Belt Grinder

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Armycub2

Armycub2

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Feb 15, 2011
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Hellow to every one, happy to be in this forum. New knife maker here . Any recomendations on Belt grinders? planning to get one but not sure were to start.
Thank you
 
I recommend getting the best Bader BIII you can afford. Tooling arms are conveniently sized, machines are built to last and their customer services is outstanding.
 
KMG and the KMG clones. The kit DIY grinders (The EERF Grinder, Grinder In A Box, and No Weld Grinder) are nice if you are on a budget like myself. It allowed my to buy what I could afford at the time and spread the cost out over a few months and you end up with a solid affordable grinder that is almost as good as the ready made ones. You will need to have some basic tools and skills, but if you are making knives that shouldn't be a problem:p
 
Armycub2 said:
Hello to every one, happy to be in this forum. New knife maker here . Any recommendations on Belt grinders? planning to get one but not sure were to start.
Thank you
Click to expand...


Entry Level Grinders
Many makers start with the Sears Craftsman 2x42 belt grinder.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00921513000P?prdNo=3

Commercial Production 2 x 72” Belt Grinders
http://www.prometheanknives.com/shop-techniques-3/grinders

Mapp arm – Grinder Toolrest
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=466024


DIY 2 x 72” Belt Grinders

KMG Clone
Free Plans
http://www.dfoggknives.com/PDF/GrinderPlans.pdf

NWG No Weld Grinder
http://www.usaknifemaker.com/plans-for-the-no-weld-grinder-sander-nearly-50-pages-p-723.html

EERF Grinder (EERF =“Free” backwards)
Free plans
http://wilmontgrinders.com/EERFGrinder.aspx
http://blindhogg.com/blueprints.html
http://www.atlasknife.com


Buy the kit
http://polarbearforge.com/grinder_kit.html
 
Just starting out and don't want to drop a lot of money? get the Sears 2x42!!! Can not beat it for the $140 it sells for. If you stick with knifemaking it will still be used for a million other things in the shop.
 
go to the sears store and order it. You get the shipping and the tool for $133 right now. I am waiting for mine. My DIY grinder will be done soon. But, my craftsman will be here this week.
 
Best grinder under $250. I just added a $5 grinding guide. WOW! What a difference it makes on grinding bevels.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=803811
grinder7.jpg
 
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concerning the cheaper sears grinder, I have the opportunity to get a Kalamazoo 2x48 for a good price but still a good amount more than the sears. is there any advantages to getting the Kalamazoo over the sears?
 
It might be a little easier finding quality belts for it. This is my biggest issue with my Craftsman 2 x 42".
 
My experience with 4x36 sanders is that they are too slow and underpowered for serious stock removal. In the under $100 arena they may make sense, but if I were investing $250 into making one marginally useable I'd look at the myriad of other options out there.

For what it's worth, including efficiency, I'd guess that you'd be fortunate if the motor was 2/3HP. The 4x36 that I had was liberally rated at 1/2.

Was trying to avoid calling anyone's baby ugly, but I have to not-so-proudly admit that I swore a 4x36 was all one needed to make knives, until I used a half-way decent grinder. Now I'm a true believer. If I couldn't afford a new grinder today, I'd draw file and never look back. It's cheaper and faster than most budget options and it gives you a skill that a lot of makers overlook.

Just my opinion, worth precisely what you paid for it.
 
AcridSaint said:
My experience with 4x36 sanders is that they are too slow and underpowered for serious stock removal.

For what it's worth, including efficiency, I'd guess that you'd be fortunate if the motor was 2/3HP. The 4x36 that I had was liberally rated at 1/2.
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Oh, no, it's ugly. Definitely ugly. Liberally rated at 1/2 HP sounds like the craftsman 4x36. My neighbor has one and you can stall it grinding on a bolt. The only time I stall this one is on wood. If it's stalling on steel then the belt is dull. Rated at 6A which is 720W minus overhead, still pretty close to 1HP. My only complaint is the lack of variable speed.
 
115V is a sine wave ranging from 110 to 120, so you calculate your watts at 115, giving you 690 watts. Assuming 75% efficiency (no motor is 100% efficient, small motors generally less efficient, cheap motors are even less still) you are getting 517W of power out of your motor. 　2/3HP would be 496W. An interesting question is if the 6A is the FLA or not.

Now, even assuming that you can get a 100% efficient sander from Menards, the rest of the free world who doesn't have a Menards is stuck with the other meek Chinese offerings. The 4x36 that I had was an $80 one from HF, as mentioned in your other thread as an equivalent.
 
Depends on how much you are looking to spend. Many people here start out on a Craftsman 2x42. You can make some really nice knives with it. Biggest drawback is the speed, it runs crazy fast. But for $140 or so, its tough to beat.

Money no object, I would go with a KMG grinder. Its been said here many times to get the best you can afford, sounds like a simple cliche but definitely true when it comes to knife grinders.
 
I'd suggest the TW-90 or a Bader.

My KMG is fine, but I wouldn't buy another unless I found a really good deal. By the time you assemble and paint it, you could have purchased a complete grinder that is "plug and play".
 
That TW-90 is pure sex, but costs 2x as much as the car I am currently driving :D

I live in a pretty industrial type area, so I am hunting the craigslist and auctions hard for a Wilton, Bader, etc. out of a shop or factory. Hopefully I can find one sooner rather than later.
 
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