Budget belt grinders

E

Ellis483

Joined
Jun 16, 2019
Messages
12
I am about ready to invests in a 2x72 belt grinder, At this point i only make knives for friends and family, i would like to get a good 2x72 belt grinder I have had an chance in the past to use an expensive grinder, nice but out of my price range. I have a 2x42 which is ok but not great.

1. Any suggestions on a budget grinder, around a $1000 but less would be great on a retirement budget.

2. Has anyone had any experience with the full flat bevel grinder attachment, it looks interesting for my aging eyes.

As always thanks very much
 
What is a "full flat bevel grinder attachment" ?

Could you post a picture?


If you already have a 2x42 I doubt you will gain much with a cheap grinder.


I am cost conscience? too.


Low cost 2x72 options in order....
1. Borrow or (steal, Joking)
2. Buy used
3. Make from scratch.
4. Buy/build weld or weldless kit
5. Grizzley
6. Coote
7. Pheer (this is what I did. I bought one without a motor and drive for about $900)
8. Other brands, there are MANY
9. Top tier stuff...... Ouch!
 
Ellis483 said:
I am about ready to invests in a 2x72 belt grinder, At this point i only make knives for friends and family, i would like to get a good 2x72 belt grinder I have had an chance in the past to use an expensive grinder, nice but out of my price range. I have a 2x42 which is ok but not great.

1. Any suggestions on a budget grinder, around a $1000 but less would be great on a retirement budget.

2. Has anyone had any experience with the full flat bevel grinder attachment, it looks interesting for my aging eyes.

As always thanks very much
Click to expand...
In that price range, you'll have to be more savvy and source your own motor and VFD.

$2,000 is the current budget price range for a bare bones grinder.

A VFD is not optional. It is a requirement.
 
Crag the Brewer said:
What is a "full flat bevel grinder attachment" ?

Could you post a picture?


If you already have a 2x42 I doubt you will gain much with a cheap grinder.


I am cost conscience? too.


Low cost 2x72 options in order....
1. Borrow or (steal, Joking)
2. Buy used
3. Make from scratch.
4. Buy/build weld or weldless kit
5. Grizzley
6. Coote
7. Pheer (this is what I did. I bought one without a motor and drive for about $900)
8. Other brands, there are MANY
9. Top tier stuff...... Ouch!
Click to expand...
I was looking on line for grinders when I came across a YouTube link for the Full Flat Bevel Grinder, it looked interesting since time and life have given me some vision problems, here is the link
Crag the Brewer said:
What is a "full flat bevel grinder attachment" ?

Could you post a picture?


If you already have a 2x42 I doubt you will gain much with a cheap grinder.


I am cost conscience? too.


Low cost 2x72 options in order....
1. Borrow or (steal, Joking)
2. Buy used
3. Make from scratch.
4. Buy/build weld or weldless kit
5. Grizzley
6. Coote
7. Pheer (this is what I did. I bought one without a motor and drive for about $900)
8. Other brands, there are MANY
9. Top tier stuff...... Ouch!
Click to expand...
 
DeadboxHero said:
In that price range, you'll have to be more savvy and source your own motor and VFD.

$2,000 is the current budget price range for a bare bones grinder.

A VFD is not optional. It is a requirement.
Click to expand...
Two grand is out of the question at this point but there is always a plan b or c
 
I know Origin Blade Maker makes a chassis for like $500, then you just need to get your own motor and VFD. You could easily get a good KBAC and a nice used motor on Ebay for less than $1000 for everything.
 
Reeder makes a great grinder, and you can get the chassis for around 800, then a cheap vfd on eBay and if you do really carefully you can get a 1.5hp 3ph motor for 100$...

If it's not under 1k, it'll be pretty close, and you'll have a great grinder!
 
A.McPherson said:
Reeder makes a great grinder, and you can get the chassis for around 800, then a cheap vfd on eBay and if you do really carefully you can get a 1.5hp 3ph motor for 100$...

If it's not under 1k, it'll be pretty close, and you'll have a great grinder!
Click to expand...
thanks a low I will look at that.
 
Ellis483 said:
Two grand is out of the question at this point but there is always a plan b or c
Click to expand...
No shame in just working with that 2x42.

There's always a hill to climb when it comes to equipment and I think we can trick ourselves sometimes saying that our knives will be better if only we had "XYZ"

Trust me I daydream all the time about all the equipment I don't have.

When you're buying equipment really what you are buying is time efficiency. You're not always buying improvements to the quality of your work that comes more from skill than the equipment.

So professional equipment requires professional commitment.

And if the numbers don't add up the numbers don't add up.

If it doesn't make money, it doesn't make sense to invest in expensive equipment.
 
Ellis483 said:
thanks a low I will look at that.
Click to expand...
Make sure you include Shipping in your cost.
(I did) because I would of bought a reeder for $800.
But I believe what I was seeing was way more.


And those tilt tables are ok... I've used one.

The grinds somehow look chunky and sterile to me.....?

I prefer flat grinds, and they might not get shallow enough for me.
 
I recommend the Reeder. It is a high-end machine at a reasonable price. The basic chassis is what you want. You won't regret it.

The "full flat grinding tool rest is just another version of the True-tilt rest. You can make one for about $30-50. It is just a piece of sturdy plate with a 2"X6" slot down the center. The plate has a round bar attached to the bottom that mates into a tool arm with a 3/4" hole for the shaft. You need double tool arm slots on the grinder, which is what Reeder has. A "pigs knuckle is a nice addition, but a spacer block to let the tool rest cleat the tool arm works just as well and is more solid.
I am putting one together from a 1/2" thick 12X8" aluminum plate. They aren't a miracle, but do help keep grinds even. They work well on plungeless blades like kitchen knives and many Japanese blades. With practice and a stop rest for the spine, they also can help with hollow grinds.
 
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