grinders searching

K

knifemaniac

Joined
Jan 19, 2007
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288
http://www.herbst.co.za/machines
Someone have ever seen or used this kind of a grinder? There are all aluminium parts and it seems to be not so stable as KMG or Coote.

I'm looking arround with GOOGLE for all the grinders arround the world made for knifemaking. I'll post all the mashines I find here.
http://www.beaumontmetalworks.com/ KMG grinder

http://gbrannon.bizhat.com/shop.htm#grinders - WONDERFULL LINK TO MOST USED KNIFEMAKING BELTGRINDERS AND NOT ONLY.....

http://www.maneklalexports.com/English/McTools/BeltGrd.htm

http://www.knifeandgun.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=JLG2

http://www.wolf-borger-messer.de/maschin.htm
http://www.jordanknives.com/grinding.htm working on wolfmesser 50 grinder - interesting tutorial for knifemaking / flat grind

http://www.cootebeltgrinder.com/index.html

http://www.suremak.com/grinder.html

http://www.radiusmaster.com.au/beltgrinder.htm Australian belt grinder

http://www.dozierknives.com/grinder.html Bob Dozier grinder.

http://www.stephenbader.com/

http://www.kalamazooindustries.com/belt_sanders.asp
2FS72 - for knifemaking

http://www.grizzly.com/products/G1015

http://www.knifemaker.ca/comersus/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=217 BEE grinder

http://www.riversidemachine.net/item14549.ctlg Uncle Al beltgrinder.
 
deker said:
Just to add a few to the list for you:
There's also a few Canadian grinders I can't recall the names or makers of, but I'm sure somebody will pipe up.

-d
Click to expand...

Yes, the Bee Grinder similar to the square wheel design

Bee grinder

and the Suremak Grinder

There are a couple others who make grinders but are "web challenged". :)

Rob!
 
Interesting links knifemaniac. Some grinders in there that I didn't know existed, a couple that are pretty darn nice !
 
I'm going to add every link that you post here up in my first post. I think that thread will be helpfull to newbies like me, that looking for a grinder to start out.
 
Re: Grinders:
If I may,
Last 20 years I read in knife magazines: “buy the most expensive” grinder you can afford…
Well, the time came when I now would like to buy one, and I am realizing, that all the articles regarding the grinders, were just describing the products…( except one, I cannot find now, which showed how to obtain the speed of the belt and how to calculate it. The best article in 20 years…)I believe, this industry is – thanx to Internet – strong and nice people are involved in it.
It would help also the manufacturers if we would judge their products fairly and on the same basis. They do it for cars, bicycles, washing machines. Why not Grinders?

So here are some basic point of comparisons I would suggest should be listed:
-Basic price = “…and here are the items included in it… “
-110V versus 220V = it is time to acknowledge, that 110V is not as economical as 220V.
It is same as with TV and telephones. It started in USA….The rest of the world waited, picked up the best. To save some electricity, switch to 220V.
-How much do I save in electricity running on 110V or 220V?
-How easy is it to change the belt?
-How easy is it to repair the motor?
-How easy is it to install speed control?
-How many optional goodies are available for the particular model?
-How good is the communication with the manufacturer/representative?
-Size of the grinder’s footprint…
-Dust control, what is possible to do, are there any leads to get rid of the dust,
Or bucket with water is the only solution?
-Motor’s jacket… how well is the motor sealed?
-Maintenance…( Belts, greasing, oiling,
-Bearings….Do the wheels have bearings?
-SAFETY
-Lighting of the working area
-Any innovations possible? ( ie: foot control?)
-Location of the Kill (emergency) switch – if any
-Weight,
-Mounting options ( steel plate, wood plate, bench, post…etc.,)
-Where the parts are manufactured should too be listed. Any Domestic Manufacturer should be strongly supported – but to the point. They should not take the advantage of our good hearts.
-other….(suggestions here)

In “Knife illustrated” years ago, Mr. Lang showed a German knifemaker’s shop. His grinder was straight from Hollywood…This chap could be sitting conveniently in a regular chair when working on it. Two years I saw on Internet a grinder made in India( with 3HP!)…. Unbelievable machines. How can we compete? We need to wake up our manufacturers but not by insulting them, but by inviting them INTO OUR DISCUSSIONS so they see our problems and what we face… I strongly believe, that the above items would definitely lift the Bench Mark….,Also: the Knife Magazines should be more selective who writes some of the articles.
( A person who has a conflict of interest should not write anything on that topic! Unless he states it right at the beginning, that the conflict here exists….)

