I'm 16 years old and I started messing around with making knives about a year ago. I have only used an angle grinder and some files to make a blade. I'm getting a little more serious about this hobby and want to upgrade to a belt grinder to make things a lot easier. Is there anything out there under 500 bucks that won't be a waste of money?
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Cheap Belt Grinder?
- Thread starter hhelton34
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Don't think I can help you on the grinder info. but pretty sure someone will. I do want to encourage you to continue. I started late in life but the last 40 years have been ones I just found more complete with being involved with the making and the people I came in contact with.
Frank
Frank
NJBillK
Custom Leather and Fixed Blade modifications.
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If you can already do $500, do everything in your power to save a little bit more and get a Grizzly 2x72.
They are $525 from vendor direct, and though the shipping is a little high (often $70-$90, landing you around $620), you will have a fully functioning 2x72 with a factory backing and warranty.
Spring is here, help neighbors plant stuff, do yard cleanups, help paint, or wash fences.
There is Plenty of work to be found this time of the year to make $150 in a week or two...
They are $525 from vendor direct, and though the shipping is a little high (often $70-$90, landing you around $620), you will have a fully functioning 2x72 with a factory backing and warranty.
Spring is here, help neighbors plant stuff, do yard cleanups, help paint, or wash fences.
There is Plenty of work to be found this time of the year to make $150 in a week or two...
Thanks for your help! Grizzly it is
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Many start with a 2x42 Craftsman. I did.
Belts from trugrit.com for the 1x30, 2x42 as well. Last I checked the 2x42 was around $150 or so.
It runs faaast so you will be cooling your blade as you work on it but put a flass platen on it and you can do a respectable job.
Belts from trugrit.com for the 1x30, 2x42 as well. Last I checked the 2x42 was around $150 or so.
It runs faaast so you will be cooling your blade as you work on it but put a flass platen on it and you can do a respectable job.
I don't know that the Craftsman is offered anymore. I know a lot of talented people using the Grizzlys though. The Harbor Freight has a terrible platen and bogs down. I have one and it has it's purposes. I don't regret buying it. It can be frustrating however. Save a few bucks more and get the Grizzly in my opinion.
NJBillK
Custom Leather and Fixed Blade modifications.
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The Craftsman is still offered, but it is only available through their website.
Mind you it is only 1/3 hp, and high rpm, which translates to a gearing towards lower torque, which is needed for metal removal. Being only 1/3 hp and lacking torque, it will be rather easy to stall.
Adding in the lower belt variety, hotter running belt (and machine) and the work needed, you will be sinking another $50 and possibly 2-4 hours in labor into the Craftsman (glass platen, drilling holes for said platen, removing some of the upper guard to run a Scotch-Brite belt or anything rougher than an 80 grit belt) means that you are buying a project, not a grinder.
Can it work, yes.
Is it the best for your money, probably.
Can you get Much better for near your price range, Definitely.
Mind you it is only 1/3 hp, and high rpm, which translates to a gearing towards lower torque, which is needed for metal removal. Being only 1/3 hp and lacking torque, it will be rather easy to stall.
Adding in the lower belt variety, hotter running belt (and machine) and the work needed, you will be sinking another $50 and possibly 2-4 hours in labor into the Craftsman (glass platen, drilling holes for said platen, removing some of the upper guard to run a Scotch-Brite belt or anything rougher than an 80 grit belt) means that you are buying a project, not a grinder.
Can it work, yes.
Is it the best for your money, probably.
Can you get Much better for near your price range, Definitely.
I have a Grizzly and it's OK, but you can get an Oregon Blade Maker grinder and drive wheel off ebay for around $639 shipped. Just source a local used motor or cruise the bay and you have a machine with a lot more flexibility and tooling options, plus the ability to upgrade to variable speed later on down the road. I wish the OBM had been on the market when I bought the Grizzly.
NJBillK
Custom Leather and Fixed Blade modifications.
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OBM is a great option too.
Just make sure that you grab a motor that is TEFC (sealed and fan cooled) so you don't burn it up from metal dust getting in it.
Just so you know, you can run a 1hp single phase or 1.5hp three phase motor off of a 115 socket. The only thing needed for the 1.5hp motor would be a VFD to act as a phase converter to run the three phase motor off of the single phase line.
If you do go with the OBM, get a 1hp motor. Your local flea markets, or craigslist can be a gold mine for inexpensive motors.
Just make sure that you grab a motor that is TEFC (sealed and fan cooled) so you don't burn it up from metal dust getting in it.
Just so you know, you can run a 1hp single phase or 1.5hp three phase motor off of a 115 socket. The only thing needed for the 1.5hp motor would be a VFD to act as a phase converter to run the three phase motor off of the single phase line.
If you do go with the OBM, get a 1hp motor. Your local flea markets, or craigslist can be a gold mine for inexpensive motors.
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I have the OBM, but it does not have accommodation for face mounting. The motor used with the OBM will mount to the bench or optional base.
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I have the $70 harbor freight belt grinder and while a low amature when it comes to making knives, I wouldn't recommend it. It doesn't do very well. What I know about cheap harbor frieght tools is it could be I got a dud, and you're may be nicer. I would recommend buying once though vs. buying twice if you have the funds (which it looks like you do based on your post).
Wondering why you wouldn't recommend it. I see many more positive reviews than negatives on it and some are from people making knives. Apparently some do have minor issues, but there are several simple how to's out there on how to tweak them and once tweaked right, everyone says they are well worth it and no belt slippage etc. Some other reviews say the dust collector isn't great, but again, there is about a 5 minute modification that fixes that as well. Nice thing is, if you get a dud, just take it back and exchange it. Again, I've done a significant amount of reading on this belt sander. Just wondering what your issue is with yours, probably a simple fix.
Use a 20% off coupon and this comes out to about $50.
http://www.harborfreight.com/4-inch-x-36-inch-belt-6-inch-disc-sander-97181.html
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=harbor+freight+4+in.+x+36+in.+belt/6in.+disc+sander+
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When's the last time you looked NJBillK? I've been trying to track one down for the past month.
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For about $500, I'd either build a SLING grinder with a cheap VFD setup, or I'd built a NWGS with locally sourced steel.
NJBillK
Custom Leather and Fixed Blade modifications.
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Hrm... just loaded the page on the Sears website and the link was dead, and availability stated as "not available".
None are available through the Sears Outlet site either, which is odd.
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So like a lot of less expensive tools it works pretty well when it works. I'm actually on my second one because the first one I bought had a broken centering knob; the moment I fired it up it pulled the sandpaper off the belt and no amount of calibrating fixed that. I exchanged it for another one that did not have that problem. I'm pretty sure my motor on my current one is dying because it's slow, so slow that if I touch a knife blade to it with too much pressure (which is not heavy pressure at all), the belt will slow to a stop. The metal build quality looks nice and feels sturdy, however the motor which is advertised at 3/4 hp feels straight up week. I've heard of people getting replacement motors on these cheap sanders and there's a youtube video of a guy who swapped motors and who was getting sparks flying on his sander. But to quote NJBILLK at the point your buying a project, not a grinder.
Now with Harbor Freights warranty you can return almost anything for any reason, but by the time you have to do that, you're usually already frustrated and have no desire to keep using the tool. You may get lucky though, maybe your sander is perfectly calibrated outside of the box and your motor gives the power a 3/4hp motor should, and it keeps working and doesn't burn out.
But if you have the money I would say buy once and buy for life.