Best grinder for use in podiatry clinic?

Members do not see these Ads. Sign Up.

I have been round and round on the internet looking at grinders for orthotic adjustments. I won't be making orthotics from scratch but will need a grinder to add heel raises, forefoot posting , arch height adjustments etc.
I have looked at the sani grinder but it seems a little on the expensive side.
have also looked at Roybi, Ashby and Ashby etc but they don't look as though they have enough clearance underneath and huge guards on them. The sani grinder does.
Are there any other choices..need a dust extractor or need to be able to buy one seperately.

I will be working with EVA mainly.

Thanks

 

Re: BEST GRINDER FOR PODIATRY?

The Sani Grinder is excellent in the clinical setting because it is compact and quiet. The vacuum bag needs to be cleaned regularly to keep up dust extraction though. Good for adjustments.
Other makers are Sidas (from France), Hardo, Goetz (Germany)...
Try looking at Atlas Orthopedics in the US and Algeos in UK and Aus as distributors of a range of grinders

 

Footsteps:

Where are you wanting to purchase? I have recently purchased the Sani-grinder from Moore medical in Connecticut. I have found that each of the 4 clinics I have worked at have all had one of these.

I am based in New Zealand but have managed to get someone with a debit card the USA to purchase it. They will ship anywhere in the USA for free.

Get in touch on queenstownpodiatry@gmail.com ifyou want any info

 

Hi,

Thanks. I am in Oz and have just purchased one...

 

Next time, you buy any 8 inch bench grinder, take the guards off it, get a 6 inch wide expanding flap grinding wheel and adapter for it made by VERSATILE ENGINEERING in Bayswater Melbourne, you get sanding belts for this for about $8 each buy a small dust extractor from Carbatech and away you go. It will fit almost anywhere, costs less than the sanigrinder and is far more versatile, a much more serious tool than a toy one like the sani grinder. I have been using this arangement for 12 years, made shed loads of devices with the same $1000 worth of equipment.
regards Phill Carter

 

I did a similar thing and agree that it is excellent for manufacturing, but the Sani Grinder is great for modifications in the clinic- it is quiet and actually spins at a higher speed than most other bench grinders (or so i am led to believe), but has less power. I always found getting a good finish with the Sani grinder was easier...

 

Usually faster means rougher and faster cutting unless you use much finer paper I thought, However, whatever works for your scenario is obviously fine. I also felt that due to the narrow wheel and restricted angles of access to the grinding surface of a Sani it is more limited.
regards Phill

 

I use a trautman bench carver. It's expensive but takes multiple attachments which makes some tricky Mods and adjustments much easier.

 

Hi all,

When I first got my bench grinder I couldn't get anything under it. Then I put it on a 4 inch tall block of wood. Now I can get under it just fine. Bolt the grinder to the wood and then bolt the wood to the bench.

If I recal my lessons on electrical motors there is a physical limit on speed determined by the phase of the AC. For example if you electicty is at 60Hz, you will have a physcial limit on max RPM of your grinder wheel. Then there is the diameter of the grinder wheel. Of course if the shaft of your grinder is bent you will get a really rough grind.

A grinder with multiple attachments is on my wish list. :santa:

Regards,

Eric

 

Hi Eric,
I have a grinder mounted on a section of bench edge with the bench surface cut away to allow for suction /extraction of dust and a wood and perspex box built over and around the grinder to contain all the dust from work. I have a rear suction point and another almost directly beneath the actual grinding surface, very little/no dust ends up anywhere else, the actual suction system and bags are outside the building so that the fine particles that are simply recycled into the air by the sanigrinder or similar bagged extractors are actually outside the building.
regards Phill Carter

 

Hi Graham,
That Trautman thing looks really useful, it's very like the large arm grinders that the prosthetics school at Latrobe have. What do they cost you?
regards Phill

 

After reading your posts I am now thinking of buying the sani-grinder for orthotic modifications.

Please can you tell me, is the dust extractor on the grinder adequate? Have you had many mechanical problems?

 

Dont rely on inbuilt dust extraction systems on these small units, they are a compromise at best, inadequate suction and can only hold a small volume that no "clinician" will empty as they are too busy.

Use your clinic vacuum cleaner, far better suction and it has a greater volume and whilst staff are cleaning they will empty it once a week.

 

Depends on your definition of adequate. You will still be brushing dust off of your lab coat.

I bought a bench grinder 2nd hand and the only problem I've had with it is the on-off switch breaking. Fixed with a trip to the hardware store. I've seen sani-grinders in offices that have been their for many years without problems.

Eric

 

I hear that `Nikki` is a good grinder