Got my TW90

E

Erik Fritz

Joined
Aug 6, 2002
Messages
1,115
Got my new grinder yesterday. If you are at all looking for a new grinder this is the one you want. This is the first piece of brand new equipment i have bought. I can say without a doubt this thing will definately make you a better knifemaker. I ground 5 blades last night and they are the best i have ever done. The table adjustments are out of this world you are only limited by your imagination. I will try to get some pics tonight and post them up.
 
Glad to see you're on top of the pics. We still don't believe you :eek::p

I was telling Erik last night that this may be a large purchase I make in the future. I got to play with the machine at the ABS Expo, and it is an extremely versatile machine. Like a KMG, it is built like a tank, and though it is a good bit more complicated, it is every bit as sturdy. I love the tracking mechanism which pivots the motor and drive belt instead of the tension sheave; makes for a very precise tracking. Another thing is that all bolt heads are the same size. ONE wrench for ALL adjustments. All the bushings and springs can be found locally at an ACE hardware for easy service.

The biggest complaint I've heard about this grinder is the price ($3200 if I remember correctly :confused:), but you get EVERYTHING: vertical/horizontal grinder chasis, ratcheting belt tension (LOVE this), adjustable spark guard, small wheel (Bader style) with tooling arm, large wheel with tooling arm, platen with rubber contact wheels with tooling arm, very adjustable tool rest, and 2hp motor with KB VFD.

Congrats Erik! I'm jealous.:rolleyes:

--nathan
 
Rumors...nothing but rumors...(without pics). You can't expect us to be properly jealous unless we can see it.:grumpy:
 
I wish I had heard about these things before I built my KMG-clone, but I had no idea what I was wanting or needing at the time.

Would the 90 work with KMG tooling arms? That might save a bit on cost if I could use a lot of the stuff I already have instead of buying duplicates.
 
The TW90 uses slightly smaller tooling arms (that are aluminum), but you could probably retrofit the KMG tools onto smaller tooling arms. However, spacing will probably be an issue to address as the KMG tools are offset from the tooling arm more than the TW90.

--nathan
 
Welcome to the TW-90 club Erik! They are amazing. I got my small wheel attachment today. It is so cool!
 
joshsmith said:
Welcome to the TW-90 club Erik! They are amazing. I got my small wheel attachment today. It is so cool!
Click to expand...

YIKES!! I just went to check out the website to take a look. It was tough to scrape up the $1900 I just shelled out for my slightly used KMG with a ton of extras. I don't think I could justify the extra dough for TW-90 right now, but it certainly seems like a really cool machine:thumbup: I watched some of his videos and I like the way the machine operates, especially the easy switch to horizontal grinding.

Have fun with that beauty, how bout some pics??
 
VaughnT said:
I wish I had heard about these things before I built my KMG-clone, but I had no idea what I was wanting or needing at the time.

Would the 90 work with KMG tooling arms? That might save a bit on cost if I could use a lot of the stuff I already have instead of buying duplicates.
Click to expand...

Well.....your KMG is a clone. Maybe you could build a TW90 clone and incorporate the size of the KMG tooling arms so that you could use a lot of what you already have...........time to get creative!:D
 
I just went to meet Travis last weekend. His grinder is really nice and for the price he is asking it is a great machine. You get alot with this grinder variable speed, very adaptable grinding tables, great belt tracking, horizontal grinding... very solid machine. Travis is a great guy who is producing a great machine. He is also one heck of a knife maker when he has time.
 
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