Editorial Review

Using a dull-edged tool takes more effort, gives inferior results, and is dangerous. This Delta sharpening center uses a wet/dry system to hone both hardened and nonhardened tools and helps keep you on the cutting edge. Powered by a 120-volt, 1/5-horsepower induction motor, it rests on a solid cast-iron base that bolts easily to any bench or tabletop in the shop. The wet side spins a 1,000-grit, 8-inch wheel at 400 rpm to sharpen hardened tools without damaging their temper. Water pressure is easily regulated to help achieve a constant stream suited to any sharpening application. For honing edges and pointing screwdrivers, the dry side turns the 5-inch aluminum-oxide wheel up to 3,600 rpm. We especially appreciate the ease with which the tool rest and holder adjust to work on either wheel, whether tightly clamped around blades for a perfectly horizontal surface or removed to allow rotation. --Justin Paul ... Read more

Features

• Two-year limited warranty on machines, parts, and accessories
• Cast iron body for stability
• Adjustable tool rests hold the workpiece at the proper angle for sharpening
• Wet grinding wheel sharpens hardened cutting tools without damaging temper
• Dry wheel for pointing screwdrivers and honing knives and workshop tools

Reviews (28)

great engineering, poor construction
If BMW hired the three stooges to build their new 7 series sedan, it might end up alot like the Delta 23-710.Great engineering, poor construction.It is an amazing product for the price.I got mine, with the optional planer knife jig, for less than $200 from Amazon.com.When all was said and done, I was able to perfectly grind and hone my 6" jointer knives in very little time.However, alot was said and done to get to that point.

As it comes in the box, the Sharpening Center was non-functional.The grooves in all the tool jig rods were
misaligned with the set screws, making it imposssible to line up a blade with the grinding wheels.The jig rods must be set up so their grooves DO NOT align with the set screws so that the jig will align properly with the grinder.Also, my planer knife jig would not hold planer knives.I had to re-drill the locating holes on the clamp plate to get it to work correctly.While functional, the jig now looks like a Rube Goldberg contraption.

After reading other reviews, I think most people will find they have alot of work ( and thinking on their feet ) to do before they can get this thing to sharpen a blade.So how can I give it three stars?First of all, it is a whole lot cheaper than your only two real alternatives for sharpening planer/jointer knives - the Makita 9820-2, or the Tormek.Secondly, it really is well engineered, and once you get it's problems fixed, it does a very nice job.

So, if you're the kind of person who sees "challenges" and "learning oppertunities" not "problems" and "cheap labor issues", then this is the sharpener for you.If not, send your blades out for sharpening, because I'm sure the Tormek and Makita have their issues also.

Inadequate
I purchased this item primarily to sharpen wood turning chisels.Impossible to use with small chisels for turning projects on a mini lathe, because the shafts are not long enough to be held by the provided tool holder.General quality is poor, and insufficiently flexible use for a variety of sharpening requirements.

You get what you pay for
Can this sharpener do what the Tormek can? No way! However this sharpener is a lot less expensive. I've used it successfully to sharpen wood chisels and plane irons. It does a good job in a lot less time than doing it all by hand. The white wheel is good for rough work (grinding a new edge on an old screw driver) and the tool holders work fine. Yes the wet wheel might splash a bit and the tool holders are not adequate for sharpening complex curves. But if you are looking for an inexpensive way to sharpen flat edge tools, this one does work. I have no complaints. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Grinders    2. Bench Grinders   

Features

• 2 year limited warranty on machines, parts and accessories
• Powerful 2.5-amp induction motor for quiet smooth operation
• White sharpening wheel and general grinding wheel for all grinding and sharpening
• Electronic variable speed from 2,000 to 3,450 rpm
• Diamond wheel dresser standard with on-board storage

Reviews (7)

Its decent - but not great
Before buying this tool I found myself in a common predicament - I needed a grinder with some decent features and I didn't have a lot to spend on it.That being said, I chose this model for the following high points:

1.It has variable speed - mine has worked flawlessly thus far, but I use it at the lowest speed 80% of the time anyway.

