Grizzly H7760 Combo Belt Sander/Grinder

JG Custom Metal Works

JG Custom Metal Works

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Nov 27, 2013
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http://www.grizzly.com/products/Combo-Belt-Sander-Grinder/H7760

Does anyone have any experience with this model? I need a grinder and a belt sander and I thought I might be able to kill two birds with one stone with this machine. My only worry is that the belt size wouldn't be that common and therefor have less variety of paper. Also, it seems like it might spin a little too fast. My budget is $170(I'd like to spend less) and I was looking at the craftsman 2x42. Should I just go with the craftsman?
 
If you're handy you could build the no weld grinder, you can get the plans from USA knife maker for $25, build it and have a 2x72. But that's just me :rolleyes:
 
That's if you buy all the parts from them though. I built my own 2x72 but it would still pass your max budget. Mine came in right around 500 bucks and I don't think it could be done much cheaper unless you could make or salvage most of the parts.
 
creature7 said:
http://www.grizzly.com/products/Combo-Belt-Sander-Grinder/H7760

Does anyone have any experience with this model? I need a grinder and a belt sander and I thought I might be able to kill two birds with one stone with this machine. My only worry is that the belt size wouldn't be that common and therefor have less variety of paper. Also, it seems like it might spin a little too fast. My budget is $170(I'd like to spend less) and I was looking at the craftsman 2x42. Should I just go with the craftsman?
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it looks and sounds great on paper, so I stopped at one of their showrooms with the intent to buy.
it was lightweight, felt cheesy, and I now own a Craftsman 2x42, which I've been content with. (especially when you can find it on sale for $139)
Norton blaze belts work well and don't cost much more than the cheap craftsman belts but last a lot longer.
 
Dont forget craigslist. I see plenty of the 2x42 on there all the time at reasonable prices. Sometimes even better ones. Depends on where your at.

Also craigslist can help you get all the steel you need for the nwg if you wanted to go that route. Just depends on how much you want to get involved in searching out parts and finding deals.
 
1066vik said:
it looks and sounds great on paper, so I stopped at one of their showrooms with the intent to buy.
it was lightweight, felt cheesy, and I now own a Craftsman 2x42, which I've been content with. (especially when you can find it on sale for $139)
Norton blaze belts work well and don't cost much more than the cheap craftsman belts but last a lot longer.
Click to expand...

Yeah I wish I could find one on sale for that. I've been watching a bunch of videos and reading threads about the Craftsman 2x42 for the past few days and everyone has been saying they got them for $130. That must have been a while ago because I went into Sears today, ready to buy, and it was $169.99. Ouch. Unless I can figure out something else that will probably be the route I go.

There is a voice in my head telling me to go get a $40 Harbor Freight 1x30 for $35... If it didn't work out I'm thinking I could just use it for quick convexing/sharpening. I wonder if the 2x42 is a vast improvement from that?
 
Delta 1x30 here. I would pay the $170 for the Craftsman right now if I had it. I've smoked a few 1x30 zirc belts and I think the money savings on the bigger belts alone would make up the difference pretty quickly if you make a few knives. Aside from that the Delta (or HF I assume) is capable of grinding out little knives with a little messing around. Took a little fooling with to get tracking and the platen really blows.

I can't comment on the Craftsman because I've never used it, but I will say that I'll be buying one and using the little grinder for handles and other small things.

Wish I were one of those guys that could jump right into a KMG from the git, but I'm happy with having my kids more than knives, so, fair trade. ;)
 
Does anyone know if there is good belt selection for the 2x42? If so where? I've been reading that it isn't a standard size.

Thanks for the help everyone, I appreciate it. I spent a good part of the night cutting out my first blade profile with a hacksaw. There's gotta be an easier way that doesn't cost a ton of money lol. Maybe an angle grinder?.... Either way, I'm gonna be making a move on the belt sander in the next few days.
 
creature7 said:
Does anyone know if there is good belt selection for the 2x42? If so where? I've been reading that it isn't a standard size.

Thanks for the help everyone, I appreciate it. I spent a good part of the night cutting out my first blade profile with a hacksaw. There's gotta be an easier way that doesn't cost a ton of money lol. Maybe an angle grinder?.... Either way, I'm gonna be making a move on the belt sander in the next few days.
Click to expand...

