Evenheat or VFD

JGguns

JGguns

Hobbyist here to learn
Joined
Nov 15, 2009
Messages
407
I just got a new Oregon blade maker grinder, I am really enjoying it. I sold a rifle I had sitting around and have some spare cash.

I’m just a hobbyist maker. I just got back into the hobby. I don’t plan on selling any knives until I progress quite a bit more. So my question is, do I use the money to by a VFD or a heat treat oven?

I can buy the VFD immediately but would need save a few hundred more if I were
To go with an even heat oven.

I have a local guy who charges me $7 per knife to heat treat but he has a large oven usually wants a decent batch to run it. So beyond the cost it can be up to 7-12 days before I get my blades back. Not unreasonable, But I’d love to learn more about heat treating an if I have my own oven I know that would push me to learn a lot more. So it would save me time and money in the long run.

But I have heard so many people say that a VFD is so valuable to them.

So I am torn and looking for some input. I’d love to get an oven but if you experienced makers think A VFD is
More valuable than I would go with that.

I do Have my old Coote machine on a 3 step pully that I can slow down a lot for working material that is susceptible to burning.

Again i do this for fun. I hope to get to place this year where I can sell some
Blades to recoup material cost so I can keep the hobby alive. But I know intention of making this a source of income.(other than to paying for materials and equipment)

Below is a link to the last knife I made it’s been about 1.5 years or so. This was made using my Coote grinder for everything.


https://i.imgur.com/zXDALUk.jpg
 
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Well if i was you i would get the VFD and just use some 1084, 15n20, 80crv2 (all excellent steel) and learn to HT yourself. Getting the VFD was probably tge best investment ive made so far in my shop. Just my .02
 
I'd get the VFD first. You'll find that you won't run your grinder full speed for a lot of what you do once you get one.
 
I'd get a VFD first. shop and you can find a decent one for less than $200 include the wire to hook it up. before you do, make sure your grinder is set up for direct drive, although a VFD would still work well in a pulley driven setup. and make sure you have a 3 phase motor that a VFD can drive. if you don't have a 3 phase motor, make it $350.
 
im the odd man out i have a VFD and run it at basicly 3 Hz 30 60 and 80. a kiln was one of my first big buys and long before i had a 2x72 grinder. i thinkn i think i have a picture of my kiln my delta 1x42 grinder and my dads drill press and uncles buffer. learning how to tweek HT and grinds goes hand in hand. i forget if i had the kiln before my mini mill but im thinking so cause i had use of dads drill press.
 
I appreciate the input so far. Unfortunately my motor is a single phase wired for 110.
 
do you have a 220 line ready to go do you have a 3ph motor to run the grinder? flip side do you plan on doing SS in the kiln do you plan on using dry ice or LN for cold time after quench (and to that point do you have AL plates ?) funny hohw small changes in work spend big $
 
I wired in a 220 line a few weeks ago, so it ready to go. But no 3 phase motor.

I really like 154 cm. I have used a lot of it in the past. I also use a lot of o1 as well. I don’t have aluminum plates because I have always out sourced my heat treat. As far as the cold time this is something that I will have to research more. But I think the dry ice/cryo is a very doable option for me.
 
My advice is to buy a VFD...a really good one like a KBAC VFD and then save your pennies for an oven. You can always pay for professional heat treat when you need it. Larry
 
Okay so I started my search for a VFD. From my research it’s looking like I need a 220 outlet for this? I have one in my garage but it’s on the other side (I put it right under my panel for low impact) where I plan to set up my evenheat when I eventually got one.

Right now all I have is 110 for my grinder and drill press etc. adding a 220 to the side of my garage where I grind is gonna be a hard sell.

Before rearranging my whole setup to the other side of the garage I’m just curious if running a VFD off a regular outlet is a viable option?

I also had a thought of building a another table that stays outside an when the weather is good I can grind outside. My grinding an motor are bolted to a base plate that I can pick up the whole assembly an move it(it’s heavy but manageable). So a short 10’ cord puts me out in my driveway when the weather is good.

What I have is a 1.5hp single phase motor that is currently wired for 110. From reading it looks like I need to get a VFD rated for 3+ hp.

I apologize if this is a stupid question. This stuff is a little out of my wheel house and I don’t want to make another mistake(getting a single phase motor).
 
Buying a VFD in your case is actually buying a 3 ph motor and VFD. If you had to buy new, the motor is going to be around $200 shipped (maybe $160 for a 3450 rpm) and the VFD will depend if you go NEMA 4 or NEMA 1 Chinese drive. NEMA 4 is very nice, and recommended for a grinder that's to be used 5 or 6 days/wk for hours at a time. BUT - for a hobbyist like myself, the NEMA 1 VFD which sell around $120 or so shipped work good by putting a filter over the air inlets to prevent metal grinding dust from entering the drive. OR - perhaps even better is to put the VFD in a box.

My choice is to go the VFD route. I used a step pulley grinder for a couple of years and didn't see any need for a VFD. Finally I built the next grinder with VFD - WOW!! I couldn't believe how nice 'n handy the VFD was.

Later
 
Buy a used 3phase motor on ebay or surplusdirect and a good VFD. You can also find them in packages from some suppliers. Use the BF custom search engine and you will find lots of threads on VFD and motor combo packages for a great price.The power problem can be handled by a 220VAC extension cord for the moment being. At $7 per blade, your friend will take care of your HT nicely for a long time.

Take your old 120VAC motor and make a disc sander from it.
 
You can get a 3 hp motor and vfd and wire it for 110, but you will only be getting 1.5 hp from the motor. That's how mine is set and it is plenty of power for the way I grind.
 
If I am gonna get a new motor may as well get a 3 phase an do what Stacy said.

I think this may be the route I go. I kinda hate to buy another motor cause I still have my 1 hp that I used on my Coote. I guess I can try sell my Coote and motor setup to help with the new motor an VFD cost.

I am excited about the idea of building a disc grinder!
 
Me personally, I would get the Kiln. I think there is a popular belief among new guys that heat treat is "set it and forget it". There is actually a decent learning curve just to get acceptable results. I don't know where you are in your abilities but if you are newer then learning to heat treat on beginner knives is better than ruining a master piece you snapped getting a warp out.

The other reason I would go this route is you're likely not going to find a used kiln so you'll buy new. But you can save your money and keep an eye out for a nice motor. I have a new baldor super e 3hp shipped for $125 on ebay. If you take your time you can find a deal like this, three phase motors don't sell very well.

Good luck either way.

-Clint
 
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