Grinders I've Used

Jesse17 said:
I have a HF 1x30. I used to dream of one day having a KMG. Two well known bladesmiths I know have encouraged me to just save up and get a TW90. The have and use both the TW90 and the KMG. I was very skeptical, because they also say to get the surface grinder and that comes to about $5,000 all together! :eek: But, after all the comparison reviews, I guess I have resigned myself to just living with the HF and dreaming of a TW90 for a few years. Heck, I've only owned a couple vehicles that cost that much. ;)
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Well I guess I have a different opinion. Grinders depreciate in value very little from what I have seen which is why you rarely ever find a good deal on a used grinder. Buy the the KMG or another lower priced variable speed grinder as soon as you can afford it and then sell it and upgrade again once you've saved up again can afford to do so. The increase in productivity you will get from upgrading from your 1x30 will pay for the small loss in value of the used grinder in less than a month and then after that the increase in productivity will greatly accelerate how fast you will be able to save up and upgrade to the TW90 if that's what you want to do.

I had a 1x30 and found it very difficult to do anything with it and preferred filing by hand over using the 1x30. I didn't have a big budget to spend on knife making equipment and wasn't even sure I was going to stick with it so I didn't want to make a huge financial investment in it. Instead I bought a 2x42 a little while back. I used it for a bit, sold a few knives, saved the money and decided to upgrade to a 2x72 variable speed grinder. I sold the 2x42 on ebay for more than I bought it for new even after I had made several modifications that I thought would decrease the value but the buyer didn't care. With that money plus the proceeds from selling a few knives I upgraded to a low cost 2x72 with a variable speed setup. In 6 weeks I'll have made enough knives with that to pay for all of the accessories and attachments I need and now have $1500 worth of assets that I can sell anytime and put towards a better grinder if I wanted. Plus I'm 3x more productive now than before and can save up much faster. Not to mention that knife making is far more enjoyable for me now, my quality has improved and I'm much more likely to stick with it that if I had stayed with my previous setup.

It would be one thing if grinders immediately became worthless as soon as you bought one but that isn't my experience.
 
I have a Coote grinder with a three step pulley system. I have done well with it through the years, especially once I glued the pyroceam glass to the platen. I would have recommended Coote for a beginner in a heartbeat. Now a Coote 2x72 with an 8" wheel is just over $500.00! The KMG with a platen (no motor, just like the Coote) is $750.00.

I have used a KMG with VFD, loved it. It was Indian George's and as old as he was.
I had owned a Bader. An industrial Bader with the huge 132" belts but never got it running. Had to get rid of it once we lost the house in NH. I had used them all the time at work. Still kicking myself for it.
I used Burr Kings 2x42 at work as well. Not impressed with the set up nor what you get for the price.

I am reading this thread as I am looking for a new grinder. There is something about using a KMG or clone. When I try to look down at what I am grinding on the Coote I always end up sanding the bill off my cap.
 
carbonman said:
So if direct drive is so much better, why do you think Beaumont hasnt gone that route? Are there any cons to direct drive?

I'm guessing belt drive makes it more versatile so you can use any brand/size motor you wish...
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Assuming I have vfd, I will take direct drive over a belt any day. Fewer moving parts, fewer bearings to wear out, less vibration, and less energy loss in the drive system.
If you're building on a budget and plan to change out/upgrade motors, a belt drive makes some sense. But I doubt that anyone running a 2 HP direct drive unit with vfd would trade out for a pulley system.
 
woodwrkr221 said:
I was seriously considering the Coote until I read this! The Coote still should be a great machine.
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I just don't understated why a Coote is a good idea with the plethora of three wheel grinders available. I'd hate not being able to look down on my platen.
 
Brian.Evans said:
I just don't understated why a Coote is a good idea with the plethora of three wheel grinders available. I'd hate not being able to look down on my platen.
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I don't look down on my platen at all... that is just how I learned. I stand up straight and the platen is at my neck/upper chest area. I stare at the opposite side of whatever I am grinding. The large wheel is at my waist. That is where all the hogging happens... I guide it with my hips.
 
The TW90 is not only a great grinder you can't help but like Travis's videos. Not only informational but quite entertaining. I talked to him at the Blade Show,a genuine nice guy.
 
Nobodies used that KEN ONION one have they?
3.5k isn't in my wallet at the moment and I am wondering if that might be a smart buy.
 
