Officially putting Big Blanch up for sale feels a little bit like parting ways with a member of the team. This 100″ Blanchard Rotary Grinder has been a pet project around the shop for years. Every member of our team has had a hand in getting Big Blanch into the beautiful shape it’s in today. Completely re-done electrical from the ground up, sheet metal work, fresh paint, the works! But, the time has finally come for this bird to leave the nest. In celebration of Big Blanch being ready to go back out into the world, we wanted to put together a history of some of the work we’ve done with it over the years.
The Beginning
A true Michigan native, we originally came across Big Blanch in a tool room at Ford Motor Company. The guards were bent beyond recognition, the electrical system was completely shot, and the entire machine was relying on parts from the 60s, including old-school, grease-based lubrication and long-outdated electrical components. All of that isn’t even considering the issue of actually getting the machine out, which caused even further problems. We knew right away that we had our work cut out for us.
Shaving Off Decades
When we got Ol’ Blanch back to the shop, the first task was clear. Before we could figure out was needed, we had to actually find out what we had buried beneath forty years of work. After an initial wash, we set to work on disassembling the machine, where it started to be clear just how much work was going to need to go into the project.
The Real Work Begins
With the grinder disassembled, the condition of the components was made apparent. We were looking at wires, connections and fluid lines that hadn’t been replaced for thirty years. We stripped the entire system of its electrical components, wires and lines then started re-building the systems from the ground up. With a rebuild came the opportunity for substantial modernizations and other improvements.
A Fresh Start
While work on the internal systems was underway, there was still plenty to do on the surface as well. The entire machine was sanded down, patched up and given a fresh coat of paint. After getting the main parts of the machine looking fresh, the next step for the exterior was rebuilding the exterior guard walls, which were completely ruined in the process of pulling it from its old home.
Modernizing Systems
One of the biggest areas for improvement was Big Blanch’s lubrication system, which relied on an older form of grease lubricant. We tore the whole system out and replaced it with a more modern oil lube, which can stand up to the top-end speeds of the grinder than the older lube.
Preparing for the Future
After stripping Big Blanchard of all of its wiring and components, we had the perfect opportunity to future-proof and keep it running for a long time to come. All the outdated tech was replaced with modern versions, and we replaced the chuck and spindle motors with a Slow-Start system in order to minimize wear on such a large machine.
Big Blanch in 2026
After years or finding the right people and the right parts to get it up and running, Big Blanch is finally looking as good as new with entirely rebuilt electrical and lubrication systems, new guard walls and doors, and a complete visual overhaul. We’re excited to see all the work pay off with a beautiful machine, and we just hope Big Blanch finds a home that appreciates it as much as we have for all this time. Check out more pictures and machine specs here!