Amazon.com Review

Using a dull-edged tool takes more effort, gives inferior results, and is dangerous. This Delta sharpening center uses a wet/dry system to hone both hardened and nonhardened tools and helps keep you on the cutting edge. Powered by a 120-volt, 1/5-horsepower induction motor, it rests on a solid cast-iron base that bolts easily to any bench or tabletop in the shop. The wet side spins a 1,000-grit, 8-inch wheel at 400 rpm to sharpen hardened tools without damaging their temper. Water pressure is easily regulated to help achieve a constant stream suited to any sharpening application. For honing edges and pointing screwdrivers, the dry side turns the 5-inch aluminum-oxide wheel up to 3,600 rpm. We especially appreciate the ease with which the tool rest and holder adjust to work on either wheel, whether tightly clamped around blades for a perfectly horizontal surface or removed to allow rotation. --Justin Paul ... Read more

Features

• Two-year limited warranty on machines, parts, and accessories
• Cast iron body for stability
• Adjustable tool rests hold the workpiece at the proper angle for sharpening
• Wet grinding wheel sharpens hardened cutting tools without damaging temper
• Dry wheel for pointing screwdrivers and honing knives and workshop tools

Reviews (26)

I like this thing, with the planer knife rest
I purchased both the 23-710 sharpening center and the 23-715 planer knife attachment (knife holder and rest.) I have the planer knife rest on the large wheel and the original tool rest (which you see pictured on the large wheel) on the small wheel, the original tool rest for the small wheel is not used. I had to make another mounting pin to attach both tool rests at the same time (or could have bought one from Delta.)

The 23-715 planer knife rest is very easy to adjust (unlike the standard knife holder) and wide enough to allow you to sharpen with the full width of the stone (which makes the stone last longer.) I use both knife "holders" depending on the cutting width of the tool being sharpened. As you slide the knife holder back and forth along the planer knife rest, you simply adjust the height adjustment knob until the full surface of the blade contacts the stone. If I am in a hurry that's it, otherwise I finish with the "scarey sharp" system (a sheet of glass and emery cloth.) To set the desired angle, I started with an adjustable protractor and cut a few blocks for quick setup.

I use the small wheel only infrequently. It's purpose is less for sharpening than shaping - as in removing large nicks or chips. If you use the original tool rest on the small wheel as I have, you should vary the contact point to avoid grooving the wheel.

Delta 23-710 sharping center
I purchased the Delta 23-710 sharpening center and I was very pleased with the price, shipping cost and quality. I read the "horror" stories about vibrating, out of alignment stones and unusable tool rests. It made me question if I wanted a Delta. My unit came almost completely assembled from the box with very little to assemble. When I turned it on I was surprised to find almost no vibration. The tool rest took a little thought to get the alignment parallel to the stone. I used the stone removal tool, lying on top of the 8-inch stone as my parallel surface. I lowered the tool rest to just touching and then tightened the alignment screws. The problems I have encountered are, the tool rest is useless for small "palm" size carving tools and the fine grit stone is very soft and will have to be "dressed" often. The dressing stone is included. Over all I am pleased to have a pile of very sharp (after stropping) wood working tools.

You get what you pay for
Can this sharpener do what the Tormek can? No way! However this sharpener is a lot less expensive. I've used it successfully to sharpen wood chisels and plane irons. It does a good job in a lot less time than doing it all by hand. The white wheel is good for rough work (grinding a new edge on an old screw driver) and the tool holders work fine. Yes the wet wheel might splash a bit and the tool holders are not adequate for sharpening complex curves. But if you are looking for an inexpensive way to sharpen flat edge tools, this one does work. I have no complaints.

23-710 - save your money
The biggest problem and this is beyond the general low quality is the fact that it provides one with no built in methods for repeatable grinding angles. I found that the time spent setting up for grinding the angles I wanted was better spent sharpening by hand. Mine went back the same day!

