best grinder on the market????

RMLamey

RMLamey

Joined
Nov 13, 1998
Messages
2,598
Ive just began my knifemaking and have forged a few blades out. My question is this
- What is the all around best grinder on the market?

A friend of mine has a Bader B2, i like it. He also has a Coote, that works well for 1/2 the price of a Bader. Has anyone used the Canadian bee metal grinder (i think thats the name of it)? How about a square weel? burr king?

I have pretty much narrowed it down to a Bader B3, or a Coote. (you have to put your own motor and pulleys on a Coote, but they are still way less expensive).
THANKS in advance.
 
I have the Bee Metal Grinder in 1hp variable speed. It is really a hollow grinding machine. Set up with a contact wheel it works fairly well. It has the advantage of being an enclosed machine, so you can do very effective dust collection from it, but you have to be careful not to set your dust collection system on fire.

The small wheel adaptor is less effective, (tracking isn't perfect, and the wheels Bee supply apparently don't hold up, so my supplier substitutes one of the American brands) but OK, and it's double ended which makes switching between two sizes easy. Just loosen the tension, and the arbor handle and flip it over. If you want to run more sizes though, you need another adaptor.

The flat grinding platten is a real pain. It's unusable to grind blades as received because the left and right edge radii are different due to it being made from a piece of large radius angle iron. The belt also tracks across the platten at a slight angle. I had to put a facing on the platten that I could grind equal radii on. That makes the belt run extra hot. My left hand runs into the platten mount when grinding the left side of the blade. The platten would loosen itself and snap forward, trapping the belt between the platten and work rest, cutting it in half and scaring the crap out of me! I've fixed that by installing a link between the frame and the platten using a turnbuckle.

I bought the machine because I could buy it in Canadian dollars and avoid paying exchange; I also liked the fully enclosed feature (still do). The other machine I was interested in was the Bader B3. If I had it to do again, I'd buy the Bader, particularly if I were in the States.

Matt

www.planet.eon.net/~matth
 
I have worked on a Bayder and liked it,
always hearing about Burr King, but Kit Carson told me that I should get a Square Wheel.

Maby Kit will come tell you why
wink.gif


------------------

Mouse Assassins inc.

 
May want to try Bob Doizer, I here he makes a really good grinder at a very reasonable price.

------------------
Blue Skies

 
I've used a Bader BM-2 now for 11 years. For the money, the best, and, if you buy all the attachments, the most versatile grinder available. You get a 2 Horsepower motor for what most mfgrs. charge for a 1HP. In addition, the folks at Bader are wonderful-full of good advice that really helped me as I progressed in knifemaking.
Bader has continually improved their machines, notably in the switches, and now offer a redesigned model that I have seen in action. I'd buy one, but, am now used to the BM-2, and am considering adding 2 or 3 more to my shop, so I can interchange all the accessories I already own.
One last tip, pay the extra money and get the variable speed. Happy grinding

RJ Martin
 
Burr King just announced that they will no longer make a knife grinder after November.

Sad.

------------------
Ron Ruppé
http://www.ruppe.com
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top