2.The worklight is a huge plus - no more straining to see because you are in too much of a hurry to set up a proper light.

3.The combination of white and grey wheels - the "white" wheel does a great job of fine tuning the work done by the "grey" wheel.

Now for the downsides:

1.There is a fair amount of runout in the motor shaft.This doesn't affect what I use this thing for, but I can see where it would be a big issue for some.

2.The tool rests are terrible.If you mount them as instructed there is no way to get them square to the wheels.I had to shim the edges of the mounting brackets with thick washers to come anywhere close to square...

All of that said, I feel that this is not a terrible tool for what it is.I had no problems with assembly (10 minutes) and I find the power of the motor to be very adequate.If Delta were charging $20 less for this thing I would readily give it another star...

Look elsewhere
I've had a GR250 for slightly longer than the warranty period.In this time, I've only used it for a few hours, probably less than FIVE!The only use I had for a grinder was establishing a quick hollow grind on edge tools.The stock tool rests stink, so I had it set up on an MDF base with a Veritas rest.

Recently, I took up turning, so I've needed to use a grinder more.As soon as I started using the GR250 for serious work, I found excessive runout in the _shafts_, which no stone truing or balancing can correct.Also, my variable speed quit, and the grinder will no longer run at anything other than full speed.

Need a good grinder?Spend the cash for a Baldor or equivalent, 'cause this isn't a precision machine.

I have several Delta machines, including a DJ-20 and X5 Bandsaw, and have noticed that the quality of lower priced Delta products has really hit the wall over the last few years.Other than paint, marketing and advertising, I see no difference in quality between this unit and some of the $29-39 Chiwanese imports.

Last point - the design of the base on this unit prevents a OneWay Wolverine jig from being mounted underneath the wheels.

tool rest detents
This problem is overcome by placeing a washer between the 2 surfaces ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Grinders    2. Bench Grinders   

Features

• Two-year limited warranty on machines, parts, and accessories
• 3/4 hp motor turns at 1725 rpm for cooler grinding
• Fully adjustable tool rests provide the proper angle and support for all applications
• Flexible lamp can be adjusted to illuminate the workpiece for the best visibility
• Steel wheel guards have built-in dust ports for use with a metal dust collector

Reviews (9)

An industrial sized grinder priced for the home hobbiest
My first impression of this grinder was that it is HUGE and HEAVY. It is no wonder that the cardboard box and styrofoam packaging arrived in pretty bad shape. Nothing damaged though and it went together in just a few minutes. The lamp comes without a light bulb but I found that the recommended 40 watt reflector track light bulb works well.

I am a woodturner so I am interested in smooth running wheels that leave a good cutting edge on my high speed steel tools.The grinding wheels that come with this unit are of reasonable quality and produce good results with proper dressing.The dressser that comes with the grinder is OK for truing the wheel but leaves the surface a little too rough for my liking so I use a diamond dresser.

The tool rests are strong and solid but if you need to make frequent adjustments to the rest, as I do, you should think about replacing the supplied bolts with rachet knobs for easier adjustment.

I think that Delta should have connected the two grinder exhaust ports together, as they face each other, and provided a single vacuum connection. The side facing exhaust portrs make connecting an exhaust hose awkward.

The grinder I received runs very quiet with almost no vibration once that the wheels trued up. It takes up a lot more space on my work bench than the old sears grinder it replaced but the extra clearance between the wheels and motor housing makes grinding curved surfaces much easier.All in all, I am very pleased with this unit and I am sure that I will get many years of good service from it.For the price it is hard to beat.

Professional grade 8" grinder
Because my prior [high-speed] grinders too easily overheated metal parts, I now prefer slower speed machines.Also, wheels turning at a slower speed are less likely to disintegrate, so this machine should be somewhat safer than a 3450 RPM grinder.All things being equal, a 3450 RPM grinder will remove material faster, but the motor on this 1725 RPM grinder is so powerful, to remove material faster, just press harder.

