best budget grinder

tonyc454

tonyc454

Joined
May 16, 2009
Messages
76
Hello I am a greenhorn to knife making. I need to grind 5/8" bolts into spikes.
What is a good type and make of grinder for someone on a budget ? What grit is best for bulk removal and what is best for finish work.
Thanks for any input.
Tony C
 
What is your budget exactly? 100 bones? 400 bones? Jeez, you could use a common bench grinder to grind bolts into spikes... Start with 36-60 grit belts for roughing. What grit you end on will vary greatly, I'd say at least 320 - 400. Try to be more specific, please.
 
Thanks Vorpalknives,I was looking at a little belt disc grinder combo at Harbor Freight for around 80. bucks They also had some regular disc grinders for around the same money. Are these any good? I would like to finish the spikes off to a very sharp and clean point.
Thanks again
Tony C
 
make sure you dont get the 4 inch wide model from hf. it is for dedicated woodworking.
 
nc527 said:
make sure you dont get the 4 inch wide model from hf. it is for dedicated woodworking.
Click to expand...

OOPS, don't tell mine, cause I've been using it for steel as well as handle materials for a couple years now. No malfunctions yet...
 
If you are going to do alot of bolts you need to find a good source for good belts. Most of the abrasives at HF dont hold up very well and you will not get much done. make sure you can order belts and disks from a good source and you will be alot happier.

That machine should be able to grind bolts if thats all you want to do. Make sure you can find the finer grits somewhere, they may be tough to find.
 
tonyc454 said:
Hello I am a greenhorn to knife making. I need to grind 5/8" bolts into spikes.
What is a good type and make of grinder for someone on a budget ? What grit is best for bulk removal and what is best for finish work.
Thanks for any input.
Tony C
Click to expand...

You might be happier building a small forge and burner and hammering the bolts into spikes, especially if there will be a lot of them. then use a small grinder or even an angle grinder with flap wheel to clean them up.

Just a couple of thoughts.

Steve
 
Files will remove stock very quickly, especially on something soft like a bolt. They are also cheap compared to just about any grinder.
 
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