Have a nice day.

Lad
 
I'd narrow it down to 2 grinders:

- KMG
- Bader

as simple as that. Now, if you are short on dinero, have access to tools
(drill press, mill, lathe, BS) and cheap metal, you can build yer own using
these as basic designs. But, you better like building stuff yourself :) .

Here's why the KMG and Bader are better than all the others: the tooling arm.
Real ez to adjust the length, ez access to the belt, ez to change wheels/platens. ez to fashion additional tools , support plates etc .

About the only other design I like is the one that Goddard calls "Big Red" in
his books.
 
I'll throw in a few comments about my Coote, 10"......

What I like:

Price. $500 with all the accessories. Precision built. Uses a seperate motor/ V belt for more versatility. Good service and replacement parts easy to get.

What I don't like:

A real pain to remove the work table for platen work. No way to change wheel diameters or modify to fit other attachments. No included sketch or pattern to build your motor mount. Took me days to get it right.

What I'd in the future........

Build my own, based on what I didn't like in the above......
 
Since my own grinder is a BEE, I guess I can comment on it.

PLUS SIDE

  • has dust housing (unlike KMG / Bader Etc)
  • comes with contact wheel plus 2" and 2 1/2" small wheels, flat platen (reverse for slack belt) - all standard
  • Comes with tool rest
  • Tracks well
  • Very Easy change over of tools / accessories (no tools req.)
  • Easy adjustment of tool rest / tracking etc
  • Easy belt change
  • Grinding height position is same for flat or hollow (unlike Coote, Burr King, Grizzly etc.)
  • Direct drive (no belts / vibration)
  • Drive wheel separate (speed does not change with contact wheel size)
  • Takes 8" or 10" contact wheels without any adjustment. (unlike Coote)
  • Runs on 110 or 220V as you prefer.
  • Available with variable or fixed speed.
  • Small wheel bracket option with wheels 1/2" to 1"
  • Lifetime lubed - mine was about 7 yrs old and I just sold it with no bearing problems.
  • Long established company will be there 10 years from now when you need a part.
  • Machine was designed for knife making - not adapted to it (like burr king / hardcore were)
Disadvantage

  • platen needs support shelf for ceramic liner
  • Speed control should be closer to operator
Rob!
 
Hey Rob, just to clarify- The Burr King 960-272 was designed by a knifemaker-- Maybe you have heard of him... R.W. (Bob) Loveless. Mr. Loveless came to Burr King and realized that Burr King built a great machine and from there Mr. MacCarthy and Mr. Loveless began designing the Knifemaker, exclusively for the industry. That was over thirty years ago to the best of my knowledge
 
One I have always loved and want to get one day is the one called the Radius Master. http://www.radiusmaster.com.au/beltgrinder.htm I believe the company is based in Australia or New Zealand or something.

I gotta tell ya, its the best 2x48" grinder you'll ever see. I really was impressed with this machine. $2000 from a dealer in Iowa. If this was variable speed, I'd already have one.

Kind of ironic but there is a good video of this unit on the KMG web site listed above in the first post. Just go to the thumbnail video clips and its one of the grinder videos.

STR
 
I'll agree with the Burr-King.Its a sweet machine and has probably ground more blades than all the others over the years.This was a favorite of the late great Bob Egnath who ground thousands of blades on his.Dave:)
 
Yep, Bob designed the 960! They have a couple in the shop. As do I . They still use the 1272 for the heavy grinding though. I vote Burr-King of it's smooth running, and quietness. For quick tooling changes, the Bader III, (also designed by a late great maker-George Herron) And Rob Finks KMG. Man, that KMG is hell bent for stout! Its a great grinder. I have 2 b-k's, and a BM-III. The only thing I would do differently is get a KMG, and have all of them variable. Mike
 
When you add the availablilty of Mike Kanter's new multi articulating (MAP arm) work rest with the KMG its a benefit that in my opinion puts the KMG at the top of the heap for the grinder to have. http://www.adammichaelknives.com/purchase.php

The more you look at the benefits of that J & L grinder from Knife and Gun Finishing supplies the better it looks also.

I understand Dozier has a new bench model grinder that is 2x72, and variable speed with his signiture pneumatic tension adjustment feature but I have not seen it. Last time I talked to Bob and Alicia they couldn't even give me a price on it. A.G. says its around $2500 though.

STR
 
Thats the one he has sold for years. His new one is supposed to be something, well new and different somehow. I understand Ken Onion bought one at the Blade Show.

STR
 
I'd be interested in seeing pics if you find any. Keep us posted!
 
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