Building a 2x72 Belt grinder -Thoughts?

Matt-D

Matt-D

Joined
Apr 30, 2015
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Hey guy's, I'm fairly new to knife making, I've been getting a lot more into it though and I'd like to build myself a bigger belt grinder (Preferably a 2x72). Any suggestions? What kind of grinder do you use? What build type would you suggest?
Your thoughts would be most appreciated!
Matt.
 
Dive into the knifemakers sub section, you will find alot of more useful info there...

Personally I have a Grizzly, and its okay. KMG, Wilmont, and Pheer are very popular for beginners as well....great machines at reasonable prices. Unless you are a professional fabricator I wouldnt attempt building one from scratch when there are so many proven designs. Plus you will want the accessories available for them (better platens, work rests, tilting plates, small wheel adapters, etc...)
 
Look in the Shoptalk section. There are a ton of threads on that subject. There is a thread on the first page today about grinders.
 
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Thanks for the suggestions guys! Sorry for posting in the wrong section.
 
I bought a "BEE" which is made in Canada and was so pleased with it I made a clown with a 10" wheel. It is a very simple design but does everything I want. They both have variable speed drives that get lots of speed changes as I go along.
Frank
 
make it tilt 90 degrees, direct drive and variable speed. two tool pockets is better than one.
 
What's your budget? Do you have any other tools to speak of?
 
Check out ebay......OREGON BLADE MAKER. His grinders are VERY well made and VERY affordable. I really like mine and I also have a KMG rig as well. The 2" x 72" grinder from Oregon Blade Maker is only $495 plus shipping and comes with a complete flat platen tool arm assembly. All you need to buy is a motor. He really does a good job on these grinders. I am about as nit-picky as it gets with tools and I was impressed with his products. He is a machinist and fabricator so he knows what he is doing. :)
 
Here is the one I built. If you have a machine shop to work out of go for it if you dont there are some pretty reasonable grinders on the market.

 
Thank you for the suggestions Frank, Mike, they're much appreciated. "Knife to a gunfight" - currently it's $0, but I was thinking of saving for a Grizzly, but then I thought that it might be around the same price to build a basic one myself which I could modify with attachments if I wished. Nwmetalbug, very nice build! I do not have a machine shop, so I would be at a disadvantage there. Currently I am very knew to this so my resources are limited, but if I built the grinder out of steel I could easily rent (since I do not own one) a welder to complete the project.
 
Matt - do you have a decent drill press? That's about half the battle there. A cheap "buzz-box" welder can be found for $100 or so used, and with knife making you'll find yourself using it a time or two per year. AND with owning you don't have to schedule all the welding for one weekend. Not sure what a welder rents for, but it wouldn't take but 2 or 3 weekends rental to just about pay for the welder. Those wire welders seen advertised a good bit might also be an option - just never used one. Grew up with stick welders.

Ken H>
 
Polarbear Forge has a new kit called the Sling. The metal kit is around $130.00 including shipping. You have to provide the motor, wheels and hardware. It comes in several configurations and looks like it might be a good entry level 2x72 grinder if you can tap a few holes.

[video=youtube;z5ueN2DF97I]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5ueN2DF97I&feature=youtu.be[/video]
 
NC Biker said:
Polarbear Forge has a new kit called the Sling. The metal kit is around $130.00 including shipping. You have to provide the motor, wheels and hardware. It comes in several configurations and looks like it might be a good entry level 2x72 grinder if you can tap a few holes.

[video=youtube;z5ueN2DF97I]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5ueN2DF97I&feature=youtu.be[/video]
Click to expand...

Doesn't look like you'd really save anything over building a No Weld Grinder Sander (NWGS), by the time you sourced everything else needed. Apart from that, it doesn't appear to have much in the way of expandability. I'm not saying it wouldn't be a nice grinder when finished, but I don't see the advantages over building a NWGS, KMG clone, or even a GIB.

If you want a functional and versatile/expandable grinder, for about $500 to $600 you can build a NWGS if you source your steel from a scrap yard and can find a motor for a good price. It also requires very little in the way of tools, and you can build a basic frame and then expand or upgrade parts and pieces as needed down the road.
 
Hey Ken, I was thinking of purchasing a skil drill press, so I don't know if you would consider that "good", but that's about what I can afford. Yeah that's the only thing about renting it would probably cost me close to $100, but if I could get by with a "cheap" welder then I guess I could just look for one of those. Thanks for the thoughts guys! And thanks for the suggestion NC Biker.
 
Matt, If you're a stick welder already then a stick welder works just fine. BUT - as mentioned before the learning curve for stick is higher than wire...... BUT - one of those small 120vac wire welders just won't cut the mustard for thick metal. They work for thin (1/16"?) sheet metal. For 1/4" thick metal such as you'll be welding you'll need either stick, OR a high end wire (maybe flux cored MIG) machine. I'm not that familiar with those. I think talk about stick welding, but not the wire feed machines on the market.

On those drill press - I have a cheap $70 Harbor Freight drill press and it work's pretty good. I'm sure that skil drill press all depends on which it is. Floor model? table top?

Ken H>
 
Don't forget about Craigslist and even eBay (local pickup). You may be able to get a heck of a drill press on the used market for next to nothing.
 
Ken, So the harbor freight drill press actually works pretty good then? Also I don't have either a stick or mig welder, so I would have to buy or rent. This is still a "future project" idea, seeing as I don't have all the money for the equipment needed to do these things. Thanks for the suggestions "knife to a gunfight", never really used craigslist (just browsed) but I do use eBay quite a bit, maybe I'll check craigslist too though when I have to money to get one. Thanks again guys for all the suggestions, really helps a beginner knife maker like me.
 
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