GRINDER THREAD - All about the GRINDERS available

[Scotchmon]

I’ve owned two grinders both from ameribrade.

The 2x48 variable speed grinder which is a fantastic entry level grinder. The work rest left much to be desired however they now have an upgrade available for a much better work rest add on. The only other draw back is the more limited availability of abrasives. You could get anything you want but you’d have to special order it and meet minimum quantities.

Next up 2x72 ameribrade mastery package.

What a fantastic grinder I have nothing negative to say about the grinder. The only thing I don’t care for is the accessories are meant to be stored on the pedestal stand but when they’re there they get covered in dust and metal shards.

Ameribrade has always had excellent customer service. I’ve needed to call them before and I ask them questions quite regularly on Instagram.

I’m on the fence on whether or not to purchase the mastery package and the included pedestal. I like the idea of mobility but I’m not keen on the idea of storing the accessories on it for the reason you stated.
Any ideas about where it is best to mount if on a bench? Edge? Corner?
I do have a Grizzly 1015 and a Grizzly 2x42 with the Contender Mods, including the small wheel attachment so I’m thinking maybe it would be redundant to also have that option on the 2x72.
If I knew then what I think I know now, I would have bought the Ameribrade long ago.
It’s a fair chunk of change, but what isn’t these days?

 

[Thescrawnylumberjack]

I’m on the fence on whether or not to purchase the mastery package and the included pedestal. I like the idea of mobility but I’m not keen on the idea of storing the accessories on it for the reason you stated.
Any ideas about where it is best to mount if on a bench? Edge? Corner?
I do have a Grizzly 1015 and a Grizzly 2x42 with the Contender Mods, including the small wheel attachment so I’m thinking maybe it would be redundant to also have that option on the 2x72.
If I knew then what I think I know now, I would have bought the Ameribrade long ago.
It’s a fair chunk of change, but what isn’t these days?

I have the stand only because I don’t want to take up space on my bench. It has wheels but I have very little intent to move it.

As for where to mount it I would say if you have the clearance to mount it on the end of the bench I’d do that. Just make sure you have the space to tip it horizontal.

Having access to more power than my 2x48 and more abrasives really sealed the deal for me.

 

[BeckTools]

Becks Armory 2nd Gen B.A. Shredder

I hope a build kit qualifies for this thread and if not please remove. I ran this grinder for over a year and for the most part I like it with the exception of a few things.

1) All the large knobs to adjust platen angle and tooling arms seem a little tight at times. There is a lot going on in a small space.

2) Most of the frame is built from 1/4” steel and while its certainly strong enough jumping some parts up to 3/8” would make a smoother grinder. Not saying it has lots of vibrations but it does have some.

3) The tensioner/tracking arm is way to forward for my uses. I really like to use the section of belt between tracking wheel and top platen wheel but the arm gets in the way especially if you want to sharpen on the grinder. I prefer to sharpen with belt running normal direction at a slow speed and edge facing me. I know its more dangerous blah blah blah and should run in reverse but I have way more control doing it that way whether its free hand or with a jig setup on a tooling arm.

4) The baseplate is quite large and sort of an x shape that has 4 rubber feet mounted at the corners. Its made out of 1/4” plate as well and comes in 2 pieces that are welded and locked into the riser assembly when building. It seems to be that overtime the base plate is going to sag in the middle and cause issues. A rubber foot in middle seems to make sense but I have not gotten around to it yet.

Those are my major gripes and overall I feel are minor. I believe he is now producing the 4th Gen of these and has solved some of these issues. Thicker steel has been swapped in and the tensioning arm has been pulled back quite a bit. That part is only what I have read and not seen in person so do your own research there. As for building it the project was quite easy to weld with novice welding skills. Would I do it again? Yes but I would look hard at the newest model.

Thanks for the feedback. These short comings have now all been upgraded.
1. platen handles are farther apart and shorter making them easier to adjust without smashing your fingers.
2. grinder body is shorter giving you more adjustment (in and out) for tooling arms
3. D-plate is now 1/2" thick and motor side plate is now 3/8" thick. FEA analysis was done to minimize vibration.
4. Tension arm rigidity has been massively increased as well as moved back about 8". You now have loads of room for slack belt grinding.
5. Base plate is now a single (much smaller) plate that bolts to your bench or our heavy duty pedestal.

once again thank you so much for your feedback. I need this kind of stuff to make it better. I use my grinders mostly for metal fabrication but 99% of my customers use it for knife making. I want to get as much feedback as I can. That's why I just joined this forum.

 

[Pn8hall]

Thanks for the feedback. These short comings have now all been upgraded.
1. platen handles are farther apart and shorter making them easier to adjust without smashing your fingers.
2. grinder body is shorter giving you more adjustment (in and out) for tooling arms
3. D-plate is now 1/2" thick and motor side plate is now 3/8" thick. FEA analysis was done to minimize vibration.
4. Tension arm rigidity has been massively increased as well as moved back about 8". You now have loads of room for slack belt grinding.
5. Base plate is now a single (much smaller) plate that bolts to your bench or our heavy duty pedestal.

once again thank you so much for your feedback. I need this kind of stuff to make it better. I use my grinders mostly for metal fabrication but 99% of my customers use it for knife making. I want to get as much feedback as I can. That's why I just joined this forum.

You are welcome. I have noticed that since the original post all the items were addressed in the newest model! You build a great grinder so keep chugging along. I am currently running a Revolution Gen 5 mostly cause I like to build things and try new stuff. I will own a BA Shredder again soon when I am ready for a 2 grinder setup!

 

[jll346]

I’ve owned two grinders both from ameribrade.