Not worth the effort required to lift the box it's packaged
I purchased this item from my local Woodcraft store, it was on a Manager's special (now I know why). All of the negative comments already posted are true-poor quality control (the drip tube on the resevoir had plastic shavings lodged in it, although not a big deal to clear w/ a little blast of air, how could this have passed a quality inspection prior to shipment?), the tool rest doesn't even come close to being low enough for half of my chisels (Stanley & Marples), excess vibration, & on & on & on... I recently purchased a new Band Saw, I passed up on the Delta & purchased a Jet because of the poor fit & finish on the Delta. It really makes me wonder what Delta is doing-or is not doing!! ... Read more

Features

• Two-year limited warranty on machines, parts, and accessories
• 1/5-hp induction motor for smooth, quiet power
• Slow speed wet wheel allows sharpening hardened cutting tools without damaging temper
• Includes sliding angle jig that sharpens double angle tools.
• Adjustable tool rest to compensate for wheel wear

Reviews (7)

Works exactly as advertised.
When this unit is used properly, dry wheel for grinding and wet wheel for honing, this tool does a more than adequate job. When honing, using the entire wheel by sliding the blade across the surface using using moderate to moderately strong, even pressure eliminates the need for frequent dressing. Cleaning could be easier and the guide could stand some improvement, but overall this is a very good tool, especially considering the price. I got what I paid for.

I expected much better from Delta
I havd owned this grinder for about six months and I am ready to throw it in the trash. To start with, the wheel is too soft and requires frequent trueing.This is particually a problem when you have to stop and true while working on a blade because it changes the grinding angle. The rpm's are too slow. With soft wheel and the low rmp's it can take over a hour to grind a blade. Cleaning up is also a problem. You have to take the wheel well off to clean out the residue of the wheel, which is considerable because the wheel is so soft.

I can turly say I can find nothing redeeming about this tool!

Not Bad, Not Great
I've had the Delta for over a year now and am a little disapointed w/ the grinder. As in the other reviews, the wet wheel is very soft, and in the year of avg to light use, the 10" wheel is now probably around 7" (or less). You MUST dress the wet wheel frequently or else end up with a pretty severe oval (trust me on this one!). The dry wheel wasn't bad but I did need to add the Veritas Grinder Tool Rest to make it really useful. Plus, you will need a good set of stones (I prefer water) to truely hone your edge.

In hind site, I would rather have bought a regular Bench Grinder (i.e. Baldor). You have much more flexability in the type of wheels that you can get for grinding (shaped, silicon carbide, felt, leather, ...) unlike the 2 stones here.

OK - Does the Job
I purchased this grinder because the other choices of wet grinders were way too expensive. I mainly use the 10 inch wet wheel to sharpen my woodturning tools. The tool rest is quite cheesy, and Delta does not make a jig to help you sharpen woodturning tools. The wheel itself is quite soft and you will probably have to true it up after every gouge you grind. I agree with one of the other reviews that the drain plug is too small, but its a good grinder for the money.

Great for Small Tools and Plane Blades
This was a great investment for me. I did not want to pay allot for a sharpner for my hand tools. This unit look like a good alternative to those more expensive units and it was. ... Read more

Features

• 2 year limited warranty on machines, parts and accessories
• 2.5-amp induction motor for cooler, quieter operation
• Cast-iron base and motor housing for durability and stability
• Ball bearing construction for long-lasting smooth operation
• Flexible lamp provides proper illumination for better visibility

Reviews (3)

cast pot metal under powerd ...
one of the tool rets one mine broke wile gentel use I was suprisd because I thought it would be steel or cast iron wich i could fix by weldimng it but no it was pot metal which is almost imposible to repair. Ten seconds after I turned it on the spare stopers on top losend and started to grind away the spark shileds got dirty and started to shake about and get in the way. so needless to say I took them off and threw them out. them moter spins to fast to grind cuting tools for it burns the temper and is good for nothing but light slow deburing. The moter is pathetic It takes for ever to grind a lawn moer blaed espsily if you have a tractor with two blades like on a tractor mower. if you even have a slight nick in the blade it takes five pluss minuts longer at least. then by trhe timne you are about done shrping your two blades the mote housing is very very warm for it dose not have sufficent cooling. also to use it it needs to be bolted to heavy and sturdy base or else it will tilt back and flip over if you use any presure. also it takes forever to grind any thing.buy a real grinder like a 1725 rpm grinder for wood wqorking tools or an angel grinder for lawn mower blades and outhe stuff.

