Don't say you can't afford a 2x72" grinder

Tom Lewis

Tom Lewis

Joined
Feb 24, 2000
Messages
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When I started knifemaking 35 years ago, I had a 1x42" belt sander, a 6" bench grinder, hand belt sander, etc. I came to realize that I needed a 2x72" grinder. I was a teacher, with a stay at home wife and four children to support. To save money for a 2x72 belt grinder, I mowed lawns after school, I picked up pecans, etc. If someone with a family living on a teacher's salary could buy a 2x72" grinder, it seems to me that with certain exceptions anyone can. They just need to want it bad enough.
I think when someone says they can't afford a grinder, they are really saying it is not one of their high priorities, and that's ok.
I do some metal detecting and I often meet another detector who almost always remarks that he can not afford a metal detector like mine (I bought mine with money I made selling knives) . At the same time he paid like $70,000.00 for a motor home.
My first 2.72" grinder was a "Square Wheel" grinder. It made a huge difference in the knives I turned out.
I expect there will be some who disagree with this, and you have a right to your opinions just as I have a right to mine.
 
It's not a matter of can't afford. It's a matter of "don't want to afford".

Sorry. Not a knife maker but I build cars as a hobby and I hear that all the time. "Man, you must have all that money building those nice cars". When truth is, I do it all myself with a lot of used running gear that I clean up and rebuild myself. In the end they talking about that when I have, maybe, 20k in it. But thy have a 60k truck with a 40k bass boat behind it.

It's all about proprieties. Not being able to afford it but having the priority to afford it.
 
I agree, anyone can afford one. All you have to do is decide you want a 2x72, make it a goal and create a plan on how to come up with the money.
 
I was sort of in the situation not even a month ago. Realizing I NEEDED a 2 x 72. But could NOT afford a $2500 KMG or something similar. I do realize I CAN afford it, if I wanted to save up for half a year. But I wanted it NOW!
So I simply saved up as much knife sale money as I could, then in the same time I won a $3000 bowling tournament split between 3 other team mates!
So after the knife money and the tournament money, I built a 2hp variable speed grinder for a pinch over $500, with plenty $ to spare....

I later realized that I would have had all the money within the next month or so from just a few knife sales. Patience, is very important, which I am still learning at 28 years old.
 
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