The 23-725 is big and heavy.In spite of Amazon and Delta claiming this is a 100 lb. device, the box it came in weighed "only" 82 pounds - so the machine probably weighs about 79 pounds.That's still plenty heavy.The wheels are 15 ¾" from wheel center to wheel center; it's 10 ¾" to the top of the motor housing; 19" wide not counting the eye shields, 12" to the top of the wheel housing; 11 3/8" deep without the water tray, and 12 ¾" deep with the water tray.

The cast iron motor frame, tool rests & tool-rest brackets, plus the four large rubber feet, keeps vibration within the acceptable range, and gives the tool a look and feel of quality and heft.The tool-rests are rock-solid.

The toggle switch is protected, so it's unlikely you'll accidentally turn it on, a good safety feature.The lift-off water tray is amply sized.The fitted lamp is quite nice and the goose-neck section is about the right length.At the rear of each wheel's housing is an inward facing 1 3/4" dust port for a vacuum hook-up.As an alternative, a rubber-banded sock over each port seems to catch most of the grit.The grinder comes with a wheel dressing tool.

The box said Made in Taiwan.Many years ago that might have been an indication of lower quality, but it seems to me that this tool looks good enough to have said Made in the USA.

As a point of reference, the Sears Craftsman 8" professional grinder (model # 21158, Internet or catalog only) looks nearly identical but costs $10 more (not counting tax & shipping), is a 3450 rpm machine, and doesn't come with an aluminum oxide wheel.

If you already own a grinder, consider retrofitting your old machine with wire wheels and/or buffing wheels.

This Delta is a professional grade grinding machine.I've had the 10" version of this grinder (Delta 23-735, now discontinued) for a couple of years, and have used it countless times.Perhaps that's the ultimate accolade; I liked the 10" model so much, I bought this one for my son.

Delta 23-725 8" Industrial Grinder
Excellent grinder. Very smooth running,low noise. Shipping is the only problem. Amazon should not say it ships in 24 hours when they know it will be closer to a month. It was shipped in a weak cardboard box. This is a 100 lb plus grinder. That is asking a little much of Chinese cardboard. The light and one side was smashed. It is being replaced without a problem. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Grinders    2. Bench Grinders   

Features

• 2 year limited warranty on machines, parts and accessories
• 2.5-amp induction motor for cooler, quieter operation
• Cast-iron base and motor housing for durability and stability
• Ball bearing construction for long-lasting smooth operation
• Flexible lamp provides proper illumination for better visibility

Reviews (4)

Unacceptable
I bought the similar model, I believe it was the GR-275. I ended up taking it back. Some reasons: Both wheels ran out diametrically, a lot, causing very bad vibration. After dressing both wheels the vibration was still bad. Upon checking I found both wheels were running out side-to-side, the white wheel very badly (about 0.060" runout). I tried dismounting them and checking for problems with burrs or debris but could find none. The included wheel dresser gouged the SOFT aluminum tool rests when I dressed the wheels. I agree with another reviewer that the angled v-cut in the left-hand tool rest is more of a hindrance than a help. The wheel nut on one side was hard to get off. I found the threads in the nut had a large burr which had almost galled the shaft threads. I didn't have a left-hand tap to run in and clean up the threads, and by that time I was tired of messing with it.
Overall, the motor unit and base was heavy and solid. The variable speed feature is decent. The tool rests seemed fairly solid, and except for he problems mentioned above were usable. The other components were cheap and flimsy. The spark guards would hit the guard attachment lock knobs when adjusted down to compensate for wheel wear.

cast pot metal under powerd ...
one of the tool rets one mine broke wile gentel use I was suprisd because I thought it would be steel or cast iron wich i could fix by weldimng it but no it was pot metal which is almost imposible to repair.Ten seconds after I turned it on the spare stopers on top losend and started to grind away the spark shileds got dirty and started to shake about and get in the way.so needless to say I took them off and threw them out. them moter spins to fast to grind cuting tools for it burns the temper and is good for nothing but light slow deburing.The moter is pathetic It takes for ever to grind a lawn moer blaed espsily if you have a tractor with two blades like on a tractor mower.if you even have a slight nick in the blade it takes five pluss minuts longer at least.then by trhe timne you are about done shrping your two blades the mote housing is very very warmfor it dose not have sufficent cooling. also to use it it needs to be bolted to heavy and sturdy base or else it will tilt back and flip over if you use any presure.also it takes forever to grind any thing.buy a real grinder like a 1725 rpm grinder for wood wqorking tools or an angel grinder for lawn mower blades and outhe stuff.

