10-inch wheel -- what now?

Burchtree

Burchtree

KnifeMaker & Moderator
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Well, I've been going back and forth about getting a new grinder, and my mind has changed a million times. I've thought about saving cash and getting a KMG (I wanna grind now though -- boo hoo.) I've thought about a Coote and a Grizzly, but I don't know what I'm going to do.

Anyway, I was checking out a Grizzly catalog, and I noticed that you can buy a 10-inch wheel for their 2x72 grinder for $60. Of course, then I started having all these thoughts that maybe I can make myself an inexpensive grinder.

I know I'll get a few responses telling me to stop being a pansy and just buy a real grinder :D (and I probably will), but please humor me with any ideas on how to make this wheel into a workable grinder.

I've got an old 1x48 right now, and hopefully I can figure something out to get some 2-inch grinding done.

Thanks.
 
The KMG guys are going to rightfully tell you to get the KMG.

I have a Coote. If between the Grizzly and the Coote, forget about the Grizzly completely - get the Coote.

Roger
 
I have a Burr King 760, with an 8 ich wheel that CRC resurfaced for me. THe draw back of the 760, it takes a 2 x 60 belt not a 2 x 72.

If I had to buy a new grinder, I would go with the KMG. I don't know much about the other makes and models but the KMG has so many options/accessaries available.

I myself, who feels it is his own personal mission to keep the ecomony going, would dropm the money bomb on Mr. Frink and get the KMG with the 10 inch wheel, variable speed motor, an extra 14 inch wheel, the small wheel system, and all the little other goodies.

For what a new Burr King costs (thankfully I got mine for nuttin), you could have one heck of a set up from Beaumont.

Just my $0.02
 
I think making your own grinder is not a bad idea. After all where did the first KMG come from? Or the ones Bob Dozier makes?
If you are machanically inclined try here if you want to build your own. www.unigrinder.com It looks to be a pretty nice machine. I think it's fifty bucks or so for the plans.

There is alot of nice grinders out there ya just gotta find the "right one" for you.
 
I just called Grizzly, and they said they don't sell their 2x72 without a motor. For some reason, I thought they did -- am I wrong on that one?
 
Originally posted by Burchtree
I just called Grizzly, and they said they don't sell their 2x72 without a motor. For some reason, I thought they did -- am I wrong on that one?
Click to expand...


The contact wheel is attached directly to the motor shaft, as is the idler arm shaft. That is why all the other grinders are better choices. It is difficult to hollow grind to the left, without hitting the motor housing. Another reason is, you can't alter belt speeds, either with pulleys, or a variable speed motor. Many have purchased the grizzly grinder only to spend more$$ modifying it, than they would have spent on a proper grinder up front.
 
Michael,
Here is some info from an old thread by Brett over at CKD:
"To make a long story short, I contacted Grizzly Industrial to see if they sell the grinder without the motor. They do. It is part #P1015089 (Complete Box #2)"
Maybe Grizzly has stopped selling it that way or you might need to try their parts department.
By the way; I have photos of homemade grinders I have collected from the internet, if you like, I could send some to you as food for thought.

Mike Hull:
Mike, as a hobbyist, I very much respect the input to this forum
by pros like yourself. It makes this forum a great base of knowledge.
I'd like to address your comments about the Grizzly as you have summed up very well some concerns others have expressed about it.
Your hands on experience with the Grizzly is quite different from mine. Let me start by saying that my only other experience with other 72 X 2 machines is seeing them at knife shows. They all seem very well built and capable. I won't talk about them (since I really haven't used them) except in context to some of your comments about the Grizzly. Please correct me if I am wrong about anything I say of them.

The contact wheel is attached directly to the motor shaft, as is the idler arm shaft. That is why all the other grinders are better choices.
Click to expand...
The contact wheel is most certainly attached directly to the motor shaft (the idler arm is attached to a separate mount the shaft passes through), this makes it fixed speed. Don't many of the grinders
come as fixed speed (Wilton,Bader, Hardcore) with variable speed as a much more expensive option?
It is difficult to hollow grind to the left, without hitting the motor housing.
Click to expand...
No argument here: difficult but not impossible. The 10" wheel makes this much easier at about $60 more.
Another reason is, you can't alter belt speeds, either with pulleys, or a variable speed motor.
Click to expand...
Actually some makers have been running an extra motor behind the Grizzly to reduce speed using a pulley/wheel on the left hand shaft)or with a slow down wheel (flat grinding only). A dedicated mod can be done that is not very expensive or difficult.
Many have purchased the grizzly grinder only to spend more$$ modifying it, than they would have spent on a proper grinder up front.
Click to expand...
The only real modification the Grizzly needs (IMO) out of the box,
is to the platen. This is a cheap fix by adding a piece of flat stock, pyrocream, etc. Dedicated variable/adjustable speed is nice and the mod can be accomplished(pulleys, shaft, pillow blocks)at close to the cost of the basic Coote (minus motor,pulleys).