Great value
Quality construction. Tool rests are solid cast(not flimsy stamped like a lot of other grinders in this price range). Angled channel in right tool rest is great for sharpening drill bits. Super quiet - almost too quiet (can hardly tell that it's running). For the price (39.99 at Lowes), it has an attached flexible lamp!! Sturdy plastic spark deflectors are easily adjusted and are very transparent, so you can still see what you are doing. The only thing missing is variable speed control (how often would you find that feature useful?).

no frills, just reliable and affordable
This grinder works well for sharpening chisels, slotted screw drivers, and other small tools. It is quiet and operates smoothly with no perceptible vibration. It doesn't have variable speed, exotic attachments, or any other (in my case unneeded) features. ... Read more

Features

• Two-year limited warranty on machines, parts, and accessories
• 3/4 hp motor turns at 1725 rpm for cooler grinding
• Fully adjustable tool rests provide the proper angle and support for all applications
• Flexible lamp can be adjusted to illuminate the workpiece for the best visibility
• Steel wheel guards have built-in dust ports for use with a metal dust collector

Reviews (6)

Wood Turner in Brandon FL
Excellent grinder, used for sharpening HSS wood turning tools.
At 90lbs, this heavy duty grinder should last a long time.
Easy set up and quiet operation, no vibration.
Amazon dropped shipped, no damage, no problems.

Enjoy!!!

Poor quality on Delta 2 grinders
I purchased this grinder from home depot. When I received it, not only was the light crushed from manufacturing (NOT shipping, based on the packaging condition), but the wheels shimmied from side to side over 1/8" of an inch. I took it back to Home Depot who immediate ordered a new one for me. When I got the second one, the motor makes a bad noise, though the grinding wheels are somewhat better than than the first - but not good. I'm taking it back today and ask for my money back.

I thought I was purchasing a very good quality product in buying a Delta. Unfortunately Delta's quality is lousy. To compare, I have also purchased a Ryobi 8" grinder at Home Depot. It runs quietly, reliably and the wheels are very true. To bad they don't make a slow speed grinder. I'd buy it (or anything else) over the Delta.

Delta Bench Grinder #23-725
After mounting the grinder to my stand, it ran perfectly smooth and I love the power. You can't slow this baby down by grinding heavy steel. The supplied grinding wheels were perfectly balanced and I'm very happy with the choice of stones it came with. Regardless of its origin, Delta has done a great job with this grinder. You have power to spare. Don't let the fact that it is considered a "Slow Speed" grinder fool you. With the 3/4 horse motor and 8" wheels, you can grind away materiel very rapidly by using more preasure. You WILL NOT slow it down. Although it is a rather large grinder, I prefer the mass. It gives you a sense of good solid construction. If you want a professional grade heavy duty grinder for home (or work), the Delta 23-725 will serve you well. I've purchased three grinders over the past three years. And nothing bothers me more than having the grinding wheels stop because you applied too much preassure. As always, I'm pleased with the service I get from Amazon. If you need a great heavy duty grinder at a medium price, buy the Delta 23-725. You won't be disappointed in performance or appearance.

Made in China--Quit after three days
I too was looking for a better quality grinder than the "cheapy" at Woodcraft, but not in the price range of a Baldor. The Delta 23-725 seemed like just the ticket. My version of this grinder, however, wasn't even made in Taiwan; the nameplate says "Made in China", so there may be two versions of it out there. It also has an 80 grit (as opposed to 60 reported earlier) gray wheel and a 120 grit white wheel. At first look and feel, it looked very good; I was impressed. Bushings on the wheels were metal (not plastic), but both wheels were very out of round--ended up taking off a lot to get them trued up. White wheel chipped badly on edges even using a very fine diamond wheel dresser. Both not uncommon problems on wheels provided with inexpensive grinders and I had expected to replace the wheels anyway. Biggest problem though, after three days of moderate use (about 1-2 hours per day) it refused to start unless given a boost by hand. Probably just a start capacitor, but a pain nevertheless. I'd given up on Delta about three years ago due to quality and customer service problems; (glad I'm dealing with Amzon on this rather than Delta) doesn't look like the quality issue has improved.

Great Grinder Batman
This grinder is outstanding. Over 100 lbs. Well made. Almost as good as a Baldor, much better and more substantial than the Woodcraft 8" slow grinder that I purchased (two of them) and returned before buying this one.

Two mistakes in the listing here at Amazon.com.

First, it's made in Taiwan, not USA. I was disappointed when the box came and I read it one the outside. But when I saw the quality of the grinder I had to check the box again. It's such high quality I didn't think it was made overseas.

Second it comes with a 60grit grey wheel and a 120grit white wheel.

I had two Delta grinders sent from Amazon. The first box arrived in very bad shape, lotsa damage. The grinder substained considerable damage. The second one came and the box looked almost as bad. This time only the lamp was damaged so I'll just get Delta to ship me a replacement part.

