Tool Review: Oneway Wolverine
Precision Balancing System
by Curtis Turner
Round Rock, TX
You may recall I recently turned custom bushings for my grinder.
You can find that article here
. I was very pleased with the improvement. So much so, that it inspired me to see if I could make further improvements. I guess my curiosity could not be squelched. So, I bought the
Oneway Wolverine Precision Balancing System
.
I will admit that in my early turning days, the Oneway system puzzled me. I could not wrap my brain around how I could improve the performance of a simple machine that had been made for decades and used by millions. Over time, I was fortunate to use many different grinders. Those experiences allowed me to see how various grinders performed. The variance was most noticeable between the low end and high end grinders. That is not really surprising once you think about it. The heavy well-made systems had less vibration, ran quietly and were a joy to use. This is not to say that inexpensive grinders do not work well. In fact, I purchased a 6" grinder several years ago, for my home shop, for $19 during a holiday sale! This little guy works great for light duty tasks. I did upgrade the wheels to a set of
Norton wheels
.
I moth balled my old mid-priced 8" grinder, due to excessive vibration. It will be brought back into service, when I get a chance!
What’s so bad about vibration?
One can make a correlation between an unbalanced car wheel and a grinding wheel. I think you know the impact of an unbalanced car wheel. The results are not so dissimilar with a grinder.
There are several issues with unruly grinders.
-
It is difficult to get a consistently sharp edge. This defeats the purpose of grinding.
-
Excessive vibrations will reduce the life of the grinder. For example, wear on the bearings and motor.
-
These same vibrations reduce the life of the wheels. Unbalanced wheels require excessive truing thus wasting away the wheel.
-
The combination could become unsafe.
What creates vibration?
There are several elements at work that impact performance. First, how true the arbors turn. Secondly, the quality of the grinding wheels. The quality of the bushings and flanges also have an impact. Lastly, the stand or the structure the grinder is mounted to play a roll.
Most of the vibrations can be traced back to variations in the wheels and bushings. The wheels will typically have heavier or denser area that result during the manufacturing process. This differential can create a wheel that wobbles or vibrates. The stacked OEM bushings are not made to high tolerance thus create another variable that impacts the performance.
The Wolverine System
This simple yet ingenious system uses precision components to improve the performance of any bench grinder. The
Oneway Wolverine Precision Balancing System
starts with a single part called a flange, which replaces two parts; plastic OEM bushings and OEM flanges that are typically stamped or cast.
The Oneway flange is a precision machined aluminum part. Also, included is a machined washer that mounts to the inside of the grinder and replaces the OEM washer.
Secondly, the flange incorporates a milled slot that allows screws to be used to balance the wheel. The screws serve as weights similarly to the weights added to balance a car wheel. Initially, the screws are installed into included nuts and spaced out according to the instructions.
The wheel is mounted on the stand. The balance stand does require assembly. The instructions call for rotating the wheel to the right or left by 90 degrees and allowing the wheel to slowly come to a stop. Ultimately, the goal is to re-position the weights until there is little to no movement after a rotation. Once the wheel holds its position after rotating, it has achieved balance. This step requires patience.
Small washers are included as additional weights, which may be needed to balance some wheels. I initially tried using the washers. However, after testing, I found they were not necessary for my wheels. Note that each grinding wheel is different and therefore the weights will likely be installed in different positions. So your set up will look different from mine.
The single page instructions are clear and easy to follow. Oneway also has a
YouTube video
available to assist with installation.
I should point out that there are several model numbers for this product. You must know the brand and arbor size of your grinder prior to ordering. The arbor sizes available include 1/2", 5/8" and 3/4". The package includes parts to balance two wheels.
I am pleased with the improved performance. I believe it was worth my time and money to gain this level of improvement.
CLICK HERE to find out more about the
Oneway Wolverine Precision Balancing System
Curtis is a former President of
Central Texas Woodturners
, a member of the
American Association of Woodturners
, and a member of
Fine Woodworkers of Austin
. Curtis teaches and demonstrates nationally for Lie-Nielsen Toolworks. He also teaches for TechShop. He owns a studio where he teaches and works. Curtis lives in Central Texas with his wife and four young children. Take a look at his website at
www.curtisturnerstudio.com
.
