I’m a metalworker by trade & woodworker by passion. Recently decided to get a bench grinder (just bought my first home and am filling out my dream shop), was looking hard at the harbor freight options. Ultimately, I found an older gentleman in my area selling a vintage Wissota grinder. Wissota no longer makes these beauties but in its day they made grinders for snap-on/blue point, milwaukee/rockwell, and wilton. Cast iron housing, true shatterproof shield, highly functional tool rest system, and runs quieter than any I’ve ever seen. Got it for next to nothing and feel so proud to own it.
I think tests should be done in the exact fashion that Project Farm did them so the audience can compare apples to apples; his tests were pretty thorough, and he included a plethora of grinders for baseline.
I bought the Bauer Buffer and I use coarse and fine scotchbrite on respective sides. It is great in that you can get long pieces cleaned more safely than with wire brush on the bench grinder.
I recently purchased the 8” Bauer grinder, and after a few grinds the coarse wheel began to loose hunks and became unusable due to vibration, and no amount of dressing the wheel helped. I bought a replacement wheel, and despite my best efforts, the new wheel wobbled excessively. The washers were stamped steel, and the shaft doesn’t have much of shoulder, so it could never hold the wheel true, and although usable for general grinding e.g. a lawnmower blade, it couldn’t put a proper ground on a precision tool e.g. wood chisel. I was very disappointed that I just spent a lot of money on a grinder that vibrated due to poor wheel alignment, so I took it back thinking I would either exchange it or get a refund. Fortunately, a sales person pointed out that they had just received this new upgraded Hercules 1 HP 8” grinders. It was twice as expensive as the Bauer, and so it was hard to justify buying one. I thought, what the heck, I will give it a try, and if it wasn’t a better grinder, I could return it, which I’m not in the habit of doing. I got it home, set it up, and immediately, it was obvious that the build quality is far superior to the Bauer, and it had plenty of power, and didn’t bog down in the slightest. I put it through its paces, and it ran smoother, quieter, and had plenty of power, and seemed to run much cooler In comparison to the Bauer, the washers were cast and machined to be much more robust, and a better fit which translated to virtually no wobble and minimal vibration which is important when grinding precision tools such as wood working chisels etc. Overall, I think the new Hercules is very much worth the $199 price tag, and worth the investment. I think it will definitely outlast me. I just wish Harbor Freight sold better tool like a diamond wheel Dresser, to keep the wheels in top condition.
I emailed them in January when the variable speed Hercules went "clearance" asking if it would be replaced by a new version and they only said "manufacturer stopped making them".
I did notice the $55 Bauer option was a SIX inch grinder, and should not be mentioned in the same breath as 8" units. Not quite apples/oranges, but certainly not the same class, either. Now...the HFT foot petals. That's something I can talk about. I own...I dunno...eight to ten of them. Three are Deadman (momentary...must apply and keep pressure) switches. One lives on my small drill press. One lives on my scroll saw. In each case I find them indispensable. I have off-on switches all over my shop. One on each of my router tables. One as a safety switch on my radial arm saw (must activate the 'foot'switch to use the mfg supplied switch on the saw). Bandsaw. Lathe. Small table saw. Only in the case of one router does the switch live on the floor. There are mounting ears on the base to secure it to table legs, etc...and that's where I put them. I think of them as, and use them like, the big fancy paddle switches on the high dollar saws and equipment. Not as pretty. Likely not going to last me more than fifteen years per switch...but at 68, fifteen more years is gonna be a miracle! These are good buys, and I highly recommend them in diy to prosumer apps.
Glad the HF pedals work for you. I was afraid the plastic would break so I got metal pedals from Amazon instead, i had to wire them myself but they are super strong. Either way i wouldn't want to be without them now. One is on my table saw and it just feels so much safer knowing the saw will stop if i slip, fall, or just move my foot. No need to fiddle around to find the switch.
I bought the old style Hercules with the variable speed/0.9 HP with a %25 off coupon, so I paid $105. Of course, I had to find out how the variable speed worked because it sounded odd when it reached speed. I found that there is an optical tachometer feedback to the speed controller, so the motor will try and maintain the set speed when the load changes, and it does! THAT really impressed me! I was surprised when I saw that grinder disappear, and a "stripped down" version come out at a higher price! Glad I jumped on the old version when I did!
I too bought the same as you , the Hercules variable speed and the goose neck l.e.d. light , and absolutely love it. I am too happy I grabbed it when it was available
Love your channel, one thing I miss the bear is he coming back? When I had a bad day and watched the bear I felt good, keep up the good. Vietnam veteran Mike
Great overview of HF bench grinders Bear. I have had excellent success with HF tools.... but then again I buy selectively and use the tools as they were meant to be. Will be waiting for those "on the road vids", (as long as you get all your truck and trailer A.C. units in top condition... Livingston looks like 100° on Sunday).
I purchased one of the first gen. Herc grinders. It ran fine but the casing would get hot within 2 minutes of running… and I mean REAL HOT. Hot enough sweat coming off my brow would sizzle as soon as it hit the grinder. Once you turned it off, it would take literally 25-30 minutes to cool off enough where you could handle it. It’s the only corded Herc product I’ve had problems with.
