best sander

M

mitch4570

Joined
Aug 8, 2004
Messages
23
Is the delta I'm looking at at home depot a good sander for knife making?
If not which is a good one and how much about would it cost. Where would I purchase?
Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
 
to get started everyone seems to suggest the 2"x72" grizzly grinder from grizzly industrial or other grinders like a coote. a kalamazoo. or others. but if you wanna spend some good cash go with a KMG from beaumontmetalworks.com.... they're top of the line
 
I know that to many folks, $300 seems a lot for an "entry level" grinder.

My suggestion is to get something that runs a 2X72 belt, period.

Yes, you can make knives with a rock and piece of glass (and some people do!) but by and large you will be money ahead if you save your quarters and get a Grizzley, Coote, Pro Cut, etc.

If you really get serious, you can get something a little better later on.

If you HAVE to get a grinder NOW, then just spend 50 bucks or so on a 4X36 from Harbor Freight or Grizzley and save for something better later on.

Remember this...
"There may be some slick tricks to knifemaking but there are no short cuts."

Craig
 
I've been using a K-Cut belt grinder I purchased from Kovals. It really does an outstanding job. It uses 2x48 belts. It has limitations but you can flat grind and I've adopted a way to convex grind on it. They cost $400.00 I'm ready to graduate to a KMG :D
Scott
 
My first grinder was like the one Scott is talking about. I bought it in 1988 and am still using it (for some limited applications like chamfering pins). I adapted the platen to get a more square edge on the plunge, which was a good thing. Mine has the felt wheel, which I do not recommend as the edge wears off quickly and the felt is fairly soft compared to a rubber wheel. But this machine has two major drawbacks as far as I'm concerned: it's way under powered and uses 48" belts, which cost essentially the same as 72" belts at 2/3 the abrasive. For the same money you can buy a grizzley or similar machine and add your own power. I recommend no less than 1 hp and really 2 hp variable speed would be best.

The KMG and its peers cost several multiples of what the griz et. al. do but are so far advanced from the entry level machines it's like comparing a bicycle to a Harley. Buying one of the cheaper machines to start lets you test your dedication, and it's a machine you will always use for one thing or another - even if you decide not to continue making knives.

And then there are all those folks who build their own 2X72s. That's worth considering, you can build a good machine for the price of a motor and some contact wheels, if you have access to a lot of scrap material to build the frame from. I've seen some really nice machines around here built on a shoestring.

I guess no one has answered your initial question though. I would stay away from the small HF machine if you plan to grind steel on it. All it would do is frustrate you - no power and the belts would cost you a small fortune. Some people use a slack belt on these machines for shaping handles. As mentioned, a 6X48 would be a reasonable choice but they're mostly around $250. For that price I'd look at the other machines mentioned.
 
I purchased a craftsman 2X48 belt grinder on sale (and the floor model) for $72 and have made a few modifications. It works great while I save up for a KMG. I removed most of the guard and glued the neoprene from a computer mouse pad to the contact wheel. I also beefed up the platen.

Good Luck.

PJG
 
Aiko555 said:
I purchased a craftsman 2X48 belt grinder on sale (and the floor model) for $72 and have made a few modifications. It works great while I save up for a KMG. I removed most of the guard and glued the neoprene from a computer mouse pad to the contact wheel. I also beefed up the platen.

Good Luck.

PJG
Click to expand...

Just curious, but I thought the Craftsman model was a 2X42 belt.

Craig
 
I've also got a Craftman I picked up at Sears for $90. Mine is a 2 X 42, the motors only 2/3 HP and the belts are almost impossible to find with one exception. A Cummin's Tool by my house sells heavy clothed 2 X 42 belts of 50 grit AC 3 for a $1. But their not much good for anything but hogging off steel.

Supergrit is the only place I can find belts for a 2 X 42 in SC.

http://www.supergrit.com/

Good luck if you buy it, but I'd get somthing stronger with 2 X 72's.

And Aiko, if I could get a pic of your grinder, I'd love to see how you modded it.

Bryan

P.S. If anyone else stumbles across 2 X 42's let me know.
 
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