belt grinder vs rotary tool

D

dalr753

Joined
Jan 5, 2012
Messages
77
hey guys i cant really have a full sized belt grinder (like 2x72) so i was wondering if you thought a rotary tool/dremal would be a good choice for shaping my knives or if i should just get a mini belt grinder(1x30).
 
what about a medium size belt grinder I and a lot of others have a craftsman 2x42. i love it, though it has its limitations
 
I'm still making stuff on a Rikon 1x30. Belt grinder + good ceramic belts will really make your life easier. I'm saving up for a real grinder. The problem I've had is that the working area is kinda small, so any kind of tall blade is pretty difficult to do, and also, I can't do much outside of flat or convex grinds. It can be done on a 1x30, but if you think you'll be any kind of serious about this, I strongly recommend you get a good grinder to start. Also, if you're in an apartment, you better have a really good dust collector or you're going to ruin your place. That steel dust gets EVERYWHERE. Make sure you buy a good quality respirator as well, and a shop apron that won't get holes burnt through it.
 
You'll have a tough time grinding blades with a dremel. How about an angle grinder? It will cost you about the same and grind off a heck of a lot more way faster.

I would recommend you go with a Craftsman 2x42 if you can afford it. I think they run about $120 bucks now. Its a great grinder for the price, and it wont take up too much space.
 
Bordo said:
What types of limitations does the craftsman have?
Click to expand...

Its biggest limitation is how fast it runs. It runs way fast. Another big factor is its underpowered, its only got a 1/3hp. I got the older model with a 2/3hp motor, but thats still underpowered too.

But for the price you won't be able to beat it, there are loads of modifications you can do to improve it (including slowing it down) without spending any major money.
 
The thing about Dremels is that if you REALLY work one for a while it starts to get hot. REALLY HOT............. I had to use a cordless one ( it was all that was available ) with cutting wheels to do some work on rusted screws on a house fan inside the attic of a cabin in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan ( a dark, spider infested, cramped place to begin with ). That little sucker got AMAZINGLY warm in short order - very uncomfortable to hang on to, to say nothing of the number of those cutting wheels I went through. At least I had good, face shield and dustmask, those little wheels don't bend at all................. They have a place but it's not shaping any knife bigger then a #11 Exacto blade.
I can't imagine using one for work anything involving any kind of tool steel. They are more toy then tool IMHO.

Just my 2 cents worth..........................

Syn
 
Dremels are very useful tools, once you figure out what to do with them. Shaping large pieces of steel is not something you even want to try.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top