I have a couple questions on grinders, perticularly those sold through Trick-Tools. I heard about Trick-Tools and Van Sant Enterprises through this forum and i know they are active here so i was hoping to support them by buying some of their stuff. I've been looking to purchase a grinder to add to my slowly growing fab shop but i have some questions.

1.) How necesary is variable speed on a grinder? The JET models sold through trick-tools are not variable speed so will i regret purchasing a grinder without it? The Delta models are variable speed but the reviews i've read have not been very good from what i've seen. I have other JET tools and i've been very happy with the quality. Any input on this?

2.) Is the multi-tool attachment usefull is or is it a cheap belt and wheel sander just thrown on the side of the grinder as a selling point? I don't have the space or money for a full standing belt and disc grinder so i was hoping i could kill 2 birds w/ one stone w/ the multi-tool. Does anyone use it and if so how do you like it? Is it useable in every-day fabrication or just for small things.

3.) How would i determine how big and how much power i need in a grinder? I would imagine that with the multi-tool i would want a little bit extra power.

Any responses and input would be much appreciated. I'm interested in purchasing the 1 HP 8" grinder package from Trick-Tools for $449:

http://vansantent.com/multitool.htm

Thanks in advance,

-Ryan

You can never have too big a grinder, but with that said you sometimes need a smaller one.

The brush type motors in the grinders should work with a variable speed controller like used for router motors. Harbor Freight sells one for less than $20 IIRC.

1.) Variable speed for 90% of users is absolutely worthless. The only time you'd really want it is for working with composites, soft aluminum, brass...even then it's not worth it unless you use it A LOT. For steel, one speed is all you really need.

2.) I bought that multi-tool attachment a good 3-1/2 years ago for my business thinking someday I'd upgrade. Still using it today and it get's used every day I'm out there so I know it can stand up to abuse. The only thing I've done to it is make a 3" extension block at the base where it mounts so I can use a little bit longer belt. Longer belt=less heat and less wear. I get my belts through McMaster but Enco I think has the 36" ones for a good price. Oh and it is worth it to get the zircon abrasive rather than the aluminum oxide, lasts a lot longer.

The thing I like best about that setup is having the stone on one side to rough shape pieces, then fine tune it with the belt. Can go through a stack of mounting plates very fast. Also it has a rubber contact wheel so when you push down while grinding it doesn't wear the belt super fast and is more forgiving. After 3-1/2 years of heavy use I'm just now going to replace that.

3.)Mine is mounted on a Wilton 8" grinder with 1hp and I'm happy with it. I don't think I'd like the 1/2hp as I like to bear down on it from time to time.

My buddy has a 8" Jet grinder w/ the Jet multi tool. He loves the multi tool, however, I can't stand it. I just find that a 2" wide belt is about worthless for anything I am going to do...

**edit** BTW, he is a farrier so 2"s wide is plenty for him and his horse shoes, being that narrow though, it is not incredibly useful for adjusting tube notches and wider pieces, plus the contact wheel is rubber and quite a bit too large for a lot of the inside deburring/cutting you may want to do.

Later,
Jason

1.) Variable speed for 90% of users is absolutely worthless. The only time you'd really want it is for working with composites, soft aluminum, brass...even then it's not worth it unless you use it A LOT. For steel, one speed is all you really need.

Yeah that's what i thought, just wanted to make sure. The suggestion for a variable speed controller would do the trick as well if i ever did need that feature.

2.) I bought that multi-tool attachment a good 3-1/2 years ago for my business thinking someday I'd upgrade. Still using it today and it get's used every day I'm out there so I know it can stand up to abuse. The only thing I've done to it is make a 3" extension block at the base where it mounts so I can use a little bit longer belt. Longer belt=less heat and less wear. I get my belts through McMaster but Enco I think has the 36" ones for a good price. Oh and it is worth it to get the zircon abrasive rather than the aluminum oxide, lasts a lot longer.

That's really good to hear. I think you sold me on the multi-tool. I was going to order the assortment pack that ncludes 7" disc assorted 3 pk (40, 80, 150), Trizact belt assorted 3 pk (220, 400, 1200), Aluminum Zirconia belt assorted 3 pk (40, 80, 120). Yay/Nay?

Thanks for all the feedback. I think i'm going to order the 1 HP 8" grinder with the multi-tool. I don't do heavy fabrication very often so i think if this tool has survived in your shop for the past 3.5 years being used on a daily basis then i'm sure it will last me a LONG time.

