Bench grinder. Why make it hard to mount

old · Feb 16, 2020

So I took the new to me bench grinder out to the shop today. Has 4 mounting holes but there is no way to run a drill bit down threw the holes so one can bolt it down Even if you had a foot long bit you cannot run it down straight. So for right now I have it bolted down by one bolt. Used the hole form to old grinder that stopped working for that

Bob · Feb 16, 2020

Tip it over, lay a piece of paper on the base, and "rub" around the mounting holes with a soft pencil, making a template for drilling the mounting holes.

Idaho Digger · Feb 16, 2020

Break a pencil in half until it'll fit under the grinder, set the grinder where you want and mark the holes. Remove grinder and drill your holes. Mine was a pita to fit long bolts from the top, ended up running bolts from the bottom with nuts/washers on the top. If you're using lags, run the lags thru the holes in the grinder, then set grinder over the drilled holes in your bench and screw 'em down.

old · Feb 16, 2020

The one bolt I have holding it right now had to be put in from the bottom of the bench and up so the nut is at the base of the grinder

Fawteen · Feb 16, 2020

I have limited bench space and the grinder is often in the way.

I built a removable base as shown. Grinder is bolted to the base, base pins into the front edge of the bench top. The top is 3/4 plywood over 2x6 planks so it's plenty thick enough.

Drill some holes in the edge of the bench, align the grinder mount with the holes and shove the pins in the holes. Plenty rugged enough for most work altho it will move around a little under really heavy use.

When you're done, unplug the grinder, pop it out of the holes and set it out of the way.

Janicholson · Feb 16, 2020

Use spray paint to mark the holes through the top onto the bench. then drill. use bolts only 3/8 or so longer than the bench thickness. As your first bolt has been done. Jim

DoubleO7 · Feb 16, 2020

I used an oil can.
After placing grinder where wanted, then made a drop of oil into center of each hole to mark where to drill.

Russ from MN · Feb 16, 2020

A millwright like myself would just measure the bolt pattern and lay it out with a square and drill the holes!

gears · Feb 16, 2020

I mounted mine to a the front edge of a 14"x14" chunk of plywood, drilled a hole in the center of the plywood and have one bolt holding it to the bench. When I don't need it I rotate it to the back of the bench. There is a "retaining" bolt I drop into a 2nd hole so it doesn't move while I'm using it.

504 · Feb 16, 2020

I would suggest a piece of cardboard,and a small ball peen hammer.Tap it out like you are making a gasket. Perfect base pattern.

Adirondack case guy · Feb 16, 2020

Take a pencil and stick it in the holes of the grinder, and mark the bench. If you don't have a pencil use a nail and scratch the outline of the holes on the bench. It sure isn't anything as complicated as you make it out to be.-------------------------Loren

Stephen Newell · Feb 16, 2020

If you can't just mark it with a pencil, you might turn it upside down and make a paper pattern.

old · Feb 16, 2020

The room it has does not let one use a pencil or even a nail to do that. holes for mounting are such that you cannot even stick a nail or pencil in and hit both the top and bottom hole. Ye it has a top hole and a bottom hole which are about 1- 2 inches apart from each other

greenmech · Feb 16, 2020

Hard to believe it is even a problem here. Ron MN

DelMN · Feb 16, 2020

Weld a bigger steel plate to the bottom and attach that to the bench.

Stroby · Feb 17, 2020

....I often refer to these kind of things as "harassment of the elderly."

Ellis Kinney · Feb 17, 2020

I had a small bench grinder with no good way to mount it. I welded the corners of the mounting bracket (which was useless) to a steel plate with a small tab underneath and I put it in a vise when I need it. Ellis

SVcummins · Feb 17, 2020

I had no idea being a millwright was so cool .
Millwright

jacksun65 · Feb 17, 2020

I use spray paint, and spray in the holes. Then just drill out the painted spots. Run the bolts up from the bottom.

fixerupper · Feb 17, 2020

(quoted from post at 17:12:35 02/16/20) A millwright like myself would just measure the bolt pattern and lay it out with a square and drill the holes!

Russ I would do the same thing. It does not take that long to measure and square it up.

Blueford4000 · Feb 17, 2020

(quoted from post at 17:48:48 02/16/20) I mounted mine to a the front edge of a 14"x14" chunk of plywood, drilled a hole in the center of the plywood and have one bolt holding it to the bench. When I don't need it I rotate it to the back of the bench. There is a "retaining" bolt I drop into a 2nd hole so it doesn't move while I'm using it.

I like your idea best....time for me to mount my grinder.

DoubleO7 · Feb 17, 2020

Some of the suggests tions won't work if it has a cast pot metal base and can't hardly drop anything into the holes to mark the bench.

old · Feb 17, 2020

Most will not because of a air gap between where the top mount are is and a bottom plate. Paint might go in but then cover wires etc. Plus the lack of room between the stone guards and the base leave no way to use a pencil because the pencil would be so short it would fall into the gap

T.R.K. · Feb 17, 2020

I take my cotter key puller and mark holes where a pencil won't fit. it has a handle like a screwdriver and a 90 degree bend about 1-1/2" from the end, which is pointed. I just reach in there, drop the point through the hole, scratch around with the point until I am sure there is a mark I can use, then move the device and drill the hole. A bent rod ground to a point will work as well.

timcasbolt · Feb 18, 2020

(quoted from post at 20:12:35 02/16/20) A millwright like myself would just measure the bolt pattern and lay it out with a square and drill the holes!

You wouldn't even need to be a millwright. Anybody with a ruler should be able to measure the distance between the holes, and it's always going to be an even number, whether fractional or metric. I'll bet most grinders would have the footprint listed in the owner's manual or on the manufacturer's website.

ztrmowers · Feb 19, 2020

and that has you stumped, turn it over mark or measure holes and life goes on. just playing with ya.

old · Feb 19, 2020

No it does not stump me but it does get to me that a company would make it hard to mount things and to me that would be a selling point as in we have easy mount set up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Caryc · Feb 22, 2020

(quoted from post at 17:12:35 02/16/20) A millwright like myself would just measure the bolt pattern and lay it out with a square and drill the holes!

As an aircraft sheet metal worker and flat pattern layout person, I really can't fathom that being a problem for anyone.

Maybe just an inconvenience. I think that was what the OP as going for.

old · Feb 22, 2020

You seem to be the only person you understand what I was saying. As in I am saying poor engineering on the part of the company making it a pain to mount the unit

Bench grinder. Why make it hard to mount

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