Justsaws
Addicted to ArboristSite
Interesting.
I have accumulated a number of grinders (and file guides, etc.), due to an interest in sharpening, but do not have much experience outside of the Oregon/Tecomec variations, and the HF style cheap grinders that I played with for that thread. The 511A was a significant investment for me, and I was never tempted to buy some of the older, heavily used, Bell or Foley style grinders when they showed up on CraigsList for the same amount of money as one of those. Also don't have the room. There are guys who really seem to like their STIHL USG or Silvey grinders. And, of course, square grinders are their own world.
Spent a fair amount of time getting consistent with the ones I use, but maybe I would get spoiled if I tried some of the others!
Philbert
If you get a chance give the Stihl grinders a whirl. They are nice machines just left nut pricey for the design. The Foleys can be all over the place in terms of consistent grinding and have a learning curve to compensate for that which other types of grinders do not. Personally I usually recommend people purchase a 511 style grinder and a set of CBN wheels, those wheels all but eliminate the need for moving the vise in and out on the currently available chain pitch’s.
I usually do not recommend anybody spending much on any of the grinders, for most people it is just not needed. Spend the money on the CBN wheels, $110.00 each, make a $100.00 knock off grinder an enjoyable tool. For $350.00, a person can have a new setup that sharpens all of the currently available chain pitch’s consistently with a good file ready grind.