Hey guys I was wondering if anyone can reccomend a cheap durable die grinder to port my heads. I have been reading through the SA website and they said it needs to be adjustable. I need to get an electric one.Just need it to love long enough to port the heads Any thoughts?

I've been reading Vizard's books, and he recommends getting one from Sears. For making it a vari-speed, use a dimmer switch for household lighting. Sounds like it might work OK but I haven't tried the dimmer switch yet.

you need to really use air tools for this. invest in a descent compressor, the tools arent very expensive. you will wonder how you lived without one.

I like to use a cheap 1/4" B&D 2,500 rpm drill!!

I have an electric, 30,000 rpm Du-Mor type die grinder AND it scares me to death everytime I crank it up using the cheap, 1/4" chinese stones! It has a nasty habit of exploding them at speed!

WEAR good eye protection and a GOOD dust mask b/c I had to have my Buddy Doc pull a steel splinter out of onna my eyes one time AND I hate spitting cast-iron dust for several days!!

Been there, done that!!

pdq67

I purchased a 1/4" electric die grinder from
Sears back 1981 to port and polish the inside of my jetboats pump. At the same time of this purchase, I puchased an electric motor speed controller from Grainger and some very expensive carbide cutting tools. Over the past 24 years I have used this equipment to port multiple sets of heads, de-bur blocks, and destroy perfectly good parts. It is not as good as having an air die grinder but it works and really takes a beating.

As stated by others in this post, be safe! Always wear eye protection, buy a good dust mask,the black crap that this process generates is really bad. And finally, protect your hands; I use welding gloves because the electric die grinder gets very hot as it gets older.

Remember the real horsepower is in the heads.

<font face="Arial,Verdana" size="2">Originally posted by Douglas Staley:
I've been reading Vizard's books, and he recommends getting one from Sears. For making it a vari-speed, use a dimmer switch for household lighting. Sounds like it might work OK but I haven't tried the dimmer switch yet.</font>

That is the exact set-up I have.

I've had my trusty Sears die grinder for many years and its still going strong after porting countless sets of heads. I used a house dimmer switch in a plastic electrical box. Over the years, I've had to replace the dimmer switch once when it wore out. They are cheap to buy and this setup works terrific.

I've tried air powered but much prefer the electric die grinder. Reasons are basically related to controlling the cutter speed, which is a lot easier with the electric.

I have a selection of carbide cutters for porting steel and for aluminum (which have wider flutes so they dont clog), plus a complete array of stones and sanding rolls. I usually just use the carbide cutters these days for almost all my porting work.

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'Silver Bullet' 1977 Z-28 413" SB
11.73 @ 115.10 on drag radials
Old Vortec combo:
12.15 @ 110.52

Just one thing I'd like to add - you positively, absolutely, need a way to control the die grinder's speed. Those Sears grinders operate at 15-20,000 RPM and you cannot safely port heads with the grinder going at full speed. I only use up to about 75-80% total speed or in that area of what the Sears grinder can crank out, most times its less speed than that. Carbide cutters remove material quickly so you need to be able to regulate the speed. The other thing is if you try to use it at full speed with stones, you stand an excellent chance of the stones literally grenading on you.

So - if you opt for the elctric, get the dimmer switch at the same time. It's a must have.

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'Silver Bullet' 1977 Z-28 413" SB
11.73 @ 115.10 on drag radials
Old Vortec combo:
12.15 @ 110.52

Like I said, my old electric Die Grinder is 30,000 rpm!!

SCARY!!

pdq67

<font face="Arial,Verdana" size="2">Originally posted by pdq67:
Like I said, my old electric Die Grinder is 30,000 rpm!!

SCARY!!

pdq67</font>


That's why you need the dimmer switch.

http://www.nastyz28.com/ubb/smile.gif

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'Silver Bullet' 1977 Z-28 413" SB
11.73 @ 115.10 on drag radials
Old Vortec combo:
12.15 @ 110.52

anyone have a part number for the dimmer switch to use?

I got mine from Home Depot. They have several types, I just bought what looked to me the best rotary dimmer for the buck. You'll need an electrical box, and an outlet (for the die grinder to plug into). Also I used a cut-off length of extension cord with a 3-prong plug wired into the box/dimmer/outlet. I plug this into the wall outlet, and as mentioned, the die grinder plugs into the dimmer box.



