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- Feb 4, 1999
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So, here's what I've learned about grinders recently, which should be informative for the general new-to-grinders population at large:
1) Knifemakers don't get rid of grinders, so don't ask or you'll insult them!:footinmou
2) There are a lot of options, but the team favorites for BFC seems to be the KMG, Coote and Grizzly.
KMG
The KMG is the king, without a doubt, for two apparent reasons: excellent quality and versatility. Take a look at the KMG site and you'll see it's like a Transformer toy! This is the obvious choice for the pros or the hobbyists who never want to have to buy an upgrade machine. The downside is that it is expensive, and the add-ons are pricy, too, but it doesn't seem like there is "empty cost" built into it. In other words, it does a lot more and is better quality than much more expensive machines. The main issue isn't whether it's "too expensive" but rather if the qualities you get in the machine are worth the added expense to you. Very prompt service from Rob Frink, who makes the machines, and there isn't a bad thing to say about KMG anywhere, as far as I could find (although I've been accused of only reading what I want to read, so take that with a grain of salt). The basic KMG setup costs $650 for flat grinding only. To more closely compare apples to apples, to get the flat grind/10" wheel package, you pay $840. You also need to pay $85 or so for shipping, buy a motor and some pulleys and belts to run the motor. You can get this machine "out of the box" for a bit under $1200 (includes motor, pulleys, etc etc).
Grizzly
On the other end of the spectrum is the Grizzly 2x72" grinder. This is all in one unit, and everyone says you have to upgrade to a 10" wheel. The grinder and 10" wheel setup are $478, including $55 or so to ship to wherever you are. This is a very popular machine, but it's what it is. Unlike the KMG, you sacrifice some quality and it isn't a Transformer robot, so you can do basic stuff with it and that's it. According to people here, it is a great value, and many use the machine for "hogging metal" and a lot of the rougher work, then use their KMG or more expensive equipment for other operations. It runs very fast and the motor is hooked right up to the grinder, so it can't be messed with to step it down without quite a bit of modification. Lots of makers got their start on Grizzly machines and say they are pretty good, but that there are better ones out there (like the KMG).
Coote
Coote is the underdog! It floats somewhere between the KMG and Grizzly. American-made, good quality, same basic idea as the Grizzly, but a little more versatile. For $410 you get the 2x72" grinder with a 10" wheel. You can get into other sizes of wheels, add a small wheel attachment for tight radiuses (for $120), etc. Shipping is about $35, according to Norm, the machine's maker. You supply the motor, pulleys, etc. From what I read, the Coote is a great machine, and people generally love the way the small wheel attachment works out. It's a little bit more than the Grizzly, but better made, American made, slightly more versatile and gives you a lot more flexibility to put step pulleys on it to make it do more things more easily. So, around $500 gets you the machine, then you worry about the motor. Maybe you'll spend $100 more or so than the Grizzly, but it seems well worth it.
So, all things equal, if you want cheap and easy, get the Grizzly and you'll be happy. If you want cheap and flexible, get the Coote and your own motor and you'll be happy. If you want the one everyone dreams about, get the KMG and you'll be happy! And, if you compare prices of similarly spec'd grinders, the KMG starts looking cheap, too, so it's all relative.
The KMG is really the machine to try to get into if you think this hobby will grow. I.e. you can start as basic as possible, rig up a motor that works for cheap, etc and if you really find yourself enjoying knifemaking, needing the add-ons, etc, you can grow into it and upgrade motor, wheels, accessories, etc. The Coote has a couple of things you can do (small wheel attachment) and that's about it, and the Grizzly is what it is.
The last thing I've learned is that because no knifemakers sell their tools, if you get into a decent grinder and find you don't want it anymore, you can probably recoup most of what you paid for it by selling it here. You'll lose a bit of $$$ because people would just as soon buy a new one than a slightly underpriced slightly used one, but you probably could unload it pretty easily.