I bought a jet 1hp 8" multi tool about 2 months ago, I really like it. As far as
speed I let the tool do the work... I bought mine thru a golf club making supply place on line for $280 delivered.... Trick tools wanted $460 or something for the same unit. I have found tricktools is Retail in their pricing and I can usually buy elsewhere for about 40% less. I just got an assortment
belt and disc kit (3M) directly from multi tool to see what kinda grits I will like.
I am constantly finding different things to do with it. Once you get it adjusted in, belt changes take about 30 Seconds and the multitool sander attachment is well made.:smokin:

Is the mult-tool attachment made by JET as well? Because i've only seen it through trick-tools so i thought they put it together. I can get a better deal on the grinder through a local place and not pay shipping but to purchase the multi-tool through trick tools and the grinder through my local guy, the price through trick tools is a little cheaper. Maybe the same once i count shipping. I told my guy about the multi-tool, he had never seen or heard of it so that's why i was going to go through trick-tools. Are you saying i can order the multo-tool through JET? If so, i think i'll go through my local guy instead.

Let me know.

I think you can get it separate as an "add on" for most bench grinders. Stacey David demonstrated one on Trucks a few years ago.

If you already have a decent bench grinder, just add on the multi-tool.

There's always the HF special belt sander~ $70 on sale.

Edit: A quick google search turned up a few results, all priced in the same range as VanSant/Trick-Tools ~$240 for just the multi-tool ~ $350-360 with a JET 6" and $450 for the JET 8".

Is the mult-tool attachment made by JET as well? Because i've only seen it through trick-tools so i thought they put it together. I can get a better deal on the grinder through a local place and not pay shipping but to purchase the multi-tool through trick tools and the grinder through my local guy, the price through trick tools is a little cheaper. Maybe the same once i count shipping. I told my guy about the multi-tool, he had never seen or heard of it so that's why i was going to go through trick-tools. Are you saying i can order the multo-tool through JET? If so, i think i'll go through my local guy instead.

Let me know.

Jet does not make multitool, however it is one of the easier grinders to attach a multitool too. Google multitoolusa for more info, they are made in australia. Buy it you'll like it, but shop around on the web.:smokin:

Well i got my multi tool and Jet grinder today. So far this setup is not going so well. I ended up getting the grinder from amazon.com because they had a better price and free shipping which trick-tools couldn't match. So i ordered up the grinder and stand from amazon and the multitool and the starter belt set from trick-tools. I got the multi tool and the grinder today and here's what's going on:

I unpacked the grinder and immediately noticed that the guard on the right side was loose and rubbing on the grinding wheel. I figured that the bolts had just come loose so i took it apart and turns out one of the bolts was actually sheared off and the threads almost completely stripped out. The packaging wasn't damaged in any way so i'm not sure how this happened. Anyway, i went to attach the multi-tool and even though the directions said i could mount it right to the right hand side of the grinder where the guard attaches, i still needed to put in the big fat washers to space out the plate from the grinder to clear the back side of the bolts that holds the multi tool together. Hrm... I then went to put the bolts into the side of the grinder and turns out 2/3 of the threaded holes were damaged. The one hole where the bolt was sheared off was almost completely stripped and another hole had the first 2 or so threads stripped. I grabbed some longer bolts and i was then able to tighten down the multi-tool pretty tight w/ 2/3 bolts, the 3rd being almost completely stripped out.

Then came time to put on the wheel. I put a large washer and the cup on first, w/ the wide part pointing out to rest against the wheel. I then put the correct bushing on the shaft, at least i think it was the correct one because the other 2 wouldn't even fit onto the threads of the shaft and the 3rd just slid around. It required a deep socket and some tapping w/ the hammer to get the bushing on all the way. I then went to put the wheel on and, turning "anti-clockwise" per the instructions, i could not get the wheel on. I had to put a little grease on the bushing to get it to go on. Once i had the wheel on, i went to "true" it up per the instruction. The wheel had some movement to it from side to side but very very small and no amount of "taping" fixed this. So i threw on a washer and the nut and tightened it all up.

Once i got the tracking set so that the belt wouldn't rub against the side of the wheel and the belt pretty close to center w/ the tracking adjustment centered, i found that the belt has some pretty good movement side to side, 3/32" to be exact which can be attributed to not being able to true the wheel exactly i would imagine.

Overall, this thing was a PAIN IN THE ASS to get setup. Maybe i'm retarded, i don't know, but it really sucked. Every time i went to move on to the next step, something was broken or missing or just plain fucked up. I somehow managed to shear one of the bolts while re attaching the outer part of the multi-tool to the inner ring due to it's pressed fit.

What's going on here? Did anyone else out there experience problems like these with their multi tool? I will be calling amazon to have them ship out a new grinder because i have a feeling this one was dropped which caused the damaged threads. I don't think that the 1 bolt not being completely tightened would cause all of these issues. Should the belt have 3/32" movement from side to side? I rarely have used belt sanders as i don't have access to one nor can i afford one so i don't know if this movement is excessive or normal?

Input from you guys would be great. I will be calling Shane at Trick-Tools tomorrow, in addition to amazon as well and see what his opinion is on all this.

