21-06-2011, 07:09 PM
Thanks Col 
A lathe is certainly a fantastic tool and we we have a larger workshop one will be on our shopping list. We have seen some combined metal and wood working lathes so one of those might be a possibility (we even saw a Myford one complete with bandsaw and planer attachments!)
It's absolutely fascinating hearing a bit about the company behind our grinder. Sadly it seems their history is much like most other British tool companies and no doubt now being cheaply made abroad
Ours is a floorstanding model and runs very smoothly indeed and like you say takes a long while to power down! I have seen retail prices for new ones and was rather shocked to say the least, ours had been stored in a leaky shed at school for longer than any of the teachers could remember but as soon as I put a plug on it it fired into life. Only cost us £25 as well! Cheaper than the most basic of new grinders and far better built.
The school still has another Gryphon grinder which is never used and also two Gryphon buffing wheels which I assume use the same motor. We hope to sort out a buffing machine sooner or later (have you ever seen timber with a buffed finish? A near perfect mirror sheen can be obtained), and I am also on the hunt for a basic single phase motor to make a disc sander (your belt sander thread has inspired me!).
Josh.
A lathe is certainly a fantastic tool and we we have a larger workshop one will be on our shopping list. We have seen some combined metal and wood working lathes so one of those might be a possibility (we even saw a Myford one complete with bandsaw and planer attachments!)
It's absolutely fascinating hearing a bit about the company behind our grinder. Sadly it seems their history is much like most other British tool companies and no doubt now being cheaply made abroad
Ours is a floorstanding model and runs very smoothly indeed and like you say takes a long while to power down! I have seen retail prices for new ones and was rather shocked to say the least, ours had been stored in a leaky shed at school for longer than any of the teachers could remember but as soon as I put a plug on it it fired into life. Only cost us £25 as well! Cheaper than the most basic of new grinders and far better built.The school still has another Gryphon grinder which is never used and also two Gryphon buffing wheels which I assume use the same motor. We hope to sort out a buffing machine sooner or later (have you ever seen timber with a buffed finish? A near perfect mirror sheen can be obtained), and I am also on the hunt for a basic single phase motor to make a disc sander (your belt sander thread has inspired me!).
Josh.