Other than the shipiing damage problems, and Amazon was great about returing it and sending me another, this grinder is great quality and exceptional value. ... Read more

Features

• 2 year limited warranty on machines, parts and accessories
• 3-amp, 1/2-horsepower induction motr for long-lasting, smooth operation
• Cast-iron base and motor housing for durability and stability
• Adjustable tool rest compensates for wheel wear
• Flexible lamp provides proper illumination for better visibility

Reviews (1)

Consider Another Grinder
I bought one of these to replace a Delta 6in grinder that was stolen a little over a year ago. The 8in grinder seemed like a deal. I do a lot of plane and chisel sharpening and wanted something that would dish out the cutting edge a little less. This it does. However it absolutely stinks otherwise. I bolted it to my bench and it vibrated so badly anything that is on the bench walks itself off no matter how heavy. Not only are the stones not round, but are out of true by at least 1/16 inch! Delta sent me new stones...same problem. I bought new stones...same problem...but less. It turns out that both the stones and the shaft wobble! Delta would not warranty the grinder unless I sent it to them and pay the shipping both ways! This was as much as the cost of the grinder..Not only that, but the clear spark gaurds had huge stickers on them, that when peeled off, left all their adhesive on the gaurd so you couldn't see through them. Water would not remove the adhesive and anything that could, dissolved the plastic as well. Delta sent me new ones...for a different grinder! Delta is off my list for tools as long as they keep having things made in China. I cant image what their other stuff made in China must be like and I'm not willing to take the chance. ... Read more

Features

• Two-year limited warranty on machines, parts, and accessories
• Utility grinder for blade and tool sharpenening
• Two fully adjustable tool rests for a wide range of sharpening angles
• 120 grit wet/dry grinding wheel for fine sharpening
• Rubber pads minimize vibration and maximize stability on many surfaces

Reviews (3)

Excellent for hollow grinding
The unlisted dimensions are 12 inches wide by 7 1/2 inches deep by 6 inches high. It was slightly larger than I expected. The wheel is very absorbant so water can be added slowly to the wheel itself even while it runs. This is not a common grinder but is a sharpener and requires patience and some skill. It makes an excellent hollow grind as described in another review. It does not cut quickly. The tool posts could be sturdier. The allen wrench fits the screw heads rather sloppily. These two points are why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5. Amazon.com had the best price anywhere with free shipping. It was well worth the money. I am very happy with this tool.

NOT UP TO DELTA STANDARDS
I bought this for one thing,sharping knifes. I tried to use it according to instructions. First off the water on a flat surface ran out the drain. Thinking I had too much water,I went ahead and started to sharpen a knife. Part of the wheel was not even getting wet? I can't think why if it had water running out the drain on a level surface why it didn't cover the entire surface of the wheel.Next it doesn't seem to have enough speed or power to sharpen anything! I did want the slower speed than a regular grinder and the wet wheel. But took it back as a loss cause. I have several Delta tools that are very good ,but I cannot rate this tool as a good one.

Very useful tool
I found one of these at my local home supply store and immediatly brought it home. I found it to be very useful for putting a hollow grind into the bevel of my chisels and plane blades.

The way I use it is to hollow grind the chisel bevel until the hollow grind goes all across the bevel. I then take the chisel to a 4000/1000 combination water stone and sharpen the bevel on the 1000 grit until I get two "flats" on the tip and tail of the bevel. I then switch to the 4000 grit of the stone and polish those bevels. On a 1/2" wide chisel it takes about a minute or two to hollow grind the bevel and another 30 seconds on each grit of the stone to make the chisel razor sharp.

The grinder has two tool rest. I set one for my chisels and one for the plane blade. Because the grinder has a forward and reverse direction I can use both tool rest.

I have found it a good idea to put a towel behind the grinder to catch any water overflow (it is a wet grinder). Also, the metal grindings from your tool combined with the water have turned the wheel a rust brown. But I've not found that to have any effect on the grinding ability.