While the Grizzly is not perfect, I ( as a hobbyist and pretty casual one at that)have found it to be a capable machine, that is more than a bargain at its price.
Regards,
Greg
 
I knew I read that somewhere! I think I'll call the parts department and give the item number and see what they have to say.
 
"The contact wheel is most certainly attached directly to the motor shaft (the idler arm is attached to a separate mount the shaft passes through), this makes it fixed speed. Don't many of the grinders
come as fixed speed (Wilton,Bader, Hardcore) with variable speed as a much more expensive option?"


Yes they do, but you can simply change the motor to a variable speed. You can't do that with the grizzly.
On more well known knifemaking grinders the motor is running the contact wheel with a belt, from pulleys(2wheel type), or belted to the drive/idler wheel(3 or more wheel type). With the Coote, you can use three step pulleys to vary belt speed. Impossible with the grizzly, without serious money and/or time for modifications.

"Actually some makers have been running an extra motor behind the Grizzly to reduce speed using a pulley/wheel on the left hand shaft)or with a slow down wheel (flat grinding only). A dedicated mod can be done that is not very expensive or difficult"


Again I will say, why buy a grinder then spend money to do all these modifications, just to get it to be useable, when you can get one ready to go, with the addition of a motor. Plus if you get the step pulleys with the Coote, you can change speeds. Later, if you decide to get serious, you can replace the motor with a variable speed motor, and control. You can't do any of these things with the grizzly.

Everyone is free to buy what they want, it is unfortunate that low price always seems to be the determining factor. Most people that started with the grizzly purchased a better grinder. This is money that could be better spent on materials, that better grinder in the first place etc.
If grizzlies were the hot setup, we'd all be using them. They're not.
If their contact wheels were that good, don't you think all the makers would be getting them. After all, $60.00(grizzly) VS $200.00-$250.00 for a 10" wheel is a considerable difference.:confused:
 
I feel like I have D.I.D., I'm torn on what to do. Out of all the questions I've asked about grinders, there have been many answers, and they've all had merit.

I think I'm going to stop being a cheapskate and go for the Coote. The Grizzly sounds like a great deal, but why worry about having to upgrade in the future?

Thanks all the the answers and help on my grinder quest, and all the topics I've started about it.

I'll post pics when I get everything bought and set-up. (I might even take pics of the extremely old grinder I'm currently using just for laughs.)
 
If grizzlies were the hot setup, we'd all be using them. They're not.
Click to expand...
Never said they were a hot setup, just better than you make them out to be.
Thanks,
Greg
 
Originally posted by Burchtree

I think I'm going to stop being a cheapskate and go for the Coote. The Grizzly sounds like a great deal, but why worry about having to upgrade in the future?
Click to expand...

You are making a wise decision.
 
After researching opinions/experiences I initially bought a Grizzly to see if I even liked making knives. I knew what a great grinder would cost and I didn't want to spend 2 grand (or more) until I knew it's what I wanted to do. After 6 months of using the Grizz and deciding knifemaking was what I wanted to do, I got a KMG. I didn't see this as a failure to plan on my part. It was in the plan. I saw it as a prudent entry into what I knew could be an expensive tooling up for my probable second career. I now use he Grizzly exclusively for a buffer. I have no regrets and when I finally get enough money to support my hobby, I'll go full time.:D
 
Hi this is DaQo'tah

The question being asked is "Grizzly or not to Grizzly?"

Here is what I did....I looked at every post on this forum, read everything that all the experts had to say about getting a 1st belt grinder to make knives on....I did my homework,,,,and this is what I came up with...

The answer is : "Money, how much do you wish to invest in a grinder?"

Dont let anyone say different, in the end, its going to come down to a question of money and getting the most "Bang" for your bucks..

Thats where I found that the grizzly stands out,,,,it's less than $300.00 and you get all you need and a buffer too!

Thats hard to beat for a new knife maker thats only just thinking about making a few blades to see if he likes this kind of stuff.

If you can get a different belt grinder,one that comes with the motor attached, and a buffer too? than thats cool. But I was unable to beat the grizzly when I faced this question.

