About to order a KMG!

JC in SC

JC in SC

Joined
Feb 28, 2009
Messages
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I'm closing in on ordering a KMG and I'm deliberating different options. I plan to mainly use it for slip joints in the immediate future. I was trying to decide between the 8" and the 10" contact wheel, but I've also had several recommendations for the 14" wheel. Which would you choose?

With regards to drive, I'm planning to use the 1.5HP 110V motor with the 3-step pulleys. Does anyone have experience with McMaster-Carr part number 6213K48 or 6213K49? These appear to be the same dimensions as the Beaumont motor and grinder pulleys, but made of die cast Zinc instead of machined and balanced cast Iron. I'm curious if the machining/balancing is worth the ~$55 difference between McMaster and Beaumont.

Although I am on a budget, I'm not really trying to be a cheap skate. If the Beaumont units are more precisely balanced and help the unit to operate better, then I'm all for it. If not, that would put me $55 closer to a small wheel attachment.
 
I have both the 8" contact wheel and the 10" wheel plus some smaller ones. If i was buying again for the first time i would go with the 10" wheel. If you do mostly small blades the 8" should be fine, but go with the 10" if you plan to make bigger stuff. Also, those pulleys from Mcmaster kinda suck. I tried them and one had wobble right out of the box. The balanced ones from Beaumont are much sturdier and no wobble. I believe the ones from Mcmaster are rated for under 1hp, which could be dangerous if you are going to run a bigger motor.
 
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Purchase the pullies from RoB. The diecast units are not balanced and will cause you fits.
A good set of pullies transmit the power from the motor to the grinder more effiecently.

Enjoy the new grinder. I have two of them; a two hp and a three hp, both of them pully driven and both with the 6 inch drive wheel for the extra FPM of belt speed.

Fred
 
I grind all my slipjoints with a 14". I have 8 and 10 but like the 14 much better. Also..go with Robs' sheaves.
 
Thanks for the responses guys. That is kind of what I figured. You don't find too many instances where a guy can charge extra for something if there isn't some extra value therein. I couldn't find a HP rating on the McMaster pulleys, so that should have been an indicator to steer clear of them. Unfortunately, they don't offer the 14" wheel in package form (i.e. the packages with 8" and 10" wheels are ~$88 cheaper than if purchased separately), so I'll almost certainly go with the 10".
 
Call Rob and talk with him.He may switch out for a 14 for and additional charge.He made a few changes to mine and worked out the price.
Stan
 
By the time you factor in the cost of pulleys, etc. the actual cost difference, from my intended supplier, for a 1.5HP VS set-up and an equivalent 3-step pulley set-up is only about $289. In looking at the assembly diagram for the KMG, I don't see any mechanism for doing quick changes of the drive belt with the 3-step pulley. If changing speeds with the step pulleys is a much of a hassle as it appears at a glance, I think I'll wait until I can save the extra $289.
 
Takes me 10 seconds to change speeds on my pulleys.

The wheel issue depends on the grind you're going to do. U doing hollow grinds? If not, then your wheel is mostly used for profiling. 8" does fine at that.
 
I have my motor mounted on a hinged plate and can also change speeds very quickly.
Stan
 
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