil

Edited By Robbo on 29/07/2013 21:31:49

[Billy MillsParticipant @billymills]

Dias-

Hope you have an Aldi store near by;**LINK**. Under £30.00 and 3 year g/tee!

 

So might come up in Portugal some time.

Billy.

Edited By Billy Mills on 29/07/2013 23:49:16

[RobboParticipant @robbo]

Billy,

Have had a look at one of these, and to me they have an intrinsic design/build fault on the idler drum attachment method.

Not recommended unless you're despaerate.

Phil

[_Paul_Participant @_paul_]

I bought an Aldi Combination Grinder/Sander some time ago the idler drum was badly out of round I remachined it to try and stop it jumping around it's still rough but useable, amongst others I have an RJH Bison grinder that has 12" wheels that you can balance a cup of tea on the Aldi combination machine will stir your tea for you

[Billy MillsParticipant @billymills]

I saw the offer in a local store but did not buy as I already have some linishing gear. For someone starting out it might be useful but we have now two reviews against.

In the past I have found Lidl and Aldi stuff to be very good value, not the world's best but good value for everyday use. They don't quibble about refunds and do give a 3 year warrenty.

Couple of years back I got a small belt and disc sander from Warco. Not expensive but have had to fiddle around lining up bits and replacing the table lock which falls apart. It does ok for the light use it gets but then it did not cost what a RJH Bison cost new.

Billy.

[RobboParticipant @robbo]

Billy,

Have to agree that some of Aldi kit is OK, and I have bought some of less frequently used stuff there. But in this case, no. The fault could be rectified at home, but you may as well make your own belt attachment for a grinder given the amount of work involved.

Phil

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

I bought one a while ago off Ebay, decent but you can't press hard.

I modified mine by drilling three extra holes in the sanding backplate so the belt is vertical.

Just seemed more useful at this angle ?

[_Paul_Participant @_paul_]

Posted by John Stevenson on 03/08/2013 19:34:40:

I modified mine by drilling three extra holes in the sanding backplate so the belt is vertical.

Just seemed more useful at this angle ?

+1

As standard they are a peculiar angle probably set like that to suit them what mess around with brown stuff

[RobboParticipant @robbo]

The angle of the belt is good for grinding woodturning tools from a flat (more or less) grinding rest.

Robert Sorby produce a well engineered version, without grinding wheel, just for this purpose.

Phil

[dcostaParticipant @dcosta]

Hello everyone, good afternoon.

Context: Preparing an order to Chronos.

To Trevor: The Chronos only sells the bench grinder you mentioned in uk main land, and not having asked, I think that this excludes Portugal. Thank you.

To Neil: I would buy one of these grinders from Clark but this model does not figure on the website of Chronos. Thank you.

To Norman: I would buy one of these grinders from Clark but this model does not figure on the website of Chronos. Thank you.

To John Coates: The grinder Scheppach (beautiful) is not sold by Chronos. Thank you.

To Phil (Robbo): Yes, I think you're right on all the statements you make in both your posts. Thank you.

To Billy: A few days ago I found in my mailbox a flyer of an Aldi supermarket that recently opened near me and there I found the grinders. Its price was about 60 € and how I could not open the box to observe the quality of the grinder gave up the purchase.

To _Paul_: A few days ago I found in my mailbox a flyer of an Aldi supermarket that recently opened near me and there I found the grinders. As I could not open the box to observe the quality of the grinder gave up the purchase.

To John Stevenson: Thank you for your suggestion of a few more holes and opinion.

In conclusion, I will probably buy the Draper grinders with the sanding belt assuming that perhaps I'll need some improvements of its operation.
Also have to consider the exiguous space versus usefulness that I have for such a device.

Best regards
Dias Costa

Edited By dcosta on 10/08/2013 18:09:45

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

HI Dias

If you haven't ordered yet, there is an identical machine to mine for £52.08 + deleivery on offer from Chester on the back of the latest Model Engineer. That's £20 less than I paid.

The machine from Chester  comes up as £49.00 + VAT  about £69 if you 'add to cart' but this is with UK delivery. I suggest you email them say you want the ME offer (52.08 inc vat) and ask about delivery to Portugal?

