2x72 grinders never for sale

newbiekid13 said:
Well thanks to all you guys who added your 2 cents. I decided to go with the NWG plans and have the wheels on their way. I will post when I get this grinder started, thanks all for the great advice.
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I might have had one I'd have given you, but since there is no info on your profile as to where you are; I guess we will never know.
 
Sorry for the no replies I started a new job and the computer went down. I am in Maine an always looking for the great advice I seem to get here.
 
Building a new one slowly in phx right now, motor here pulley there. Finding used ones is hard and still pretty spendy, everytime one pops up its gone quick.
 
Mainer here too! If I gave up knife making today, I would not consider being without a 2x72 grinder. They are useful for so many things, for example my wife was trying to pull a splinter out of my sons finger. The tweezers were crap and not touching perfectly to grab the splinter. I went to the shop and ground the tweezers on the platen with a 220 belt until they were perfectly touching, pulled out the splinter first try. The other day I reground and sharpened a cheap harbor freight hatchet into a very serviceable tool, in five minutes, ect ...
 
The reason people aren't getting rid of their grinders in this bad economy is because they can use them to make and sell knives and EDC tools to supplement their income.

If you absolutely have your mind made up about a high end KMG/Bader style grinder, I'm not sure what to tell you besides what you already know. Look hard.

If you have about $500 to spend, look up the Coote grinder. Alot of guys are putting out beautiful knives with that machine. I own one, and have no great reason to upgrade it at the moment. If that's the only grinder I'd ever have, I'd not be disappointed.
 
I totally agree with John! If I had to give up knife making, I would sell off most of my shop, but I'd keep at least one 2X72!

I often wonder how most folks make it through life without one!!! ;) :D
 
Trying to convince my neighbor to get one. He thinks an angle grinder is the greatest thing ever. I might take my spare and just drop it off and see what he thinks.
 
They come up just not often. I just bought essentially a brand new KMG variable speed 2hp for 1k off craigslist!! I am just a bit excited. Several years ago I bought a old square wheel for a few hundred bucks. You just have to be watching and don't hesitate to call email ect to get in line first. No knife makers died for me to purchase these machines :)
Chris Roberts
 
Hi Newbiekid,

I also had some difficulty and months' of waiting to get ahold of a 2x72 grinder, but it was WELL worth the time and trouble! My problem with the inexpensive 2x72s was that most models seem to have the motor shaft as the mount for the large contact wheel, so they run very fast and can't be geared down with v-belt pulleys.

Luckily, the good folks at Kalamazoo heard my pleas and broke out the blueprints to build me one of their "old-style" 2x72 models with a pulley drive, which is great after some modifications: slower motor, v-belt geared for even less grinding belt speed and more torque, reversed motor rotation, added foot button power switch, and alter the platen to move it much closer to the contact wheel. Now it's suitable for grinding titanium without burning me and my shop down!

Could barely get the grinder out of the box before starting to modify it, and the thing has dramatically expanded my blade grinding possibilities. These fellows aren't kidding about the homemade mods and gizmos they come up with in order to make knives like they want 'em!
 
Mecha said:
I also had some difficulty and months' of waiting to get ahold of a 2x72 grinder, but it was WELL worth the time and trouble! My problem with the inexpensive 2x72s was that most models seem to have the motor shaft as the mount for the large contact wheel, so they run very fast and can't be geared down with v-belt pulleys.
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You know that you can change the drive wheel, right? A twist of an allen wrench and you change the speed of the grinder. It's not as good as variable speed, but it's better than nothing.
 
I was referring to the two-wheel type, where the contact wheel IS the drive wheel, directly mounted to the motor shaft. Mine has an 8" contact/drive wheel, so you can imagine how fast it ran with a 3450 rpm motor.
 
It would still run too fast for my purposes even with that small of a wheel, and then I would only have a tiny contact wheel. It may also make a 72" belt too long for some 2-wheel machines without adding a third idler pulley.
 
I think if I were starting out today and needed a 2x72" grinder, I'd either buy a kit grinder, or plans, and make it myself. I've even seen plans that state no welding needed. Cheap, and you have the satisfaction of making it yourself.
 
Thanks guys, truth be told I took all the advice and am building the no weld grinder. Scored a motor, have the tubing, wheels, and the shaft drive and have it half built. Will post pics once I figure out how. Yes i know i am an idiot just not as easy as pull and drop like most. Will keep you guys posted on how she comes out.
 
newbiekid13 said:
Thanks guys, truth be told I took all the advice and am building the no weld grinder. Scored a motor, have the tubing, wheels, and the shaft drive and have it half built. Will post pics once I figure out how. Yes i know i am an idiot just not as easy as pull and drop like most. Will keep you guys posted on how she comes out.
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Hope this works. Thanks 1-10
 
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