1x30 vs G1015 vs tw90

H

Hunterarrow

BANNED
Joined
Feb 19, 2013
Messages
49
I currently use 1x30. I'm planning to sell more knives and thinking about upgrading my grinder. I'm not sure if I should get a Grizzly or wait till I can get a better grinder like KMG or TW-90. Compared to 1x30 what advantage do I get from having a G1015? Stronger motor and having a buffer attachment is nice. Will it increase the production speed considerably? I guess I'm not sure if it's worth spending $600 on a Grizzly before I'm ready for a higher end grinder. Thanks.
 
The options you listed are all over the price range. A variable speed 2hp kmg would be around 2k. This would likely serve you well. Or spend $3600 on the tw90. I'd pass on the grizzly. If this is not the price range you want to be in, you could get a kmg chassis and add when you get funds.
 
Before you get the Grizzly.Buy a KMG platen package for about the same money,Put step pullies and a motor on it and your off to a good start and can add pieces as money allows.
Now if money is no problem then get the TW90
Stan
 
I started with the Grizzly and still have it. I held my breath and wrote a check for the TW-90 a few months go and didn't regret it. It is a very well built and versatile machine. The Grizzly was a good machine to start with. It has decent power as long as you are not in the habit of hogging off a lot of material for long periods of time. It does have its limitations though. It has a non adjustable tension spring which is on the weak side. When you are grinding on the edge of the belt, maybe trying to get into the plunge area, the work piece tends to push the belt rather than it biting in. That is probably an issue with any 2 wheel design. Also, that buffing arbor on the other side is a nice feature but unless you have it protected with a piece of bolted on pipe or similar you will be worried about it catching something. Another issue with the Grizzly is that the contact wheel is mounted to the motor. That means that grinding longer pieces to the right is not a problem but grinding to your left will likely have a clearance issue. But it is a big step up from a 1X30. SBuzek's advice may be the way to go. Get a good basic KMG set up and add to it when you can afford to.
 
My first thought was .... moped/Ford Focus/Porsche. The grinders you asked about are not even in the same category.

To push the analogy further, they'll all get you more progress than doing things by hand. Everybody wants a tw90, but it's not realistic that we can all afford one.

I'm with Stan, as usual. Get a KMG platen package and upgrade from there.
 
I started with a HF 1x30, moved up to a Grizzly, & wanted a TW-90. On the sage advice of Don Hanson, I bought a Bader B-III and have never regretted it. Don't get me wrong the TW-90 would still be my first choice if money was no object. However money was a major factor and I got a variable speed Bader with a platen and a small wheel attachment for $2200 delivered.
If you just can't afford anything else then get the Grizz. If at all possible get something better.
One more thing, variable speed is your friend.
 
I started with a Square Wheel, then a Grizzly, then a Bader B-III, then another B-III, then a KMG.

Don't get the Grizzly!
 
I love my old Grizzly. It's used more as a general purpose grinder these days, and the 1750 RPM buffer is wonderful. I have a Hardcore 2 X 72 also. But when my first Grizzly died after 12 years, I immediately ordered another one.
 
Bill DeShivs said:
I love my old Grizzly. It's used more as a general purpose grinder these days, and the 1750 RPM buffer is wonderful. I have a Hardcore 2 X 72 also. But when my first Grizzly died after 12 years, I immediately ordered another one.
Click to expand...

I still use my old Grizzly as a buffer. The 1750 rpm is just right. My brother has one that is still going strong as a knife grinder for over 10 years.
 
Actually the Grizzly is a hell of a lot better than a 1x30 and if money is a problem, the Grizz is the way to go.
 
FWIW I just got a coote grinder and I love it! The 2x72 (8" wheel) grinder with glass platen, tool rest attachment for the contact wheel, step pulleys, a grizzly 1 hp 1725 rpm TEFC motor and fenner power twist belt all came to about $825. I could have done it cheaper with a used motor. Not a bad machine at all. I had everything to build a work bench and wire it on hand so there might be a bit more cost in it.

I know this is not one of the grinders the OP mentioned but I felt it was worth bringing up.
 
I'm working with the grizzly right now, and it is a good machine. I'm about a month into knife making, and I am already wishing I would of went with a kmg.

Not to take away from the machine itself, because it preforms well, I just find that I am limited by it. I really need a small wheel attachment, and the high speed makes it very easy to mess up. It has a steeper learning curve from what I've heard.

I would go with a kmg style, or a tw-90 if you can afford it. There's a couple thousand difference though between the two grinders you named. You would never HAVE to have another grinder if you did get the tw-90.
 
Check out Wilmont grinders. They have just come out with a new model. It's called the "little Buddy". The quality is great and the service is wonderful. Teddy
 
egally08 said:
I'm working with the grizzly right now, and it is a good machine. I'm about a month into knife making, and I am already wishing I would of went with a kmg.

Not to take away from the machine itself, because it preforms well, I just find that I am limited by it. I really need a small wheel attachment, and the high speed makes it very easy to mess up. It has a steeper learning curve from what I've heard.

I would go with a kmg style, or a tw-90 if you can afford it. There's a couple thousand difference though between the two grinders you named. You would never HAVE to have another grinder if you did get the tw-90.
Click to expand...

I have a kmg and started off with just the chassis when I bought it- think it was $800-$900 to get it. I now have about $3500 into with the Vfd and extra attachments, so it brings it into the same ballpark as the TW-90 but I grew into them over time. That is the great thing about the KMG chassis, you don't need to make a "huge" investment for a fantastic basic grinder. I did have a Coote also, and liked it when I did have it, but the kmg allows for flexibility and is a sold machine.
 
One thing to consider is that the kmg is made from plate steel. So if you have a drill press and a band saw or metal cutting circular saw then you can make the kmg whatever you want it to be. Add a tool arm receiver, add a pulley on the motor shaft or the drive shaft to power additional goodies... You will be limited by your imagination. But if you plunk down $3600 then the tw90 should work well.
 
Wilmont sure does look nice. If you price out a chassis for the wilmont and the kmg, you will notice a huge price difference. For the money, the kmg is very tough to beat.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top