I'm glad I bought it. ... Read more

Features

• 2 year limited warranty on machines, parts and accessories
• Powerful 2.5-amp induction motor for quiet smooth operation
• White sharpening wheel and general grinding wheel for all grinding and sharpening
• Electronic variable speed from 2,000 to 3,450 rpm
• Diamond wheel dresser standard with on-board storage

Reviews (4)

Very easy to setup and get started.
I was hesitant to buy this item after reading one of the other reviews regarding how difficult the setup was due to bolts and fasteners being tapped poorly or wrong. I have to say the setup took me 5 minutes. There were 6 small bolts, and 4 threaded knobs. Everything went together just fine, and the whole thing took about 5 minutes. I purchased this model over others because of the variable speed option and the sharpening wheel. I had a tough time justifying the added expense for the variable speed, but feel it will be worth it in the long run. A $30 premium for that feature seems a bit steep. I plan to use it to sharpen my mower blades, chisels, and general shop cleaning, polishing, and sharpening. It should be fine for the moderate use I plan. I would have gone for the DeWalt if I felt I would be using it for heavy duty or commercial type use. Nice overall, but the price premium is what takes away the 5th star.

Grinder variable speed lasted 10 days.
I just bought a new lathe and needed a grinder to sharpen the wood turning tools. I picked this grinder for cost and features. I liked the variable speed. The light on the grinder is a big plus. The grinder came undamaged and the joy to use until about the third time I turned it on. The variable speed control stopped working. The grinder was stuck at its top speed. I returned it and got my money back. I have a few Delta tools in my shop and haven't had too many issues with them.

New into tools
I ordered this from amazon and it arrived promptly and i am satisfied up to this point. I didn't realize the many uses it has and have found that a decent grinder is a must have in any shop. I know a lot people find the "shopmaster" to be of less quality but some of my power tools such as a compressor i picked up at lowes has performed well for my pneumatic tools and the line is still a good product to own. I am new at woodworking and can't say i have owned many different brands of tools. I do have some delta industrial tools as well and both the shopmaster and inustrial line have performed well. I also own the gr050 wet/dry grinder and it has been useful as well. Depending on your purpose this grinder is a fine edition but if you need a more industrial grinder look to their delta industrial line or other brands. All in all i am satisfied with its performance. Price and speed of delivery were excellent.
thanks

GOOD GRINDER , AWFUL TOOLRESTS !
I JUST RECEIVED MY NEW GRINDER AND AFTER AN HOUR OF ASSEMBLY AND A VISIT TO THE HARDWARE STORE I WAS ABLE TO FINALLY USE IT . BOTH THREADED HOLES FOR THE SPARK SHIELDS WERE NOT THREADED CORRECTLY AND HAD TO RETAPPED TO ACCEPT THE BOLTS THAT WERE ALSO POORLY THREADED WHICH I ENDED UP REPLACING . I KNOW DELTA IS TRYING TO BE COST EFFICIENT IN SELLING TOOLS THAT REQUIRE SOME ASSEMBLY BUT I THINK IT WOULD TAKE LONGER TO WRAP EACH PART IN ITS INDIVIDUAL BAG THEN ACTUALLY SCREWING IT ON TO THE MACHINE .
UPON USING THE GRINDER , I FOUND THE MACHINE TO BE WELL BALANCED AND QUIET . THE BIGGEST COMPLAINT THAT I HAVE IS THE TOOLREST FOR THE SLOW WHITE WHEEL HAS A HUGE SKEWED RECCESS IN IT TO ALLOW FOR DRILL BIT SHARPENING . THIS UNEVEN AREA PREVENTS YOU FROM HOLDING A CHISEL FLAT ON THE REST AND THE WHEEL AND HAS A TENDENCY FOR THE TOOL TO FALL IN THE SLOT . TOO MUCH ENGINEERING AND NOT ANY PRACTICAL THINKING .OVERALL , A GOOD TOOL , GOOD WHEELS, AND THE VARIABLE SPEED MAKES IT WORTH BUYING ... Read more

Features

• Two-year limited warranty on machines, parts, and accessories
• 1/3-hp induction motor for cooler, quieter operation
• Cast iron base and motor housing
• Ball-bearing construction
• Adjustable tool rests to compensate for wheel wear

Features

• Powerful 2.5 amp induction-type motor for long-lasting, smooth performance
• Variable Speed from 2000-3450 RPM
• Patent pending quick-change nut amd tool-less wheel cover for ease of wheel change
• Flexible goose neck lamp for clear view of grinding wheels and workpiece

Features

• Two year limited warranty on machines, parts and accessories
• 1/4 horespower induction motor for cooler, quieter operation
• Cast-iron base and motor housing for durability and stability
• Ball bearing construction for long-lasting smooth operation
• Flexible lamp provides proper illumination for better visibility

Reviews (1)