I am a wood turner and use the WEN 1 HP 8 inch low speed for sharpening my tools. I have never had an issue with it. It is currently listed for 100 USD, I would be curious to see how it compares to the Baurer variable speed.
I am a hobbyest woodturner and spend a lot of time at the grinder. It's good to see HF coming out with some better quality grinders. I hope that they come out with a slow-speed version of the Hercules 1hp grinder. If they did, I'm sure a lot of the woodturning community would buy them.
I think HF missed it with the Hercules not being variable speed. If you're just hogging off material, fine, but doing some initial edge forming or dressing on chisels, plane irons, lathe tools, you don't want high speed. Changing the tool rest to something that actually works would be a huge plus. FYI, the way the Chinese measure HP is different than what we do here. The same issue occurs with their LED light rating. Those are measured outside of the housing and reflector in a stand alone test. The motors are rated not using "hot" amps, yeah, read about that a long while back, can't remember the details but it made a significant difference on the actual performance vs listed rating. Not deceptive, just different.
Had the 3" cm for years (w/o rotary) w/polisher and grinding wheels and 6" delta for about 3 years variable speed w/grinding and wire wheels... Both work well no problems. Don't use it often but when I need them they work great, I can't complain.
HP is one of the most important aspects of a bench grinder? The more the better, less likely to bog under a load? The second is they should have sealed ball bearing mounted motor for smooth operation and longer reliability? Variable speed is a bonus in my opinion, also?
I've had the old, Central Machine 6" and 8" grinders for years and they still work great to this day. The 6" has wire wheels on both ends and the 8" has stones...not the ones that came with it because they were both cracked out of the box. I'm probably in the minority here but, I don't like those "gooseneck" lights on my grinders OR drill presses. If either or both of my grinders ever quits, I'll definitely be heading to Harbor Freight first to check out replacements.
With the baurer, with the belt grinder attachment, I wondered why they didn't add the variable speed control. It makes alot more sence,especially ially aimed at knife makers and sharpeners..I wonder if that is something we can make happen
I have the variable speed Baur that replaced an old one that burned out. It must of been 25 years old. Observation is the Baur is super quiet but takes a few seconds to spool up. The old one spooled up quickly but was noisy and had a vibration that I was used to. The Baur is glass smooth. I’m impressed.
I use grinders like this to sharper lathe and mill tooling all the time, I have an old Baldor (I think, its been around the block a few times), and it works great. I love how quiet the Hercules is, I also love the adjustable speed on the Bauer. I could see myself getting the Bauer for more slow speed (better heat control) and when my current grinder finally gives up the ghost, get the Hercules for my high speed (better finish) needs.
I have a red wing model 26a which we used alongside a baldor at a dental lab my family owns but the spindle is a weird ass dental taper size…idk of anyway to put a wire wheel or regular buffing wheel on it due to the taper did your baldor have an unusual size shaft?
I just bought a bench buffer at $119 Bauer version 8" inch. After attaching a wire wheel to it, my bench was almost rattled to pieces so took that off and attempted to balance it..I was semi successful, but that's not the problem. The RPM are way to high so I've purchased a pro variac to try and tame that down a bit. There's another issue I'm worried about and that is the heat from the motor...after using it for a modest 3 minutes the thing got pretty damn hot. Not to worried though because if it burns up I know I can get my money back which is what I love about HF.
Dayton works the first time every time! :) I have a new fairly new Bauer on a nifty roll around stand...only took me 55yrs to get one. :) Man Hercules is SMOOOOOOTH! Especially compared to my 70s era plastic cased Craftsman grinder that vibrated my entire work bench! I finally retired that bad boy last year. Set it at the curb and someone snatched it right up! :)
I just bought the new 8" Bauer and it's a lot stronger than I was expecting. But you're right there's NO comparing it to any US made shop grade tool. That's why I got a 70 year old US vise on my bench.
To be fair. The $100 one is an 8inch. The $50 one is 6inch. When it comes to changing the angle on a chisel, for example, you’re going to get a hollow grind. But the bigger the wheel the less pronounced this will be. So it’s $50 more for a light and a bigger wheel, if that matters to you.
Don't need variable speed. Its more about pressure and coolant than gow fast the wheel spins. Just as long as it's properly balanced and has good bearings i like it.
Exactly! I don't get what everyone is on about thinking they need a variable speed grinder. Most pro shops have just a single speed. And like he said, if you want lower speed, juat get a low speed grinder. The variable speeds are generally useless particularly as they don't have a proper tach telling you the actual live speed reading anyway. You only really need 2 speeds for grinders, if you need a lower speed. Something in the 3400-3600 range, and something in the 1700-1800 range for low speed (if you need low speed). The rest is all in your technique and pressure.
I agree to a certain extent but I sharpen lathe tools. It's great to have multiple speeds so I can do multiple different things on my grinder. Yea pressure is important but when you're free hand sharpening something it's nice to have a little space for error. If it's running 4k even light pressure will cause some issues.
Looks like a real nice grinder.For myself,I rarely need one and when I do its light duty so I have the Hart 6 inch which I paid 40 bucks for and its just like the baseline bauer there.Its like 55 now anyway but It has always done what I needed it to.
