Grinder questions(s)

V

vikingGoalie

Joined
Aug 20, 2019
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I purchased a vevor tilling belt grinder 1 year ago.
For the price it's unbeatable (900 shipped). BUT, it has a non-standard tooling arm. why they have a 1" by 1.5" tooling arm is beyond me but it works fine and I didn't know any better :)
It's a work horse, no issues. Except it is a little "fiddly" when changing out attachments, the small wheel attachment works decently but takes a few minutes to get setup and tracking on it takes another 5m on the small wheel attachment as it always has to be re-adjusted when putting that on. (just one example).

but now. i want to start getting attachments mainly a surface grinder and an integral bolster/fullering attachment, i have a little bit of unexpected $$$ and now considering options.
i'm very slowly getting my shop built out over weekends, so time is limited. My goal is to take this from a hobby to a side gig where I can pay for my hobby and a bit more ;)

Torus, belt grinder with small wheel, big wheel, platten, 2hp/vfd -> 2590
Reeder, belt grinder, small wheel, big wheel, platten, 2hp/vfd -> 2800
Brodbeck (for ref) there max package which is essentially the above is 2800 + shipping? (didnt see anything saying free shipping but maybe it's free) (oh and you get to assemble it)

The reeder surface grinder attachment is 1800 which is really salty, but looks to be the best one out there. claims you can do bevels with it? anyone tried that?

I looked at ameribrade, i just can't get past the 2" tooling arms locking you into their eco system. but for reference equivalent is roughly 3K on the grinder/

questions....

Reeder and Torus are my front runners. Reeder is talked about very well here, torus as well but not as many seem to have that.
If the two are just preference I really liked the story behind Torus and the machining is supposed to be top notch. 200 bucks is 200 bucks but I plan on using this machine for the next decade
so not gonna be foolish here. I was wondering how long time users of Torus are faring, and if anyone has different thoughts i'm all ears. I did look at pheer but no tilt is a deal breaker.
I plan on keeping the vevor in operation as for what it is it's pretty awesome figure it'll help my efficiency having 2 grinders setup differently.
 
I have a Pheer, and would buy again if I needed one.

I also have Ameribrade, and Reeder attachments. Also ones I make myself. Lots of Ameribrade stuff is for multiple size tooling arms.

I still don't understand the need to tilt horizontal?
We hold the blades in all sorts of configurations as it is. Why tilt the machine? the worktables still are in the same position on the machine. Vert or horizontal
 
I have had good success with the OBM grinder I have. Especially for the used price I got it for. It does not tilt but I know they sell a version that does tilt.
It takes a standard size tool arm as well and has a nice small wheel attachment.
Not a very good picture-IMG_6688.jpeg
 
Crag the Brewer said:
I have a Pheer, and would buy again if I needed one.

I also have Ameribrade, and Reeder attachments. Also ones I make myself. Lots of Ameribrade stuff is for multiple size tooling arms.

I still don't understand the need to tilt horizontal?
We hold the blades in all sorts of configurations as it is. Why tilt the machine? the worktables still are in the same position on the machine. Vert or horizontal
Click to expand...
once you tilt horizontally and use a small wheel attachment with a work rest you won't go back :)
 
vikingGoalie said:
once you tilt horizontally and use a small wheel attachment with a work rest you won't go back :)
Click to expand...

Is it just a visual thing? Seeing better?
What was keeping you from using the table vertically?
 
Linus Knives said:
I have had good success with the OBM grinder I have. Especially for the used price I got it for. It does not tilt but I know they sell a version that does tilt.
It takes a standard size tool arm as well and has a nice small wheel attachment.
Not a very good picture-View attachment 3012602
Click to expand...
now you have me considering OBM as well, their site originally wasn't working for me but is now.
tilting grinder 2hp/vfd small wheel (no big wheel) is 2100. which big contact wheel isn't *that* much so definitely cheaper then torus or reeder. so more to consider now, thx
 
vikingGoalie said:
https://imgur.com/a/okeApjo

having perfect 90 degrees between your edge you are grinding and wheel, with it on a rest it's just world's easier. I suppose a spindle sander can do a bunch of this, but the 2x72 hogs off way more material.
Click to expand...

