Bench grinder question

  I urge you to not use these grinders for polishing.Polishing
throws very fine particles of abrasives into the air...deadly
on your lungs and not bio-degradable  

I don’t see why any grinder, after being adapted to fit a decent
dust cover, would be any more dangerous than those made
specifically for the manufacturing jeweler. I was able to modify
an expensive (less than $60.00 double shafted grinder into a
polisher that fits a $400.00 dust cover.)

I do agree that some precaution should be taken when buffing. .
. dust particles aren’t great for the lungs, no matter what kind
they are. Even the air we breathe should be filtered (if we are
discussing true dangers, and pollution.) A respirator should
work fine, if one doesn’t have a dust cover, although if there
are pets in the same room, they may require one too. (Even an
inexpensive dust mask helps!)

Hello to the group - Is anyone familiar with a type of polishing
motor called a split-shaft (I think) ? When setting up the
equipment for a high school classroom - a teacher from another
school was telling me how they only use split shaft motors for
that setting. An accident with a student many years prior
motivated them to change over their equipment. Apparently, the
split shaft motor actually slows down when pressure is applied -
so it will stop if a hand or something is caught. This type of
motor also seems to run at a slower speed - which would be fine
for the school setting. I was trying to locate this type of motor
for the school I am helping out - but haven’t found a source.
Any recommendations?

In my studio I have 2 polishing motors - a Baldor 1/3 HP and and
a Dayton 1/3 HP that came with the table top dust collecting
unit. The Dayton motor is not enclosed - but holds its own quite
well so far. The Baldor is a nice one and my husband built a
hooded dust collector for it - of a larger size - for polishing
larger pieces. Both motors were purchased used and I have had
them for many years.

Thanks -
Cynthia

Preston, For solid proof of your statement. Look at Vibrating
Tumblers in Jewelry Catalogues vs those in Gun related ones ie;
Midland or Midway, just saw one at school, 1/3 the cost. Teresa

Hello to the group - Is anyone familiar with a type of polishing
motor called a split-shaft (I think) ? When setting up the
equipment for a high school classroom

The motor you’re referring to is either a split phase or a
shaded pole motor. These are usually used for blowers and fans
as they have low torque. Does sound like a good idea for
students as they do slow down easily. These are standard motors
and are available from any good motor supplier. Make sure the
base is the type you need.

John g

I’ve gone through five of those gun type tumblers in the past
three years but I’ve never had a problem with the three
inexpensive Rio flo-thro models which I used the same amount of
hours. The motors are very different!

Well here’s just the opposite, I just bought Rio’s cheapest
bead blaster cabinet and took it to an industrial supply place
thinking I needed a foot swtich (not realizing it has a valve
inside…not mentioned in Rio’s usually poor manuals…) I
paid $159 at Rio and told the guy at the shop I probably paid
too much for it…his response was they sell the same thing
for $279. Needless to say I was pleasantly shocked…Dave

Crystalguy Jewelry, the first art jewelry site on the net
http://www.opendoor.com/stephensdesign/crystalguy.html
Art jewelry with a mystic touch / Now accepting credit cards

You have raised some important questions. I have been using
hamsters who are over 18, figured in hamster years. Federal law
may not allow this. Of more concern is my use of a cat as their
supervisor. I’m expecting a “hostile work environment”
complaint any day now from the lead hamster. There is also an
OSHA concern about the suitability of the dust masks they are
wearing. I couldn’t find any masks made for hamsters and have
made do with the 3M standard Norwegian Rat dust mask.

All I can do is keep my fingers crossed. Thanks for your
concern (and I sure hope you’re not an OSHA inspector).

John McLaughlin
jmclaughlin@supreme.sp.state.az.us

I have to agree. I have taught many students to buy a $45.00
grinder from Ace Hardware, take off the grinding wheel on one
side and put a tapered spindle on it. I do warn them about the
dust and have many students who have hooked up vacuum sweeper to
a dust collector made out of a cardboard box. And, of course,
wearing a good dust mask that I believe you should have around
the shop for a lot of reasons. I have had many students make a
dust collector out of a cardboard box, a filter just like the
ones in $450.00 buffer, and a bath room vent fan and it works
fine until they can afford a good buffer. I teach about 20 new
students every month to do silversmithing, not all of them can
afford all the expensive equipment all at once. There are a lot
of cheaper ways of doing everything that will work until, they
make enough jewelry to sell to buy better equipment.

If you would like to see some of there first pieces and other
works, please visit my web site at http://www.frii.com/~dnorris.

By the way I have both my classrooms equiped with two of the
top of the line buffers with dust collectors. So, yes, I use
them and recommend them for all that can afford them, if they
are going to do a lot of buffing. If not, try the $45.00
grinder, you will be happy.

Oh, by the way, this may really start a lot of backlash, but I
leave the other grinding wheel on, because I teach students to
use it to quickly grind silver sprues off casting and even
sometimes grind silversmithing projects. If done properly it can
cut your filing time to one tenth of the time! Wow, I am in
trouble now! – Don Norris @Donald_Norris PO Box 2433 Estes
Park, CO 80517

Hi John,

I sure hope those hamsters all have green cards if they are not
American citizens. Also if these hamsters are working on any
goods for Canada do you keep track of the value they add so you
can cough up the Goods and Services Tax for the Canadian Federal
Government (7% = please remit to me - I will make sure they get
it ; )).

I would also suggest making all the hamsters independant
contractors - that way you don’t have to pay them benefits, you
can work them till they drop and then not renew their contracts.
Plus they would be responsible for thier own health equipment.

Cheers,
Cameron Speedie
Island Gem and Rock