The new Hercules looks to be a beast. The previous version (which is now the Bauer variable speed version) could only handle like 10-11 lbs of force before it stalled the motor. The new one can handle 50+ lbs of force. Which should tell you the magnitude of it's power increase. Also the new one has properly balanced machined washers to hold the wheels on...which completely transforms how smooth and quite the grinder runs. The rests are also much more solidly built and attached...along with the added rear vac exhausts. This thing is a steal of a grinder...
$200 is too much for me to spend on a bench grinder. Especially without a variable speed. But thanks for the comparison and enjoy your vacation with your family. 😊😊
I have the bauer with the belt. The only gripe I have with it is the tiny rest on it. It would of been nice with a mini table rest or something. I bought mine for mower blades. Also some day they should make a addon or 3rd wheel so you can use something like a 2x48 belt.
This is a direct quote from you from 2 weeks ago, "So they painted them red and released them under the Bauer name? Yeah, that makes a ton of sense." I see you've come around to the idea. BTW I was talking from experience, I own almost all Hercules tools, I use them for work daily, I'm telling you from experience that a bad speed control was not only my issue but my father's on his, that and bad bearings.
I was just looking at these the other day. I’ve never owned a bench grinder so I don’t actually know what speed I would need it to spin. But the Hercules does seem to have enough mass to make it stable
The grinders are getting better, but they are only really for a home machinist and or woodworker that needs to sharpen tooling regularly. For the person that needs everything other than the above-mentioned the Bauer 4x36 belt sender would be better and just buy a pack of various grit belts.
The foot switches are a good idea but the Harbor Freight ones are cheap plastic, not really fit for a shop floor. For about $20 i got a heavy metal foot switch from Amazon. I had to wire it myself but i can kick it around as much as i want without worry. The HF ones are ok but don't expect them to last.
Was looking at the Bauer 3/4 hp variable spd and the display model had a broken on/off swt. The switch was just flopping, no click to it. Wondering if you heard anything on that. Made Me nervous about the variable switch.
That old hercules model was a banger, I hooked up a multitool brand 48x2 belt grinder to it and it just works fantastic, you build a real deal belt grinder in the $5-600 range with variable speed, literally unbeatable, the nearest replacement for it is gonna be a $3-400 bench grinder or maybe a real deal one later on.
interesting subject. mostly it depends how serious you are about sharpening. practicaly any grinder will do something like sharpening, but the results can vary so much. and because better or worse they do the job we stuck with the one we got. you have to go out and check whats suits you the best, beltgrinder, wet stone, 6", 8", accessories, and than you buy it. and the best you can effort. it will stick with you for years to come and with it the joy or the headache this babies gives us. personaly i dont like when they repaint, put a new label on, etc. but basicly its the same machine. sounds like chinese marketing directives. nope, i would walk away
I seldom shop at HFT because it's a 60 mile round trip. So normally I just go to Ace. Their tools might be a few dollars more, but I'd spend that much in gasoline going to HFT and back. So now about 2 weeks ago I bought the single speed, no light 8" DeWalt bench grinder and with Ace's coupons I got it for about $120.00
Harbor Freight prices have gone up on many of the bigger ticket items - such as the Hercules Bench Grinder that lost the variable speed and the lamp but gained a fat $50 (same with the Yukon Workbench). Hence, I'm done with Harbor Freight...they just ain't who they used to be.
The abrasives that come with most grinders and sanders, leave much to be desired? The abrasives make or break, even the worst grinders out there? That's where the companies cheapen out all the time? Quality abrasives make all the difference in any tool, especially bench grinders?
I'd be good with the $99 Bauer, but thinking about it, I can get a $5 gooseneck light and mount it over the $55 Bauer. Yeah, that'd be good for me. The real problem I have to deal with is this: I don't like corn in a can. I'm strictly a fresh on-the-cob or frozen corn guy. So Jeff, any suggestions?
New subscriber Bear. Good video. Looking to pick a new grinder up for simple metal work and sharpening. Can you recommend a food wheel dressing too? I’ve been looking for a good diamond point dressing tool. Thanks.
Thanks,Bear! I was wondering if the Herc was bolted-down to your work bench? I couldn't tell for sure. If that grinder WAS NOT bolted down, it is damn smooth and balanced! I have a cheap (read: free) "panther" 6" grinder that I put coarse and fine wire wheels on and it vibrates like a Swedish sexual device. I've heard a good test is to place a penny on top of the housing and run the machine. If the penny stays put, your balance is good!
Thanks. Is there any difference in the type / quality of the grinder wheels that come with those grinders? I also just noticed HF apparently does not sell replacement wheels for their bench grinders.
That VS 8” grinder looks exactly like a Delta VS 8” grinder (I’m sure they came out of the same overseas factory with different paint and stickers) I had and it was a raging flaming POS. The variable speed function quit within a year. When I did some online research, turns out the variable speed electronics were common problems.
If they want to build a top of the line grinder they need to ditch the sheet metal guards and go with cast. Nothing screams cheap more than guards that you know won't last.
