Grinder Wheel Dimensions

U

ursa2k7

Joined
Jan 24, 2009
Messages
8
I have just recently joined this forum. I am making my way through the newbie section. However I have a question I would like to put out to group.

I have seen different all sorts of pictures of grinding machines with varying sizes of contact wheels.

What is the difference behind the selection of these different contact wheel sizes.

I guess I am also wondering about the idler wheels and drive wheel?
 
Basically the different sizes on the idler / drive wheels will vary the speed your belt is running. The main wheel for grinding will vary the depth of the hollow in the blade. If you're making small blades then you go will smaller grind wheel. Good all around for hollow grinding medium / larger blades is a 10". Couldn't tell you idler / drive wheel dimensions but I'm sure Rob Frink (KMG manufacturer from Beaumont Metal Works) would be glad to help you out there.
 
The idler wheel does nothing for your belt speed, it's only there to stabilize and track. The drive wheel size will change how fast the belt runs, smaller wheels require more revolutions to move the belt the same distance, larger move the belt faster.

I grind almost all knives on a large (12-14") wheel, regardless of length, width or thickness. The only exception to this is when I want a deep hollow grind or am looking for a specific radius in the grind. The smaller the wheel is, the more dramatic the curve, the larger the wheel, the closer to a flat grind. The first knife I saw ground on a 12" wheel I mistook for a flat ground knife.

Rob's standard idler and drive wheels are 4", the Bader idler is around 4" and many have different size drive wheels, I have a 1.5", 3" and 6" I believe. The Bader is a direct drive unit, so the only way to change the speed on a "single" speed Bader is to change the drive wheel, the KMG is belt driven, so you can change the speed with either pulleys or drive wheels.

Or you can just use a motor controller ;)

In my opinion, if you'll have only one contact wheel, 8" is the best wheel size to get. You can cut a tighter radius, giving you more profile options, the smaller wheel is a bit more aggressive and the grind profile doesn't change that much over a 10" wheel.
 
Thank you for the info. :thumbup:

It is all starting to make more sense now.

Putting in a order today.
 
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