Author Topic: New Oregon Grinders  (Read 2183 times)

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Offline Majorpayne

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New Oregon Grinders
« on: March 28, 2015, 04:58:19 pm »

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Offline 660magnum

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Re: New Oregon Grinders
« Reply #1 on: March 28, 2015, 05:25:34 pm »
This is the first I have seen one.

Appears to be some reversion back to the 511A. Maybe the best of the 511AX and the 511A? Plus a little lipstick? And a price increase?

I'm perfectly happy with my 511A. But if I needed a new grinder the 520-120 might be it?

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200641887_200641887?cm_mmc=Google-pla-_-Logging-_-Chain%20Saw%20Chain%20Sharpeners%20%2B%20Maintenance-_-47084&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=47084&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=47084&gclid=CLzbjamAzMQCFZGIaQod0nsA0Q
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Offline Majorpayne

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Re: New Oregon Grinders
« Reply #2 on: March 28, 2015, 05:52:20 pm »
This is the first I have seen one.

Appears to be some reversion back to the 511A. Maybe the best of the 511AX and the 511A? Plus a little lipstick? And a price increase?

I'm perfectly happy with my 511A. But if I needed a new grinder the 520-120 might be it?

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200641887_200641887?cm_mmc=Google-pla-_-Logging-_-Chain%20Saw%20Chain%20Sharpeners%20%2B%20Maintenance-_-47084&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=47084&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=47084&gclid=CLzbjamAzMQCFZGIaQod0nsA0Q
That is how I found out about it, thumbing through a NT catalog yesterday. They say they improved the vise. I sent an email to Oregon 
today asking the difference between the 520 and a 511ax like I have.

Offline Majorpayne

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Re: New Oregon Grinders
« Reply #3 on: March 30, 2015, 07:06:29 pm »
This is the first I have seen one.

Appears to be some reversion back to the 511A. Maybe the best of the 511AX and the 511A? Plus a little lipstick? And a price increase?

I'm perfectly happy with my 511A. But if I needed a new grinder the 520-120 might be it?

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200641887_200641887?cm_mmc=Google-pla-_-Logging-_-Chain%20Saw%20Chain%20Sharpeners%20%2B%20Maintenance-_-47084&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=47084&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=47084&gclid=CLzbjamAzMQCFZGIaQod0nsA0Q
That is how I found out about it, thumbing through a NT catalog yesterday. They say they improved the vise. I sent an email to Oregon 
today asking the difference between the 520 and a 511ax like I have.
This is the response

Technical Services and Sales
12:51 PM (5 hours ago)

to me
Hi Brad,
 
Thank you for your interest in the Oregon grinders,
 
The difference between the two is the vise, we have experienced some issues with the 511AX vise breaking so they changed the design, it will still have two pinch points but will look similar to the old 511A vise, using a cam lock design to open and close. This vise is designed to hold ¼, .325, 3/8 low profile, 3/8 standard and .404 chains. If you are sharpening ¾ pitch you will need vise # 571887
 
regards
 
Alison Heynderickx
Lead, Technical Support
Customer Service Representative
P: 503.653.4706
     800.223.5168
F: 503.353.6423
E: Alison.heynderickx@blount.com

Offline Philbert

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Oregon 310-120 Mini Grinder
« Reply #4 on: July 31, 2015, 10:43:37 pm »
Just purchased this one: Oregon 310-120 Mini Grinder
http://www.oregonproducts.com/pro/products/accessories/BenchGrinder_310-120.htm

Looks like some of the 'Harbor Freight' type grinders, but has a cast aluminum base instead of plastic; nicer chain placement dog; comes with 2 wheels, dressing brick, wheel profile gauge, etc.
About twice the price of the (discounted) cheap versions, and about half the price of their old, Tecomec style mini grinder. Price may come down once more vendors start selling it, offeering it on eBay, etc.

I am going to play with it, and compare it to a few of the cheap mini grinders I bought as a challenge earlier this year to see if it is any better.

Fixed grinder head tilt angle (fixes the top plate cutting edge angle); adjustable vise rotation (top plate angle and side plate cutting edge angle); no 'down angle'.  Limited power compared to full sized grinders, but might be OK for a 'take-along' compact grinder for touch ups?

Philbert

Offline Philbert

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Re: New Oregon Grinders
« Reply #5 on: August 09, 2015, 12:59:26 am »
Tried the Oregon 310 grinder side-by-side with a  similar looking mini-grinder, and a full sized 511A grinder, sharpening a bunch of .325 pitch, 67 drive link STIHL chains.  Obviously, the smaller grinders could not compete with the 511A in terms of power or speed.  The fixed head tilt angle also made it hard to match the existing angles on the chains, so I had to take off a little more metal - not an issue if someone only uses these grinders.

Light duty.  Simple to set up, easy to use, quiet (like a sewing machine motor), takes up very little space.  Could be OK for light touch ups on smaller gauge chains. Or by someone who sharpens infrequently, has a light touch, and a little patience.

Advantages of the Oregon 310 (right) over my 'Infinity' brand 'HF-style' grinder (left):
- cast aluminum base, instead of plastic;
- larger, more effective chain holding dog on the vise;
- accessible motor brushes;
- came with additional 3/16" grinding wheel, dressing brick, wheel template, extra motor brushes;
- better (but not perfect) owner's manual;
- Oregon support (if needed).

All things equal, I would choose the Oregon over the generic grinder, if I was picking a mini-grinder. But the generic HF grinders are often available for about half the price. Some of this difference can be attributed to the advantages noted. Maybe some of this difference will dampen out as more vendors and discounters start carrying the 310?

Will continue to play with these, and maybe try them for portable use,etc.

Philbert

Offline Cut4fun .

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Re: New Oregon Grinders
« Reply #6 on: August 09, 2015, 11:32:50 am »
Nice write up for us budget minded folks.  What was the price comparisons between them?

Offline Philbert

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Re: New Oregon Grinders
« Reply #7 on: August 09, 2015, 01:48:22 pm »
What was the price comparisons between them?

The generic HF-type was under $40 shipped off eBay.
The Oregon was $85 ('sale' price from $90) from Northern Tool.

Philbert

Offline Philbert

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Re: New Oregon Grinders
« Reply #8 on: August 10, 2015, 03:30:28 pm »
Replacement wheel (made in Italy - right) vs OEM supplied wheel (made in China - left). Frankly, I was expecting the Italian wheels as OEM on an Oregon product. 

ID is correct on the replacement wheel, but OD and thickness also slightly different.  Coarser grit on the replacement wheel too.  Sent the defective wheel back to Oregon, but will try to compare the new wheel against old one from memory, and against the 1/8 wheels on other grinders.  Coarseness of grit could have a big impact on grinding with these small motors.

Philbert

Offline Cut4fun .

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Re: New Oregon Grinders
« Reply #9 on: August 10, 2015, 04:06:49 pm »
I like  coarse with light touch.  My wheels from Madsen's I got for USG are super coarse

 

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