I'm agreeing, maybe I'm not making myself clear...? You can do all that...small wheel attachment, fully supported table, etc. without tilting the Whole grinder.

Just do all that vertical.

I see people with surface grinding attachments running them Vertical.

I'm trying to understand why tilting is so advantageous? I'm not arguing, I'm try to see the benefit
 
Crag the Brewer said:
I'm agreeing, maybe I'm not making myself clear...? You can do all that...small wheel attachment, fully supported table, etc. without tilting the Whole grinder.

Just do all that vertical.

I see people with surface grinding attachments running them Vertical.

I'm trying to understand why tilting is so advantageous? I'm not arguing, I'm try to see the benefit
Click to expand...
Because holding a piece against a table with gravity assisting is easier and more precise. Vertically gravity is such that you are resisting that and any slip in grip the piece slides downwards, or am I misunderstanding?

Surface grinding can be done any orientation because of the magnetic chuck. I think I wasn't clear, tilting is not a requirement for surface grinding but more so for uses like above
 
vikingGoalie said:
Because holding a piece against a table with gravity assisting is easier and more precise. Vertically gravity is such that you are resisting that and any slip in grip the piece slides downwards, or am I misunderstanding?

Surface grinding can be done any orientation because of the magnetic chuck. I think I wasn't clear, tilting is not a requirement for surface grinding but more so for uses like above
Click to expand...

It is probably easier, especially during dwells and pauses. Like you said gravity. That makes sense. It's just that I'm a freehand grinder, so even a vertical shelf seems Very handy.

It seems like some people are using that feature as a reason to buy a new grinder.
I can think of Tons of knife stuff I'd rather buy, first/before.

*Another thing I don't understand is ratcheting tension....why is it better? I don't think I have ever had a belt slip
 
Crag the Brewer said:
*Another thing I don't understand is ratcheting tension....why is it better? I don't think I have ever had a belt slip
Click to expand...
It’s not just that you can get more tension but rather that you can better control the tension. In my opinion most belt grinder tension systems that aren’t ratcheting put too much tension on the belt. You can get more tension with a ratchet though if you want it.

Also the tension is more consistent especially when doing something like slack belt grinding.
 
Contender Machine said:
It’s not just that you can get more tension but rather that you can better control the tension. In my opinion most belt grinder tension systems that aren’t ratcheting put too much tension on the belt. You can get more tension with a ratchet though if you want it.

Also the tension is more consistent especially when doing something like slack belt grinding.
Click to expand...

I like slack belt grinding.....I'll have research that more
 
It would be nice if we had a sticky thread that discussed the different grinders, their features and the reasons people like or dislike their particular grinder.
 
J. Hoffman said:
It would be nice if we had a sticky thread that discussed the different grinders, their features and the reasons people like or dislike their particular grinder.
Click to expand...
if only...
😆
 
J. Hoffman said:
It would be nice if we had a sticky thread that discussed the different grinders, their features and the reasons people like or dislike their particular grinder.
Click to expand...
Lorien said:
if only...
😆
Click to expand...


12345678910 said:
Maybe this can be moved
Click to expand...

I'm assuming this is in jest. The Stickys have a grinder discussion thread.
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith

Thread 'GRINDER THREAD - All about the GRINDERS available'

There is one constant question asked in Shop Talk - What grinder should I get.

Everyone has a favorite and reasons why they like it. This thread is for posting about the grinder(s) that you have personal experience using. If you just got it, use it a while before adding info here. Don't post about what you have read or heard in other threads.

To be clear - This is for posting about what you do and don't like and why you recommend your brand of grinder.
Don't post what you don't like about someone else's brand of...
 
To be fair I did read the grinder sticky. Was hoping for some thoughts from owners as the sticky didn't have much on torus, if I should ask questions in the sticky then my apologies this can be moved there.
 
It sounds to me like you already have a grinder that has all the features you want. You can fabricate a 1.5"x1" arm to hold a surface grinder or integral platen from any manufacturer.
 
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