Convert Grizzly to variable speed?

WinDancer

WinDancer

Joined
May 15, 1999
Messages
720
I have seen many posts with differing views about converting tools to variable speed.

Has anyone actually converted a machine and not ruin it?

Thanks in advance

Dave Evans
Tenino, WA

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Dave, my Wilton was single speed for 4 1/2 years till I bought a dc motor and controller kit from K&G at the Blade show. They're around $535, but worth every penny. Just gotta make 4 knives to pay for it.
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Always think of your fellow knife makers as partners in the search for the perfect blade, not as people trying to compete with you and your work!
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Buzzards gotta eat, same as worms!!!
 
You mentioned your machine is a Grizzly. As you may have read, I tried to buy one a few months back. As Garth Brooks says "Some of God greatest gifts are unanswered prayers". To read these forums, one might conclude that Grizzly seems incapable of quality products prompt service or product support and these forums are full of Grizzly problems such as bearing failure, tracking problems, out of balance contact wheels and more. The DC motor and Controller will cost you double what the machine did and then you still might have a great motor driving a wobbly machine. I guess the only stuff we read about here is the bad stuff. Maybe your Griz is one of the good ones. If not, I'd be cautious of trying to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

Rob!



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Rob Ridley
Ranger Original Handcrafted Knives
 
I have a 10" Coote grinder with an Ebay bought 1hp Baldor Variable speed motor(New) & controller(Used). The whole set up including a hollow grinding jig and a 6" contact wheel ran just under $750. That will be about what you will spend for a Grizzly and then converting it
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Trust me the Coote runs smooth as silk, although the adjustments are a little inconvienent it works great.

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bob and bobH are on track, save up for a coote 2x72 i found a 1 1/2 hp use for $50 a couple of step pulleys and a fanbelt a for $5oo.oo had a decent tracking variable, couple of months ago a got the top of the line hardcore. man is it smoooth. i now use the coote for profiling and other heavy removal and handle work. so bear with the grizzly LOL. until you can up grade, enstead of dumping more cash into a so so machine. norman cootes lives in port ludlow wa, i cant find his # now. good luck

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Laurence Segal www.RHINOKNIVES.com
 
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