Jantz has a decent selection of 2x42 belts from 60-600 grit for about $2.50 a pop. And 1x42's run on it too which they have a large selection of. IMHO You honestly can't go wrong with it, as you will find yourself still using it for all kinds of things even after stepping up to a 2x72. I still use Norton blaze 1x42's in 36, 60 and 80 grit on the 2x42 to really work an outline and rough a blank. Its plenty fast and thin enough to work small areas quickly. Follow the upgrades listed on this site and others with a glass platen liner, stiffening the platen with bracing if you're able, tensioning it up a bit and modifying the work table a bit and it will serve you well.

Using an angle grinder comes with some dangers... but I use it more than my bandsaw honestly as for me, its faster. A decent 4" grinder and 10 cut-off wheels are less than $50. Wear PPE, use new wheels, and make sure you are only cutting straight lines with it. Use a grinding wheel to rough it it and you will be plenty fast. But if you have the coin, the bandsaw is the way to go. A HF porta saw and stuff to mount it up with is under $100 if you check the coupons and sales... And honestly plenty quick and a lot safer...

With a lot of 'good ol boy' networking it is possible to get the EERF body cut out for under $200. (I sourced the steel locally as scrap and found a kennel maker here to cut it out. Had under $150 in it...) But, you will still need a motor, pulleys or VFD depending, and wheels. And don't skimp on wheels... A good 8-10" contact wheel alone is gonna cost more than the 2x42 but makes all the difference in the world. But, it is possible to build up the EERF piece by piece while working on the 2x42...
 
creature7 said:
I looked at that and found this:

"Full kit including everything you need except the motor is available for $1207.57"

EEK!
Click to expand...

You can get a 240v, single-phase, 1750 rpm Leeson for around $300 at Surplus Center. I resurrected an old 2.5x72 grinder that they were throwing out at work (will run 2x72 no problem), and trust me - 1750 rpm is truly all you need. You will adapt and adjust yourself to it. When your skills improve, and you sell a few knives, then get a better grinder complete with variable speed.
 
creature7 said:
Does anyone know if there is good belt selection for the 2x42? If so where? I've been reading that it isn't a standard size.

Thanks for the help everyone, I appreciate it. I spent a good part of the night cutting out my first blade profile with a hacksaw. There's gotta be an easier way that doesn't cost a ton of money lol. Maybe an angle grinder?.... Either way, I'm gonna be making a move on the belt sander in the next few days.
Click to expand...

I got mine from Tru-grit
 
I bought the hb 1x30 made a couple decent prison shanks with it. Then i got the craftsman 2x42 on craigslist. I got lucky and got the old model with 1 hp and 8 in disc. Its built well as far as i can tell. A huge huge huge improvement over the hb. You can get about any belt you want for it from truegrit. I read somewhere that the old 1 hp model runs slower as well. I love mine so far but would still like a 2x72 with a TEN inch wheel.
 
I own the grizzly h7760 and i think its an okay starter grinder. If i could go back i think I would get a 2x42 or build a 2x72.
 
My advice would be to sell some things and/or save until you can by a better machine, or build a NWGS or GIB.

I'm not gonna say you can't build a functional grinder for $170, but you can build a downright decent one for about $500, that will be expandable/upgradable down the road.
 
Op, have you made any knives? If so, did you use a grinder or files?

It would be sweet to start off with a nice upgradable 2x72, but I think some might lose interest in trying to make a knife if they have to wait forever and save, or spend a ton of money from the start. I've never once regretted buying the little Delta, or any other tool I've bought for making knives. The cheap options are not ideal, but I wouldn't recommend a first time driver save up for a Beemer either. Buy the Civic and use the crap out of it. Save in the meantime? Sure! ;)
 
Yeah I started with the craftsman. Now it is striped of the belt portion, flipped on end so the disk side is pointing up and mounted in a wooden frame. I use it to rough shape and sharpen my gravers before I take them to the diamond plates.
 
So I just shattered a angle grinder blade into a bunch of pieces. I had a full face mask, respirator, and leather coat on so no harm done(except to the blade). I've come to the conclusion the I will need another method for cutting out my profiles.

So far I'm thinking I will need a bench grinder, band saw, and belt sander. I will be getting the craftsman belt sander tomorrow. If anyone has ideas about how I can cut the profiles I'm all ears. If a belt sander is the best way to go, what should I get? I'd like to keep total cost of everything under $500 if possible. Thanks again for the help everyone.
 
Get yourself a good tension hacksaw and good bi- metal blades. Make relief cuts and be careful.

By careful I mean don't do this.

nofIxMo.jpg


Did that a little while ago. A minute ago I slipped again and hit the same exact spots. :(
 
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