1 x 42 grinder selection

S

Spazzy McGee

Joined
Oct 18, 2019
Messages
4
Hi all, new to the forum but a reader for years. I am very much a hobbist on many different things and think it would be fun to try my hand at knife making one day. I have been sharpening knives for my family for years with various different methods and am currently looking at a 1x42 belt sander/grinder for reprofiling blades with large chips or broken tips and for shaping handles and maybe grinding a blade from stock in the future. I have have narrowed it down to two different units but am looking for recommendations on them.

The first is the Jet j4002 1x42. This tool is not an entry level tool at over $450 but seems to be built to last and has a ton of good reviews and you can hook up a flex shaft on a pto to run small sanding drums on it. This would come in handy on finger grooves and choils. I know several machine shops that have jet equipment that run 60+ hours a week and work for years so I feel confident about their quality.

The second one is a shop fox w1850 1x42. This unit looks identical to the jet and weighs the same at 62lbs but is around $280 and I can’t seem to find any reviews on it from any knife communities. Does anyone have any experience with this brand?

If anyone has any first hand with either of these two tools some feedback would be greatly appreciated.
 
If they have a 1/3 hp motor i promise you will have some stalling issues if you try to bevel any blade of any size, small slipjoints included. Its really not a big deal to build your own. A lot cheaper too. I just use 2" wheels because they are easy to source, even though i use 1" belts.

It doesnt have the versatility a lot of grinders have but i have been doing what i do long enough to know what i need and this thing is everything i need and nothing i dont. I'm not saying you need what i have, it just works for me and probably no one else, but the idea of building your own is what i am saying and this design i did is simple and no welding. I know a lot of people post DIY grinders that are intimidating to people that dont DIY tools ever.

The VFD is nice, something you won't get on one of the machines you mentioned.

2UJVQS9.jpg

Mu2MIdg.jpg
 
Thanks for the info guys.

When making your own what thickness of steel did you use? Would it be easy to make it if you don’t have a band saw and just an angle grinder? I like the idea of having a 2” capable grinder and using the 1” as desired. Thts honestly something I hadn’t considered at all.

As an update of other research on the jet unit above is that it actually does not have the pto to run the flex shaft and their customer service rep doesn’t know why their description says it has one. They don’t even make any attachments for it.
 
I snagged a Belsaw 1x42 on Craigslist for $30 about 6 years ago, been using it with no problems ever since. It came on a tall stand, and is belt drive so the pulley ratio or motor is easily changed (and could be used with a VFD with the right motor). Great machine. You may want to do a scan for deals before purchasing. Could be something special out there just waiting to be picked up.
 
Spazzy McGee said:
Thanks for the info guys.

When making your own what thickness of steel did you use? Would it be easy to make it if you don’t have a band saw and just an angle grinder? I like the idea of having a 2” capable grinder and using the 1” as desired. Thts honestly something I hadn’t considered at all.

As an update of other research on the jet unit above is that it actually does not have the pto to run the flex shaft and their customer service rep doesn’t know why their description says it has one. They don’t even make any attachments for it.
Click to expand...

I used 3/8"x12"x24" steel for most of it, and 3/16" angle for the few angle pieces you see. I used an angle grinder to cut the steel and a bastard file to smooth the edges. It was a lot of filing to smooth that up! If you look at my pics you can tell the cuts aren't very precise. I had originally planned to cut the pieces on my portaband, LOL! Never would have happened!
 
I think it looks great for an angle grinder and a file! I was really looking into the all the parts when a buddy sent me a link to Craigslist and a guy literally down the street from me has an old dremel 1x30 with 20-30 belts for $20. At that price I can’t pass it up and will be looking at it tomorrow night. And that should tide me over until I want to build a big boy grinder haha. Thanks for all the help guys!
 
I started with a 1x30 and the biggest problem for me was overheating. If plan on grinding metal invest in some coarse ceramic belts. Upgraded to the palmer 2x42 and it works great, so much better than the 1x30. Spent roughly 300 on amazon with shipping and warranty.
 
Randy3000 said:
If they have a 1/3 hp motor i promise you will have some stalling issues if you try to bevel any blade of any size, small slipjoints included. Its really not a big deal to build your own. A lot cheaper too. I just use 2" wheels because they are easy to source, even though i use 1" belts.

It doesnt have the versatility a lot of grinders have but i have been doing what i do long enough to know what i need and this thing is everything i need and nothing i dont. I'm not saying you need what i have, it just works for me and probably no one else, but the idea of building your own is what i am saying and this design i did is simple and no welding. I know a lot of people post DIY grinders that are intimidating to people that dont DIY tools ever.

The VFD is nice, something you won't get on one of the machines you mentioned.

2UJVQS9.jpg

Mu2MIdg.jpg
Click to expand...
One inch belt grinder.............Randy , do you own 2 x . . belt grinder to make comparison ? I have feeling that with right speed good 1HP motor one inch belt grinder will grind double faster then two inch wide belt grinder ? I think that I need one:)
 
Belt selection is key. I run a 2X72 in the shop and pretty much every abrasive maker puts out 2X72 in the full lineup of grits, abrasives etc. My farmers market sharpening setup has a little 1X42 Viel and belt selection is far more limited.

I believe 2X42 is even less options.
To get the belts I want across the board I use 4 different vendors. Nobody has everything.
 
Natlek said:
One inch belt grinder.............Randy , do you own 2 x . . belt grinder to make comparison ? I have feeling that with right speed good 1HP motor one inch belt grinder will grind double faster then two inch wide belt grinder ? I think that I need one:)
Click to expand...

A 1" or 2" belt option is nice for me since all my folder blades are 1.25"-2.25". As far as grinding faster than a 2" belt, I don't think it works that way :)
 
Spideyjg said:
Belt selection is key. I run a 2X72 in the shop and pretty much every abrasive maker puts out 2X72 in the full lineup of grits, abrasives etc. My farmers market sharpening setup has a little 1X42 Viel and belt selection is far more limited.

I believe 2X42 is even less options.
To get the belts I want across the board I use 4 different vendors. Nobody has everything.
Click to expand...

This is an important point. 2x48 is much more common than 2x42. I actually split 2x48 belts by turning them inside out and tracing a line using a square, then cutting with a disposable razor. I also only stock 2 belts, a 60g zirc and a 220g AO. I don't do near the grinding all the fixed blade blade makers hear do, so I am not really all that worried about belt variety. I do a lot of hand sanding.
 
Randy3000 said:
A 1" or 2" belt option is nice for me since all my folder blades are 1.25"-2.25". As far as grinding faster than a 2" belt, I don't think it works that way :)
Click to expand...
Why ? I can apply more pressure with one inch belt ? Anyway I start to make plans for one one inch belt grinder ;)
 
Well it looks like the old man used the sander mostly for sharpening chisels and kitchen knives so he had 17 200 grit belts with it. I didn’t have any time to see how easily motors can be changed if desired since I had to pack last night after buying the sander and we spent all day driving today but I have found a starter pack of 1x30 belts from combat abrasives for $60. Has anyone used their belts before?

Next weekend I plan on seeing if I can reprofile a couple horrible knives that I’ve found in parking lots over the years with large chips or broken tips and that may be a good test to see if this will work without bogging down too much.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top