Recommendation? Hardcore vs Northridge?

[Tenebr0s]

I'm starting to put together a small workshop at my family home in the US, and I'm thinking about grinders for it.

I've heard really great things about the Northridge, but I am really intrigued by the versatility of the Hardcore in terms of the different grinding positions it allows. I do most of my grinding Japanese style, pushing the blade down on a wheel or platen in the horizontal position. The hardcore would definitely make that possible, but I'm curious how it compares in quality to the Northridge? Would really love to hear from anybody who has experience with these grinders!

 

[Dragons Breath Knives]

Waiting on my Northridge as we speak!! Hurry up Blade! Ill keep ya posted when it arrives!

 

[john april]

the hardcore looks well made, but it does not look like you can add any other attachments ?

 

[HSC ///]

I have a Hardcore, the older DC motor model at 2500 RPM,
I got lucky and bought mine used at a steal from the widow of a woodworker off CL
I have it with many attachments, small wheel, platen, 10" wheel and long top platen. I even attach a tapered spindle and use it with a buffing wheel sometimes.
It's not cheap, and the attachments will take it into the $3-4K range, but you never regret buying quality
I can tell you that many top knife-makers have a Hardcore (or 2)
The tracking is supreme. I'd give it a serious look and try.
You can also add a 9" disc grinder to the hub and I hear Randy is working on a surface grinder option as well, which I'm sure won't be cheap either.

http://www.hardcore-products.com/section.php?xSec=11

FWIW, I hear that Hardcore makes the wheels for the TW-90

PS - I just saw on FB - Abrasives R US Scott Kuntz is showing a Hardcore with a new carbide faced platen that is air cooled, he's a dealer

 

[AVigil]

Hardcore is made in town here, Tru Grit has them and they are precision made all the way around.

 

[Tenebr0s]

I have a Hardcore, the older DC motor model at 2500 RPM,
I got lucky and bought mine used at a steal from the widow of a woodworker off CL
I have it with many attachments, small wheel, platen, 10" wheel and long top platen. I even attach a tapered spindle and use it with a buffing wheel sometimes.
It's not cheap, and the attachments will take it into the $3-4K range, but you never regret buying quality
I can tell you that many top knife-makers have a Hardcore (or 2)
The tracking is supreme. I'd give it a serious look and try.
You can also add a 9" disc grinder to the hub and I hear Randy is working on a surface grinder option as well, which I'm sure won't be cheap either.

Harbeer, how much does the arm rotate? Is it possible to have the flat platen parallel with the floor?

 

[HSC ///]

Harbeer, how much does the arm rotate? Is it possible to have the flat platen parallel with the floor?

the knifemakers platen option probably won't work well as it's designed more for vertical like a standard platen.

the long 10" top platen (option accesory) will work in horizontal, and with either 8" or 10" wheel
mine is shown here with some foam rubber that I cut into sort of a radius platen top
the camera may not show it well but I positioned the arm into horizontal here, the platen is parallel with the floor.

Conceivably you could rotate the entire unit and run it like a rotating water stone (away from you)

here is the tapered spindle option for buffing wheel

 

[Geoff Flato]

Am I right in thinking the hardcore is basically a clone of the burrking?

 

[Tenebr0s]

Thanks, Harbeer. This is exactly what I wanted to know - and how I would set mine up if I get one. Do you find the contact wheel gets in the way when you're grinding on the flat platen?

 

[HSC ///]

Thanks, Harbeer. This is exactly what I wanted to know - and how I would set mine up if I get one. Do you find the contact wheel gets in the way when you're grinding on the flat platen?

you mean in the long flat platen as shown? I don't, because I use it more in the 45-60 deg position so the wheel is down lower

the way you want it (horizontal) you would have to pay attention to the contact wheel, i guess depends on how long your arm reach is.

 

[Tenebr0s]

Thanks, yeah it seems like it might be hard to use that flat platen in the fully horizontal position and not hit into the contact wheel.

How much does the arm (grinder head?) rotate? If you had the standard flat platen attachment in, for example, can the whole thing be rotated so that the flat platen is parallel with the floor?

 

[HSC ///]

Thanks, yeah it seems like it might be hard to use that flat platen in the fully horizontal position and not hit into the contact wheel.

How much does the arm (grinder head?) rotate? If you had the standard flat platen attachment in, for example, can the whole thing be rotated so that the flat platen is parallel with the floor?

I believe it rotates a full 90 deg, but have to check on that later
not sure about how the std flat platen can rotate to get you to horizontal

anyway i don't think it's that bad
the distance from the tangent (quadrant) of the contact wheel to the center of the long platen is 12"
if you used the bottom or near edge of the platen then it can be upto 4-5" less distance
you only need to worry about half the diameter of the contact wheel which is 5" max.

my arms are comfortably bent and not outstretched