$500 new eBay grinders - any reviews?

Atlas Knife Company

Atlas Knife Company

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Feb 16, 2010
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I noticed a couple grinders available on eBay. One looks usable, one looks really nice like a GIB grinder. Both are 1HP or less. The cheaper looking one is $400 with a buy-it-now of $600, and the GIB clone is $475. Has anyone seen either of these in person and have any thoughts about them?

I'm not posting links because I don't want to endorse/offend anyone. It was only a matter of time before someone starting making a complete, decent grinder for less than $1000. We all know the markup on these grinders. The steel only costs $50 for 4 square feet of 1/2", $100 for a 1HP motor, $150 for rollers and bearings, $50 for CNC plasma.
 

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i'm certainly no expert, but dont the motors seem a bit weak? one of those grinders are 3/4 hp and the other is 1hp. honestly they dont look that great to me. for the money
seems like you could do better building your own.

jake
 
I've seen those and my thoughts were, cheap drive, idle wheels, no contact wheel (add $250) platen and everything else is questionable..

however the motor makes up some of the difference in the price..... for that amount I'd build my own and use skateboard wheels:eek: probably be in it for about $200-250

give it a try and let us know what you think..
 
GIB or NWG. You can do it for a little more and have 10 times the machine. I like the NWG because there is so much room for customization.
 
Rob: I think the tubing grinder IS using skateboard wheels!

Doesn't it seem there is an open space in the market for these grinders? The current offerings are 1x30 & 2x42 then moving up to $1000 Kalamazoos then on to $2000 for KMG, Bader III, etc. Where are the $500 commercially made grinders.
 
you would be better off building one like mine. if you are only going to be flat or convex grinding its perfect. you could modify it to do hollow grinds. you could build one for less than or right at $100.
 
If you already have a KMG or comparable unit I'm sure these are relatively unimpressive, but they look like reasonable entry-level machines, for which the options have always been very limited. No reason a guy couldn't upgrade the motor, wheels, etc. as he gains ability and funds. I'm really surprised nobody besides Kalamazoo has tried to fill this gap yet, there is definitely a market for them.
 
I love my Coote. I have mine on a 1.5 hp motor and it does everything I ask of it. I'd say for the price range you're looking at, the Coote wins hands down. Norm is awesome, and his accessories have evolved to suit knifemakers (glass platens etc). You can count on him for a great and reliable product, grinder or accessory. It's a simple two wheel setup, but everything is precise and solid.

The grinders that are pictured look pretty cool to me. I'm sure some good work can be done on them. I'm not going to knock them at all. Alot of guys have made some great stuff on little Craftsman and HF grinders. I'd probably go for the one on the left if you really like that style, and can't/won't build one.
 
I bought my coote used about 1.5 years ago and I love it. I have a platen, 10" and 6" wheel as well as small wheel idlers. I use a 1/2 hp motor right now and I have to be easy or it bogs down but Im moving up to a 1 hp and have no worries about power. If you set it up at the right height, you can do flat grind, or rough out on the platen, then tilt it backwards and do hollow grinding or handle work. The tool rest needs to be lengthened on the right but that is easily fixed. Norm is great, I didn't buy my coote off him but he answered any question I had. If you are only doing a few knives a year, I believe this is the grinder to use.
 
I can build one easily enough, and in fact I would prefer to build my own, but if I figure it correctly I'll spend as much $$$ on wheels and materials as it would take to buy a coote or one of the ebay grinders. Money is tight right now so I won't be doing either one any time soon. Guess I'll just stick to the 6x48 and 1x30 for awhile.
 
+1 on the tool table being short and square. To remedy this, I clamp a big ol flat piece of micarta on top if i need the room to support something long. I use it if I'm doing scandi grinds with my sled jig too.

I use mine all the time. Use the hell out of it. If the guys here saw how I had it mounted they'd laugh. My poor engineering doesn't stop it though. I grind knives on this thing every week. It's a tank!
 
zaph1 said:
Rob: I think the tubing grinder IS using skateboard wheels!

Doesn't it seem there is an open space in the market for these grinders? The current offerings are 1x30 & 2x42 then moving up to $1000 Kalamazoos then on to $2000 for KMG, Bader III, etc. Where are the $500 commercially made grinders.
Click to expand...

Grizzly gets close I suppose (although for 500+ dollars you get a fairly limited machine, and even at $500 it's a bit steep on price for what you get IMO), but I have often wondered why there is such a high price on many of the "production" 2x72 grinders myself. I mean, setting things like VFD's and motor's aside, where is the cost coming from? Besides extreme markup that is....
 
Believe it or not I've actually been contemplating making grinders to fit that price range, however the snag is... with quality components without the metal and welding them up the parts alone were around $500, this is including a 8" contact wheel..

now if a guy has the means/contacts to get quality parts wholesale you could probably make a grinder similar to a kmg and sell them for $500 without a motor...

after my long saga, I'll stay with a kmg...

I think Coote has the market personally for a reasonable grinder, they are an excellent investment... the only downfall is, its a cash sale..... :)
 
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