Flat or wheel? 2x72 question

A

AlphaMoose

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Sep 1, 2016
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So I am planning on buying a 2x72 sometime relatively soon once I get my shop all set up. Looking between the Esteem and the KMG. What I'm wondering is, given that the Esteem can be had cheaper with a wheel, should I go with that or the KMG with the flat?
The wrench in the gears in all this is that I'm not intending to do "just" knifemaking. In fact I plan on making more axes, Hawks and other tools. I see a lot of guys using wheels for those, and I will have a disk sander for getting crisp angles.

I guess the question is, as someone unfamiliar with a 2x72, am I gonna hate life if all I can do is hollow grind? And is the wheel really the best tool to use with axes and chisels?
 
You can profile on a platen or a wheel if you have a work rest. You can flat grind on a platen, you can't on a wheel. You hollow grind using a wheel not a platen. I have three 2 x 72 machines, 2 kmg's and 1 Pro-cut. I make many different things not just knives. I use the flat platen the most. I also use the 8 inch wheel a lot. I don't hollow grind at all.
I have a horizontal 9 inch disc grinder, VS and reversible. You will want to look into a disc machine. I made mine and you can as well. They do so many things that they are irreplaceable.
The KMG can be added to. Strong machine. You can make your own tool arms, saving 70 dollars a piece. Knife making is not cheap :) Enjoy the trip.

Fred
 
I would recommend you go with the esteem and get both. It's not all that much more and the increased versatility is more than worth the cost.
 
what Fred said

do some more shopping. Find a grinder that has removable tooling arms. 1 1/2" square seems to be sort of a standard. My upper arm has my platen, the lower arm has my work rest. if I had the need for a big wheel, you mount it on 1 1/2" square stock and swap out the upper arm. there are curved platens that will let you hollow grind with a platen. I have only one upper arm, but 3 lower ones with 3 different style work rests.
scott
 
You need to be able to flat grind and maybe hallow grind. But where a wheel really excels is in profiling. I don't do much hallow grinding any more but I use my 8" wheel a lot to rough in the knife profile. It's much smoother then doing it on a flat platen plus less heat build up and more power to grind with as the belt is not creating friction rubbing on a platten. If I only could have one and not both I would go flat but I would not be happy. The wheel also works good in shaping handles, I use the edge of the wheel a billion times more then the middle. You can really get after material using a corse belt and the edge of the wheel.
 
You are going to need both a flat platen and a wheel ( 8" or 10"). Buy the more expensive one first and the other right after if you are tight on money. I love hollow grinds so I love wheels but you need a flat platen to make things flat to start and to flat grind. Just my opinion. Larry

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i started with the flat platen and still only do flat grinds on knives, but as soon i've got the wheel i realized how faster it is for rough metal removal and how useful it is for contouring and grinding convex surfaces by rolling the piece.
I suggest getting the flat platen, one or more wheels and the disk, but i'd start with the flat platen
 
I agree with other folks, platen is most important, followed closely by wheel. Make your own aluminum tool arms for about $20 each.
 
Start with a flat platen, it can also be removed for slack belt shaping. I'm putting glass ones on my grinders soon too.

I recently got wheels, 8" and 10" and man, JT is right, i would be really unhappy without them now. Profiling and shaping are so easy with a big wheel and no heat buildup.
 
I would get a platen and even a small wheel attachment for getting into small areas
You could always get a larger wheel later. You may end up wanting a large 14" wheel and not using a 8" or 10" at all.

Another thing you could do if you get a Kmg, make one of your idler wheels a 2" rubber coated wheel. 2" is nice for tapering tangs.
 
That's true if I did it over I would get a 10" wheel and a 2". My one tooling arm has an 8" and a 3" with a flat platten between. This can rotate 360 deg do I can use any one by its self or any combination of them together. Really handy.
 
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