The 2x48 variable speed grinder which is a fantastic entry level grinder. The work rest left much to be desired however they now have an upgrade available for a much better work rest add on. The only other draw back is the more limited availability of abrasives. You could get anything you want but you’d have to special order it and meet minimum quantities.

Next up 2x72 ameribrade mastery package.

What a fantastic grinder I have nothing negative to say about the grinder. The only thing I don’t care for is the accessories are meant to be stored on the pedestal stand but when they’re there they get covered in dust and metal shards.

Ameribrade has always had excellent customer service. I’ve needed to call them before and I ask them questions quite regularly on Instagram.

Just a note for those considering the 2x48 Ameribrade or any other 2x48 to START. THERE ARE A TON OF 2X48 BELT OPTIONS NOW! I just spent $400 on a huge box of 2x48 belts for my Kamimura. Belts are NO LONGER A WORRY for 2x48's

 

[navman]

Quick question. Does anyone have experience (good or bad) with the KnifeDogs KD4 2x72 from USAKnifemaker?

 

[Thescrawnylumberjack]

Just a note for those considering the 2x48 Ameribrade or any other 2x48 to START. THERE ARE A TON OF 2X48 BELT OPTIONS NOW! I just spent $400 on a huge box of 2x48 belts for my Kamimura. Belts are NO LONGER A WORRY for 2x48's

I have to disagree I just checked trugrit and ceramic structured abrasives still aren’t available which you’d need on high carbide steel if you want a finish finer than 400 grit

 

[jll346]

I have to disagree I just checked trugrit and ceramic structured abrasives still aren’t available which you’d need on high carbide steel if you want a finish finer than 400 grit

I just bought six grits of ceramic belts from Maverick abrasives last week! They have FOURTEEN DIFFERENT GRITS IN CERAMIC ALONE!!!

 

[Thescrawnylumberjack]

I just bought six grits of ceramic belts from Maverick abrasives last week! They have FOURTEEN DIFFERENT GRITS IN CERAMIC ALONE!!!

Yeah they have 24,36,40,60,80,120 in ceramic nothing higher. They have zirconia which only goes to 100. Then they have aluminum oxide which is available in 14 grits but that’s not going to touch high carbide volume steel. Their belts are listed as metal working belts but A/O abrasives really don’t last very well once you graduate from low alloy carbon steel.

Also it’s difficult to find 1x48 scalloped belts and sometimes 2x48 scalloped belts. Most of the time I had to special order those which requires a minimum quantity.

 

[jll346]

Yeah they have 24,36,40,60,80,120 in ceramic nothing higher. They have zirconia which only goes to 100. Then they have aluminum oxide which is available in 14 grits but that’s not going to touch high carbide volume steel. Their belts are listed as metal working belts but A/O abrasives really don’t last very well once you graduate from low alloy carbon steel.

Also it’s difficult to find 1x48 scalloped belts and sometimes 2x48 scalloped belts. Most of the time I had to special order those which requires a minimum quantity.

Yes, they lack specialty belts. No, not as many as 2x72. HOWEVER, there are plenty choices to make a quality knife.

 

[KamValleyForge]

I'm considering buying a KMG-10, and I'm wondering if anyone else has experience with that grinder and can tell me some about how it handles.

My current grinder is an old Mastercraft 4x36 with a 7" disc on one side and a tilting belt. For what it's worth (I got it for free from a friend who didnt want it) I really like it. it's a solid beginner grinder, the adjustable angle on it is pretty nice, something you don't see too often as I understand it, and the nut that holds it solid is really good, still tightens and holds for months with just a half turn or so. The four things that I personally don't like about it are that 1) it has a wide belt, so it's harder to work on just a small area of blade than if you had a thin belt, say a 2". 2) the platen sticks out from the belt area more than I'd like, which makes it clumsy to use for small stuff, and how I got around this was to balance the belt right at the edge of the platen, and grind there on an angle. this tends to chew through belts really fast, and it's generally inefficient. 3) it doesn't have a work rest whatsoever, not a way to attach one easily - short of welding one on. 4) it's a single speed.
Not to diss it too much, it's leaps and bounds above what I had before it (an even older hand crank grinding wheel) and if you can find one cheap as a beginner then I'd definitely go for it. it's super solid and dependable to do the one thing it does. just that now as I'm getting more into better quality stuff it's sort of becoming less and less suited to it. I'll still keep it around for general shop grinding for my non-bladesmithing work though.

 

[DeadPineKnives]

I have a standard OBM grinder, mostly because it was recommended to me by S Seedy Lot and I've had it for almost a year now without any actual trouble! I know people have commented on their supposedly shitty customer service, but while I believe them, I can't attest to that personally, as I've never had to deal with them.

I appreciate how utilitarian it is, as I feel like some grinders have way too much going on. I love the powerful motor and the VFD, which allows me fine control over the speed, allowing very controlled and precise material removal and (theoretically) even sharpening on the grinder. It's reliable, not finicky in the slightest, easy to work on and adjust, and the website has plenty of options for attachments, and you could even make your own if you were so inclined. Everything seems fairly standard to me.

As for the bad... The flat platen it comes with sucks, the A2 platen also sucks, and (unrelated) I bought a glass platen, not made or sold by OBM, about two months ago and it sucks less but also kind of sucks, so I'm trying to source a carbide platen, or at least an extremely hard tool steel platen. But that's just me being obsessive over flatness. The only other bad thing about the grinder is that the belt sometimes "wobbles" left to right a small fraction of an inch, but not all belts and certainly not all the time.

Overall for $2000 I could have done a lot worse, and probably not much better.