8" or 10" wheel for the KMG - must pick one.

Los Angeles

Los Angeles

Joined
Jul 4, 2009
Messages
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I'm ready to upgrade to the KMG, and I have budget to get only one right now. I'm wondering if I should go 8" or 10" for my first large wheel?

Looking for pros and cons, comments, anything members can provide.

I'm a tinkerer, not a pro and I'm looking for versatility - I'll be making everything from kitchen knives to utility to daggers until I find my "voice".

Thanks in advance!
 
Had an 10" wheel on my first grinder (Coote) and it just kept limiting what I could do. Got a KMG and ordered an 8" wheel for it and it woks great. Much easier to hollow grind and Hog off steel Etc.
 
I ordered my KMG with the 8"wheel,used it alot then bought the 10". If I had it to do again I would get the 10" first,you can grind a narrow knife on the 10" but harder to grind a wide knife on the 8". I can be done but it's harder to do.Just my .02worth.
Stan
 
I agree with SBuzek, I have a 8 inch and its hard to hollow grind a large knife with it. I would much rather have a larger 10 inch wheel as I could still easily grind a small knife with it.
Chris
 
I think i'm in the same boat as everyone else. I have an 8" now but would like a 10" in the future when i have time to make one. but it depends on what size knife you are making. I make my 2nd Amandment knives from 1/4" stock so i can get a nice grind with an 8" wheel. but if i was doing the same knife out of say 1/8" stock i would want a 10" or maybe a 14".
 
Just ordered a 12" and a rotary platen myself, Cant wait to try the rotary, But Id go with the 10 if you must have one of the two.
 
Had an 8 ordered a 14". I still use the 8 occasionally but love the 14. For me personally it was easier to grind on the bigger wheel. Now when I get on the 8" it goes easier for me. I would recommend the larger wheel I use it on pocket knives to hunting knives to a double ground fighter I'm working on.
 
Thank you very much for your responses. Looks like a the 10" is in the lead. I'll wait for a few more comments, but I think there's too much regret from folks who started with 8" for me to go there. (Notable exception being The Arizona Kid).

Thanks again!
 
Consider this - with a bit of practice you'll be able to make a grind on an 8" wheel just as high as the radius of the 10", there's not that much difference between them in size that you can't fake it fairly easily. The smaller radius of the 8" wheel will allow you to make some tighter grinds and get slightly deeper hollows on some thick stock. The radius of the 8" wheel will also allow you a very small bit of flexibility in grinding inside curves for things like sweeps or clips. In my experience, the 8" wheels also hog better. I wouldn't turn down a 10" wheel, but I wouldn't order one either, I've got too many other grinding accessories that I want.

For what it's worth, I have 2,3,4,8 and a borrowed 12" wheel plus small wheels and a platen for my Bader. I believe that a 4" and a 12" (or better, a 14") wheel would get me by just fine, but if I had only one, I'd want that 8.
 
I will throw one more thing in there to think about. The wheels are cheaper to get when you buy the grinder and the 8" is the cheapest of them both. I am just about ready to do the same thing you are doing and I am going with the 10" first and then if I want the 8" I will go back and get it since it is cheaper and I have also been told that Sunray has some great 8" wheels that are even cheaper than Rob's wheels and if you order them right they are pretty good wheels. Good luck.
 
the difference in appearance is surprisingly significant between an 8" and 10". If you like the look of a hollow grind, you will prefer an 8" over a 10". Learning to grind is much easier on an 8". Larger blades (lets say anything over 4") tend to be wider and will benefit from a 10" .
If you want a near flat grind look for folder blades with out the bump of a platen, use a 10".
If you grind thinner more than thicker (thin is less than .125") you will want a 10".
You can stretch an 8" grind, you can't shrink a 10" grind.
A 10" is 20% more in cost vs. an 8".
Because an 8" has less contact surface while hollow grinding, it really takes off the metal.
 
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