Well i got my multi tool and Jet grinder today. So far this setup is not going so well. I ended up getting the grinder from amazon.com because they had a better price and free shipping which trick-tools couldn't match. So i ordered up the grinder and stand from amazon and the multitool and the starter belt set from trick-tools. I got the multi tool and the grinder today and here's what's going on:

I unpacked the grinder and immediately noticed that the guard on the right side was loose and rubbing on the grinding wheel. I figured that the bolts had just come loose so i took it apart and turns out one of the bolts was actually sheared off and the threads almost completely stripped out. The packaging wasn't damaged in any way so i'm not sure how this happened. Anyway, i went to attach the multi-tool and even though the directions said i could mount it right to the right hand side of the grinder where the guard attaches, i still needed to put in the big fat washers to space out the plate from the grinder to clear the back side of the bolts that holds the multi tool together. Hrm... I then went to put the bolts into the side of the grinder and turns out 2/3 of the threaded holes were damaged. The one hole where the bolt was sheared off was almost completely stripped and another hole had the first 2 or so threads stripped. I grabbed some longer bolts and i was then able to tighten down the multi-tool pretty tight w/ 2/3 bolts, the 3rd being almost completely stripped out.

Then came time to put on the wheel. I put a large washer and the cup on first, w/ the wide part pointing out to rest against the wheel. I then put the correct bushing on the shaft, at least i think it was the correct one because the other 2 wouldn't even fit onto the threads of the shaft and the 3rd just slid around. It required a deep socket and some tapping w/ the hammer to get the bushing on all the way. I then went to put the wheel on and, turning "anti-clockwise" per the instructions, i could not get the wheel on. I had to put a little grease on the bushing to get it to go on. Once i had the wheel on, i went to "true" it up per the instruction. The wheel had some movement to it from side to side but very very small and no amount of "taping" fixed this. So i threw on a washer and the nut and tightened it all up.

Once i got the tracking set so that the belt wouldn't rub against the side of the wheel and the belt pretty close to center w/ the tracking adjustment centered, i found that the belt has some pretty good movement side to side, 3/32" to be exact which can be attributed to not being able to true the wheel exactly i would imagine.

Overall, this thing was a PAIN IN THE ASS to get setup. Maybe i'm retarded, i don't know, but it really sucked. Every time i went to move on to the next step, something was broken or missing or just plain fucked up. I somehow managed to shear one of the bolts while re attaching the outer part of the multi-tool to the inner ring due to it's pressed fit.

What's going on here? Did anyone else out there experience problems like these with their multi tool? I will be calling amazon to have them ship out a new grinder because i have a feeling this one was dropped which caused the damaged threads. I don't think that the 1 bolt not being completely tightened would cause all of these issues. Should the belt have 3/32" movement from side to side? I rarely have used belt sanders as i don't have access to one nor can i afford one so i don't know if this movement is excessive or normal?

Input from you guys would be great. I will be calling Shane at Trick-Tools tomorrow, in addition to amazon as well and see what his opinion is on all this.

Hello Ryan, just left a message on your phone.

When we sell the Multitool 6" Grinder Combo/Bundle (6", 1/2 hp JET grinder and Multitool) we include a small hardware kit (longer bolts, washers and some special instructions) to prevent headaches like this.

When you bought the grinder from Amazon and the multitool attachment from us, you did not receive this hardware kit that we include in our multitool grinder combo.

Give me a call if you like.

WOW, totally forgot about this thread. Well, to pick up and conclude, all the problems i had were solved. Amazon replaced my grinder, no questions asked, and next day aired me the new one so there was little wait time. The multi-tool attached to the new grinder with none of the problems i had on the first one. I was able to true it up perfectly and the belts track dead on now.

For those of you considering this attachment, GET IT! I absolutely love this thing. It saves me so much time and i can turn out nice looking parts w/o the funky curves all over the edges from the angle grinder. The belts take off material super fast and the miter table is nice for squaring up an edge.

Thanks again to Shane and the rest of the guys at Trick Tools. These guys care about their customers and don't leave you hanging when shit doesn't go quite right.

WOW, totally forgot about this thread. Well, to pick up and conclude, all the problems i had were solved. Amazon replaced my grinder, no questions asked, and next day aired me the new one so there was little wait time. The multi-tool attached to the new grinder with none of the problems i had on the first one. I was able to true it up perfectly and the belts track dead on now.

For those of you considering this attachment, GET IT! I absolutely love this thing. It saves me so much time and i can turn out nice looking parts w/o the funky curves all over the edges from the angle grinder. The belts take off material super fast and the miter table is nice for squaring up an edge.

Thanks again to Shane and the rest of the guys at Trick Tools. These guys care about their customers and don't leave you hanging when shit doesn't go quite right.


Thanks Ryan!