If you want a good bench grinder it won't be found in regular retail and it won't be cheap. Ideally it will be heavy high density cast iron, weigh at least 200lbs, a large enough motor to handle max frictional force on the diameter of the grinding wheel at continuous duty, Timken or better precision balanced opposed two layer ball bearings, precision balanced and machined motor-shaft to near aerospace standards , no plastic parts not even for clamping, thick high density cast iron precision machined rests using a minimum of 3/8" to 1/2" locking bolts. The motor ideally would be three phase and driven by a VFD for the variable speeds , no rheostats. This would in combination create a lifetime grinder that is free from vibration, can repeat anything, run endlessly and always produce top quality grinds. However a grinder like this will not be $200, it would be more like $4000 to start. The grinder described above is what professional grade looks like, of course it must be paired with equal quality grinding wheels and stone care practices.
Habor Freight is driving customers away due to the High prices for their mediocre products. Hell I'm seeing name brands at Lowes' and HD for the same or lower (sale price). I have a Craftsman grinder I bought in 1971 for 28$ and still use it all the time. Maybe young rich kids will buy this stuff but I can tell you the old guys won't~!!
I love it when you say "name brand" like that means anything. Craftsman was NEVER a "Name brand" in fact they did the same thing that HF does, buying other people products and putting their name on it. On top of that Craftsman is a zombie brand. Sears sold them and now it's owned by Stanley Black and Decker. The Craftsman you see today have zero relationship to the grinder you bought in '71. On top of that Harbor Freight has been increasing their products quality and performance to the point where it is consistently competing head to head with "name brands" like Dewalt, Milwaukee and others. BUT with the other brands you have to send them off for warranty service and with HF you just take it back to the store. HF has taken the place of Sears.
funny all these channels i see.. there is always a complaint.. this guy was sayin about the LED light on the belt/grinder combo. bein batterys. if they add a power supply to it to run off 120. it will raise the cost of the grinder... folks before runnin your lips.. think 1st.. and if its that bad for u that u need wall power to the lights. find a wall wart that puts out the 3 volts or so and wire it up.. not hard to do folks
You didn’t seem to put the old brain and gear before making this comment. Talked about the grinder being cheaper but you’re gonna waste money on batteries over the years. It’s gonna far out strip a couple bucks more to get a good solid light on there. Then your solution is to spend more money to buy an adapter you’re killin your own argument there.
If your making something and welding it together. The parts you cut; especially if you use a chop saw; grind down the edges and ends real quick to smooth them down. Or round off ends to make them curved instead of sharp corners. The wire wheel isn't nice for cleaning things up.
You can easily tell a guy that GETS ALL OF HIS TOOL FREE (for a youtube video) as he grinds a perfectly good new ratchet as a grinder test!!! This guy doesn't "professionally use tools for a living - he makes video's about tools! I prefer the opinion of an expert that makes a living using his tools.
I’m a metalworker by trade & woodworker by passion. Recently decided to get a bench grinder (just bought my first home and am filling out my dream shop), was looking hard at the harbor freight options. Ultimately, I found an older gentleman in my area selling a vintage Wissota grinder. Wissota no longer makes these beauties but in its day they made grinders for snap-on/blue point, milwaukee/rockwell, and wilton. Cast iron housing, true shatterproof shield, highly functional tool rest system, and runs quieter than any I’ve ever seen. Got it for next to nothing and feel so proud to own it.
Nice find!! 👍🏻👍🏻
Thats pretty aweeome. My ingersoll rand just broke down then i gave it a death blow doing a rush fix it job.
weird flex but ok bud
@@skateinspace go outside man. what about me sharing what I thought was a good find with others in the community hurt you emotionally?
@@moldyzucchinis3251 go start a blog, had nothing to do with the video at all
I think tests should be done in the exact fashion that Project Farm did them so the audience can compare apples to apples; his tests were pretty thorough, and he included a plethora of grinders for baseline.
naw, go to project farm for that.
@@callancollins7708 spoken like a man who likes to compare his oranges to apples.
@@bronzearmy2645 Bro, then you go make the video…
I agree. Project Farms testing is great 👍
@@garycasper2929 Then you pay him.
During Amazon Prime Days I bought a JET 1 HP for $232. Couldn't pass it up.
I bought the Bauer Buffer and I use coarse and fine scotchbrite on respective sides. It is great in that you can get long pieces cleaned more safely than with wire brush on the bench grinder.
Congrats on your quote in The Wall Street Journal! Good article with detail I hadn’t previously been aware of.
I recently purchased the 8” Bauer grinder, and after a few grinds the coarse wheel began to loose hunks and became unusable due to vibration, and no amount of dressing the wheel helped. I bought a replacement wheel, and despite my best efforts, the new wheel wobbled excessively. The washers were stamped steel, and the shaft doesn’t have much of shoulder, so it could never hold the wheel true, and although usable for general grinding e.g. a lawnmower blade, it couldn’t put a proper ground on a precision tool e.g. wood chisel.
I was very disappointed that I just spent a lot of money on a grinder that vibrated due to poor wheel alignment, so I took it back thinking I would either exchange it or get a refund. Fortunately, a sales person pointed out that they had just received this new upgraded Hercules 1 HP 8” grinders. It was twice as expensive as the Bauer, and so it was hard to justify buying one.
