Contact wheel or small wheel attachment?

Lon Aguiar

Lon Aguiar

Joined
May 23, 2007
Messages
96
I'm getting ready to order a KMG and I'm not really sure if I should get the package with the 8" contact wheel or the basic model with the platen and a small wheel attachment. Right now I am using a Sears 2x42 (2 wheel version) to flat grind. I'm making fixed blades right now but I want to start making folders. I've never done any hollow grinding. It seems like the small wheel attachment might be more useful to start with but I could save some money on the contact wheel if I buy the package. I wish I could do both but I only have enough money for one.
Oh, and what size wheel should I start with if I end up getting the small wheel attachement?
 
The small wheel attachment is nice, but you can get by with files and rotary bits for most of what you'll do on it. It's not a perfect substitute, but I think I would get more use out of a the contact wheel.
 
Hey.

The flat platen is good, but do pick up a contact wheel at least a 10inch. The small wheel attachment is great for finger grooves, and smaller round indents.

This is a great grinder, Rob makes a three step pully that is really well made and dead true.

Happy knife making.

Frank Barron
 
I'd get the package with the contact wheel first for the reason that you mentioned. The KMG is a long term tool that you can/should get future add ons for. I'd figure out the smallest diameter cutout that you need, then eventually order a small wheel that's slightly smaller. Then as you use the small wheel attachment you might add another wheel or two. If you make or pick up extra tool bars, you can swap things over so quick and easy that you may use a contact wheel for a lot more than hollow grinding.
Good luck, Craig
 
Yep!! I'm in the same boat with these guys. I think the contact wheel is a higher priority than the small wheel attachment. You'll quickly find a million uses for your main contact wheel...and it might be the most used tool on the grinder.

For finger grooves, you might get by using the platen or contact wheel...then the slack belt feature of your platen attachment.

Try this: with your C-wheel or platen attachment..track the belt off the edge about 1/8". Grinding off this edge, plunge in to rough out your grooves and contours. Then us the slack belt feature of your platen attachment by simply removing the platen plate and brackets. Split a belt down to about 3/4 wide or so and use this thin "ribbon" to shape-out the contours that were previously roughed.

I'm not sure if this made any sense or not. I show this tech on the "demo" video part II on the BeaumontMetalWorks website.
 
Great reply Rob, I use the side of the wheel/platen the same way mentioned even if I'll use a small wheel, you can just remove stock quicker. Never thought of using a slack belt like that before, so you just added a new trick to my basket. Thanks!
 
The contact wheel is the heart of a knifemaker's grinder. I could get by without the other attachments if necessary, but the main contact wheel is the one I could not work without.
 
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