Just picked up the Bauer 4x36 with a 6 inch disk sander for $100 and love it, nice 12 inch platen for flattening my knives. Already have a grizzly 2x42 so this is a great add.

At the shop I don't grind much 6061 or anything like that.. Mostly 1018, A2, inconel, hast alloys. But today I picked up this little grinder for at home mainly to use on mower blades. And also when I did, harbor freight did have a few 2x28 belts on hand. If I go through belts a lot. I may upgrade this unit to like a 2x48 or even a 2x42 which ever kit that will fit. You have the right idea.. mower blade on the belt.. Get a nice flat grind all the way across the edge.

I couldn't find many reviews on this so thank you for making this. I just bought one of these this afternoon. Its my first power tool from Harbor freight, and I was not expecting a very high quality tool. I figured a grinder is basically an armature, a shaft and a wheel, so how bad could it be? I set it up and turned it on and was actually impressed! Runs very smooth and it PULLS!

“You’re a grown ass man …” LoL ❤ it. Stay strong brotha’

Thanks Dustin, I'm a blacksmith, after watching I think I'll dust off my HF card and go get one!

@mattblosser3122

4 ай бұрын

Well I got it, it's a beast. Should do great in my shop.

Thank you for the video! I wanted this for my garage, it seems to stand up. I wanted it cause I needed "good enough" doing home fabrication, welding and blacksmithing for funsies and I wanna make my own tools. The belts are now sold at HF in stock and a few websites, little harder to find than 2x42 but Im not gonna be using this to start a bladesmithing business. Gonna go get this thing tomorrow, thank you again!

Thanks man for sharing your skill was hoping u we’re gonna show assemble for us

I picked up the Bauer 8in variable speed and the smaller 6in. I think you are right , I specifically didn’t get your set up because I’m counting on Bauer coming out with the belt attachment, I needed that variable speed for my applications more than I did the belt for now. They are great machines compared to what they were 10 years ago. The only issue I have are the unbalanced stamped steel flanges and the small shoulder the inside flange rides on, the spindle should have been larger, so when they turned it down to 5/8 there would of been a bigger shoulder. The stones are as smooth as a babies bottom when trued up but it takes a lot of “tuning” and some aftermarket washers to get a wire wheel to not vibrate. Great vid!

Thanks for the video! I’m looking for a grinder to do light metalwork and sharpening. Like the idea of the belt on one side. Can you recommend a grinding wheel dressing tool? I’m thinking a diamond point would work best? What’s your experience? Thanks.

Loved the review specifically unbox this is how it should be done ,i have big 6 inchx48 belt and disc but looking at harbor bauer grinders lately over hercules i run sign shop so plastic steel and aluminum is my medium i was thinking buying 2/ 8 grinders but 1 /8inch and 1/8 inch belt wish they made it with variable speed but guess ican hook up dimmer plug outlet box to it thanks for your time on video.

I'm a new knife maker and I bought a 1×30 belt sander. It does ok but I need more power. I bet this would get the job done with a few mods. It needs a platen but I might have to try this out.

Love the review. Love the channel as well. Question : Have you ever tried welding alum. w/mig torch & old school tricks like running 5356 through a teflon lined torch cable w/one size larger contact tip ? Can you give me any advice for welding .063 - .090 alum. angle to thinner 20 gauge alum. sheet ?? How can I determine the thickness of my 1964 Lone*Star alum. riveted 14 foot boat ? Thank you for your generous consideration and sharing, Sincerely .................... God bless.

@DustinApple

Жыл бұрын

I already answered your question on the other video. Teflon liners suck & you're definitely not using one to weld .065. Your old jon boat is likely .90 witch can be mig welded with the consistency a spoolgun provides if you hold the skills. It not something you can just step into with much success right off the bat.