I thought, what the heck, I will give it a try, and if it wasn’t a better grinder, I could return it, which I’m not in the habit of doing.
I got it home, set it up, and immediately, it was obvious that the build quality is far superior to the Bauer, and it had plenty of power, and didn’t bog down in the slightest. I put it through its paces, and it ran smoother, quieter, and had plenty of power, and seemed to run much cooler In comparison to the Bauer, the washers were cast and machined to be much more robust, and a better fit which translated to virtually no wobble and minimal vibration which is important when grinding precision tools such as wood working chisels etc.
Overall, I think the new Hercules is very much worth the $199 price tag, and worth the investment. I think it will definitely outlast me. I just wish Harbor Freight sold better tool like a diamond wheel Dresser, to keep the wheels in top condition.
I emailed them in January when the variable speed Hercules went "clearance" asking if it would be replaced by a new version and they only said "manufacturer stopped making them".
I did notice the $55 Bauer option was a SIX inch grinder, and should not be mentioned in the same breath as 8" units. Not quite apples/oranges, but certainly not the same class, either.
Now...the HFT foot petals. That's something I can talk about. I own...I dunno...eight to ten of them. Three are Deadman (momentary...must apply and keep pressure) switches. One lives on my small drill press. One lives on my scroll saw. In each case I find them indispensable. I have off-on switches all over my shop. One on each of my router tables. One as a safety switch on my radial arm saw (must activate the 'foot'switch to use the mfg supplied switch on the saw). Bandsaw. Lathe. Small table saw. Only in the case of one router does the switch live on the floor. There are mounting ears on the base to secure it to table legs, etc...and that's where I put them. I think of them as, and use them like, the big fancy paddle switches on the high dollar saws and equipment. Not as pretty. Likely not going to last me more than fifteen years per switch...but at 68, fifteen more years is gonna be a miracle! These are good buys, and I highly recommend them in diy to prosumer apps.
Glad the HF pedals work for you. I was afraid the plastic would break so I got metal pedals from Amazon instead, i had to wire them myself but they are super strong.
Either way i wouldn't want to be without them now. One is on my table saw and it just feels so much safer knowing the saw will stop if i slip, fall, or just move my foot. No need to fiddle around to find the switch.
Have one on my band saw. Never thought about using on the grinder but I really like the idea.
I bought the old style Hercules with the variable speed/0.9 HP with a %25 off coupon, so I paid $105.
Of course, I had to find out how the variable speed worked because it sounded odd when it reached speed.
I found that there is an optical tachometer feedback to the speed controller, so the motor will try and maintain the set speed when the load changes, and it does!
THAT really impressed me!
I was surprised when I saw that grinder disappear, and a "stripped down" version come out at a higher price!
Glad I jumped on the old version when I did!
I too bought the same as you , the Hercules variable speed and the goose neck l.e.d. light , and absolutely love it. I am too happy I grabbed it when it was available
Man! I bought the 0.9 hp grinder and like like an idiot I stripped the reverse thread nut and returned it same day
Love your channel, one thing I miss the bear is he coming back? When I had a bad day and watched the bear I felt good, keep up the good. Vietnam veteran Mike
Great overview of HF bench grinders Bear. I have had excellent success with HF tools.... but then again I buy selectively and use the tools as they were meant to be. Will be waiting for those "on the road vids", (as long as you get all your truck and trailer A.C. units in top condition... Livingston looks like 100° on Sunday).
I purchased one of the first gen. Herc grinders. It ran fine but the casing would get hot within 2 minutes of running… and I mean REAL HOT. Hot enough sweat coming off my brow would sizzle as soon as it hit the grinder. Once you turned it off, it would take literally 25-30 minutes to cool off enough where you could handle it. It’s the only corded Herc product I’ve had problems with.
That is because the bearings sucked. Yhe bearings and the tool rest are FAR more important than variable speed
I am a wood turner and use the WEN 1 HP 8 inch low speed for sharpening my tools. I have never had an issue with it. It is currently listed for 100 USD, I would be curious to see how it compares to the Baurer variable speed.
I am a hobbyest woodturner and spend a lot of time at the grinder. It's good to see HF coming out with some better quality grinders. I hope that they come out with a slow-speed version of the Hercules 1hp grinder. If they did, I'm sure a lot of the woodturning community would buy them.
I think HF missed it with the Hercules not being variable speed. If you're just hogging off material, fine, but doing some initial edge forming or dressing on chisels, plane irons, lathe tools, you don't want high speed. Changing the tool rest to something that actually works would be a huge plus. FYI, the way the Chinese measure HP is different than what we do here. The same issue occurs with their LED light rating. Those are measured outside of the housing and reflector in a stand alone test. The motors are rated not using "hot" amps, yeah, read about that a long while back, can't remember the details but it made a significant difference on the actual performance vs listed rating. Not deceptive, just different.
I have a momentary switch for that 5amp Warrior wheel grinder, major safety upgrade.
