Belt Grinders

J

jater

Joined
Mar 3, 2009
Messages
8
What is a recommended belt grinder that isnt $2000? Radius Master Belt grinder is out of my league. How about something around the $200 mark. Any idears?

Thanks

Jaret
 
I'd go with the 2x42 over a 6x48. In my opinion, you want a narrower belt for more flexibility. I would not spend $200 on a "beginner" grinder, I would make due with files and a cheap sander until my budget allowed for a better machine. If you can double your budget a Grizzly or Coote might be in reach. There may be other options as well.
 
AcridSaint said:
I'd go with the 2x42 over a 6x48. In my opinion, you want a narrower belt for more flexibility. I would not spend $200 on a "beginner" grinder, I would make due with files and a cheap sander until my budget allowed for a better machine. If you can double your budget a Grizzly or Coote might be in reach. There may be other options as well.
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which grizzly?
 
There are several lesser expensive grinders using either 2x42 belts as mentioned in the Sears model, which is a good grinder for the money. You may not have the variety of belt choices with that size as with 2x48 but I can't say for sure. I just don't seem to recall seeing 2x42 listed on every place that I shop. Some do offer them and others will cut custom length belts for just about anything you want.

You sacrifice some things to go lesser $ and usually those include no speed control and not so easy or sometimes even not so safe belt replacments and also not as accurate tracking. I used a Kalamazoo grinder in 2x48 for a few years for shaping and general purpose work for all but blade grinding. It or the Sears model are not really what I'd call a first choice for making blades personally.

A Coote grinder is another to look at. Also, I'd suggest looking into one of the various 1x30 bench sanders. I have two of the little Harbor Frieght models. I don't know about the rest of these guys but I find those to be incredibly useful and that little cheapy sees much more use than my Kalamazoo or my 4x36 bench sander. I use my KMG first of course and it and my drill press, dremmel, and band saw are the most used equipment in my shop with the mill and bead blast cabinet close behind. Many places sell that same unit in the 1x30 with the only real difference being the price as well as the color and the name stamped on it. Enco sells the exact same one for twice the price for example and I've seen it for sale at other vendors also for as much as $80 so for the price that unit is hard to beat. I got mine with the coupons printed off and during a special both for like $30 each and some change. I've actually built folders with that little thing from start to finish just to prove how versatile it was. It wasn't pretty or anything I won't kid you but it worked very well and although you can bog it down quite easily the ceramic belts I got for it from A&H Abrasives made it work a lot better on that D2 blade steel to do both all the blade grinding and profiling as well as the body parts and final finish all the way to a usable knife hanging on my pocket.

In a pinch I would not hesitate to recommend that Harbor Freight sander in 1x30 to anyone just wanting a cheap easily replaced piece of equipment to find out if they really have what it takes to get after making knives because you can do it and if you can do it with one of those you can do it with anything else out there too. I do suggest you buy it in person though rather than mail order. Everything I've ever bought from HF mail order has been damaged and I ended up at the store anyways.

STR
 
nc527 said:
sears 2 by 42
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I agree. Its a good grinder for the money and the platen can be easily modified for blade grinding. Larry Hensley has one and we took the platen off and worked it over on my bandsaw. He makes some nice knives with it.
 
Another vote for the 2x42. That's what I have, and within its limitations I'm pretty happy with it. I paid just a little over $100 for mine last winter at Sears. If your local store doesn't have one in stock, you can order it online and they'll ship to the store for pickup. Splurge on good belts, the cheap Craftsman ones aren't very good.
 
sears 2x 42 i just took the plunge and never regretted the 1500 bucks. I had a 1x30 before and was taking me 15 hours to make a crapy knife compared to a better knife now in 6 hours and if i get fussy 8 hours and thats all i can say. Other than hang a rabbits foot in your shop . kellyw
 
hellgap said:
sears 2x 42 i just took the plunge and never regretted the 1500 bucks. I had a 1x30 before and was taking me 15 hours to make a crapy knife compared to a better knife now in 6 hours and if i get fussy 8 hours and thats all i can say. Other than hang a rabbits foot in your shop . kellyw
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First of all, thank you all very much for your input.

Hellgap, I have contacted Bill and his next class is in December. I will be signing up for it. Why not. Suit me well, I will be doing the blacksmithing course with Dixon as well in the early winter months. Be a good season for learning.

I have decided to consider building my own. I priced out a nice 1hp baldor motor and the rest of the stuff I can slowly put together. Im picking up a mig welder soon, so I will be be capable of doing pretty much anything and I have a buddy with a steel lathe of spinning my own wheels. Should be interesting.

You guys are rockstars!

Peace

Jaret
 
Just so you know, in case my grinder persuaded you to build your own, I added a flat platen to my grinder tonight and I can honestly say that I don't know why or how I thought I could forge knives and NOT have a way to flat grind.
 
jaret for the time and cost go to princess auto and buy your wheels and bearings you could make a nice grinder for 600 to 700 bucks including the motor.
 
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