Old B&D angle grinder, can you remember?

[Wedg1e]

Small world eh! I'm only in Halstead.

Even smaller world, I was at Fort Halstead a couple of weeks back. Did you know that the back gate of the site is at the highest point in Kent?

 

[Wedg1e]

Disaster struck last year, however, when I noticed that the mains cable outer shield had split near the strain relief, exposing first the inner insulation, then some bare copper wire, so I had to stop using it. It's got a "special" connector on it which means that although I can get a new cable, it's about £20 from a B&D spares outlet, more than the cost of a new cheapo grinder. But I don't want to get rid of it, so I am keeping an eye open at car boot sales for a replacement main cable at a reasonable price, or trying to think of a way to get around the problem and still have it safe.

I had one of those B&Ds with the detachable lead; mine split in the same place but being a northern skinflint I made a mould from tape and poured Araldite in... it lasted a couple more years until the brushes failed - and if I hadn't kept on pushing it until the armature was burned to hell it might be going still!

 

[fixerupper]

Hi droopsnoot ,I reconise you from the Pentax User forum....
Highest point of kent it maybe but not Halstead in Essex

 

[Wallace]

Disaster struck last year, however, when I noticed that the mains cable outer shield had split near the strain relief, exposing first the inner insulation, then some bare copper wire, so I had to stop using it. It's got a "special" connector on it which means that although I can get a new cable, it's about £20 from a B&D spares outlet, more than the cost of a new cheapo grinder. But I don't want to get rid of it, so I am keeping an eye open at car boot sales for a replacement main cable at a reasonable price, or trying to think of a way to get around the problem and still have it safe.

One of these bloody awful plugs? Mine comes apart, I replaced the lead last year with 3m of super flexy HO7 RN-F two core so I don't always need an extension lead on the floor as an additional trip hazard. I tripped over the new cable within an hour of fitting it!

 

[droopsnoot]

That's interesting Wallace, mine doesn't come to pieces, it's moulded around the cable. I'll have to have a dig around, see if Farnell or the like do something, but I had a look last time with no luck. Probably if I find one it'll be even dearer than the B&D cable.

Hi fixerupper.

 

[Wallace]

I've cursed that plug on so many occasions as it makes the grinder really long and awkward to get into places. I bought an £18 Homebase/Argos grinder for occasional use as it's quite a small unit.

 

[J.B. Welding]

"You can keep ur made in china sh*te", B and D Professional 9" grinder is the ULTIMATE!!! I thought I was the only one!! got it second hand 26 years ago, use it 'everyday'. Killed 2 Makitas, Killed 2 Hitachi, All hail the B+D!!!

 

[brightspark]

"You can keep ur made in china sh*te", B and D Professional 9" grinder is the ULTIMATE!!! I thought I was the only one!! got it second hand 26 years ago, use it 'everyday'. Killed 2 Makitas, Killed 2 Hitachi, All hail the B+D!!!

so if u have used it everyday where did u get the time to use the other 4

 

[J.B. Welding]

Got 2 hands mate.

 

[J.B. Welding]

And occasional murderous staff....

 

[brightspark]

And occasional murderous staff....

but did they use your bd grinder and how many times have u changed the carbon brushes ??

 

[J.B. Welding]

NO WAY! Not lettin no-one break that, its INDESTRUCTABLE!!

 

[J.B. Welding]

She has had 2 sets of brushes, plus the ones that came in it. I won't talk it down its awesome, like I said now I know there are others out there like it I love B and D Pro even more, I want a BD Pro EVERYTHING.

 

[brightspark]

She has had 2 sets of brushes, plus the ones that came in it. I won't talk it down its awesome, like I said now I know there are others out there like it I love B and D Pro even more, I want a BD Pro EVERYTHING.

the reason they last so long is the segments on the armature are verry hard copper and the brushes are soft carbon. hence the armature does not wear out providing the brushes arent left to wear out and damage the armature . most modern machines the coppper segments arent as hard and wear a lot faster

 

[J.B. Welding]

Very true Brightspark, I've noticed on a 'cooked' grinder the armature segments have expanded with the heat causing them to become raised and thus spark badly, run like a misfiring 2CV and shread brushes away like a cheese grater...a recipe for grinder carnage.

 

[Wedg1e]

Hi droopsnoot ,I reconise you from the Pentax User forum....
Highest point of kent it maybe but not Halstead in Essex

Doh! I never thought of that...

 

[Mutley7370]

I have the B&D 4" grinder with the plug in connector, from about 1985, minus the connector due to failure. I fabricated a bracket to hold it in the tool-post of a Colchester student lathe using the two tapped handle holes = 'cylindrical grinding' at is bodgeist!!
Also have the single speed B&D hammer drill from about the same era, both are well made and still work. Don't over-work them and blow them out with the compressor regularly.

 

[droopsnoot]

So it seems the plug hasn't failed because I mistreated it. At least that's some consolation, that others have bodged engineered them back into operation.

 

[KemppiFrog]

Bought my B&D 9" pro in '84. Spent most of its life as a cut off 'saw'. A huge amount of work done by it. One set of gears, two sets of brushes and a switch (or two?) Also had several of the 115mm pros too. they are now part of the DeWalt range but rubbish. Worst small grinder was my first, a Bosch 100mm. Lasted no time before the armature went. The gears went first and the spares were the same price as a B&D 125 pro. Foolishly I fixed it and it burned two weeks later.

I can remember what I paid for it, but not the exchange rate. Might have equated to £80. Certainly an investment.

 

[lewlux]

You mean whelbys? The building is still there. I live about 3 mile from Coggeshall!

He means Barnetts surplus i think,no idea if theyr still there though.