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Grinder bit the dust

David Wyke

David Wyke

Joined
Nov 22, 2023
Messages
758
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5,410
Location
Morganton, NC
I went out to turn a couple of green bowls so I could get back on a few I still needed to finish turn. I flipped the switch on my grinder to touch up a bowl gouge and about two seconds in it stopped. I checked a few things out, light on it worked but no power to the motor. Check some wires, pulled the switch off and couldn’t see anything obvious.
It is a Delta 8” variable speed that I’ve had for several years. I didn’t have time to do a lot of trouble shooting and the Rikon low speed was on sale for $127.00. So I turned the two green bowls and headed to Klingspor and bought it.
I had to plane a hard maple board to get the height correct and just about completed the setup yesterday. I had to stop to go pick up my granddaughter from Prek but will finish today.
I think the Delta is a switch problem and will check it out as soon as I get caught up on turnings. I need two grinders so hopefully this will be a easy fix.
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The Rikon grinders do go on sale from time to time. I have 2 of the 1 hp models. They have enough power to run metal wheels. The 1/2 hp model just seemed too whimpy to me. They do run on for a while after you switch them off. The lights that come on them are worthless!

robo hippy
 
Easy to check the switch. Take off that panel, and put a jumper around the switch. If it ran a couple of seconds, it’s likely to be the potentiometer. You can get a generic pot on Amazon for just a few bucks. Maybe you can take that new one back, or spend that little bit of money and have a second grinder.
 
robo hippy said:
The Rikon grinders do go on sale from time to time. I have 2 of the 1 hp models. They have enough power to run metal wheels. The 1/2 hp model just seemed too whimpy to me. They do run on for a while after you switch them off. The lights that come on them are worthless!

robo hippy
Click to expand...
Well this one is the 1/2 hp model but I did sharpen a couple of 5/8 gouges yesterday and it seem to do fine. If I have issues I’ll sell a couple more bowls and buy the 1 hp model. Guess I should have researched it a little more.
 
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Alan Weinberg said:
I had same issue with my cheap Harbor Freight grinder—it died—and bought the 1 hp Rikon. I’m very happy. Needed 1 hp to turn that heavy D-way wheel. Good luck.
Click to expand...
This one is 1/2 hp but seemed to turn the wheel fine and I sharpened a couple of gouges with it. May need to switch to the 1 hp if I start having issues.
 
Richard Coers said:
Easy to check the switch. Take off that panel, and put a jumper around the switch. If it ran a couple of seconds, it’s likely to be the potentiometer. You can get a generic pot on Amazon for just a few bucks. Maybe you can take that new one back, or spend that little bit of money and have a second grinder.
Click to expand...
Plan to jump the switch in a couple weeks to see if that’s the issue.
 
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