Had the 3" cm for years (w/o rotary) w/polisher and grinding wheels and 6" delta for about 3 years variable speed w/grinding and wire wheels... Both work well no problems. Don't use it often but when I need them they work great, I can't complain.
HP is one of the most important aspects of a bench grinder? The more the better, less likely to bog under a load? The second is they should have sealed ball bearing mounted motor for smooth operation and longer reliability? Variable speed is a bonus in my opinion, also?
I've had the old, Central Machine 6" and 8" grinders for years and they still work great to this day. The 6" has wire wheels on both ends and the 8" has stones...not the ones that came with it because they were both cracked out of the box. I'm probably in the minority here but, I don't like those "gooseneck" lights on my grinders OR drill presses. If either or both of my grinders ever quits, I'll definitely be heading to Harbor Freight first to check out replacements.
With the baurer, with the belt grinder attachment, I wondered why they didn't add the variable speed control. It makes alot more sence,especially ially aimed at knife makers and sharpeners..I wonder if that is something we can make happen
I have the variable speed Baur that replaced an old one that burned out. It must of been 25 years old.
Observation is the Baur is super quiet but takes a few seconds to spool up.
The old one spooled up quickly but was noisy and had a vibration that I was used to.
The Baur is glass smooth.
I’m impressed.
I use grinders like this to sharper lathe and mill tooling all the time, I have an old Baldor (I think, its been around the block a few times), and it works great. I love how quiet the Hercules is, I also love the adjustable speed on the Bauer. I could see myself getting the Bauer for more slow speed (better heat control) and when my current grinder finally gives up the ghost, get the Hercules for my high speed (better finish) needs.
I have a red wing model 26a which we used alongside a baldor at a dental lab my family owns but the spindle is a weird ass dental taper size…idk of anyway to put a wire wheel or regular buffing wheel on it due to the taper did your baldor have an unusual size shaft?
Stewart-MacDonald still sells the Central Machinery grinder (rebadged and twice the price) for use with some of their proprietary sharpening fixtures.
I just bought a bench buffer at $119 Bauer version 8" inch. After attaching a wire wheel to it, my bench was almost rattled to pieces so took that off and attempted to balance it..I was semi successful, but that's not the problem. The RPM are way to high so I've purchased a pro variac to try and tame that down a bit. There's another issue I'm worried about and that is the heat from the motor...after using it for a modest 3 minutes the thing got pretty damn hot. Not to worried though because if it burns up I know I can get my money back which is what I love about HF.
Dayton works the first time every time! :) I have a new fairly new Bauer on a nifty roll around stand...only took me 55yrs to get one. :) Man Hercules is SMOOOOOOTH! Especially compared to my 70s era plastic cased Craftsman grinder that vibrated my entire work bench! I finally retired that bad boy last year. Set it at the curb and someone snatched it right up! :)
For the amount of grinding I do? I would get the Bauer. I would mainly use it for mower blades
I'll bet these new grinders still can't hold a candle to my old Baldor 3/4HP grinder that I bought at an auction for $35.
I just bought the new 8" Bauer and it's a lot stronger than I was expecting. But you're right there's NO comparing it to any US made shop grade tool. That's why I got a 70 year old US vise on my bench.
To be fair. The $100 one is an 8inch. The $50 one is 6inch.
When it comes to changing the angle on a chisel, for example, you’re going to get a hollow grind. But the bigger the wheel the less pronounced this will be.
So it’s $50 more for a light and a bigger wheel, if that matters to you.
Yep, I don't know how he missed that
I got the old Hercules on sale around $100. Glad I did now.
Don't need variable speed. Its more about pressure and coolant than gow fast the wheel spins. Just as long as it's properly balanced and has good bearings i like it.
Exactly! I don't get what everyone is on about thinking they need a variable speed grinder. Most pro shops have just a single speed. And like he said, if you want lower speed, juat get a low speed grinder. The variable speeds are generally useless particularly as they don't have a proper tach telling you the actual live speed reading anyway. You only really need 2 speeds for grinders, if you need a lower speed. Something in the 3400-3600 range, and something in the 1700-1800 range for low speed (if you need low speed). The rest is all in your technique and pressure.
I agree to a certain extent but I sharpen lathe tools. It's great to have multiple speeds so I can do multiple different things on my grinder. Yea pressure is important but when you're free hand sharpening something it's nice to have a little space for error. If it's running 4k even light pressure will cause some issues.
Great video thanks for sharing I shop at harbor freight all the time their tools work just fine if used properly all tools have a limit
Looks like a real nice grinder.For myself,I rarely need one and when I do its light duty so I have the Hart 6 inch which I paid 40 bucks for and its just like the baseline bauer there.Its like 55 now anyway but It has always done what I needed it to.
The new Hercules looks to be a beast. The previous version (which is now the Bauer variable speed version) could only handle like 10-11 lbs of force before it stalled the motor. The new one can handle 50+ lbs of force. Which should tell you the magnitude of it's power increase. Also the new one has properly balanced machined washers to hold the wheels on...which completely transforms how smooth and quite the grinder runs. The rests are also much more solidly built and attached...along with the added rear vac exhausts. This thing is a steal of a grinder...
