do you know anything about grinders? i'm looking to buy one as i have a bit of cash at the mo. i would like to grind the edges of my jewellery items so they have a more professional-looking flat edge. any help you can give me on this would be great as i'm pretty clueless on this!
Well.... I bought one about 6 months ago, but haven't got around to using it yet :-\
I had visions of some asymmetric designs (ya know, fuse once, grind and firepolish) but as yet ideas only in the hatching stage. I'll have a bash next week and let you know how it goes!
Hi Steph,
This is the one Jim suggested for lapping beads, or flat surfaces into glass. It looks like a fab machine, and the top bit can be swapped from lapping, to a traditional grinder amongst other things. Something else to add to my ever expanding wish list. ;D
http://www.inland.co.uk/product.cfm?pid=245
HP x
I got one from Tempsford Stained Glass. You fill up the top with water and a little sponge sucks it up against the grinder to keep it cool. It is really useful if your cut isn't quite clean or for rounding corners and if you want to give a flatter edge after firing. I use it a lot when I'm fusing. I think it would be a worthwhile investment. Why not give Tempsford a call for some advice?
Of course, depending on how much money you have, they have a Taurus ringsaw that will let you cut fancy shapes and is supposed to replace the need for a grinder.
Tempsford are good to deal with. I would add that unless you are doing a very busy studio's worth of work - like hours on the grinder at a time - you could get away with an entry level grinder. The diamond heads will wear down eventually and you will need to replace them but they do last a long time. They come in different widths and you can get specialist ones that will bezel glass, cut a channel (for wire wrapping) or a mirror grinding head.
If you are into the taurus saw - they are not quick to use but I expect for fusers it would be useful.
I have a baby inland grinder - I tend not to use it unless I've made a really mess of cutting which normally I don't now. I reckon I will use it more if I get the kiln to work (still haven't retested it after the 'lights out' debacle).
PS. I expect you know that after grinding you will need to firepolish.
Is it worth getting a secondhand grinder or is it too intricate a piece of machinery?
Quote from: tanok on January 27, 2007, 06:19:53 PM
Is it worth getting a secondhand grinder or is it too intricate a piece of machinery?
The grinder is just a motor with a well for water and a spounge - so a second hand one is well worth looking into. Just check that the thing turns and that you can get the grinding head off (allen key job), there is a little plastic perforated tray sort of job and you can get a 'face guard' to stop tiny bits of glass firing at your face.
Thankyou Michele.............so, you selling yours then ;D ;D ;D ;D ;)
Seriously thankyou, its always a bit of a job knowing what to look for when buying secondhand machinery that you know nothing about
Quote from: tanok on January 27, 2007, 06:43:02 PM
Thankyou Michele.............so, you selling yours then ;D ;D ;D ;D ;)
Seriously thankyou, its always a bit of a job knowing what to look for when buying secondhand machinery that you know nothing about
I might one day - This is the model I bought https://www.creativeglassguild.co.uk/catalog/index.php?cPath=45_67 Kristal 1
Bought mine from Tempsford too. Brilliant piece of equipment, useful for all sorts, can completely change the look of pendants, been doing a bit of foiling this weekend (tiffany style) and it is a treat _everything fits perfectly. Really dont know how I managed without on.