bench grinders

I think it depends on what you use it for.

If you do a lot of buffing,then investing in a higher quality unit with variable speed may be warranted.

I do not use mine for much. The occasional grinding down a bolt so it fits kinda thing.

Not exactly precision instruments.

-- Brad, Texas, https://www.youtube.com/user/tonkatoytruck/feed

If live near a Woodcraft store this single speed with AL friable wheels is on sale and very popular with woodturners.

http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/158512/Rikon-8in-Slow-Speed-Grinder.aspx

Here are the specs;

http://rikontools.com/productpage_grinders.html

To me does not matter whether a grinder is single or variable speed. Only secret to buying a bench grinder is buy locally if there is a problem easy to exchange or get a refund if necessary.

-- Bill

The Rikon 8in Slow Speed Grinder is on sale at Woodcraft for $99 … pretty hard to beat that price for a decent quality grinder.

-- Gerry -- "I don't plan to ever really grow up ... I'm just going to learn how to act in public!"

I think Baldor or Gryphon motors are amongst the best. If you only need it occasionally though, get a mid range not too expensive.Or do as I always preach buy a better known used one.If for buffing get a two speed in my opinion.Alistair

-- excuse my typing as I have a form of parkinsons disease

The real secret to a good bench grinder is getting the right wheel for the job. Chances are, whatever you buy will have lousy wheels included with the machine. Standard wheels are meant for grinding non-tempered, ferrous metals.

-- See my work at http://remmertstudios.com and http://altaredesign.com

Find one these old Craftsman grinders if you can. I like mine. The Gooseneck lamp is a really nice feature.
8in wheels are only a “must have” if you plan to use the grinder for sharpening planes/chisels. And you’ll probably want variable speed so you don’t burn up the metal on the tools. I don’t use my grinder to sharpen anything except my lawnmower blade.
If you just need it for general grinding jobs, 6in/3450rpm will work fine.
In terms of brands I don’t think there is much middle ground with grinders. You can go high end with a Baldor ($300-400).....otherwise, you’re probably better off just finding something on the lower end of the price scale, since at that point, they all appear to be basically the same.

Avoid low end cheapies. I bought a “1/3 hp” Grizzly some years ago. I could easily slow it down or stall it with a modest amount of pressure. Later I found a used 11 amp (claimed 3/4 hp, I think) Grizzly that is very powerful. But I don’t think it is a current model.

-- I admit to being an adrenaline junky; fortunately, I'm very easily frightened

Tedstor has a newer model of my Craftsman/Dayton grinder. Mine is a 7” single speed, but has done all I have needed.
I have good wheels (alum. oxide-grey) that are well trued.
I would buy this puppy again, but ya probably can’t find one readily.
Bill

-- bill@magraphics.us