8" or 10", rubber or poly contact wheels?

B

Brian.Evans

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Ok, y'all have convinced me to get a contact wheel for hogging. Which one? I might end up doing some hollow ground folders eventually, but mostly it's for hogging off material right now. Or, if you have a better idea, I'm all ears too. I wouldn't have to buy new if someone knew of a used one somewhere. PM me in that case.

The question is, which size and rubber or poly? Ok, two questions. Lol.

Eta: I've researched and researched and all I've done is grow more and more confused and indecisive.
 
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Brian, Everyone will have an opinion on this one so I will go first. I have small wheels from 1/4 inch to 2 inches and contact wheels from 3 inches to 14 inches skipping the 12 inch sand the four inch wheel. I like the 8 inch rubber smooth contact wheel made by Beaumont Metal Works for their KMG grinders best. It make a deep hollow grind that I find attractive and does not cost all that much considering it's high quality. That is what I would buy first if starting over. The ten inch would be my second choice. Larry
 
LARRYZ10 said:
Brian, Everyone will have an opinion on this one so I will go first. I have small wheels from 1/4 inch to 2 inches and contact wheels from 3 inches to 14 inches skipping the 12 inch sand the four inch wheel. I like the 8 inch rubber smooth contact wheel made by Beaumont Metal Works for their KMG grinders best. It make a deep hollow grind that I find attractive and does not cost all that much considering it's high quality. That is what I would buy first if starting over. The ten inch would be my second choice. Larry
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So......Where do you live again? :D

Would you still choose the 8" vs the 10" if 95% of what you were doing was hogging off metal in profiling?
 
I have a 10" serrated rubber coated wheel that hogs metal like crazy.I also have a smooth 8" wheel for hollow grinds.
 
Brian.Evans said:
So......Where do you live again? :D

Would you still choose the 8" vs the 10" if 95% of what you were doing was hogging off metal in profiling?
Click to expand...

For profiling, I say you can use the 8"serrated

It's way cheaper than the 10"

Serrated keeps it cool


I've only used rubber, so no opinion on ppoly
 
Brian, on the question of poly vs rubber I think you have to consider how much you use it. Are you a full time profession knifemaker who at times will be "hogging" metal for several hours at a time? If so, you might wish a rubber wheel. If a hobbyist, a poly will work just fine. FROM MY READING (NOT actual experience), the main difference in the rubber vs poly choice is the temperature the wheels will handle. Rubber will handle a good bit higher temps with comfort than poly does. Considering full time work where you would be hogging/profiling blades for several hours and really leaning on them - I think I would pay the extra for rubber.

On size - for hogging/profiling, I don't think there is much difference there.... I've got both a 8" (poly from USA Knifemakers) and a 10" grizzly wheel. For profiling I don't think I really see much difference - I mostly wanted to get the grizzly for the experience of installing bearings and trying a 10". Got a real deal on it from a person who purchased it for a project and never used it.

For hollow grinding, I "think" the 8" tends to follow the groove a bit better. BUT - that is an opinion from a person with very little skill at grinding bevels freehand. I use the bubble jig or a jig I rigged up for starting bevels.

Ken H>
 
Brian,

Get whatever size you can afford. 70 or greater durometer rubber seems to be the preferred material choice for contact wheels. I'd suggest getting a smooth wheel first because it can be used for other tasks as well, even if you don't think you'll need it for them (hollow grinding, roughing in the handle shape, etc.). Either way, a large contact wheel will be much cooler and easier on your equipment than hogging/profiling with the flat platen. I use the 8" smooth rubber wheel that came with my KMG package.
 
Proportion to depth ratio is key to this discussion IMHO...short answer if you intend to make tall knives get a big wheel

knives 1.25" and bigger, 8" inch and bigger,

knives 1.5 and smaller 10" and smaller

Hogging ?...flat ,round, trapezoid....... no difference
 
Brian, Yes I would still choose the 8 inch wheel if 95% of my work was hogging to profile for a couple reasons: #1 It is cheaper #2 the wheel can be used later for making nice deep hollow grinds that look cool and #3 If you ever want to get rid of it many knife makers will buy a used 8 inch quality wheel like the Beaumont (I would). Just my opinion. Larry Lehman



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