------------------
'Silver Bullet' 1977 Z-28 413" SB
11.73 @ 115.10 on drag radials
Old Vortec combo:
12.15 @ 110.52

you might go to a pawn shop to get a grinder cheap. if you can find one it would be a little better trying that

I used a regular drill with some expensive carbide bits you'll be there forever with a die grinder.

They make variable speed die grinders, but I don't think they are cheap.

I can't imagine porting heads with a drill, you'd be there 'forever'. I use carbide cutters and my Sears die grinder makes short work of any porting work.

I've had variable speed die grinders and they don't last. The most cost-effective route seems to be the Sears die grinder/dimmer switch deal. The Sears die grinders are very tough and long-lasting.



------------------
'Silver Bullet' 1977 Z-28 413" SB
11.73 @ 115.10 on drag radials
Old Vortec combo:
12.15 @ 110.52

How much are the sears grinders?

$79.88

Sears Die Grinder (http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&fromAuto=YES&bidsite=CRAFT&pid=00926756000)

http://content.sears.com/data/product_images/009/26756/00926756000-dlv.jpg


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'Silver Bullet' 1977 Z-28 413" SB
11.73 @ 115.10 on drag radials
Old Vortec combo:
12.15 @ 110.52

I need some info on this dimmer switch. Im really not picturing what you guys are doing
Thanks

badazz81z28... You know the light dimmer switchs that are in houses..

The ones with a round knob and you can turn them..

Full left is off, full right is high. Turn it down some to dim the lights.

Any single guy that brings women back to thier house will know what dimmer switchs are lol.

Well you can take that, put it in a plastic "project" box or elec. outlet box.. Get you an old extension cord, cut it so you have the male and female ends.

Wire those to the dimmer switch. Now you plug the male side into the wall outlet, and plug your grinder into the female side.

Turn dimmer to far left, cut grinder on, slowy turn dimmer to the right, it should click, now you got power to the grinder, more you turn the knob up the higher the grinder's speed will go

Instead of the dimmer switch, I went and bought a foot pedal set-up for a sewing machine and wired that into the grinder. Now I am able to control speed with my foot as I work. Works real well for me. Hope this helps. Mike

Reference to the picture above of the sears die grinder: Your gonna use that??? holy poopie, you will be there for days porting with that thing. Go Air, 1. an air die grinder doesnt get hot. A dremmel type tool will get very hot and uncomfortable to hold. 2. Air die grinders' speed can easily be controled and you can get a smaller one that is easier to use. 3. there is a huge selection of carbide heads that are made for air die grinders. Some are very large so that initial cutting is very quick and easy. 4. Air tools are way more durable as the energy to drive them is derived from a large compressor motor better suited to long stints of operation. A good air tool will last forever.

That Sears die grinder is 1/4HP and plenty powerful enough to do the job. In fact, many head porters do not use air die grinders for porting heads, peferring instead to use the better control of the electric units.

The Sears die grinder pictured above is insulated and does not get uncomfortably hot when porting for long periods of time that I have found. It warms up a bit but nothing serious.

The Sears unit is NOT the same as a Dremel.

Dremels are not suitable for porting heads, and yes I've tried one years ago just to see what it did. It didn't do much. They are better suited for hobbycraft work, which is what they are designed for.

Take a look at what top head-porter Roger "Dr. Air" Helgesen is using in the below pic while porting a set of Vortecs:

http://carcraft.com/techarticles/116_0306_vort_4046_z.jpg

To each their own - my preference is for the Sears unit. I've had mine 10 years now and it works as good today as the day I bought it. I can set it up anywhere and don't need an air compressor. And with carbide cutters it removes metal quickly.

Just my opinion.



------------------
'Silver Bullet' 1977 Z-28 413" SB
11.73 @ 115.10 on drag radials
Old Vortec combo:
12.15 @ 110.52

<font face="Arial,Verdana" size="2">Originally posted by 72_454:
3. there is a huge selection of carbide heads that are made for air die grinders.</font>

How do they know the difference if they are being used for air or electric? http://www.nastyz28.com/ubb/wink.gif

<font face="Arial,Verdana" size="2">Originally posted by Dirt Reynolds:
[B]I can't imagine porting heads with a drill, you'd be there 'forever'. I use carbide cutters and my Sears die grinder makes short work of any porting work.