Nicely put together
This grinder is a great addition to your workshop. Although I don't use it very often, it is a nice unit. The goosneck light is very handy, and provides the perfect amount of light to the right places. It is a little pricey compared to the off brands (a casual user like me would probably be fine with an "off brand" like "tool shop" or one of the other bargain brands. After all, I don't even know how to use it yet! I tried to sharpen a lawnmower blade and had less than stellar results. I didn't have a problem fitting the blade on the unit- there is room for long pieces- my problem was with technique. Maybe Amazon sells a book on "Zen and the art of grinding?" Seriously- if you know how to use a grinder and want to get a nice unit- this is it, but I haven't found any jigs yet that I can use that will fit the table. ... Read more

Features

• Two year limited warranty on machines, parts and accessories
• 1/2 hp induction motr for long-lasting, smooth operation
• Cast-iron base and motor housing for durability and stability
• Ball bearing construction for long-lasting smooth operation
• Flexible lamp provides proper illumination for better visibility

Features

• Two-year limited warranty on machines, parts, and accessories
• 1/3-hp induction motor for cooler, quieter operation
• Cast iron base and motor housing for durability and stability
• Ball-bearing construction for long-lasting smooth operation
• Adjustable tool rests to compensate for wheel wear

Features

• Two year limited warranty on machines, parts and accessories
• White sharpening wheel and general grinding wheel for all grinding and sharpening
• Electronic variable speed from 2,000 to 3,450 rpm
• Powerful 2 amp induction motor for quiet smooth operation
• Diamond wheel dresser standard with on-board storage

Reviews (2)

Not suitable for woodturners
I bought this grinder to use to sharpen my woodturning tools. The left-hand platform that comes with the grinder has a slanted v-groove in it which gets in the way of balancing a tool against the wheel in any other position. It is not interchangeable with the flat, right-handed platform. Also, the base of the grinder, unlike other grinder designs, sticks out under the wheels. This makes it incompatable with grinding jigs. I want to use a jig, and I now have to buy another grinder. I do not recommend this grinder for woodturners.

WONDERFUL GRINDER WHEN IT WORKS
I BOUGHT THIS GRINDER ON 3/22/02. USED IT ABOUT 10 TIMES AND THEN THE VARIABLE SPEED DIDN'T WORK. TOOK IT IN TO THE DELTA FACTORY SERVICE CENTER IN DAVIE FLORIDA. IT TOOK THEM 6 WEEKS TO REPAIR THE UNIT. I TOOK IT HOME AND USED IT ABOUT 4 TIMES,THEN THE SPEED CONTROL BROKE AGAIN. I CALLED DELTA HOME OFFICE. THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD SEND ME THE PART AND I COULD TRY TO FIX IT MYSELF. SAVE YOUR MONEY AND BUY FROM ANOTHER MANUFACTURER. ... Read more

Features

• Two-year limited warranty on machines, parts, and accessories
• 1/3-hp induction motor for cooler, quieter operation
• Cast iron base and motor housing for durability and stability
• Ball-bearing construction for long-lasting smooth operation
• Flexible lamp provides proper illumination for better visibility

Reviews (4)

Nice Grinder / Nice Price
I purchased this grinder a few weeks ago and I'm very happy with it. It runs smoothly and quietly. I'll be replacing the medium gray wheel with a better quality white/fine grinding wheel at the recommendation of a couple of friends. Nothing wrong with the wheels provided if those are the grits you need though, ie., for lawnmower blades, etc.

The light is helpful. So far, I've been able to use the grinder without bolting it to the work bench. I'll do that soon, but it's heavy enough to remain in one place without bolting it down, at least for the light work I've been doing with it.

Changing the wheels seems simple enough. Haven't done it yet, but I don't expect any issues. Mine came with no stickers on the plexiglass eye shields. Maybe Delta read the previous users comments...??? ;-)

I give it 5 stars because I believe it does exactly what it's supposed to and I have zero complaints.

Unnecessary Set-Up Difficulty
I purchased this tool through Amazon/Tool Crib. No problems in receiving the tool. The tool performs as advertised and was a very good price. The reason I gave it three stars was due to the difficulty I experienced in setting the grinder up. The grinder includes two spark deflector (plexi-glass) lenses. For some idiotic reason, Delta choose to adhere stickers (advertising) to these lenses. The stickers must be removed to see the grinding wheel through them. The stickers were not the easy to peel off type that you would expect, but must have been adhered to the lenses with superglue. It was very difficult removing these stickers and the spark deflectors were scratched in the process. This whole exercise was unnecessary and extremely frustrating. Now I am reminded everytime I look through the scratched lenses.

