beginner which machine advice grizzly, pheer or kmg

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rlp114

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Mar 17, 2015
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Hello I am thinking of joining the knife making art. I have been looking at belt grinders I feel the grizzly would have limits it's around 500 bucks then there is pheer's 454 single speed with 1hp baldor starting at around 1200 with just a flat platten or variable speed with flat platen and 1hp for 1450 then kmg 3 speed with flat platten and 1.5 go for 1276.50. I'm limited on funds to buy a machine although it's a little more than the ones I have posted. I'm just undecided any input on these machines is welcomed. I've never made a knife but have wanted to for a long time now so it may be something I really grow into or decide it's not for me but a grinder would be handy to have even if I decide I don't enjoy making knives.
 
If you can afford the kmg, then go with that. All three of those grinders are good machines and will serve you well, but the kmg is the best.
Since hove never made a knife before, you may want to do a couple with hand tools before you drop a couple of thousand on power tools.

Chris
 
I started with the Grizzly because it was reasonably inexpensive, and I wasn't sure if I would like knife grinding. As it turns out I thoroughly enjoy it, so I sold my Grizzly and purchased a machine with more flexibility and potential. If you are certain grinding knives is for you, start with the KMG and don't look back; if not, if this is an experiment to determine whether you can see yourself doing this long term or not, the cheaper Grizzly (still a great machine) may be the better choice...
 
ggoose said:
I started with the Grizzly because it was reasonably inexpensive, and I wasn't sure if I would like knife grinding. As it turns out I thoroughly enjoy it, so I sold my Grizzly and purchased a machine with more flexibility and potential. If you are certain grinding knives is for you, start with the KMG and don't look back; if not, if this is an experiment to determine whether you can see yourself doing this long term or not, the cheaper Grizzly (still a great machine) may be the better choice...
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I often have the debate over which grinder. It's not an easy decision. I would love to just buy the kmg and never look back. But I am thinking I will go with a grizzly because I want to buy a gas mini forge as well. Plus I need about $250 in lights for my shop. I don't make too much and I'm still young, I figure the grizzly will at least work better than my 1x30 and my dozens of files. I know this isn't Somethin that I am just dabbling in, I've been making knives for a couple years with hand tools. I think it is all situational. Maybe I'm wrong in how I want to do it, if so, correct my judgement. Thank you.
 
I can afford the kmg 3 speed with the 10 inch contact wheel I have a 1x42 kalamazoo I use to mainly sharpen with it's a nice little machine but at 1/3 hp not really suitable for removing large amounts of material. If I went with the grizzly I would definitely be able to get more materials and such. I'm just not fond of buying non USA products if I can avoid it.
 
KMG, even if you decide you dont like making knives you will loose less total money by reselling the KMG vs the others.
 
Thanks for the feedback so far it looks like kmg is the more popular grinder and holds resale value better.So any input on the pheer 454 grinder? and why the kmg is superior?
 
I have the pheer, and its really a nice machine. Its not as pretty, but the build is sold, there is no rattle and tracking is nice.
 
rlp114 said:
Hello I am thinking of joining the knife making art.

I have been looking at belt grinders I feel the grizzly would have limits it's around 500 bucks

Pheer's 454 single speed with 1hp baldor starting at around 1200 with just a flat platen or
variable speed with flat platen and 1hp for 1450

KMG 3 speed with flat platten and 1.5 go for 1276.50
I'm limited on funds to buy a machine although it's a little more than the ones I have posted.

I'm just undecided any input on these machines is welcomed. I've never made a knife but have wanted to for a long time now so it may be something I really grow into or decide it's not for me but a grinder would be handy to have even if I decide I don't enjoy making knives.
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viral said:
I often have the debate over which grinder. It's not an easy decision.
I would love to just buy the kmg and never look back. But I am thinking I will go with a grizzly because I want to buy a gas mini forge as well

Plus I need about $250 in lights for my shop. I don't make too much and I'm still young,

I figure the grizzly will at least work better than my 1x30 and my dozens of files.
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I say put your money in the place you will the most dramatic difference.


The kmg will have more versatility
small wheels are very useful and the Grizzly dows not do that well.


I say go 8 inch wheel (for profile hogging) instead of 10 and put that $ towards variable speed

Make a forge, they are cheap and simple


In terms of $250 lights, put in one $20 T8 with daylight tubes and work under it.
Add more later one at a time at your leisure.
 
are you saying get the 3 speed with 8 inch wheel and save the cash to add the vfd later?
 
rlp114 said:
are you saying get the 3 speed with 8 inch wheel and save the cash to add the vfd later?
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Get the VFD right away if you can.

If you get a VFD, you need to change the motor too, so you can save the motor price if you go VFD right away.
 
Having just gone from a Grizzly for 4 years to a KMG with VFD, I wish I would have spent the money on the KMG in the first place. So far, excellent machine. I'd take the Count's VFD advice above.
 
I agree with Johnathan - Esteem with VFD. I started with Grizzly and it was way too fast. Then I bought a Pheer. I really like my Esteem.

Tim
 
You could build your own grinder. I built a GIB for around 800.00ImageUploadedByTapatalk1426687705.388200.jpg
I also built this one with scraps and some extra wheels I had laying around. Might have about 300.00 in this oneImageUploadedByTapatalk1426687792.542797.jpg
 
Brett is still in business. Right now, he has about 14 orders so he is very busy. He'll return your e-mail as soon as he gets a chance.

Tim
 
tim37a said:
Brett is still in business. Right now, he has about 14 orders so he is very busy. He'll return your e-mail as soon as he gets a chance.

Tim
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Tim I will give him time the photos of his grinder looked good and solid and thanks for the information.
 
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