Tell me about linishers

[rockweasel]

I'm ignorant, so all advice welcome.

Until now I've been using a grinding disc and a flap disc on an angle grinder to finish off the edges of steel plates or the ends of tubes and box sections. I've never managed to get that "machined" look that I'm after. The edges aren't flat. I'm not blaming my tools, I'm admitting that I don't have the skills to get the result with the tools I've got

I've started a new project this week that has me cutting out 4 profiles on sheet steel. I'm trying to get them all identical and closer to the machined look that I like. Of course when I roughly cut out the profiles and then ground the edges down to close to the desired size, they weren't smooth to the touch, so I this time I tried improvising a tool by clamping the angle grinder on it's side to the workbench at 90 degrees(ish) and offering up the steel sheet to it. Success ... to a degree. I could work on the outside edge of the piece, but I couldn't get the inner face flat again the grinder. It was also a bit scary to work on and I was wary of the steel catching and ripping away from my hand. I repeated the process with the belt sander on it's side and it made a nice job of finishing off the edges I could get at, and it was a bit therapeutic as well.

I started looking online for a tool that could do what I wanted and of course I had seen it a million times without the penny dropping as to what it was. I had a look on this forum for advice as well, but I thought I'd post a new thread specifically for what I'd use it for.

Attached is a photo of a couple of the profiles with a mug for scale. I've chalked the inner edge to indicate the faces that I'm having trouble grinding flat. My budget is around the £150. It would see light DIY use on wood and mild steel.

Thanks!!

(BTW thanks for the advice on transferring the CAD drawing to steel. After a couple of false starts I managed to stick it with a thin layer of wood glue and I'm happy with how much easier it made cutting the shapes)

 

[Spark plug]

If I where to do that I would start with the grinder and tidy up what rough excess material I could. Then I would finish with hand files and emery tape.

Don't underestimate the humble old file, It's surprising what you can do with some good flies and emery tape in very little time once you know what your doing.

 

[gaz_moose]

whatever you do don't buy machine mart's bench grinder on one side linisher on the other, I did and a stern look is enough to start slowing it down to an inoperable speed.

ive used the other hobby type that has the long belt and a round sanding disc on the right hand side. I battered this machine for about 5 years doing the sort of things you want and it still worked when I left the company.

 

[dobbslc]

If you want cheap how about a power file clamped in the vice? It'll be narrow enough to fit in the recess.
You could make some kind of table to rest the work on so it's more accurate.
I've got one of those Draper sanding Belt / disc type machines that is quite good but I'm not sure if you'll fit that work in as the belt is 4" wide.

 

[Shox Dr]

Can't for the life of me remember the correct name, but a table with a spindle grinder would be good for cleaning those up

 

[waddycall]

I'd go with a backing pad and sanding disc on the grinder for that. Flap discs are no good as they wrap themselves around edges.

 

[outofthefire]

I'd tack all the pieces together, drill your holes bolt the pieces together then use the grinder on the outside and a die grinder to get rid of the bulk in the hard to reach areas then finish with a file.

I've got the machine mart linisher and it does have it's uses but generally it does stop too easily, I also have one of the other sort with the belt and the disk sander which is better. Ideally i'd like a proper belt grinder similar to you see knife makers use you have the versatility of using the belt either on a platten or free floating or over one of the drive wheels, over here you're either looking at daft money or making one yourself on top of that the belts seem very expensive.

This is how I mount my angle grinders using a 10mm bolt in the hole where the handle screws in the rest is a must if you don't want the piece getting pulled out of your hands.

 

[optima21]

I didnt have the space for a linisher, so got a clarke cbs1-5 belt sander. it would be more suitable than a inisher, but still would need some surfaces to be finished with either a powerfile or hand file.

they are only suitable for light duty work, but I got it a few years ago to replace an old bench grinder. I've never used the disc sander, as that got replaced with a diamond wheel to sharpen carbide lathe tools

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/cbs1-5-belt-disc-sander/

 

[Revs1972]

Can't for the life of me remember the correct name, but a table with a spindle grinder would be good for cleaning those up

Bobbin Sander ?

 

[Shox Dr]

Bobbin Sander ?

That's it

 

[waddycall]

Is it the faces or edges you need to clean up?

 

[rockweasel]

Is it the faces or edges you need to clean up?

Edges to clean up.

I'm having a go with a file at the moment as it's my cheapest option.

 

[waddycall]

In that case decent files could be the best bet for achieving a good finish. You could easily cut into the corners with a belt sander. A bobbin sander with a fence could be good.