1) Knifemakers don't get rid of grinders, so don't ask or you'll insult them!:footinmou
2) There are a lot of options, but the team favorites for BFC seems to be the KMG, Coote and Grizzly.
KMG
The KMG is the king, without a doubt, for two apparent reasons: excellent quality and versatility. Take a look at the KMG site and you'll see it's like a Transformer toy! This is the obvious choice for the pros or the hobbyists who never want to have to buy an upgrade machine. The downside is that it is expensive, and the add-ons are pricy, too, but it doesn't seem like there is "empty cost" built into it. In other words, it does a lot more and is better quality than much more expensive machines. The main issue isn't whether it's "too expensive" but rather if the qualities you get in the machine are worth the added expense to you. Very prompt service from Rob Frink, who makes the machines, and there isn't a bad thing to say about KMG anywhere, as far as I could find (although I've been accused of only reading what I want to read, so take that with a grain of salt). The basic KMG setup costs $650 for flat grinding only. To more closely compare apples to apples, to get the flat grind/10" wheel package, you pay $840. You also need to pay $85 or so for shipping, buy a motor and some pulleys and belts to run the motor. You can get this machine "out of the box" for a bit under $1200 (includes motor, pulleys, etc etc).
Grizzly
On the other end of the spectrum is the Grizzly 2x72" grinder. This is all in one unit, and everyone says you have to upgrade to a 10" wheel. The grinder and 10" wheel setup are $478, including $55 or so to ship to wherever you are. This is a very popular machine, but it's what it is. Unlike the KMG, you sacrifice some quality and it isn't a Transformer robot, so you can do basic stuff with it and that's it. According to people here, it is a great value, and many use the machine for "hogging metal" and a lot of the rougher work, then use their KMG or more expensive equipment for other operations. It runs very fast and the motor is hooked right up to the grinder, so it can't be messed with to step it down without quite a bit of modification. Lots of makers got their start on Grizzly machines and say they are pretty good, but that there are better ones out there (like the KMG).
Coote
Coote is the underdog! It floats somewhere between the KMG and Grizzly. American-made, good quality, same basic idea as the Grizzly, but a little more versatile. For $410 you get the 2x72" grinder with a 10" wheel. You can get into other sizes of wheels, add a small wheel attachment for tight radiuses (for $120), etc. Shipping is about $35, according to Norm, the machine's maker. You supply the motor, pulleys, etc. From what I read, the Coote is a great machine, and people generally love the way the small wheel attachment works out. It's a little bit more than the Grizzly, but better made, American made, slightly more versatile and gives you a lot more flexibility to put step pulleys on it to make it do more things more easily. So, around $500 gets you the machine, then you worry about the motor. Maybe you'll spend $100 more or so than the Grizzly, but it seems well worth it.
So, all things equal, if you want cheap and easy, get the Grizzly and you'll be happy. If you want cheap and flexible, get the Coote and your own motor and you'll be happy. If you want the one everyone dreams about, get the KMG and you'll be happy! And, if you compare prices of similarly spec'd grinders, the KMG starts looking cheap, too, so it's all relative.
The KMG is really the machine to try to get into if you think this hobby will grow. I.e. you can start as basic as possible, rig up a motor that works for cheap, etc and if you really find yourself enjoying knifemaking, needing the add-ons, etc, you can grow into it and upgrade motor, wheels, accessories, etc. The Coote has a couple of things you can do (small wheel attachment) and that's about it, and the Grizzly is what it is.
The last thing I've learned is that because no knifemakers sell their tools, if you get into a decent grinder and find you don't want it anymore, you can probably recoup most of what you paid for it by selling it here. You'll lose a bit of $$$ because people would just as soon buy a new one than a slightly underpriced slightly used one, but you probably could unload it pretty easily.
I've had a Bader 2 since I bought it new in 1983. I have battled that beast for years. It had some design flaws that made one machine great and the next cantankerous. I got one that fit my personality...
That major deficiency was corrected on the B3 by going to a square toolbar. 