BEST BUY
Do not be afraid of this one guys.In it's price range it's a real gem.Delta has stood in the shadows of some of the higher profile tool makers for too long.Dont let the lack of a fancy paint job or full page ad's fool you.this guy is quiet,powerful and affordable.with so many options and a little creativity you can do so much with a bench grinder.I would say it's a must have for any shop.I've been running mine for years and it's still going strong.Now get out there and grind something.

Delta Scores 5 Stars with this Bench Grinder
Let's face it, tool-wise bench grinders are about as exciting as watching a lake dry up. When I finally had enough of bruised knuckles from rounded screwdrivers slipping off what were once useful screw heads and dull drill points I went shopping for a reliable bench grinder that could be had at an affordable price. One quickly learns that the choice of under $100 grinders comes down to Delta, Craftsman, DeWalt, and some assorted imports. All I look for in a grinder is 1. Smooth, quiet, vibration free operation (good bearings), 2. Reasonable power, 3, Solid tool rests that include a groove for sharpening drills and 4. Safety features that include well designed eye protection, spark suppression, and adequate lighting. The Delta 23-665 has all these features and has a great price. It runs quiet and vibration free on some nice rubber mounts. It takes about 15 minutes to assemble the shields and tool rests and since it's imported from China, have your metric wrenches ready. Maybe high quality at low cost is pretty exciting after all! ... Read more

Features

• Returns will not be honored on this Closeout item

Reviews (1)

A good starter.
This is a great grinder for the beginner. It is a Bench Grinder that does not use up your bench space. It has it's own stand, which is included. It is very good for most jobs around the shop. Quality is typical of most far east imports. Assembly was very easy. Hardware parts were very oily. If you plan on doing heavy grinding you might consider the 1/2 HP 8" grinder instead. For the price. I like it. First thing I did: used the built in drill guide to sharpen some drill bits. It worked. ... Read more

Features

• Two-year limited warranty on machines, parts, and accessories
• 3/4 hp motor turns at 3450 rpm for cooler grinding
• Fully adjustable tool rests provide the proper angle and support for all applications
• Flexible lamp can be adjusted to illuminate the workpiece for the best visibility
• Steel wheel guards have built-in dust ports for use with a metal dust collector

Reviews (2)

Bronze Worker
I purchased this even with some marginal reviews because of the Delta name. I owned Delta woodworking equipment in the past and found it to be of good quality. However this product is a major disappointment. It arrived with the stem of the light switch broken, and the wheel attachment nut rubbing on the housing. I have to completely disassemble it to correct the problem. I guess that's the quality of "Made in China". After using it for a month the on/off switch jams. I called and wrote Delta for some replacement parts. So far no reply. It seems that they are improving shareholder value at the cost of customers. No more Delta iron for me.

Delta 23-730 Grinder with Stand
I purchased a grinder primarily to sharpen mower blades, hand tools and other odds and ends. Undoubtedly this is a bigger grinder than required to do these jobs but I wanted something that would last and could still be useful for unforseen grinding purposes.

Overall the grinder is nice. It appears to be of solid construction, it is quite and runs smoothly. I was disappointed on a few items;
1) The delivery took longer than the 2 to 3 weeks.
2) The unit arrives in two seperate boxes. The box the grinder was in was full of holes and crushed corners. I would guess this was due to the fact that the grinder is heavy and can be cumbersome to carry around and was probably dropped. Fortunatly the grinder appears to be fine.
3) There was too much grease on the pedestal and it made a big mess. I know this is done to reduce rust, but it is a mess.
4) The pedestal comes with rubber feet, but the hardware they provide was not sufficient to extend the rubber feet past the bottom of the metal pedastal feet. Therefore the rubber feet did not touch the ground. I had to make my own spacers to extend the rubber feet to a height that they would work.
5) The tool holder,that comes with the stand has holes with rubber gromets to hold the tools. With the rubber gromets in place, the tools do not fit in the holes.
6) On the grinder, the tool rest provided does not seem to be as adjustable as I would like nor robust to ensure that the workpiece will be held at the appropriate angle to the wheel.