$200 is too much for me to spend on a bench grinder. Especially without a variable speed. But thanks for the comparison and enjoy your vacation with your family. 😊😊
I have the bauer with the belt. The only gripe I have with it is the tiny rest on it. It would of been nice with a mini table rest or something. I bought mine for mower blades. Also some day they should make a addon or 3rd wheel so you can use something like a 2x48 belt.
As a prosumer, serious DIY guy, I would be most interested in the 8 inch variable speed grinder.
Keep up the good work.
This is a direct quote from you from 2 weeks ago, "So they painted them red and released them under the Bauer name? Yeah, that makes a ton of sense." I see you've come around to the idea. BTW I was talking from experience, I own almost all Hercules tools, I use them for work daily, I'm telling you from experience that a bad speed control was not only my issue but my father's on his, that and bad bearings.
I was just looking at these the other day. I’ve never owned a bench grinder so I don’t actually know what speed I would need it to spin. But the Hercules does seem to have enough mass to make it stable
The grinders are getting better, but they are only really for a home machinist and or woodworker that needs to sharpen tooling regularly. For the person that needs everything other than the above-mentioned the Bauer 4x36 belt sender would be better and just buy a pack of various grit belts.
The foot switches are a good idea but the Harbor Freight ones are cheap plastic, not really fit for a shop floor. For about $20 i got a heavy metal foot switch from Amazon. I had to wire it myself but i can kick it around as much as i want without worry.
The HF ones are ok but don't expect them to last.
Was looking at the Bauer 3/4 hp variable spd and the display model had a broken on/off swt. The switch was just flopping, no click to it. Wondering if you heard anything on that. Made Me nervous about the variable switch.
That old hercules model was a banger, I hooked up a multitool brand 48x2 belt grinder to it and it just works fantastic, you build a real deal belt grinder in the $5-600 range with variable speed, literally unbeatable, the nearest replacement for it is gonna be a $3-400 bench grinder or maybe a real deal one later on.
interesting subject. mostly it depends how serious you are about sharpening. practicaly any grinder will do something like sharpening, but the results can vary so much.
and because better or worse they do the job we stuck with the one we got.
you have to go out and check whats suits you the best, beltgrinder, wet stone, 6", 8", accessories,
and than you buy it. and the best you can effort. it will stick with you for years to come and with it the joy or the headache this babies gives us.
personaly i dont like when they repaint, put a new label on, etc. but basicly its the same machine.
sounds like chinese marketing directives.
nope, i would walk away
I seldom shop at HFT because it's a 60 mile round trip. So normally I just go to Ace. Their tools might be a few dollars more, but I'd spend that much in gasoline going to HFT and back. So now about 2 weeks ago I bought the single speed, no light 8" DeWalt bench grinder and with Ace's coupons I got it for about $120.00
I use a HF momintary foot switch on my table saw. To me it's safer than trying to find an on/off switch.
Man that Bauer looks kinda nice for a turning tool sharpener, 150$ can do basically low speed (2000 vs 1750~) and takes 8" disks
What was that tool to the right of the grinder at: 5:08? Looks like it had a round shape below a drill thing. Couldn't see it clearly.
It's a corded metal cutting band saw mounted into a bench top stand
That Hercules 1hp looks a lot like the buck tool pro model
The stand on the portable band saw to the right of the grinder, is that the HF Bauer stand? If not, what is it?
Will the Bauer spin up a CBN wheel? What is the max width wheel it can hold?
useful video!
Harbor Freight prices have gone up on many of the bigger ticket items - such as the Hercules Bench Grinder that lost the variable speed and the lamp but gained a fat $50 (same with the Yukon Workbench). Hence, I'm done with Harbor Freight...they just ain't who they used to be.
The abrasives that come with most grinders and sanders, leave much to be desired? The abrasives make or break, even the worst grinders out there? That's where the companies cheapen out all the time? Quality abrasives make all the difference in any tool, especially bench grinders?
I'd be good with the $99 Bauer, but thinking about it, I can get a $5 gooseneck light and mount it over the $55 Bauer. Yeah, that'd be good for me. The real problem I have to deal with is this: I don't like corn in a can. I'm strictly a fresh on-the-cob or frozen corn guy. So Jeff, any suggestions?
That $55 Bauer is a 6 inch grinder, not an 8 inch like all the others. Looks like Jeff missed that...
How about some English peas? Pinto beans maybe? Then there's corned beef hash... 🤔😎
@@Arkie407 I’m doing some tests to determine the suitability of the following: Progresso Soup, Baked Beans, and Spaghetti-Os.
To quote @Wranglerstar, it doesn't "give me the Fizz." 😕
New subscriber Bear. Good video. Looking to pick a new grinder up for simple metal work and sharpening. Can you recommend a food wheel dressing too? I’ve been looking for a good diamond point dressing tool. Thanks.
I bought the Hercules variable speed last year I haven’t put it together yet . At what speed should you use when truing and dressing up the wheels
You didn't have to balance the grinding wheels? How great is that?
I bought the 6” Bauer grinder for $45 a week ago
Probably all I’ll ever need
I have the Hercules with variable speed, been a great machine for me.
Can these take a wire wheel?
I have that Hercules grinder, and I love it.