Great value
Quality construction.Tool rests are solid cast(not flimsy stamped like a lot of other grinders in this price range).Angled channel in right tool rest is great for sharpening drill bits.Super quiet - almost too quiet (can hardly tell that it's running).For the price (39.99 at Lowes), it has an attached flexible lamp!!Sturdy plastic spark deflectors are easily adjusted and are very transparent, so you can still see what you are doing.The only thing missing is variable speed control (how often would you find that feature useful?). ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Grinders    2. Bench Grinders   

Features

• Two-year limited warranty on machines, parts, and accessories
• Utility grinder for blade and tool sharpenening
• Two fully adjustable tool rests for a wide range of sharpening angles
• 120 grit wet/dry grinding wheel for fine sharpening
• Rubber pads minimize vibration and maximize stability on many surfaces

Reviews (5)

Not bad for the money.....
I bought this little grinder at a local home center for twenty bucks...close out sale. I have it sitting next to my wood lathe. I use it to touch up my lathe tools while doing projects. I don't use jigs and only use the tool rest to rest my hand on. I touch up the edges using my hands and mark one eyeball. Since the wheel turns so slowly it's pretty hard to mess up an edge after a little practice, even on the gouges. If you take your time and use a little patience at first, you can produce a good edge. Its not meant to reshape or grind out nicks, etc. Its basically an overgrown honing stone. It does a good job. I use it dry and clean the stone every so often. If I have a real bad one I go to the 8" grinder to shape and establish the edge, then use the small one to finish. My neighbor has the Tormak, and its a wonderfull machine, he's got all the jigs, holders, etc. But I can put an edge on my roughing gouge and be making chips before he gets set up to sharpen his. Guess its all in what you want to do....I just want a sharp tool. This little machine delivers what it says it will, but nothing more. It's not a do-all. I would reccommend it to anyone as a honing tool.

Terrible.
I thought it was a great value for a Delta tool.

While unpacking it I heard rattling inside, opened it up and found a bolt and washer for the motor mount had come off. That was easy enough to fix.

I did not much like the way it looked on the inside -did not see effective rubber gaskets to keep water from getting to the motor housing, the two belts for the reduction gears appear to be nylon rather than reinforced rubber. But I figured "it's a Delta, the design should be okay and it was only forty bucks".

Ten minutes into using it one of the belts slipped -had to open it again and noticed a lot of play in the pulleys sliding on their axels. I decided not to muck with it, just put the belt back on the gears and after another five minutes it slipped again.

It's back in its box ready to be returned.

Delta sure went cheap on this one.

Excellent for hollow grinding
The unlisted dimensions are 12 inches wide by 7 1/2 inches deep by 6 inches high.It was slightly larger than I expected.The wheel is very absorbant so water can be added slowly to the wheel itself even while it runs.This is not a common grinder but is a sharpener and requires patience and some skill.It makes an excellent hollow grind as described in another review.It does not cut quickly.The tool posts could be sturdier.The allen wrench fits the screw heads rather sloppily.These two points are why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5.Amazon.com had the best price anywhere with free shipping.It was well worth the money.I am very happy with this tool. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Grinders    2. Bench Grinders   

Features

• Two-year limited warranty on machines, parts, and accessories
• 1/5-hp induction motor for smooth, quiet power
• Slow speed wet wheel allows sharpening hardened cutting tools without damaging temper
• Includes sliding angle jig that sharpens double angle tools.
• Adjustable tool rest to compensate for wheel wear

Reviews (8)

