I'm looking for a good bench grinding unit to get all my chains back in sync. Leaning towards the Oregon 510A for $259. Any thoughts? Seems like I find mixed reviews on all of these units now a days. What do you guys own and how do you like it? Thanks.
How important is the dollar to you? Can you do work-arounds? Is there a Northern tools near you? How many chains do you have to bench grind a (insert time period)? Do you have a variety of chains or only one size 0.375?? Have you visited
http://www.arboristsite.com/chain-sharpening/ ?
Many of us "touch up" the chain several times at least before grinding, some may only grind when a chain is rocked.
Grinder prices range from about $30 (HF) to several thousand.
For instance assuming the dollar is dear and you don't just want another toy -
1 chain = $30 (for assumptions say 100 links)
1 grinder @ $260 = 8 BRAND NEW SHARP chains
1 grinder @ $130 (NT) = 1 grinder plus 4 chains
The Oregon 510A WAS the base model many sub $500 grinders were compared to. However now Oregon replaced it with a 511AX model at a price closer to $400.
Before the 510A was phased out there was a lot of discussion on the sharpening forum about the NT (Northern Tool) Grinder.
I'm a moderate grinder user at best and bought the NT for about $90 (on sale) at the store. I had to "deburr" a few castings and add a spacer (some duct tape) so the chain clamp worked well, but I'm pretty sure it does as well as a 510A. And if it had been one of the NT lemons ( there are some if you read elsewhere) I could have returned it EASILY the next time I went by the store.
Now oregon also puts out a bench mount mini grinder for <$200.
If I was buying mail order now I'd get the mini grinder, but given the fact that I could pick up/drop off the NT grinder on my way I didn't have to pay shipping fees.
I'd have to be doing a LOT of grinding to justify $260, much less $400 for a new AX.