Air powered surface grinder

[Crosley.In.AZ]

This unit in photos is very weak on power.  Even with 120 psi coming in. It bogs down.

Any suggsstions on another brand?  Not too expensive.

Need to grind some paint off with disc in the 40 -36 grit.  Prep for some body work , bondo , sanding, bondo , sanding, pecking the metal, sanding.  Disc are 4 - 4.5 inches in diameter

[58 Yeoman]

The one I had just up and wore out.  I bought another one, but don't remember what brand or where I got it, but I know it had a lot more kick than the old one.  I'll look in the shop tomorrow.

[Digger]

I have 3 or 4  of those I have collected over the years from cheap to expensive and none have much power with coarse grit, it just grabs too much and slows them down. If I have to use those grits and do a lot of sanding i've had better luck using my angle air buffer with a disk on it. you can pobably find one reasonable at HF. If your going to use it a lot though you need a good one.

[Rrumbler]

Get out the electric one and some appropriate grit flap wheels is what I'd do; not much difference dragging a cord or an air line around.  In fact, my old air sander died many years ago, and I've never even missed it; my six inch electric serves very well.

[enjenjo]

The one I have is a Snap On, not cheap, but very powerful.

[wayne petty]

just curious... and i don't expect an answer.. a good friend complained about the lack of power all his air tools had..

he had 1/4 whip hose on the end of his shop air hose..  this cut the airflow down enough to make him hate his air tools..

just for the forum members..  i use 4.5 inch angle grinders..  20 buck electric garbage from HF..  but i take them apart first.. fill the gear cavity with proper gear lube.. or moly graphite wheel bearing grease..  i also use some moly grease on the main shaft bushing bore..  this slows down the bushing wearout..  hint.. that bushing is the same size a a ball bearing. http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb476/waynep712/tools/Bearings_ROLLER_BY_SIZE_zps8807d812.jpg

so you can convert and some parts stores have them really cheep.. its only a 20 buck grinder.. why use a 20 buck bearing when you can get a 6 buck bearing if you call around.


i thought this would be something really creative like mounting a manual transmission flywheel on a hub and bearing assembly with a brake rotor also installed to mount the drive belt to or a sprocket to .. there are some companies that will apply diamonds to the surface of the flywheel.. so one could make a really neat surface grinder..  for grinding BIG surfaces..  not a cheep fix..  unless you use a stepped flywheel.. that has a narrow area for the diamonds to be plated to think air cooled VW flywheels. ..  i have been thinking about this for a long time.. i was going to do this for a vertical mill tool to surface heads..


lastly.. i also love FLAP WHEELS.. but somebody left me a plastic wheel with embedded abrasive.. i think its used for grinding concrete ..man is that a great wheel for cutting odd materials..   i actually keep a worn out flap wheel on the arbor behind the new one.. so the grinding face is just barely above the shield height..

[Crosley.In.AZ]

regular size hose.  says 3/8 printed on the hose.

2 stage compressor is turned down to about 130 max psi.  Old Speedaire 2 stage, real 5 hp motor, 80 gallon tank, it will pump some air.

As I recall I bought this generatic air grinder not long before I hung up body work tools.  i always did my own body & paint. Was burned out, quit probably 16 - 18 yrs ago.

Previous air powered  grinder was a paint eating machine. Likely wore it out or it was stolen.

I've got a Mikita 4 inch electric and another 4.5 inch unit made in Germany. Had the German unit for near 40 yrs

[wayne petty]

As I recall I bought this generatic air grinder not long before I hung up body work tools.  i always did my own body & paint. Was burned out, quit probably 16 - 18 yrs ago.

then its time for some more generic before we become geriatric

this is exactly what you have... 20 bucks.. http://www.harborfreight.com/5-in-high-speed-air-sander-68739.html

break it .. toss it.  or melt it for the aluminum


this one is a little nicer..
http://www.harborfreight.com/air-tools/grinders/4-inch-air-angle-grinder-95504.html


i have been personally been wanting one of these even thought i have little use for air tools right now.. http://www.harborfreight.com/air-angle-sander-93629.html


just thoughts..

this is the style but not brand of the grinding disc the contractor left..

http://abrasive41.blogspot.com/2013/09/ridgid-7-in-16-grit-abrasive-grinding.html

all i can say is  WOW.... its like  having a great white shark on the grinder..

for those visiting so cal.. or use a LOT of flap wheels.  http://www.inpactools.com/index.php?p=page&page_id=contact_us

they don't have much of a web site.. but they have a killer deal on flap wheels. they are next door to cal aero supply..  i grew up wandering the isles of washington hardware surplus in los angeles. man do i miss that store..

[Glen]

Tony, I have a 7" electric craftsman.....it will definitely do the job, I used it on some buick panels.  

you are welcome to borrow it, you will need to pick up a pad from space age and some paper....my pad is old crusty and falling apart.

Give you an excuse to check out the new house too.