A disappointment from Delta
I loosing faith in delta slowly but it is happening. this grinder looked and sounded OK for my purposes. But the slow wheel wobbles side to side so much it is not worth the aggravation. I tried Truing it, Shimming it and reversing the wheel. All to no effail. upon Reversing the wheel I noticed that the wheel shaft is machined to small creating the wobble. there is nothing that can be done. I am disappointed in delta For this design

Works exactly as advertised.
When this unit is used properly, dry wheel for grinding and wet wheel for honing, this tool does a more than adequate job.When honing, using the entire wheel by sliding the blade across the surface using using moderate to moderately strong, even pressure eliminates the need for frequent dressing.Cleaning could be easier and the guide could stand some improvement, but overall this is a very good tool, especially considering the price.I got what I paid for.

I expected much better from Delta
I havd owned this grinder for about six months and I am ready to throw it in the trash. To start with, the wheel is too soft and requires frequent trueing.This is particually a problem when you have to stop and true while working on a blade because it changes the grinding angle. The rpm's are too slow. With soft wheel and the low rmp's it can take over a hour to grind a blade. Cleaning up is also a problem. You have to take the wheel well off to clean out the residue of the wheel, which is considerable because the wheel is so soft.

I can turly say I can find nothing redeeming about this tool! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Grinders    2. Bench Grinders   

Features

• 2 year limited warranty on machines, parts and accessories
• 3-amp, 1/2-horsepower induction motr for long-lasting, smooth operation
• Cast-iron base and motor housing for durability and stability
• Adjustable tool rest compensates for wheel wear
• Flexible lamp provides proper illumination for better visibility

Reviews (1)

Consider Another Grinder
I bought one of these to replace a Delta 6in grinder that was stolen a little over a year ago.The 8in grinder seemed like a deal.I do a lot of plane and chisel sharpening and wanted something that would dish out the cutting edge a little less.This it does.However it absolutely stinks otherwise.I bolted it to my bench and it vibrated so badly anything that is on the bench walks itself off no matter how heavy.Not only are the stones not round, but are out of true by at least 1/16 inch!Delta sent me new stones...same problem.I bought new stones...same problem...but less.It turns out that both the stones and the shaft wobble!Delta would not warranty the grinder unless I sent it to them and pay the shipping both ways!This was as much as the cost of the grinder..Not only that, but the clear spark gaurds had huge stickers on them, that when peeled off, left all their adhesive on the gaurd so you couldn't see through them. Water would not remove the adhesive and anything that could, dissolved the plastic as well. Delta sent me new ones...for a different grinder!Delta is off my list for tools as long as they keep having things made in China.I cant image what their other stuff made in China must be like and I'm not willing to take the chance. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Grinders    2. Bench Grinders   

Features

• Two-year limited warranty on machines, parts, and accessories
• 1 hp motor turns at 1725 rpm for cooler grinding
• Fully adjustable tool rests provide the proper angle and support for all applications
• Flexible lamp can be adjusted to illuminate the workpiece for the best visibility
• Steel wheel guards have built-in dust ports for use with a metal dust collector

Reviews (2)

Good low cost 10" grinder
I just purchased the Delta 23-735 10" industrial grinder after looking at other options such as Baldor or Dayton.While the quality of the grinder is not in the same class as either of the aforementioned units, neither is the price.A 10" Baldor or similar with the pedestal would run at least $200 more.

The grinder arrived in two boxes, each adequately packaged to prevent damage.With the heaviest box weighing in at 115 pounds, some damage to the packaging was expected, and sure enough found.The grinder was undamaged.

Assembly of the unit was straightforward, and all parts required were included with the exception of an Allen wrench for tightening the pedestal post to the base.While these were factory installed, they were not tight enough to prevent the post from turning in the base once the grinder had been installed.Also, the holes in the flanged post base were not centered, and in order to mount the flanged post base on the square baseplate, some minor filing of one of the bolt heads was required.

Upon initial startup, the grinder exhibited some vibration.Close examination seems to indicated a small imbalance due to non-symetrical grinding wheels, but facing of the wheels should cure this.Power of the unit is adequate, and motor noise is much lower than expected.Coast down time after the grinder is switched of is quite long. The heft of the unit does a nice job of minimizing vibration.