[B]</font>

The die grinder bits (that i've seen) are SMALL!
The drill with a good bit cuts alot of metal real fast.

<font face="Arial,Verdana" size="2">Originally posted by Mwilson:
The die grinder bits (that i've seen) are SMALL!
The drill with a good bit cuts alot of metal real fast.</font>

The carbide cutters are the same as what can be used in an air tool, as theflash pointed out. Take another look in the photo above with Helegesen. He is a top head-porter - do you see him using a drill to port heads?



------------------
'Silver Bullet' 1977 Z-28 413" SB
11.73 @ 115.10 on drag radials
Old Vortec combo:
12.15 @ 110.52

<font face="Arial,Verdana" size="2">Originally posted by Dirt Reynolds:
The carbide cutters are the same as what can be used in an air tool, as theflash pointed out. Take another look in the photo above with Helegesen. He is a top head-porter - do you see him using a drill to port heads?

I've never seen a die grinder bit like that, its the same diameter as one for a drill, Nice!


</font>

Too many people are thinking of too many diff tools.

The Dremel tool is what alot of yall are thinking of. It has a tiny 1/8" collect (chuck), and only little bits can be used in it.

The Dremels DO NOT HAVE THE POWER to port or clean up for that matter a head. It is not an elec. die grinder.


The elec. die grinders are 1/4" collet. Will use the same bits, cutters, stones, etc that fits an air die grinder or drill. They have 1/8, 1/4 and even a big 1/2 HP motor elec. die grinders. These will port heads great.

Then comes air... You have mini die grinders that only have a 1/8" collect. These are too weak to port heads with and won't fit the right bits.

Then there's the mid size combo with 1/8" and 1/4" collects. That's what I use now.

Then there's the full size air die grinders which will only fit 1/4" shank bits.


Now some says an elec. die grinder will get real hot... Yes and no.. The ones I used will get warm, not hot though.

The tiny little Dremels will get burning hot, cause you are over working them.

And no body has said this yet... What about air die grinders... They don't get hot, but they sure do get cold!!!. If used for more than about 20 min. at once you better have gloves on to hold it. That's how cold they get.

I have used many things to port heads in the past.. 1/4 drills, 3/8" drills, elec. die grinders, tried a Dremel, mini and full size air die gringers..

Myself I like the mid size air 1/8"-1/4" combo grinder and the sears elec. 1/4" die grinder the best.

Thats it Night Rider I was thinking of a dremel!!! sorry Dirt. Dont know how i got the two confused?

[This message has been edited by Mwilson (edited August 01, 2005).]

If you're planning on using it more than once, a Foredom is the ONLY way to go. Foot controlled speed is the bomb. Once you've had one of these nothing else will do. I've done 10-12 sets of heads with mine and it still runs like new. And here's a deal on one.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Foredom-CC-Motor-w-CFL-Control-44T-Handpiece-Kit_W0QQitemZ5990514442QQcategoryZ29528QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Here's a "cheap" suggestion:

1/4" electric die grinder from Harbor freight Tools : $49.95

electric router variable speed controller for Harbor Freight tools: $ 15.95

but, get the good carbide cutter for Cylinder Head Abrasives, B.C. Gerolomy and make your work more efficient, easier and quicker!


Dr. Helgensen uses a Makita in the photo and these are usually over $89.00 to start but they are dead solid units!

I thought mine was a "Du-Mor" but I just looked and it is a "Millers Falls Co.".

Cat. # 320, Model #, ?.B

1/4" collet chuck, 30,000 rpm electric!!

Like I said, the sucker scares me when I turn it on!!

And I can't believe the man wasn't wearing a dust mask???

pdq67

[This message has been edited by pdq67 (edited August 05, 2005).]

my mistake, without a reference for size, that thing looked like a dremel type tool. I was thinking dremel to die grinder when I was talking about the plethora of cutters.