KO Lee Universal Tool and Surface Grinder in facebook. 1600CAD . Deal or no deal ?

[Gennady]

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Located in Magog, QC. Still in a good range for Eastern Ontarians . Quite a few accessories and grinding wheels. Always wanted to have one ... Wandering what would common wisdom tell - is that a good deal?

 

[YYCHM]

 

[DavidR8]

Looks pretty darn clean!

 

[YotaBota]

That is a nice looking unit.

What is the power requirement? According to the below info, some came with 550v motors.

K.O.Lee Universal Tool & Cutter Grinders

K.O.Lee Universal Tool & Cutter Grinders - pictures and descriptions

www.lathes.co.uk

 

[kstrauss]

Mine came with a 550v 3-phase motor which I replaced with a 220v 3-phase + VFD. It is belt drive so motor vibration should not be a huge issue.

 

[garageguy]

It's a great deal. Of course my assessment may be slightly skewed (in favor of buying) but you can spend that much or more on a "d bit grinder" or you can spend the same amount and get yourself a REAL grinder. And it will do more stuff. I'd jump on it!

 

[Tom Kitta]

Not sure about QC, but if all else is fine with it, then its a good deal if this was AB. It comes with a lot of accessories, such as powered work head. Bucket of grinding disks, not powered wark head, end mill sharpening attachment.

I would say powered work head is like $500 by itself.

 

[Mcgyver]

I'll be the dissenting voice. It's the really small table model, really limits you, especially for cylindrical grinding (the main use of the motorized workhead). That style of end mill fixture is a POS compared to an air bearing, a pita, imo virtually unusable. It is also not 5C. There are no centres shown, a necessity for some types of cutters like horizontal mill cutters and you need a centre with the motorized workhead. The other workhead also doesn't look like 5C and looks DIY, all that and price is fairly full imo.

As for the motor, generally with a grinder if at all possible you don't want to change the motor. Motors for grinders from quality firms like KO Lee, Norton, B&S etc were balanced to a higher standard than that of a typical motor.

 

[Tom Kitta]

Well, I got almost bare bones TC&G for like $650 but it was few years ago and I had to drive for few hours to pick it up. It came almost bare, except for somewhat home made work head. I do have more table space through.

The box of wheels is maybe a $100 - 200 as I see some diamond stuff. Say 150.

The small mag chuck is maybe up to $100 if in good shape or touch less.

Power work head is $500

Manual work head looks OK, say a 100

I paid in today's money $200 for air bearing EM sharpener that is not 5C - so say this is $100.

There is a 4 jaw chuck as well and I think radius dresser - say $100+

So overall value say 1050+

Mine came with say manual work head so discount this to 950+

This means you are getting the T&CG for same price I did few years ago & main price to pay is smaller work table -- may want to look at driving distance as well & saving over $100 in fuel.

Also may offer less, say $1400 - $200 for package discount.

Note some auctions have C&TG for CHEAP. bare bones ones - but cheap if no one but you looks at them - you need to get lucky and may have to wait a year or three - we are talking under $200 - that would be a better deal!

 

[Gennady]

Well, I got almost bare bones TC&G for like $650 but it was few years ago and I had to drive for few hours to pick it up. It came almost bare, except for somewhat home made work head. I do have more table space through.

The box of wheels is maybe a $100 - 200 as I see some diamond stuff. Say 150.

The small mag chuck is maybe up to $100 if in good shape or touch less.

Power work head is $500

Manual work head looks OK, say a 100

I paid in today's money $200 for air bearing EM sharpener that is not 5C - so say this is $100.

There is a 4 jaw chuck as well and I think radius dresser - say $100+

So overall value say 1050+

Mine came with say manual work head so discount this to 950+

This means you are getting the T&CG for same price I did few years ago & main price to pay is smaller work table -- may want to look at driving distance as well & saving over $100 in fuel.

Also may offer less, say $1400 - $200 for package discount.

Note some auctions have C&TG for CHEAP. bare bones ones - but cheap if no one but you looks at them - you need to get lucky and may have to wait a year or three - we are talking under $200 - that would be a better deal!

That is fair calculations, Tom. I cannot disagree. There is one huge (IMO) advantage here - you have complete machine, ready to grind. No need to look around and search for heads, wheels, etc, Well, I'll tell straight I - have no budget at this moment, so I will pass , though it is very tempting.