BGM-100 with 5" grinding wheels

[C.J.]

Hi,

This is my first post, and I have a question I figured would have already been asked many times before, but my searching of this discussion board was not fruitful.  Apologies if this has been answered somewhere else - if so, just drop a link and I will check it out. 

I am a woodworker, but completely brand new to wood turning.  I am gathering all of the stuff needed, and I am currently working on reconditioning an old dry-wheel grinder to use with the Tormek BGM-100 dry grinding setup.  My hope is to rough shape tools before sharpening on my T-8. For sentimental reasons, I am reworking my deceased father-in-law's 1950's General Hardware grinder with two 5" wheels.  In reading about the BGM-100's setup, however, it clearly states it is for use with 6-10" wheels.  I am wondering how the 5" setup compares to a 6".  If using a 5" wheel is going to be fussy, perhaps more cumbersome, but workable, I will give it a shot.  If a 5" wheel is doomed to failure, I'll just get a bigger grinder. 

Thanks for any advice and insights. 

Regards,

c.j.

[Ken S]

Welcome to the forum, CJ.

Your question rings a familiar bell with me. I asked turning and sharpening expert, Ernie Conover almost the same question. My dry grinder is a Sears Craftsman six inch model I purchased in 1972. It served me very well until I purchased my T7 in 2009. Although I much prefer Tormek dust free wet grinding, i must admit the faster dry grinding can be tempting with tasks like reshaping turning tools. That said, I really don't want to invest in a new eight inch dry grinder.

Ernie knows that I am a Tormeker. I asked him what he thought about doing the heavier shaping with my present six inch grinder and then switching to my Tormek. Ernie thought that was a practical solution. I see no reason why your father-in-law's five inch General Hardware grinder won't work, also. You will have a little more finish grinding to do, as do I; however, you will have the connection of putting your father-in-law's grinder back on active duty.
Enjoy!
Ken

[C.J.]

Great, I appreciate your reply, Ken, thank you!


Regards,

c.j.