Overall I am sure this grinder will adequately meet my needs. As an Industrial grade tool, I am not so sure. ... Read more

Features

• Two-year limited warranty on machines, parts, and accessories
• 1 hp motor turns at 1725 rpm for cooler grinding
• Fully adjustable tool rests provide the proper angle and support for all applications
• Flexible lamp can be adjusted to illuminate the workpiece for the best visibility
• Steel wheel guards have built-in dust ports for use with a metal dust collector

Reviews (2)

Good low cost 10" grinder
I just purchased the Delta 23-735 10" industrial grinder after looking at other options such as Baldor or Dayton. While the quality of the grinder is not in the same class as either of the aforementioned units, neither is the price. A 10" Baldor or similar with the pedestal would run at least $200 more.

The grinder arrived in two boxes, each adequately packaged to prevent damage. With the heaviest box weighing in at 115 pounds, some damage to the packaging was expected, and sure enough found. The grinder was undamaged.

Assembly of the unit was straightforward, and all parts required were included with the exception of an Allen wrench for tightening the pedestal post to the base. While these were factory installed, they were not tight enough to prevent the post from turning in the base once the grinder had been installed. Also, the holes in the flanged post base were not centered, and in order to mount the flanged post base on the square baseplate, some minor filing of one of the bolt heads was required.

Upon initial startup, the grinder exhibited some vibration. Close examination seems to indicated a small imbalance due to non-symetrical grinding wheels, but facing of the wheels should cure this. Power of the unit is adequate, and motor noise is much lower than expected. Coast down time after the grinder is switched of is quite long. The heft of the unit does a nice job of minimizing vibration.

The flexible lamp does not include a light bulb, but does seem to be constructed fairly well.

All in all, the unit appears to be solidly made, and should be more than adequate for most users looking for a heavy duty 10" grinder.

Excellent professional grade grinder
I've had the Delta 23-735 10" industrial grinder for a couple of years as of this writing. If you already own a grinder, consider retrofitting your old machine with wire or buffing wheels. Overheating metal parts was a serious issue on my previous 3450 RPM grinder, but is less so on this 1725 RPM machine - that alone made this a worthwhile investment. The 23-735 is big and heavy; 125 pounds; 15 ¼" wheel center to center; and 11" tall at the motor housing. All that cast iron in the motor frame and tool supports keeps vibration well within the acceptable range, and gives the tool a look of quality and heft. The toggle switch is protected, so it's unlikely you'll accidentally turn it on, a good safety feature. I prefer a can of water for a quenching tray as it's quicker to fill and empty, but the built-in water tray is amply sized. The fitted lamp is nice, but the goose-neck section should be a few inches longer. At the rear of each wheel's housing is a 2.5" dust port. I usually keep a rubber banded sock on each port; but attach a vacuum on dusty jobs.

Since I'm tall, the grinder is mounted on a 39" high bench. I used the very sturdy 33" high cast iron pedestal that comes with the grinder for another shop tool. I only use the Delta grinder a few times a week, so buying a Baldor 10" grinder (triple the cost), couldn't be justified. The Baldor was also much too wide for the available space.

The Sears Craftsman 10" professional grinder (model #21160) costs about the same as this unit from Amazon.com, but it doesn't include that nifty pedestal. (I'd give no credence to Sear's claim of 1 HP versus Delta's stated ¾ HP, since the machines are virtually identical. Delta's is plenty powerful, and they probably make the Sears machine anyway.)

In summary, if you use a grinder for hours every day or need the wheels to be really far apart, get the Baldor. For everyone else, the Delta is a professional grade grinding machine. ... Read more

Features

• Two-year limited warranty on machines, parts, and accessories
• 1/2 hp, 120V induction motor for long-lasting, smooth operation
• Cast iron base and motor housing
• Ball-bearing construction
• Adjustable tool rests to compensate for wheel wear

Reviews (1)

A very usable and reasonably priced bench grinder
This grinder runs smoothly and quietly, quickly getting up to full rotational speed. Installing and adjusting the tool rests and protective shields was fairly easy, although the shields seemed a little flimsy. The integrated lamp I find of limited use when the work area is already well-lit, and some folks may find it to be in the way if they choose not to use it. ... Read more

Features

• Two-year limited warranty on machines, parts, and accessories
• 1/2 hp, 120V induction motor for long-lasting, smooth operation
• Cast iron base and motor housing
• Ball-bearing construction
• Adjustable tool rests to compensate for wheel wear

Reviews (2)

one fine machine
Got fast delivery and the machine is perfectly balanced right out of the box

You do not get what you pay for.
This item is not a 3/4 horse power as stated. You receive a 1/2 horse power with the 23-880 item number. ... Read more