craftex CX 503 any good?

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phillcheung

Joined
Mar 29, 2014
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Hi all

i am just getting into making a knife from a blank. so far my experience is working with some cheap blanks and re grinding them, and putting scales on. i got a lot of wood working tools and a edge sander. which i have been using re grind some blanks. i get good results. but i cant get very close to the bolster because of the nature of edge sander the belt dose not line up with the edge, and can not line up because of the oscillating feature., . link of the one i got.:

http://www.busybeetools.com/products/edge-sander-oscillating-6in-x-89in-csa-220v.html

i am in canada so the product choice is not great. and with the Canadian dollar so low buying in the US means a killer mark up after the conversion and tax.

i am looking at the CX 503 link:
http://www.busybeetools.com/products/belt-sander-metalworking-cx-series.html

to be honest it seems so similar to my edge sander. except that the belt lines up with the edge.

just looking at the design does this look like something that would perform well?? the price point seems really reasonable considering this: http://suremak.com/grinder.html is about 600 without motor and with motor more then the craftex. plus not even in stock

i have checked the used market. but in canada really rare also seems like a risk, i rather spend my time making knifes than fixing machines.

for 3k i could get this: http://www.mossingtonknives.com/supply/beeproducts.html
but i dont want to spend that kind of money. i really like to keep it under 1k but i would be will to save up and eventually get one if that is the right choice.

anyhow.those that have plenty of experience making knives. (i want to make kitchen knives) does this look like something that would would perform?
 
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this is the type of flat grind i can get on the edge sander as you can see i cant get close enough to the bolster. so i have to do some manual filing.
 

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If you are looking to buy a grinder in Canada I would suggest TDM. They are made in Sundre Alberta.
 
As was just stated i was going to suggest looking at TDM. Their is also another guy building an amazing looking KMG style grinder in Ontario somewhere. Cant recall where but i could find it without much trouble if you wanted. Right now due to shipping issues he is doing pick up only, or else i would probably own one of his. if you are handy, you could build your own as well using plans such as the NWGS or EERF grinders.
 
As well the Bee grinder company makes a first class machine for knife making. I've been using one for over35 years and also have a clone I made.
Go to Canadian Knife Makers Supply
Frank
 
http://www.knifemaker.ca/home.php?cat=334

I ordered a grinder in a box last year, and after shipping, and getting the miscellaneous hardware, I might have saved $100.00 on the grinder over this one. Rob and Marilyn are great to deal with as well. I got a used 2hp motor off of ebay, and there is a company in Quebec who sells the VFD control at a reasonable price. If I had to do it over again, I would definitely buy the grinder I linked, and saved myself a pile of time. It wasn't available when I started my grinder project though.

If you can afford it, get the Bee grinder. It's a once in a lifetime purchase. Even if you don't make knives forever, the grinder one of the most used tools I have for almost any woodworking or steel project.
 
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I use the prototype of that grinder and I think it's pretty good. Terry has a new one coming out that's going to be really nice.
 
thanks for all the information guys.

base on all the info and following up at knifemakers.

the lady there was saying that most people that got the bee with single speed ended up selling it and going for a variable speed. apparently the upgrade to variable is really expensive. ans it seems like reading up on all the forum that variable speed is really worth while.

so currently the pro and con for both the TDM and Bees

Bees come with all the attachments but at least 3k after tax and shipping with the variable speed

TDM only has the flat attachments, the lady told me the maker is currently looking to perfect the design so that other attachments will be offered. the unit is 1000 after tax and shipping and the motor would be 300 plus with the variable speed. so all in all about the bees is about double.

i also have foredom rotory tool. the 3/4 hp one. so i could put the smaller bits in to do some of the smaller curves. and just thinking about it i question if i would ever be good enough to do a free hand hollow grind. i assume this is hell of a lot hard then the flat grind. and also much more unforgiving.

part of me want to just get the TDM because i think it will be good enough. but i have also been in the situation of out growing tools and end up having to the the expensive one anyways.

looks like i will have to make a file jig till i decide how much i wanna invest.
 
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That rotary tool idea won't work. The best Bee is the 2HP. variable speed with the 10" wheel unless all you are going to make is folders and the 1HP. will do.
Frank
 
I just want to make kitchen knifes. I don't go camping and folder probably to hard for what I want to do. So looks like it will have to be the top model bee. I am going to wait a month and see if Tdm come out with extra attachments.
 
phillcheung said:
I just want to make kitchen knifes. I don't go camping and folder probably to hard for what I want to do. So looks like it will have to be the top model bee. I am going to wait a month and see if Tdm come out with extra attachments.
Click to expand...

If you are making kitchen knives, you probably won't need a lot of attachments, and I would suspect other manufacturers attachments could be adapted to work. I do my kitchen knives freehand. On the other hand the grinder in a box is about the same price, and uses standard 1.5" tool arms. You will have to source the hardware separately though.
 
yeah i was having the same thought. i mean watching videos of other people making knifes. having the smaller radius is nice but i think i have enough tools get aways from that. it is really the flat sanding to that does the most work.

between the 2 options. i am leaning towards the TDM. i dont think i would out grow the features. but then again i say that about a lot things that i have ended up upgrading.
 
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