Best tool for handle shaping/sanding ?

S

steelerfan88

Joined
Feb 16, 2015
Messages
47
I have a KMG on the way but was wondering if a small, say....1x42 two wheel belt sander/grinder would be a useful machine for handle shaping ? I was looking at the kalamazoo for this purpose. Please give me your experience.
 
I think you'd be better suited putting that money towards belts. I do all my shaping on my kmg, granted I have several attachments. Although my experience with knife making is very limited. Adding another machine, means you'd have to buy more belts specific to that one machine since it's a different size.
 
I have a small Delta 1x42 sander grinder unit...I'd rather have the Pro KMG ...The lil guy is OK to learn stuff on..If you see a deal like half price I'd say sure..You can't have too many tools..The delta is not a variable speed & it is easy to burn woods with quick to wear out small belts...Seriously w/o the ability to slow it down for wood & plastic shaping ...The expense & short life of the smaller belts..Why bother ...For getting stock flat I use a 3 x 21 belt sander held in a Workmate portable floor bench..Those 2 tools keeps the real dusty work out in the garage & my Delta is used in the basement work shop.mostly fussing around the guard trying to get things to line up..I do my best shaping on handles using emery cloth strips only one inch wide 80 then 120 grit Bootstrapping knife handles held in my bench mounted vise..Slow & easy I can form some nifty coke bottle shapes very quickly by hand..Those Hand held emery cloth strips are now my best tool for handle shaping..The final finishing is done by hand going with the grain of the wood being careful to not change the shapes you worked so hard to create..I hope that helps you save some time/money & adds to the learning curve..Mike In CT
 
I'd use the kmg to handle shape. That and some files and rasps will be more than enough. Although I sure wish I had a small wheel attachment to shape the tight radii sometimes. Maybe put some money towards that.
 
Nicholson #49 and #50 cabinet/patternmaker rasps and the rotary platen and aforementioned small wheel attachment for your KMG.
 
If you bought a 1x30 when you first started it makes a decent handle shaping grinder for cheap. Handle shaping is really the only action mine sees anymore.
 
I have a Jet 1x42 that I hardly use. Sometimes I'll go to it to deburr or clean something up if my 2x72 is not setup for the task but generally, it just sits. I do all my handle shaping with a 10" wheel, a small wheel, a flat platen, a rotary platen, and hand files. Notice there's a good deal of accessories in that list you can put on your KMG; that's where you should put your money.

Bob
 
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