Got The Green Light

murphda2

murphda2

Joined
Jan 1, 2008
Messages
233
Ok, so I got the green light from my wife to order a grinder. Granted, I did volunteer six more years of my life to Uncle Sam last fall with the intent of using my bonus to fund my habit. Thankfully, my wife is being very supportive.

After doing research and speaking with several knifesmiths/makers who have experience using various grinders, I have decided on the KMG. I know I'll be ordering 1 1/2 hp variable speed motor. With as much as I bounce around, it just seem to make sense to have a grinder I can plug into easily available outlets.

The questions I need help with are:

1. Which size contact wheel do I need, the 8" or 10"?
2. If I opt for the small wheel attachment and can only order one or two of the small wheels, which size would be the best to order (1/2, 5/8, 3/4, 1")?
3. Would you go ahead and spring for the extra tool arms for the small wheel attachment and flat patten or just take the time to switch them out with the one tool arm provided?

This grinder will deffinately be my new prized posession. Over the last couple of months, I've picked up a decent drill press from Sears, a bandsaw from Harbor Freight, a vise and knife vise from a knifeshow, my wife got me a very sturdy work bench for Christmas and a rollaway with heavy duty work bench surface for my birthday. My wife also bought me everything I need for making kydex sheaths for our anniversary (kydex press, rivet press, rivet dies, rivets, kydex, heat gun, and all of the other loose pieces I may have forgotten to mention). To say that she is being supportive is a HUGE understatement. She knows that making knives has been a dream of mine since I was a kid.

Murph
 
In my opinion I would go with the 10" wheel and the 3/4" small wheel. And definately spring for the extra tooling arms, it saves an incredible amout of time!!!
 
Absolutely get the tooling arms unless you're comfortable making your own.

I've got 5/8 and 1" small wheels. Not sure that was the best choice but they
work pretty well. If I did it again, might go for 1/2 and either 3/4 or 1.

I have a 10" wheel that I only use for hogging and just got a soft 4" wheel
from Tracy Mickley for both blade and wood cleanup. It's an experiment.
 
Yep I would also go with a 10 and a 3/4 . Just remember though one of the best things about the KMG is it can grow with you. If you decide you need a 1" wheel and have the small wheel atachment allready well than you could just order the 1" and have it in a few days.

Though I have to say the platen and a 10" wheel is all you need. The other stuff can be more specific to the way you build knives. Like say the 3/4" is what I use for the plunge bolster transition on integrals 99% of the time. I would not use it so much if I did not make integrals but thats just me. The small wheel is also nice for cleaning up the inside curves of a handle. A 3/4"or 1" would work.

On the other hand the more tools you have the less you will be limited by your tools:)

Good luck
I look forward to seeing what you come up with.
 
I vote 10" contact wheel, 3/4 and 1/2 wheels, and buy the arms. It seems like it would be easy to switch the arm over, but for me I'm so impatient I think it takes too long to go from my contact wheel to my slack belt with the arms, on my clone....maybe the problem is just me though...
 
I would get the 8" wheel - I've said it many times over here, so folks probably tire of it, but you can do more with the wheel. If you're hollow grinding and want a high grind a 12 or 14" wheel will be better than a 10", if you just want the grind height of a 10" radius, you can learn to do it with an 8", but you'll never be able to get the depth or radius of an 8" wheel on a 10".

I like to use the largest small wheel that the application will allow, so I would recommend the 3/4" or 1" wheel along with another of your choosing. 1/2" and 3/4" is what I would order, I suppose. The smaller the wheel, the more prone it is to making divots/waves in a larger radius, some folks don't seem to have this problem, but I do, so I always use the small wheel that fits the radius best.
 
I vote for 10 and 1"
Flat platten is pretty important also but not as important as the 10 wheel and the small wheel attachment.
Chris
 
I have a KMG and use the 8" wheel the most. I have a 1" wheel that I use a lot and my knife designs reflect that. If I were you I would probably add the 1/2" wheel. I have a tooling arm for every wheel/platen/etc. that I have, so I have seven of them. When you are working, the last thing you want to do is to change parts on a tooling arm. Good luck with your new KMG!
 
you also may want to consider small contact wheels for the platen as opposed to the idler wheels they come with . This gives you more choices of small wheels to work with . Check out Ed Cafferty's site for the idea .
 
I would.......................................................... KEEP THAT WIFE !!
 
FOG2, yeah........I'm not letting her get away. She's too sweet and understanding to let her go. How many gals do you know that are this supportive for a habbit, I mean hobby as addictive as the one we are all hooked on?

I just got off of the phone with Rob.

10" KMG pkg.
1.5 hp Variable Speed Motor Pkg
Small Wheel Attachment w/ 1/2" and 3/4" wheels
2 x spare tool arms
Base Plate
Pulleys
Drive Belt

All was ordered. Now I have to do is "hurry up and wait". I guess it's good the Uncle Sam has taught me this game very well over the years. Hopefully by next weekend I'll be grinding steel !!! Now I need to get some belts ordered.

Murph
 
Too late I guess but sound advice from all.

I was just gonna add that even before the small wheels and attachment I wish I had ordered a tool arm tree for my KMG.

-Josh
 
bladsmth said:
8" and 3/4".
Stacy
Click to expand...

This is my kmg set up and I like it a lot. I've learned to get shallower hollows (10" wheel hollows) with my 8". It takes a while to learn and a lot of practice, but once you learn to do that, the deep hollows are a cinch. I like the 3/4", because it fits most of the radiuses best that I make. I do sometimes have problems with it digging in when making a wider radius, but have learned to fudge with it and get it right. I may someday add all the small wheels, just so that I have them though.

Good luck and happy grinding!
 
Maybe I'll snap a few pics of her building the grinder for me if she is here when it come in. She teases me quite often telling me that she is more mechanically inclined than me. Of course, she is a certified A&P (airplane mechanic) and has alot more experience around power tools (ie. mills, lathes, etc.). I've told her that when I get to finally build a shop one day she'll have to make a decision, she can either teach me to use the equipment or get her butt in the shop and do the machine work for me.

I'll have to find it, but I have a pic of her somewhere that was used for a brochure at the school where she trained. She was on top of a Huey working on something. The school thought it would be good to use a pic of her on the brochure because she was the only female to hang in there and complete the course.

Murph
 
FedEx picked up four packages in Grove City, Ohio today destined for my address. I wonder what they could be? :D:D:D

Now that's what I call service. Not many companies provide shipping this quick, especially considering the fact that it is in excess of 220lbs of product. I wonder how long it'll take to get here?

Murph
 
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