The flexible lamp does not include a light bulb, but does seem to be constructed fairly well.

All in all, the unit appears to be solidly made, and should be more than adequate for most users looking for a heavy duty 10" grinder.

Excellent professional grade grinder
I've had the Delta 23-735 10" industrial grinder for a couple of years as of this writing. If you already own a grinder, consider retrofitting your old machine withwire or buffing wheels. Overheating metal parts was a serious issue on my previous 3450 RPM grinder, but is less so on this 1725 RPM machine - that alone made this a worthwhile investment.The 23-735 is big and heavy; 125 pounds; 15 ¼" wheel center to center; and 11" tall at the motor housing. All that cast iron in the motor frame and tool supports keeps vibration well within the acceptable range, and gives the tool a look of quality and heft.The toggle switch is protected, so it's unlikely you'll accidentally turn it on, a good safety feature.I prefer a can of water for a quenching tray as it's quicker to fill and empty, but the built-in water tray is amply sized.The fitted lamp is nice, but the goose-neck section should be a few inches longer.At the rear of each wheel's housing is a 2.5" dust port. I usually keep a rubber banded sock on each port; but attach a vacuum on dusty jobs.

Since I'm tall, the grinder is mounted on a 39" high bench.I used the very sturdy 33" high cast iron pedestal that comes with the grinder for another shop tool.I only use the Delta grinder a few times a week, so buying a Baldor 10" grinder (triple the cost), couldn't be justified.The Baldor was also much too wide for the available space.

The Sears Craftsman 10" professional grinder (model #21160) costs about the same as this unit from Amazon.com, but it doesn't include that nifty pedestal.(I'd give no credence to Sear's claim of 1 HP versus Delta's stated ¾ HP, since the machines are virtually identical.Delta's is plenty powerful, and they probably make the Sears machine anyway.)

In summary, if you use a grinder for hours every day or need the wheels to be really far apart, get the Baldor.For everyone else, the Delta is a professional grade grinding machine. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Grinders    2. Bench Grinders   

Features

• Two-year limited warranty on machines, parts, and accessories
• 3/4 hp motor turns at 3450 rpm for cooler grinding
• Fully adjustable tool rests provide the proper angle and support for all applications
• Flexible lamp can be adjusted to illuminate the workpiece for the best visibility
• Steel wheel guards have built-in dust ports for use with a metal dust collector

Reviews (2)

Bronze Worker
I purchased this even with some marginal reviews because of the Delta name. I owned Delta woodworking equipment in the past and found it to be of good quality. However this product is a major disappointment. It arrived with the stem of the light switch broken, and the wheel attachment nut rubbing on the housing. I have to completely disassemble it to correct the problem. I guess that's the quality of "Made in China". After using it for a month the on/off switch jams.I called and wrote Delta for some replacement parts. So far no reply. It seems that they are improving shareholder value at the cost of customers. No more Delta iron for me.

Delta 23-730 Grinder with Stand
I purchased a grinder primarily to sharpen mower blades, hand tools and other odds and ends.Undoubtedly this is a bigger grinder than required to do these jobs but I wanted something that would last and could still be useful for unforseen grinding purposes.

Overall the grinder is nice.It appears to be of solid construction, it is quite and runs smoothly.I was disappointed on a few items;
1)The delivery took longer than the 2 to 3 weeks.
2)The unit arrives in two seperate boxes.The box the grinder was in was full of holes and crushed corners.I would guess this was due to the fact that the grinder is heavy and can be cumbersome to carry around and was probably dropped.Fortunatly the grinder appears to be fine.
3)There was too much grease on the pedestal and it made a big mess.I know this is done to reduce rust, but it is a mess.
4)The pedestal comes with rubber feet, but the hardware they provide was not sufficient to extend the rubber feet past the bottom of the metal pedastal feet.Therefore the rubber feet did not touch the ground.I had to make my own spacers to extend the rubber feet to a height that they would work.
5)The tool holder,that comes with the stand has holes with rubber gromets to hold the tools.With the rubber gromets in place, the tools do not fit in the holes.
6) On the grinder, the tool rest provided does not seem to be as adjustable as I would like nor robust to ensure that the workpiece will be held at the appropriate angle to the wheel.

