Beaumont grinder wheels

[Brekfast]

Hi guys,

I have been lurking, learning and getting my shop together.

Deker's thread inspired me to build (or to try at least) a KMG clone. It is going slowly but it is happening (I don't want to jinx it so no pics yet - or I am just embarrased hehe). Anyhow, I'd like to know if I can order the Beaumont grinder wheels and have them delivered to Montreal, Canada.

Thank you.

Henrik

 

[deker]

I'd imagine that Rob could ship internationally. Give him a call or shoot him an email. He's an awesome guy to deal with. Also, I've finally seen a KMG in person. Rob's tracking arrangement is a lot easier to make than mine was. You might try to see if somebody with a KMG can photograph the hinge for you and save you some time

Good luck and feel free to ask any questions you have. I'll do my best to help.

-d

 

[Brekfast]

Your grinder building thread was fantastic !

I started with some problems at the beginning because the metal I ordered was cut very rough with a torch, so the edges were uneven. I ended up buying a metal bandsaw to cut off the rough sides ( I figured I will need the bandsaw for knifemaking anyway) but all this took time. This despite my best efforts caused that the pieces are not perfectly square, not off by much but not perfect. I guess I will see it at the end how that will affect things.

I got the tooling arm box top drilled (let's call it TAB) out and bolted to the TAB's sides, tapped and all. and I got the TAB legs and the TAB bottom plate drilled and tapped. Next step is to finish the TAB completly.

I will probably need to go out and buy a new base plate, the one I bought originaly is not enough to have the grinder AND the motor on it.

Then I am thinking about fixing the shaft support plates to the rear leg, then the making the tracking arm and the pivot etc. This is my first toolmaking project ever and working on it 1 - 2 evenings a week makes it slow going but I am really enjoying it.

I managed to avoid some of the mismatching holes issues you mentioned in your thread by getting the set of transfer punches and marking holes that have to line up that way.

Anyhow .. rambling off.

cheers !

Henrik

 

[deker]

Your grinder building thread was fantastic !

Thanks! One of these days I have to post some pics of the VFD wiring and the final product. Problem is, when I have time I'd rather be USING the grinder

I started with some problems at the beginning because the metal I ordered was cut very rough with a torch, so the edges were uneven. I ended up buying a metal bandsaw to cut off the rough sides ( I figured I will need the bandsaw for knifemaking anyway) but all this took time. This despite my best efforts caused that the pieces are not perfectly square, not off by much but not perfect. I guess I will see it at the end how that will affect things.

I've been suprised how forgiving the design of the KMG is. A fair amout of being out of square, etc can be soaked up by the pillow block bearings. They are one of man's finest inventions IMHO One thing you'll find after you get it done is how much easier building a grinder would be if you had a grinder...Flattening your rough edges for example...

I will probably need to go out and buy a new base plate, the one I bought originaly is not enough to have the grinder AND the motor on it.

Don't jump on that JUST yet. There is something to be said for being able to unmount the grinder without having to mess with the motor. If you do plan to do something like that, I'd suggest a set-up like Rob sells where the grinder base plate and the motor bolt to a larger base plate. In the end, my motor sits underneath the tabletop that the grinder is on and a belt runs through the tabletop to the grinder's pulley.

Then I am thinking about fixing the shaft support plates to the rear leg, then the making the tracking arm and the pivot etc. This is my first toolmaking project ever and working on it 1 - 2 evenings a week makes it slow going but I am really enjoying it.

Shocking how much fun making a tool can be isn't it? Again, when you get to the tracking bit, there is a MUCH simpler way than making the little hinge dealie I made. I'll see if I can get a pic of a KMG traking assy...

I managed to avoid some of the mismatching holes issues you mentioned in your thread by getting the set of transfer punches and marking holes that have to line up that way.

Glad somebody learned something from my repeated stupidity...You know, I STILL don't have a set of transfer punches...

Keep us posted and make sure you show the finished product!

-d

 

[butcher_block]

guess i need to take a picture of a tracking doodad i ll see what i can do
dek i got a set of punches if you ever need to use them still havent used them myself

 

[JCaswell]

.... Anyhow, I'd like to know if I can order the Beaumont grinder wheels and have them delivered to Montreal, Canada.

