Grinder advice pls

B

bill2455

Joined
Apr 12, 2009
Messages
14
hello all

I'm new to knife building and being anal like I am I need to have the right tools for the job. I'm building my first grinder because it's the right tool and I have lots of other uses for it as well. Its a KMG (kinda) clone. I've looked at as many different grinders as i can find, homebrewed and factory machines. I've gotten lots of good ideas and think I'm building one that will serve me well for many years. I can't attached any pics sorry.

I'm going to weld most of it up this weekend but before I do I need to ask the experts some advice.

If you were having a custom grinder built and this was the only grinder in your shop what special or unique features would you have incorporated into this one machine.

I seen the multi attachment jtknives built for his no weld grinder and really like that. Anyone else have any cool attachments ?
 
I'd set up with a good flat platen and a good 8-10" wheel. Then, use it a bit and see what you think would be useful to the way you find yourself working.

-d
 
Bill
You will want at least a 6" contact wheel and flat platen arm.
If you are building on a budget. I recommend these wheels.
http://www.usaknifemaker.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=60&products_id=1353

Tracy is great to deal with. I think he has a video of the no-weld grinder on his website too.

Also if you search well you can come up with a motor for cheap. I found one that Im going to put on a disc grinder for the low, low price of free. It came from a heating unit that was being trashed at my work. Check around if you have any appliance repair shops, sometimes they have old washing machine motors pretty cheap. Also I would put a three step pulley on it for speed control. Tracy has those as well.

Just be sure to keep everything square and youll be grinding in no time. I did a lot of research before building mine and it really paid off.
 
I do some work for a machine shop and just trade services so everything I need machined is free. I have had a 10" contact wheel made from a large cast aluminum 1300lb caster, polyurethane 85a durometer, that I picked up for free.I had it turned out for 2 sealed bearings and turned true with the bore (have to balance it now). I have 2-2" contact wheels, had my had my idler/tracking wheel made from nylatron with 2 sealed bearings. I have scrap steel tube that slides together snugly. I have a 1 and a 2hp motor both 1750 rpm. I don't have variable speed but will have 7 speeds easily and quickly by changing out laminated plywood drive pulleys I started making tonight. I have spent $10 so far for bearings and I think my only other costs will be for belts.
 
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Highly recommended.

The whole thing is built around 12x12" 3/8 thick plate. Motor's bolted to it (face mount bolt pattern), motor's shaft goes through 1" hole.

The tooling arm's channel is formed in about 30 secs flat by tack welding 3 strips: 2 of 10" long 2"x3/8, top is 2 3/4" wide (so it overlaps the 2 "sides").

Very easy stuff.
 
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