@stephboeker7835

Жыл бұрын

@@DustinApple ... thank you for your generous and timely reply. I apologize for not noticing the previous answer. I am just finding out how to prioritize my notifications and somehow missed that one. :( It seems everyone I talk to suggest alum. welding to be nearly impossible to learn or create the right skills for. As if discouraging me not to even try. I believe it can be done or the video's I see are figments of my imagination , people wouldn't have jobs doing it , there would be no old school guys sharing their tricks and tips. I was a finish carpenter (installer) for 33yrs where my co-workers called it "zero tolerance" work. In other words, it was a precise skill set and needed focus & practice. Ppl told me they could never do what I did regularly, every day. But, I always said if they could read a tape measure they could do it as well. I bought this Lincoln Electric welder for 1/2 price (as I do most items) by searching & researching for quite a few years. I'm going to learn to weld alum. at some point and when I do, I'll share the joy and try to coach and inspire ppl who show an interest to the best of my ability !! I'm glad you succeeded and wish you very well w/all that you indulge in , be it more welding, better business and video production. Thanks for your time and thoughts, Sincerely .................. God bless.

Hey Dustin, I’m very new to these things so pardon my ignorance. Are you able to remove the grinding wheel and put on an 8” wire wheel or buffing wheel?

@DustinApple

3 ай бұрын

Yes but don't die. Buffing fine, but no way in hell would I put a wire wheel on it. It spins so fast it'd probably come apart on you

@CapnBud15

3 ай бұрын

@@DustinApple thank you sir!

Ok, you helped me not one bit. When I look at a tool like this it says to me wood sander on the right and metal grinder on the left and I'm like, who is this for? Right the guy who works with aluminum! lol. Great review!

@DustinApple

Жыл бұрын

It'll take care of anything from stainless to soft plastics. It's specifically designed for a steel fabricator shop but will fit in anywhere in between.

@denoftools

Жыл бұрын

@@DustinApple Just posted a comparison of this on my channel and damn that Bauer has some guts!

@Artsrock36

Жыл бұрын

I work with metal wood ceramic and glass so actually I’m one of those people it’s for😎

Even if you could fabricate this to use a 42" belt it would be significantly better.

You mentioned changing it to a 72 inch belt conversion the thing doesn't have the power to take off with that big of belt

No body makes belts for this grinder, if HF don’t have any either then what good is the belt grinder if you can’t find belts , they should have went with a 2x42 design,now you can find belts for them . I also get you want HF to send you anything you can review on for free , good luck on that one .

@DustinApple

10 ай бұрын

I found 2x28 40grit belts for mine pretty easy on ebay. You can get 80grit through Eastwood. You just didn't look very hard.

@frankgallego3782

3 күн бұрын

Eastwood has these 2x28 belts from 60 grit to 400 at $5.99 ea. HB has these with 80 grit only, but Zirconia, 2-pack for $7.99

hahahhahahaa SLINGBLADE FTW!!!!

I bought this belt sander last week and I'm so unhappy with it you can hold your thumb on the Belt and the motor will not take off it is so sick once it gets up to speed not bad but if you've got anything touching the belt it will not move just sit there and hum sometimes it does that not even touching the first time I turned it on it wouldn't start at all I had to give it a push

@mgpvii

5 ай бұрын

Grinders are not supposed to be held upon start up. It doesn’t have or need to have that startup torque. Not designed that way because people are usually smart enough not to hold it before it ramps up. Once ramped up your would have a hard time stopping it…enough to do most jobs.

come on now. admit to the LED thing.. its called OLD AGE lol ..

@DustinApple

3 ай бұрын

I'm only 22 🤷‍♂️

If you only want to use 80 grit or 120 grit sandpaper and you can get it to run then still don't buy it

@mgpvii

5 ай бұрын

What does this even mean?

@DustinApple

5 ай бұрын

I've run this thing everyday in my fabrication shop since shooting this video with ZERO issues.

Why not use it for awhile then review it

@DustinApple

10 ай бұрын

Because I was the first video on KZread with 1. It's 100% legit.

Work platform is so small its useless on belt side that you might as well not even put it on