Chain grinders

[timberfaller390]

My local tractor supply has a cheapo chain grinder for about $40.00. I suspect it is about the same quality as the ones at HF and Northern. I have never owned a bench mounted grinder and had a couple questions.
1. Is this even worth trying out?

2. Is there that much differance between this grinder and one in the $100.00 range?

3. Is there much differance in a $100.00 model and the ones in Bailey's for $350.00?

I like the 40 dollar price tag but if it is something that will break the first time you use it or butcher a chain then it's junk.

[John R]

I think you'll find you get what you pay for, in this situation.

[ladylake]

Your young you might want to get a good one. I'd sure skip on the $40 one , the Oregon knockoff that sells for around $100 looks  ok but you might have to knock off some casting ridges to make it work smooth.   Steve

[black]

I swapped a 55 gallon bar oil for a cheap grinder (and some other stuff),but haven't used it yet.
Worked with a Sthl grinder before, but by looks of the cheapy it wont take the same punishment.
The slide area for the chain is much weaker, I would recommend buying the better grinder and like John R said x 2.

[timberfaller390]

okay so elchepo is out. A couple more questions I have are:
1. Are the grinding wheels all interchangable between grinders?

2. How do you know what size wheel to use with your chain? all the wheels I looked at were sized by thickness like 1/8, 3/16 and so on. My saw runs 3/8 pitch.

[John R]

On the 3/8 pitch chain you use the 3/16 wheel.
The 1/8 inch wheel is for .325 chains, the 1/4 inch is used for grinding down rackers.
You can use the 1/8 on the larger chains in a pinch too.

[Corley5]

I switch to the 1/8" wheel when the cutters are half ground away on 404 and 3/8 chain