Quote Originally Posted by Jim Hinze
I have a double end mandrel, a couple of norton grinding wheels and a 1/2 HP 1750RPM motor raring to go... I just can't figure out what direction to have the grinding wheels spin, toward me or away from me?

Can anyone offer any suggestions?
Grinding: towards you ie.. rotating towards your foot. Counterclockwise on the right wheel and clockwise on the left wheel. Note that the locking nut on the right wheel is threaded right hand thread so it actually tightens with use. Left wheel will have a left hand thread so it also tightens with use.
Buffing: same. Almost all grinders and buffers come prewired this way.

If some choose to reverse their rotation, then they also risk having the wheels/buffs come loose as the nuts are being "loosened" with use.

Safety note: When starting up a bench grinder, stand aside. This is specially true in a shop that has more than one person. Reason is that if the wheel is defective, or one of the others in the shop has accidentally bumped one of the wheels with a piece of metal as they were walking by, the wheel maybe damaged enough to where it will disintegrate when turned on and the pieces will come flying out at your face.