What do you use your bench grinder for?

[TxAg]

I came across a used bench grinder in really good shape. I paid $30 for it.  I know some guys sharpen broadheads with them....what else can i use it for that is archery related?

[Scott E]

making knives!!

trade points too. Now that you have one you'll wonder how you ever got by with out it. Thats usually how power tools end up for me.

A loooooooooooong time ago I needed a bench grinder for a project I was doing. I cussed because I had to spend like $50 for the grinder.

I use that sucker all the time for all kinds of different stuff. A couple of archery related things I can think of off the top of my head are:

1. Reshaping the points of buggered up field points.

2. Cleaning off old glue off of brass inserts that I am reusing (I took one of the grinding wheels off and replaced it with a wire brush wheel).

A bench grinder is one of those tools that you will wonder how you ever lived without!

Bisch

[KSdan]

Modifying inserts and adapters- even changing wt.  Tapering glue-on field points and adapters to match up to shafts.  Use the wire for all sorts of cleaning up, glues, polishing, even turkey spurs, etc.

[The Vanilla Gorilla]

Shortening and shaving weight off limbs

[tom cunningham]

I'm with Bisch....I mostly use the wire wheel for cleaning and knocking the rust off stuff...If the quality is good most things will clean up really nice....Tom

[ozzy1977]

I have 3, 1 with 2 grind wheels, 1 with 2 polishing mops and the third 1 mop and 1 wire wheel

[onewhohasfun]

Paper Wheel Sharpening System. Great for 2 blade BH, knives and shop tools. Simple easy and fast.

[BowMIke]

I have the sharpening kit from Centaur on my grinder.

[jhg]

I use mine to:

1) reduce broadhead weight if needed to hit that tuning sweet spot

2) reduce insert weight to achieve same

When you are no longer limited by factory weight windows you can really open up a lot of options that are often closer to what you need in a set up.

I have also altered field points, and removed barbed backs on broadheads.

Joshua

[Caddo]

Mine has a grinding wheel and a wire brush. I like to keep it simple.

"Grinding stuff" and "Wire brushing stuff", hate to limit myself!

LD

[reddogge]

Doing tapers on wood shafts. Squaring up carbon arrows cuts.

[BDann]

I usually use them for ruining knives and removing fingernails.

[Bladepeek]

I think there have probably been more knives and chisels ruined with bench grinders than anything else. They generally turn too fast and burn the steel before you even notice the color coming in. If you see anything darker than a very pale straw color, you've heated the steel too hot.

[britt]

My toe nails.

[Zbone]

reddogge - "Doing tapers on wood shafts"

How you doing that, with a jig?

[kill shot]

Sharpening clippers or machete that you use for cutting shooting lanes and limbs at your hunting spot.

[jhg]

Regarding burning tempered steels most people use way too much pressure, or the wrong type wheel and to top it off leave it on the wheel too long once the wheel has brought the bevel to a sharp point. Must be very light handed at this point and not aggressive.

[Flying Dogg]

I replaced one of the wheels with a 8" diameter pad with a coarse sandpaper disc adheared to it. I built an adjustable fixture out of wood to grind the nock and point tapers on my woodies with it.

[creekwood]

Originally posted by britt:
My toe nails.

That one made me laugh out loud! Also made me think of a particular scene in the movie "World's Fastest Indian".  I have also used a bench grinder to reshape antler for knapping purposes.