BUCKTOOL 8 Inch 3/4 HP Low-Speed Bench Grinder fit CBN Wheel Professional Wobble-free Wheel Grinder TDS-200C4HL

The media could not be loaded. Reviewing BUCKTOOL SCM8103 10-Inch Variable Speed Wet Sharpener …..I was impressively surprised at the overall workmanship/value at $229.Bucktool workmanship and finish…..overall metal case feels strong, tight and well assembled. The finish on my tool has a manufacturing defect on the surface of the top plate (photo) that does not impact function. Electrical toggle switch and speed knob are solid, smooth and crisp. Electrical power wire and plug meet spec.The 10” honing stone…… appeared smooth and worked well right out of the box. No vibration or wobble when spun at full speed (160 RPM). I was impressed that the stone was very close to true. The stone also turns bidirectional.Jig universal support arm …….. very close to square with the stone (photos). A number of reviews reported issues with this. I adjusted the jig alignment slightly with a little vice work.Stropping wheel…….wheel rotates smooth with only very slight wobble. But it feels “light weight”. It has very thin 1/16” leather (photo) and I suspect it may have to be replaced during the life of the machine. I did locate Bucktool parts (photo) and ordered an extra wheel, stone and jig-arm (being shipped from Hong Kong).Jigs….Nice to have two jigs (short knife and grinding/square-edge) provided. I use the Tormek square edge and truing jigs, which will work with this Bucktool. NOTE - The mounting position of the Bucktool support arm prevents the Tormek truing jig from anchoring on the arm shaft, so I will look at adding a “flat” on the jig-arm to help anchor the truing jig screw.Sharpened my first four plane blades today. Process was easy, and I am glad I used a waterproof mat…..water management vs RPM can be interesting. Sharpening took about 3-5 minutes per blade and my first edge (at 30 degrees) was reasonably smooth and square (photos). However, I did notice the stone is rough and will not leave an extremely smooth edge, especially when sharpening at less than 25 degrees (very fine chips in the blade’s leading edge).Happiness factor….I was pleasantly surprised how quiet this machine runs. Even at full 160 rpm, it is impressively quiet (video), especially when compared to other 10” stone sharpeners. Also, considering the cost, my plane blades sharpened well. But if you are looking for that “razor-super-sharp” result, this stone will probably not get you there. However subsequently lapping the blade on a flat diamond stone for a quick second bevel, does provide a very sharp blade that serves my wood shop well. First impressions, this feels like a solid investment.Overall, quite pleased with “first day” experience. The bidirectional variable-speed wheel that is ready "out of the box" with only minor tweaks, strong metal frame, square support arm, multiple jigs, stropping wheel, compound, 2 year warranty, great value-for-money and “really quiet” yields a healthy 5 stars.

Heavy!! Simple assembly. Super smooth and quiet. No noticeable wobble or imbalance on the grinding wheels. The only issue was a chip on the edge of the 1" wheel. This was not a manufacturing issue. Someone put the shipping labels on the bottom of the box, so it was shipped 1200 miles from Texas upside down. The grinder arrived with small parts protruding slightly through the box. I believe the chipped wheel was the result of this improper handling.

The media could not be loaded. Things you should get with this wet grinder to make it better. A plastic bin to hold the machine it make a mess the bin will contain the water spillage. Then buy a few tomek upgrades. Truing tool this will help flatten your stone. NOTE YOU WILL NEED TO MAKE A BRAKE FOR THIS SEE PICTURE also get the striaght jig it's great for making sure everything comes out square. Video shows the tormek tool with the bracket. Picture shows the tool in the bucket and the tormek straight jig. These upgrades alone will make your purchase worth every dime. Enjoy!!!

So far out of the box and initial use I’m quite satisfied. Considering the price of other units with similar functionality this is a great deal. It can be used with the “other” companies components. If there’s a drawback it’s the 1/2” arbor if you’re considering a CBN wheel which so many are 5/8” but I think a set of bushings could come into play. I put a call to Bucktool for a question and got a human who responded satisfactorily that’s a Big Plus. All and all I would recommend this product and the company.

Very nice and quiet and smooth. The wheels cut better than I thought they would

I tried two variable speed 6 inch grinders, one by Greteefor and one by Wen. Both terrible - loud vibrations at low speed, metal on metal grinding. Both returned. I decided to try just a low speed 6 inch, since that's what I really need (I have a 40 year old high speed one), and low and behold, it is compact, and runs beautifully quiet and smooth. I'm so glad I held out for a good one. I just don't think they know how to make the variable speed correctly yet. Unless you really need variable, get this one. It also, by the way, fits nicely on the grinder stand sold with the Wen unit. Good hunting!