Disc grinder Horizontal or vertical?

[thartman]

I'm planning on purchasing a 9" Beaumont disc grinder in the future with the 1 degree bevel for grinding flats, bolsters, scales etc. I am tired of hand sanding my blade blanks on a granite slab to get them flat and I hope that this disc grinder with the proper set up will make that job go a lot quicker. I have not decided on which set up to get, Vertical or Horizontal. I would appreciate hearing what set up do you think is best for knife making.

Thanks
Tim

 

[Mike Quesenberry]

I like my vertical set up, but have never used a horizontal. I really like the way you can look straight down on the edge of the blade and holding it close seems to give plenty of control.

 

[thartman]

Mike,
Do you have a work rest/table set up on your disc grinder?
Tim

 

[Mike Quesenberry]

Tim, this is my set-up. No I don't have a work rest on this grinder. I have a Delta 1 x 42 w/ 8" disc and table for operations that require precise angles, like dovetails. Hope this helps.

 

[silver_pilate]

I set mine up to do either way:

It has bolts that can be used as pins to "lock" it in the motor-horizontal position (see holes in bench and wooden motor base).

Personally, I don't do a lot of blade bevel flattening on the disc, but I do use it to flatten tangs and mating surfaces. For this, I have been using it in the motor-vertical (where the disc is horizontal) position as in the second picture. I like the ability to grab hold of something and just set it down on the disc. It seems easier to apply just downward pressure evenly than it is to apply even pressure when the disc is vertical.

I don't have a work rest set up for mine just yet, but I plan to so that I can use the motor-horizontal position with an adjustable rest to flatten blocks or angle scales to fit against liners.

--nathan

 

[JTknives]

Well my disk grinder is horazontal but I have 2x72 that I do most of all my grinding on. I use the disk to do handle scales. If I did not have a belt grinder I would mount the disk vertically. My disk is one speed and one direction using a 1.5 HP motor. Which is great for what I need as my belt grinder is vfd controlled. But I love my belt grinder and would not replace it with anything on the market. It's my baby, people that have seen it know what i'm talking about. Before I had a belt grinder I used a disk and it was good and I used it vertically.

 

[Erik Fritz]

One of the most important things you can do with a disc grinder horizontal or vertical (i have both) is to put a foot sw. on

 

[kc custom]

Out of the four discs I have 3 of them run vertically and one horizontal, one is variable reversing (with a table) and 2 of them are reversing one at 1725rpms, the other at about 400rpms. Hands down I'll take the vertical for reasons Mike stated above and more control+being able to see what you're doing.
Ken.

 

[bobbywett]

Nathan....really dig the adjustable set up you've fashioned. It looks quite simple in design, yet oh so effective.

 

[silver_pilate]

Thanks Bobby. I am occasionally able to do simple, though most of the time I get things way to complicated . It's worked out well, and it is solid in either position even without the pins. I used the wooden base to raise the motor to a comfortable working height when the disc is vertical, and it happens that it's almost the same working height in either position.

I wish I could do a foot switch, but the motor is wired in to my VFD (via a switching box) that also power my two 2x72" grinders. The disc is fully variable and reversable. I manage without the foot switch pretty well.

--nathan

 

[Boatbuilder]

Before you purchase the beveled disc I thought I would let you about a new design disc a buddy of mine is making. It is the cats meow. It will save you lots of $$$ in sandpaper and can change grits in seconds. I don't know if he wants the cat out of the bag yet but if you would like more info you can email me and get you the info.

I have Robs disc grinder(lap wheel) and it is awesome with the variable speed. Best $$ you can spend for your knife shop.

Thanks
Jim

j.clow@live.ca

 

[thartman]

Nathan great looking set up, best of both worlds. I will be most likely getting the Beaumaont vertical shaft, horizontal disc and add a foot switch. I won't be getting it for a little while yet so I'll keep researching to see what others have found most usefull .Thanks for the input .
Tim