Overall I am sure this grinder will adequately meet my needs.As an Industrial grade tool, I am not so sure. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Grinders    2. Bench Grinders   

Features

• Two-year limited warranty on machines, parts, and accessories
• 1/2 hp, 120V induction motor for long-lasting, smooth operation
• Cast iron base and motor housing
• Ball-bearing construction
• Adjustable tool rests to compensate for wheel wear

Reviews (2)

one fine machine
Got fast delivery and the machine is perfectly balanced right out of the box

You do not get what you pay for.
This item is not a 3/4 horse power as stated. You receive a 1/2 horse power with the 23-880 item number. ... Read more

Features

• Returns will not be honored on this Closeout item

Reviews (1)

A good starter.
This is a great grinder for the beginner.It is a Bench Grinder that doesnot use up your bench space.It has it's own stand, which is included.Itis very good for most jobs around the shop.Quality is typical of most fareast imports.Assembly was very easy.Hardware parts were very oily.Ifyou plan on doing heavy grinding you might consider the 1/2 HP 8"grinder instead.For the price. I like it.First thing I did: used thebuilt in drill guide to sharpen some drill bits.It worked. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Grinders    2. Bench Grinders   

Features

• Two-year limited warranty on machines, parts, and accessories
• 1/3-hp induction motor for cooler, quieter operation
• Cast iron base and motor housing for durability and stability
• Ball-bearing construction for long-lasting smooth operation
• Flexible lamp provides proper illumination for better visibility

Reviews (4)

Nice Grinder / Nice Price
I purchased this grinder a few weeks ago and I'm very happy with it.It runs smoothly and quietly.I'll be replacing the medium gray wheel with a better quality white/fine grinding wheel at the recommendation of a couple of friends.Nothing wrong with the wheels provided if those are the grits you need though, ie., for lawnmower blades, etc.

The light is helpful. So far, I've been able to use the grinder without bolting it to the work bench.I'll do that soon, but it's heavy enough to remain in one place without bolting it down, at least for the light work I've been doing with it.

Changing the wheels seems simple enough.Haven't done it yet, but I don't expect any issues.Mine came with no stickers on the plexiglass eye shields.Maybe Delta read the previous users comments...???;-)

I give it 5 stars because I believe it does exactly what it's supposed to and I have zero complaints.

Unnecessary Set-Up Difficulty
I purchased this tool through Amazon/Tool Crib.No problems in receiving the tool.The tool performs as advertised and was a very good price.The reason I gave it three stars was due to the difficulty I experienced in setting the grinder up.The grinder includes two spark deflector (plexi-glass) lenses.For some idiotic reason, Delta choose to adhere stickers (advertising) to these lenses.The stickers must be removed to see the grinding wheel through them.The stickers were not the easy to peel off type that you would expect, but must have been adhered to the lenses with superglue.It was very difficult removing these stickers and the spark deflectors were scratched in the process.This whole exercise was unnecessary and extremely frustrating.Now I am reminded everytime I look through the scratched lenses.

BEST BUY
Do not be afraid of this one guys.In it's price range it's a real gem.Delta has stood in the shadows of some of the higher profile tool makers for too long.Dont let the lack of a fancy paint job or full page ad's fool you.this guy is quiet,powerful and affordable.with so many options and a little creativity you can do so much with a bench grinder.I would say it's a must have for any shop.I've been running mine for years and it's still going strong.Now get out there and grind something. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Grinders    2. Bench Grinders   

Features

• 1/3-hp induction motor for cooler, quieter operation
• Cast iron base and motor housing
• Ball-bearing construction
• Adjustable tool rests to compensate for wheel wear
• Two-year limited warranty on machines, parts, and accessories

Reviews (1)

NOT UP TO DELTA STANDARDS
Large motor body is the size of the wheels and gets in the way
Wheels are wobbling slightly
Only 0.25 hp on the motor plate
... Read more