Is the variable speed smooth running?
Thanks,Bear! I was wondering if the Herc was bolted-down to your work bench? I couldn't tell for sure. If that grinder WAS NOT bolted down, it is damn smooth and balanced! I have a cheap (read: free) "panther" 6" grinder that I put coarse and fine wire wheels on and it vibrates like a Swedish sexual device.
I've heard a good test is to place a penny on top of the housing and run the machine. If the penny stays put, your balance is good!
Not bolted down.
@@denoftools 👍
Thanks. Is there any difference in the type / quality of the grinder wheels that come with those grinders? I also just noticed HF apparently does not sell replacement wheels for their bench grinders.
Ditch the stock wheels and put some good Norton stones on it.
Huh? They got them in every store right by the grinders typically. What are you talking about?
I like my $80 Ironton. It sharpens tungsons, that all I use it for though.
That VS 8” grinder looks exactly like a Delta VS 8” grinder (I’m sure they came out of the same overseas factory with different paint and stickers) I had and it was a raging flaming POS. The variable speed function quit within a year. When I did some online research, turns out the variable speed electronics were common problems.
Love your reviews big bear! Do you ever work with Eastwood? I've had 2 of their welders and have been nothing but happy with the output.
I don’t they can also tell you I’ve never heard anything negative about them
If they want to build a top of the line grinder they need to ditch the sheet metal guards and go with cast. Nothing screams cheap more than guards that you know won't last.
Good vid. Thanks
If you want a good bench grinder it won't be found in regular retail and it won't be cheap. Ideally it will be heavy high density cast iron, weigh at least 200lbs, a large enough motor to handle max frictional force on the diameter of the grinding wheel at continuous duty, Timken or better precision balanced opposed two layer ball bearings, precision balanced and machined motor-shaft to near aerospace standards , no plastic parts not even for clamping, thick high density cast iron precision machined rests using a minimum of 3/8" to 1/2" locking bolts. The motor ideally would be three phase and driven by a VFD for the variable speeds , no rheostats. This would in combination create a lifetime grinder that is free from vibration, can repeat anything, run endlessly and always produce top quality grinds.
However a grinder like this will not be $200, it would be more like $4000 to start. The grinder described above is what professional grade looks like, of course it must be paired with equal quality grinding wheels and stone care practices.
I think the cheaper Bauer grinder is a 6 inch and the $100 Bauer is an 8 inch like the Hercules
Their grinders are exactly the same as a bunch of Chinese grinder importers are selling.
Dang it now i need a new grinder 😮😅😅
The 150 bucks for one is plenty high for my blood and it’s more than I can afford
But wish I had it😊😊😊
Habor Freight is driving customers away due to the High prices for their mediocre products. Hell I'm seeing name brands at Lowes' and HD for the same or lower (sale price). I have a Craftsman grinder I bought in 1971 for 28$ and still use it all the time. Maybe young rich kids will buy this stuff but I can tell you the old guys won't~!!
I love it when you say "name brand" like that means anything. Craftsman was NEVER a "Name brand" in fact they did the same thing that HF does, buying other people products and putting their name on it. On top of that Craftsman is a zombie brand. Sears sold them and now it's owned by Stanley Black and Decker. The Craftsman you see today have zero relationship to the grinder you bought in '71. On top of that Harbor Freight has been increasing their products quality and performance to the point where it is consistently competing head to head with "name brands" like Dewalt, Milwaukee and others. BUT with the other brands you have to send them off for warranty service and with HF you just take it back to the store. HF has taken the place of Sears.
funny all these channels i see.. there is always a complaint.. this guy was sayin about the LED light on the belt/grinder combo. bein batterys. if they add a power supply to it to run off 120. it will raise the cost of the grinder... folks before runnin your lips.. think 1st.. and if its that bad for u that u need wall power to the lights. find a wall wart that puts out the 3 volts or so and wire it up.. not hard to do folks
You didn’t seem to put the old brain and gear before making this comment. Talked about the grinder being cheaper but you’re gonna waste money on batteries over the years. It’s gonna far out strip a couple bucks more to get a good solid light on there. Then your solution is to spend more money to buy an adapter you’re killin your own argument there.
I feel like an idiot. Why do I want a bench grinder? What is the use case this thing is the only answer?
If your making something and welding it together. The parts you cut; especially if you use a chop saw; grind down the edges and ends real quick to smooth them down. Or round off ends to make them curved instead of sharp corners. The wire wheel isn't nice for cleaning things up.
@@rtz549 I don’t work in metal, do I still need one?
@@michaelmiller1109 no it's really only useful for doing tons of grinding.
I have the hercules variable speed 8" grinder in like new condition if anyone is near indianapolis and wants it for $80
gruß aus germany würzburg danke bär gut staf
If they are made in China, Harbor Freight can keep them. My Dayton will run forever.
Not too hot to touch?
What no more stupid bear
You can easily tell a guy that GETS ALL OF HIS TOOL FREE (for a youtube video) as he grinds a perfectly good new ratchet as a grinder test!!! This guy doesn't "professionally use tools for a living - he makes video's about tools! I prefer the opinion of an expert that makes a living using his tools.