Deluxe grinding equipmen vs 150$ belt sander from sears

jawilder said:
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!!!
Click to expand...

If you do it by starting at a higher angle and working your way down I can flat grind a blade in a hour or less ( at 80 grit , with bubble jig ).In my experience of 3 knives , I'm sure I can get the time down when the skill and experience goes up.
 
Last edited:
Bo T said:
"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.
Click to expand...

I want some blaze belts, higher grit gator's and 15,10,5 micron belts. On my next order of belts I'll give it a try.
 
I see very little selection in 2 x 42 belts... Tru-Grit has the most.

I got my Grizzly for $365... they are now $450, I believe. 2 x 72 opens up the options. Belts are easy to find, cheaper and have a longer life.
 
Rick Marchand said:
I see very little selection in 2 x 42 belts... Tru-Grit has the most.

I got my Grizzly for $365... they are now $450, I believe. 2 x 72 opens up the options. Belts are easy to find, cheaper and have a longer life.
Click to expand...

Very true but at the time and now I can't afford a 2x72 , I'm already starting to save up for it so maybe by December I can upgrade.
 
supergrit.com has a good selection of 2x42 belts as well. I'm with the other folks, it's more the man than the machine. I'll be one of the first to point out the limitations of the craftsman, but I've also made 150 knives with mine with few complaints.
 
knife to a gunfight said:
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.
Click to expand...

Nwgs?
Is it better to go for a longer belt or a 2" one if i have to choose
 
If I was gonna get a 1x42 new, I'd go with sears.

That being said, I'd get a coote if you have any lasting interest in the subject. ... Mine has several hundred knives through it, and it's fine. WAY better than the 1x30 and 2x48 I have. (The 2x48 would be great if it was slower and more powerful)

Of course, I like a 1x belt for some operations, so it's not like getting a 1x42 is a waste.
 
A couple things about grinders; The faster the grinder, the bigger the mistake. Especially if your platen is even a steenth off! And a dull belt on a fast grinder gives you a chatter effect resulting in deep lines and maybe even some blood loss. Mistakes turn into using jigs....free hand is much better IMO!

I made my first grinder from a B&D 4x36".....used one contact wheel and an 8" wheel from an old lawn mower with some bearings from an old sk8board. I welded up everything else out of 2" square tubing and bought good 2x48" belts. It was slow as heck, but that I think was a blessing in disguise as I started forging my tapers and it taught me how to grind at a more friendly speed.

After 60 knives or so I bought a kalamazoo for the motor, switch and contact wheels and built another....and I must say it is much nicer! I still use it today!
 
Personally, I'd save up until I could buy a nice variable speed 2'x72".

I think the time savings and reduction in frustration are worth the expense.
 
A craftsman 2x42 can be had used for under $100 in the states , or on sale for under $150 it's a hell of a lot better then files and sandpaper and then you can save for a better grinder. I'm very new to grinders but I did make 2 knives with files only and using a grinder is 100 times better. If you have the budget for sure get a 2x72 but you can get well on your way with a 2x42 . Between supergrit and trugrit.com you can get quality belts for it . My 2 cents for what it's worth.
 
duffy99 said:
A craftsman 2x42 can be had used for under $100 in the states , or on sale for under $150 it's a hell of a lot better then files and sandpaper and then you can save for a better grinder.
Click to expand...

You can also convert the 2x42 to run 72" belts, and get better deals while you save up to build or buy a 2x72.
 
Rsq said:
Nwgs?
Is it better to go for a longer belt or a 2" one if i have to choose
Click to expand...
NWGS = No Weld Grinder Sander.

It's a 2x72 belt grinder designed by Tracy Mickley and can be built for relatively cheap using fairly common materials and tools.

As far as belt size, 2x72 seems to be the universal standard for knife makers and as such, it's very easy to find pretty much any kind of belt you'd ever need. This is not so true with other sizes.
 
I'm going to visit a knifemaker/ belt grinder builder tomorrow to have a look at what he sells. He told me it's a 2x72 variable speed , infinite tracking with a baldor motor. It comes with a square wheel with the top wheel just under 2" and the bottom 2" . He says you can mount a 8 or 10" contact wheel no problem, totally interchangeable. The kicker is it's $1400 , but he also knows all the local knifemakers so I can make some contacts , not ready to buy a 2x72 yet.




I just killed a 9" s35vn blade , it was the last knife I had made with files and was just going to straighten things out . Slipped the grip and made a big gouge , got angry and hit it with the portaband , killed the portaband blade but not the knife , then 50 grit belt and a flurry of sparks until all I had was a handle with holes in it , ground a point on it and stabbed it into the drywall. End of work for the night.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top