Chronos do (or used to, their website is plkaying up!) sell it, but UK mainland delivry only as Clarke CS4-6D Belt And Disc Sander  (Ref: 6500412) at about £80

Neil

Edited By Stub Mandrel on 10/08/2013 18:23:27

Edited By Stub Mandrel on 10/08/2013 18:27:56

Edited By Stub Mandrel on 10/08/2013 18:29:26

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

Gentlemen,

I have an ALDI linisher as described and find it very useful, I've not had to modify or repair it, for the money it does well for me.

Martin P

[dcostaParticipant @dcosta]

Hello Neil,

Thank you for your help I see you understood the various aspects of my problem which are not only about the quality of the grinding and sanding belt but also about the scarcely available space in my workshop, availabilty in the seller and save some Euros in carrying costs by carrying a set of items together in only one parcel.
The Chester Machine Tools in its WWW shop, when chosing country in check out, only shows UK.
It looks like the crisis is felt by only some…

Best regards
Dias Costa

[NJHParticipant @njh]

Hi again Dias

Well I hope you do manage to get your grinder – if you do perhaps you will let us know the result!

May I make a personal plea? I find your use of a slightly smaller than usual font and, especially, the blue type colour in your postings very hard on my aging eyes. A little larger, black, typeface in your postings would help me a lot.

Regards

Norman

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

Comic Sans – the marmite of typefaces!

You need to visit HERE Norman.

I understand that Chester may export, Dias, try emailing them with an enquiry.

Neil

Edited By Stub Mandrel on 10/08/2013 21:01:28

[RobboParticipant @robbo]

Dias,

In Aldi stores in the UK there is a return period allowed, there doesn't have to be anything wrong with the item, if you change your mind you can just take it back within a time limit.

The actual wording is "If you change your mind, bring it back within 60 days with the receipt and in its original condition for an exchange or refund" I assume "original condition" also means the original packaging.

You should check with your Aldi store if the same applies, in which case you can buy the item and take it home (or to the nearest bar!) to have a look at it, and if you don't want it then return it.

Phil

[dcostaParticipant @dcosta]

Hello Norman, goodnight.

Norman: Well I hope you manage to get from your grinder – if you the perhaps you will let us know the result!
DC: I'm still hesitant between a bench grinder with sanding belt and a disc and belt sander. Surely, I will let everybody know the result of this choice / purchase.

Norman: May I make a personal plea? I find your use of a slightly smaller font than usual and, Especially, the blue color type in your postings very hard on my aging eyes. A little larger, black, typeface in your postings would help me a lot.
DC: Sure you can Norman. An appeal you make is an order for me.
I will try to use the same font with one size above than that I've used. Also will experience a blue color darker than what I'm usied to use.
I need to use different colors to differentiate between two participants in the discourse: the other versus myself.

P.S.: Please let me know how does this post looks to you. Eventualy to my personal mail.

Best regards
Dias Costa

[dcostaParticipant @dcosta]

Hello Neil, good day.

Interesting information about the font Comic Sans. Thank you.

Neil: I understand that Chester may export, Dias, try emailing them with an enquiry.
DC: I appreciate your suggestion and will try to contact the Chester, but if I can buy from Chronos (which I will also contact) I may save – so am convinced – some Euros on the shipping costs by joining in only one parcel the grinder and other items I intend to order from Chronos.

Best regards
Dias Costa

[dcostaParticipant @dcosta]

Hello Phil, good morning.

Thank you for your suggestion.
The store I went to Aldi is located a few kilometers from my house and there is no public transport to there.
I have a beautiful bike (a Kalkhoff) with support from electric motor and I do not drive cars.
Could go by bike but as the grinder is heavy and the box is great could not carry it on my bike panniers.
So for me to move to Aldi I have to take a taxi and pay about 8 Euros to there plus 8 Euros to home.
Aldi is not the store where we make other buys for home so, if I do not like the grinder I'll have to spend another 16 Euros.

Accounts done, if I can include grinding (whatever that may choose) in the shipment of an order that I have prepared for Chronos, maybe expending a few more Euros I make a purchase where the value for money spent is greater.

P.S.: Hope my English is not too bad…

Best regards
Dias Costa

Edited By dcosta on 11/08/2013 00:55:00

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