Brian.Evans said:
I just don't understated why a Coote is a good idea with the plethora of three wheel grinders available. I'd hate not being able to look down on my platen.
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When I bought the Coote, it was just under $400.00 with shipping. There was a huge price difference between the Coote and KMG. The only others available 10? years ago for cheapskates were the Kalamazoo, Sears and Grizzly. All the same two wheel design with the Coote being the best rated out of them all. The three wheel set ups haven't shot up in price over the last few years.

The availability of grinders for the hobbyist have exploded over the last few years and we have a wide range to choose from. I love the look of the TW90 and have been watching the videos over the last few nights. The 3500.00 for the flat platen, large contact wheel and two small wheels is quite attractive, especially since it is several grinders in one. I love the idea of a surface grinder but I can find a full size surface grinder off eBay for under $500.00. Or get two x-y tables and do a surface grinder set up with the Coote (aha! a good use for it!)
 
Jesse17 said:
I have a HF 1x30. I used to dream of one day having a KMG. Two well known bladesmiths I know have encouraged me to just save up and get a TW90. The have and use both the TW90 and the KMG. I was very skeptical, because they also say to get the surface grinder and that comes to about $5,000 all together! :eek: But, after all the comparison reviews, I guess I have resigned myself to just living with the HF and dreaming of a TW90 for a few years. Heck, I've only owned a couple vehicles that cost that much. ;)
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Guys, it is rediculoius to tell someone to put off starting their knifemaking career because they need another 3K worth of machine over a KMG. My knifemaking abilities JUMPED up when I got my first KMG. There is a giant difference between a nice new KMG and a 50 year old wilton square wheel. You can get a KMG for under 2K. Then you can add grinder after grinder for a grand each. I didn't get variable speed till last year. Get yourself a good functioning grinder a KMG or a Bader will serve you just fine. I agree to avoid rusted out shitbox project rattletrap grinders. AND if I just had extra $ sitting around when I was starting out I would have gone with the TW90 (wasn't available then though), but I have no regrets about using a KMG.
 
I agree with Andy... just get set up with what you can afford, NOW, and start making knives. I use a Grizzly for Pete's sake!

Wally Hayes told me that for a time(transitioning between shops) he only had a 1 x 30 and a BBQ forge with a hair dryer. Then he showed pics of what he made during those months... including an exact replica of the Atlantean Sword from Conan! It is the maker, not the tools.
 
If my position was one that was taken as attempting to dissuade someone, I apologize. However, I can't stress how strongly I wish I could have done things differently. Andy, your KMG's have been a godsend for you, no? I wonder what song you'd be singing if your first 'major' grinder purchase had been more limiting. THAT'S what I'm trying to express. Granted, I suspect that things have evolved so much since I bought my grinder that it's probably not a concern anymore, but I guess I just think that it may help someone to make a more intelligent decision if they think things through by hearing the experiences of others.

I hate buying things multiple times, and the problem for many is that machinery 'stepping stones' invariably get to a point of becoming a blockade, rather than a jumping point. That's apparent even from the tone of many of the posts in this thread.
 
I have a question, is there any reason you wouldn't want to have 2 grinders run by one motor? I'm talking about basically a a horizontal motor with a spindle at each end. One grinder on each side. Use one VFD to run that one motor.

Practically you only use one grinder at a time. But imagine 2 grinders side by side. You reduce the total price of 2 grinders by the cost of the motor and VFD drive. I know that a VFD drive can be wired to separately run 2 motors.

Is this crazy talk?
 
I agree with that part of your post Matt. I think its tempting for a new maker to buy a very old machine thinking they are getting a great deal. I'm sorry you're suffering that way. I went with a KMG because my wife, an angel, said I could get one. That was totaly luck. And at that time it was a huge layout for us. Her support of my knifemaking has been key to success. Including having a great career and providing insurance for our family.

Ditch your square wheel and get a good grinder my friend.
 
hsc3_90293 said:
I have a question, is there any reason you wouldn't want to have 2 grinders run by one motor? I'm talking about basically a a horizontal motor with a spindle at each end. One grinder on each side. Use one VFD to run that one motor.

Practically you only use one grinder at a time. But imagine 2 grinders side by side. You reduce the total price of 2 grinders by the cost of the motor and VFD drive. I know that a VFD drive can be wired to separately run 2 motors.

Is this crazy talk?
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Here's how I run two motors with one VFD. Motors are cheap cheap cheap, especially compared to a KBAC 27C VFD. The disk grinder motor is a 1 1/2 hp from eBay for $85 shipped!

Twist lock plugs and 15ft of wire. You can only use one at a time anyway.

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