Subjects:  1. Grinders    2. Bench Grinders   

Features

• Two-year limited warranty on machines, parts, and accessories
• 1/2 hp, 120V induction motor for long-lasting, smooth operation
• Cast iron base and motor housing
• Ball-bearing construction
• Adjustable tool rests to compensate for wheel wear

Reviews (1)

A very usable and reasonably priced bench grinder
This grinder runs smoothly and quietly, quickly getting up to full rotational speed. Installing and adjusting the tool rests and protective shields was fairly easy, although the shields seemed a little flimsy. Theintegrated lamp I find of limited use when the work area is alreadywell-lit, and some folks may find it to be in the way if they choose not touse it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Grinders    2. Bench Grinders   

Features

• Two year limited warranty on machines, parts and accessories
• 1/4 horespower induction motor for cooler, quieter operation
• Cast-iron base and motor housing for durability and stability
• Ball bearing construction for long-lasting smooth operation
• Flexible lamp provides proper illumination for better visibility

Reviews (1)

Nicely put together
This grinder is a great addition to your workshop. Although I don't use it very often, it is a nice unit. The goosneck light is very handy, and provides the perfect amount of light to the right places. It is a little pricey compared to the off brands (a casual user like me would probably be fine with an "off brand" like "tool shop" or one of the other bargain brands. After all, I don't even know how to use it yet! I tried to sharpen a lawnmower blade and had less than stellar results. I didn't have a problem fitting the blade on the unit- there is room for long pieces- my problem was with technique. Maybe Amazon sells a book on "Zen and the art of grinding?" Seriously- if you know how to use a grinder and want to get a nice unit- this is it, but I haven't found any jigs yet that I can use that will fit the table. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Grinders    2. Bench Grinders   

Features

• Two year limited warranty on machines, parts and accessories
• 1/2 hp induction motr for long-lasting, smooth operation
• Cast-iron base and motor housing for durability and stability
• Ball bearing construction for long-lasting smooth operation
• Flexible lamp provides proper illumination for better visibility

Subjects:  1. Grinders    2. Bench Grinders   

Features

• Two-year limited warranty on machines, parts, and accessories
• 1/3-hp induction motor for cooler, quieter operation
• Cast iron base and motor housing for durability and stability
• Ball-bearing construction for long-lasting smooth operation
• Adjustable tool rests to compensate for wheel wear

Subjects:  1. Grinders    2. Bench Grinders   

Features

• Two year limited warranty on machines, parts and accessories
• White sharpening wheel and general grinding wheel for all grinding and sharpening
• Electronic variable speed from 2,000 to 3,450 rpm
• Powerful 2 amp induction motor for quiet smooth operation
• Diamond wheel dresser standard with on-board storage

Reviews (2)

Not suitable for woodturners
I bought this grinder to use to sharpen my woodturning tools. The left-hand platform that comes with the grinder has a slanted v-groove in it which gets in the way of balancing a tool against the wheel in any other position. It is not interchangeable with the flat, right-handed platform. Also, the base of the grinder, unlike other grinder designs, sticks out under the wheels. This makes it incompatable with grinding jigs. I want to use a jig, and I now have to buy another grinder. I do not recommend this grinder for woodturners.

WONDERFUL GRINDER WHEN IT WORKS
I BOUGHT THIS GRINDER ON 3/22/02. USED IT ABOUT 10 TIMES AND THEN THE VARIABLE SPEED DIDN'T WORK. TOOK IT IN TO THE DELTA FACTORY SERVICE CENTER IN DAVIE FLORIDA. IT TOOK THEM 6 WEEKS TO REPAIR THE UNIT. I TOOK IT HOME AND USED IT ABOUT 4 TIMES,THEN THE SPEED CONTROL BROKE AGAIN. I CALLEDDELTA HOME OFFICE. THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD SEND ME THE PART AND I COULD TRY TO FIX IT MYSELF. SAVE YOUR MONEY AND BUY FROM ANOTHER MANUFACTURER. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Grinders    2. Bench Grinders