Deluxe grinding equipmen vs 150$ belt sander from sears

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Rsq

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Aug 7, 2011
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Does it make that big a diffence? I can afford a 150$ sander, but not something 10x more expensive. If I'm going to buy something though, i want to make sure it'll do the job I buy it for. Im just wondering whether I would need higher end equipment, or if an inexpensive 1/3 hp sander would suffice for a novice knifemaker. I do plan to jump right into higher end steels, though. I've found cpm s90v in bars online, so I just need to know if it would be throwing money away to get a less expensive setup. Would I be better off, as a hobbyist, using files and sandpaper and taking my time?
 
I used a similar 4x48 (pr 4x36, can't remember) to make one out of A-2. The wide plate gives you fewer options on design, but you can always modify it if you want to. I used the back to get a convex grind. I made a traditional bowie, and with some ingenuity it can serve fine for the novice.

The real is your belts. Make sure you are using good, new, SHARP belts, of your steel will get way too hot way too quick. Make sure you have a hacksaw or Dremmel tool and a vice; it will help you take care of some of the finer details and sharper curves that the grinder will be a little too big to let you do.
 
i would go with a more powerful sander to start with rather than buying another sander later. the extra expense now will save you money later in the long run. go with a 2" wide belt rather than the 1" wide. if you have access to a machine shop i can send you pictures of my sander that a friend and i made several years back when i rebuilt my first sander.
 
Buy the best you can afford. You'll have a lot more fun and achieve a lot more if you hold out for a better machine.

Fred
 
I started with a cheap 1x42 and spending well over an hour on each knife. Then I bought a Craftsman 2x42 and can get a knife ready for heat treat in about half the time. It is all a learning curve and dealing with what you have and what you can afford. I have two small kids and am not about to drop over a grand into a grinder just because that is what everyone says I should use. I have ground .250" choppers with 2" wide 13" long blades with just a $150 Sears sander. I am not arguing that a three horse KMG wouldn't be any better or faster, but if you want to make knives the Craftsman sander will serve you fine. Use the search and find threads about others using and moddind the Sears sander. Remember though that you definitely want to buy the best belts possible. I would have given up if I didn't find ceramic belts for the 2x42, what a difference they make. Good luck
Chris
 
What Chris said. If you're on a tight budget, spend your money on the best belts and steel you can find, the 2x42 will definitely work with a few simple mods. :thumbup:
 
To me the big question is how sure are you that this is gonna be a lasting thing? Are you just trying your hand at knifemaking or are you sure it will become an obsession like for many of us here? I know, it's not an easy thing to be sure of before actually doing it. The answer will dictate buying a high-end grinder or a cheap one.
 
I've made (assembled?) 8 knives using a HF 1 x 30 belt sander. I don't think any of them would have turned out better with larger, more expensive equipment. But, they probably wouldn't have turned out any worse and I would have spent less time. I figure that I've probably spent 30 hrs. on that sander. I would have probably spent 20 hours using a 2" sander. So, what is your time worth?

Doing it over, I would have done it the same way because I have spare time available and I am in a learning mode. The one thing that I wish I had is a variable speed controller as I would feel comfortable sharpening knives at a lower speed.
 
1 x 30
2 x 48
2 x 72

These belt sizes seem to easiest to obtain in different grits and abrasive compositions. I started on a Craftsman 1 x 30 and moved to a mid model Grizzly 2 x 72. I haven't felt the need to upgrade in 3yrs but I'm not much of a stock removal guy and love the rough forged look.

I'm not seeing much in the 2 x 42 size... where are you guys getting decent belts for these?

Wally Hayes did this on a 1 x 30....
barsword.jpg
 
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I too was looking at getting the sears belt grinder. but found out it isnt available in canada. then I found this...
http://www.vansantent.com/Vendor_pages/Multitool_Grinders.htm
for just the attachment it's a bit more than twice the cost of the sears grinder. or with the 1HP bench grinder it's about 550 (this is for the one with the 8" contact wheel) so I decided to save my money and will be getting this one with the bench grinder. from what ive been able to find out it has the ability to do hollow grinds on the contact wheel as well as flat grinds on the platen behind the wheel. I would however add a pyro ceram. platen liner
 
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Craftsman is a real hard working machine Ive got one and it does just fine for relatively simple designs. My biggest complaints are 1. Cant do hollow grinds (the wheel is to small, and a little bouncy) and 2. cant do finger notches (wheel is to large). but I cant spend $1500, so this is the best cheap alternative.
 
