Hey, now HERE'S a thought...

[Kalindras]

...but maybe not a very good one...

While looking at Bruce's thread on huge contact wheels, I went out to Contact Rubber's website, and found this little number:

And it got me to wondering...would this work for knifemaking? I mean, with that T-Clamp, would you be able to grind bevels, or would it create a gap in the wheel that would chatter the unholy heck out of you when you tried?

If it would work, this would seem to be a great way to go for "Young" knifemakers, who maybe can't afford a 2x72, yet (like me). You can probably scrounge up a motor, of some sort, somewhere, put one of these on it, and just use shop rolls for your belts.

So, am I mad, even to think it could work? What are your opinions?

 

[Mike Hull]

Kal, Alex Collins, a now deceased knifemaker from So Cal.,used to use those. He did finishing on a regular belt grinder, but much of his bevel work, was done on the wheels you describe.

 

[A. Brett Schaller]

This reminds me of the old Cone-Lok drum sanders. When I started making knives I used a Cone-Lok on a Baldor 3/4 hp buffer. The gap isn't noticable when grinding bevels. I'm pretty sure the Cone-Lok isn't made anymore.

I had no idea Alex Collins was deceased. I'm sorry to hear it.

 

[Bruce Evans]

I have a friend that does all his grinding on a six inch cone lock wheel now.He does some really fantastic work on it also.
Bruce