Be prepared to pay for it twice. Your customs/tax situation is brutal (all that 'free' healthcare, I gather). They will probably open the package and if they aren't satisfied with the declared value, they will assign their own and tax you accordingly. (I do a fair amount of shipping up there.) You may get lucky, but it's best to brace for the worst, so you aren't too shocked if you get a special assessment. I have no idea what your customs Nazis will do when they see a box full of wheels and bearings, etc. They may get confused and give you a pass, or they may say, "This is obviously high-precision equipment worth big dollars. You just never know.

 

[Brekfast]

I have ordered items before from the States - albeit not machine parts - the taxes were reasonable, in some cases the seller was willing to ship it as a non-business transaction as well, in which case it was even better.


Ritchard,

Thank you for your offer about the pic. I would be interested to see it indeed.
For now I am thinking I would use the design from Mike's plans he emailed me, but the more options the better.


Ps: it sucks to be at work saturday

Henrik

 

[miden]

Hi Henrik,

Good to see another Montrealer on the forums, I have been feeling quite alone here for the past year. Welcome!

Just to let you know that if you have problems bringing your contact wheels in from the US, I am sure there is a Canadian company that could help you.
I know for a fact that Downie supplies in Ontario offer a service to have contact wheels re-surfaced so they may be able to get wheels made from scratch. I did in fact hear this from another Canadian knife maker.
Up to you though. If you want to find out about the local option, the contact person is Jeff Diotte at Downie Knife Supply, his website is messing around lately but you can contact Jeff at 1 519 978 9387. He also sells all sorts of supplies that you will need when your machine is finished and you are ready to start making those knives!

I built my own grinder too, I got the plans from Bertie Rietveld just before I left South Africa 10 years ago. Quite a mission it was but it works. I do not have the all the neccesary machinary but I am fortunate in that I have access to the tool and die shop at work. It took a lot of Saturdays but it was well worth it.
I made my own contact wheel too, well, I made the whole thing with the exception of the rubber. I basically made the wheel and had the rubber done by a company in Montreal that specialises in that sort of thing. It is in fact a polyeurethyne. Works very well.

I have only made 9 knives up to now so I am still a newbie but if I can help you in any way let me know. I found it very difficult to get started here because we really are quite isolated compared to our American neighbours. Seems they all know someone close to where they live.

Anyway, welcome again. You will find a lot of fine folks on this forum that are very willing to offer advice and share their immense knowledge very unselfishly. A league of extraordinary gentlemen!

You might want to give a little bit of info about yourself though, you do not have to go into great detail, it is just that the N/A in the personal profile makes some guys reluctant to communicate.
Nothing nasty intended, just a suggestion.

Good luck with your machine, the best is yet to come.

Mike

 

[Brekfast]

I am equally happy to see not only another Canuck but a Montrealer no less !
You have made 9 knives huh ?

Well, then you are exactly 9 knives ahead of me. I am still in the process of getting my tools together, and of course building my grinder which I kinda regard as a rite of passage.

I am a total noob to fabricating mechanical things, (even though my hobby is motorcycling, and now, well making knives too eventualy) but I am thoroughly enjoying it.

By trade I am a DBA/System admin, in other words I am an IT geek.

I will upgrade my profile, never thougrht people would actually nother to look at it.

I could definitely use all the advise I can get, and will look up your contact for the grinder wheels, there is also a small machine shop near my place, will pay them a visit with some pictures and ask them if they could make it and if so how much would it cost.

Hey, maybe we could have a beer sometimes since we both live in Mo !

Cheers !

Henrik

Ps: I can't spell for beans

 

[miden]

Henrik,

Yes, I said I have made 9 knives, there are about the same number of rejects in a cupboard !
For some reason the fatal mistakes never happen at the beginning, they come right at the end when there is no going back!
My 2 most famous failures are hanging behind my grinder on a nail in the wall to serve as a grim reminder of how important it is to pay attention.

Good idea, maybe we can have a beer some time, I am in Pierrefonds, shoot me an e-mail if you like, my e-mail is in my profile.

Just a word of advise. If you go to a machine shop and want them to make something you will need more than a picture, they need definite dimensions. Like I said, contact me if you like and I will be happy to assist you if you need it.


Mike