In the end, I have found that people that only think their type of grinder is the one to get, seem to be thinking all the others are not able to make good knives, well, I have seen great knives made by guys who lived a long time ago , Before any 2 X 72 grinders were invented yet, so This has to mean that your skills are more important than any tool.

If you got $1000.00 or more to spend, then you would not get a grizzly at all,,,,

But If you only got less than $300.00 to blow on a grinder, and yet want to make a knife the same day you get your grinder?. then you might end up getting the grizzly...
 
Originally posted by Ripper
Never said they were a hot setup, just better than you make them out to be.
Thanks,
Greg
Click to expand...

Ripper, no offense intended.:D I guess I should stay out of these "what kind of grinder should I get" discussions, but I feel that's what the experienced makers are here for, to help others make as informed a decision as they can. :)
 
Originally posted by DaQo'tah Forge
Hi this is DaQo'tah



In the end, I have found that people that only think their type of grinder is the one to get, seem to be thinking all the others are not able to make good knives, well, I have seen great knives made by guys who lived a long time ago , Before any 2 X 72 grinders were invented yet, so This has to mean that your skills are more important than any tool.

If you got $1000.00 or more to spend, then you would not get a grizzly at all,,,,

But If you only got less than $300.00 to blow on a grinder, and yet want to make a knife the same day you get your grinder?. then you might end up getting the grizzly...
Click to expand...


I don't own a Coote, never even used one, but just looking at the catalog, it is quite apparent that it is head and shoulders above the grizzly.
As far as price goes, it is far from $1000.00, by half.
It is a simple mattter to put a buffing wheel on, in place of the contact wheel.
http://www.cootebeltgrinder.com/
 
Originally posted by Mike Hull
I don't own a Coote, never even used one, but just looking at the catalog, it is quite apparent that it is head and shoulders above the grizzly.
As far as price goes, it is far from $1000.00, by half.
It is a simple mattter to put a buffing wheel on, in place of the contact wheel.
http://www.cootebeltgrinder.com/
Click to expand...

Uh, I don't own a Coote either, I have a variable speed Hard Core. I have used one and they aren't bad machines. They aren't a Hard Core, Burr King or KMG but they are a good machine for the money.

My purpose was not to offend anyone. I just believe that the Coote is little better machine. Did I mention that they aren't made in France? :D

C Wilkins
 
Hello !
I have Coote grinder and I recommend it.
Very good construction and very few (or not) modifications necessary...

For a first grinder (not too expensive) it is the ideal... You can start with an fixed speed motor with pulleys and later, buy a variable speed speed motor...
Ok, Grizzly have a buffer, but on the other hand, Coote can have a sanding disc (very practical) and I prefer to have my buffer away from my grinder...

The KMG seem to makes the hunanimity here (and I agree) and seems to be one of best the machine of the moment, but it is a little expensive when you starts and that it is necessary to buy other tools and machines... He will be probably my second grinder one day... In my case, I chose for the Coote, and variable speed motor, a good drill press, a bandsaw, etc... That depends on your budget...

When began I built a small 1"x42" belt grinder and I have make my first 5-6 knives with. I wanted to build a 2"x72" but I finally decided to buy the coote and to devote the time that I would have put to build this grinder in Knifemaking and grinding practice... Especially that I would have to buy some parts (steel, contact wheel, rollers, etc) and there was no more big difference in the price...


Alain M-D
 
O.k. Enough Grizzly bashing. I started with a 1" x 30" and yes I went to the grizzly for the price to start (every spring they go on sale for about $275.00). Hollow grinding on the grizzly might be tough. From what I understand the rubber on the newer grizzly machines is softer than the old ones. Making it harder to use the wheel, but definately not impossible. Check the Allen Blade videos. He shows both methods on the grizzly, including a hollow ground katana blade done on the machine. If your flat grinding, the platen that comes with the machine s*chs but, can be replaced easily and inexpensively. I flat grind blades and love my machine. As a matter of fact, I'm buying a second grizzly for convex grinding this spring. The newer machines don't need all the tweeks and modifications the older one's did. I've had people, a couple times, talking next to me about grinders and bad mouthing the grizzly. Then ask me what I use.
:eek:
I'm no master but, I can grind a good blade. No sweat. Someone told me a few years ago, it's not the machine, it's the technique. If I was going to buy something other than the grizzly (and I'm sure I will someday) it would be one of Rob Frink's grinders. He makes a solid machine and a great price. And you can't beat the versatility.
 
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