I started out with files, realized that was a pain and bought a reconditioned 1x42 Delta. That worked just fine for a few years. I never had a hard time finding belts. When I could afford it I bought a KMG. I love that thing.

Bottom line is you can make an awesome knife with a cheap grinder, it may just take more hand work and take longer.

I'd recommend getting some cheaper steel in addition to the cmps90v to play around with. Make a few designs from relatively cheap steel, see how you like them and how the shapes work with tasks and then refine the design and make it out of the high end steel. The practice will also help make the final s90v knife turn out better.
 
The_cutting_edge said:
I too was looking at getting the sears belt grinder. but found out it isnt available in canada. then I found this...
http://www.vansantent.com/Vendor_pages/Multitool_Grinders.htm
for just the attachment it's a bit more than twice the cost of the sears grinder. or with the 1HP bench grinder it's about 550 (this is for the one with the 8" contact wheel) so I decided to save my money and will be getting this one with the bench grinder. from what ive been able to find out it has the ability to do hollow grinds on the contact wheel as well as flat grinds on the platen behind the wheel. I would however add a pyro ceram. platen liner
Click to expand...

Go to sears.com , they ship to Canada that's how I got mine . It was like $200 with shipping .Remember the cost of belts starting out too, I spent almost as much on belts that I did on the craftsman 2x 42. This may be a stupid question but can you take a 2x72 belt and splice it smaller , there is some belts I'd really like to have.
 
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duffy99 said:
Go to sears.com , they ship to Canada that's how I got mine . It was like $200 with shipping .Remember the cost of belts starting out too, I spent almost as much on belts that I did on the craftsman 2x 42. This may be a stupid question but can you take a 2x72 belt and splice it smaller , there is some belts I'd really like to have.
Click to expand...
Ok from the reading I've done here I was under the impression that sears wouldnt ship to canada... oh well. I'm pretty set on the multi tool grinder now. there seems to be alot better belt selection in the 2x48 as opposed to 2x42
 
"This may be a stupid question but can you take a 2x72 belt and splice it smaller , there is some belts I'd really like to have. "

Yes, you can cut to length and glue using a lap joint or use a butt joint join with a thin strong backing (check out your current belts). You might check on 2" cloth backed shop rolls to see if they have what you want.
 
In my opinion, a tool is only as good as the pair of hands behind it. Not that I'm saying there aren't "reduced" learning curves on a KMG vs a 1x30 from harbor freight... there's also a TON of added versatility with a more expensive machine like the KMG. But can a skillful maker make just as good of a knife on a $20 grinder vs. a $200 grinder vs. a $2000 grinder? I say yes.

If I could afford either one, I'd definitely get a KMG. If I couldn't afford that, I'd look into building a NWGS. If I couldn't afford that, I would absolutely get a craftsman or a harbor freight.
 
I at one time really loved the look of this one knifemaker on another forum. I could not figure out how he did such a beautiful sweeping plunges that he had on all his knives. His knives are pure art.
So I asked him how he did it in a PM, Guess what he uses a 41/2 inch side grinder to make all his knives, hence the sweeping plunges. Its not about the tools at all IMO.
That does not mean I am giving away my KMG or Wilmont grinder though.
Just saying a true craftsman with a file can out make a amateur with a $1500 grinder.
URL of the craftsman mentioned earlier in this thread below.
http://www.tomasrucker.com/knives/Custom_Handmade_Knives_-_Tomas_Rucker.htm
 
I used a 2x42 for several years and still do. But I just hollow ground 3 blades in about 30 minutes total where flat grinding ONE blade on the 2x42 would have taken about 3 hours for me. I LOVE MY GIB 2x72!!!
 
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