How does this 2x72 Grinder look?

O

Ordenrahl

Joined
Oct 16, 2015
Messages
37
I have about $500 I could invest in a grinder. I'd like to go under that but it seems that any decent grinder is around $500 for entry level, while around $250 or so on the low end.

I found this grinder on Etsy for $500. I may just be lucky or this guy could be selling junk, though 2 people have bought it already and I don't see any negative OR positive reviews on the product. Check it out here:

il_570xN.1188037461_bdqb.jpg

Here's the link:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/511677463/knife-maker-grinder-2x72-15-hp-110volt?ref=shop_home_active_1

1.5hp motor included. Runs at 3490rpm according to the label.
runs 2x72 belts

Not much information on the site and I don't know enough about grinders to get a good idea from the pictures. What do you guys think?

J.
 
The motor on it is not going to last long. It looks like an open motor and once you start grinding metal dust will get in it, stuck to the magnets and get fried in not a long period of time. The left side of the platen is unusable the way it's mounted. I built mine close to that and grew tired of it within 2 knives and modified it so I can use the left side better. Other than that with a quick glance it looks ok. About $150 more investment you could have a better motor that would last a long time so you'd really be looking at $650 investment on this to make it worth using. IMHO.
 
I agree with Marc... Not to mention, that motor is gonna be screamin fast. I'd message the seller and see what he'd take for just the frame. Then get yourself a 1.5hp 3 phase motor (IronHorse is a good brand for about $150 brand new, or I've seen used 3 phase surplus for $150 or less for more quality brands), and then a 1.5hp VFD. You can find a Chinese VFD for about $100 to $130 that are actually quite good. You need to build an enclosure to keep the dust out, but that's really not a big deal.

The other alternative is to find a 1.5 to 2hp single phase TEFC motor at 1750 RPM or so. It'll be sealed from dust and be much more manageable on speed. The VFD setup would be the optimal choice though.

Now, as for the grinder itself, that looks to be based off of these plans: http://dcknives.blogspot.com/p/2-x-72-belt-grinder.html
I've seen a number of makers that have built the machine in one form or another, and the feedback seems generally positive as far as I recall. Not sure why the motor is on the side that it is though, as not you have to kind of weave the belt in around the wheel and the frame. I'd have flipped it 180 degrees and put the frame on the right side of the base, switch on the left.
 
Is the pillar with the tracking wheel mounted to it the only way to apply belt tension?
 
Like Andrew said flipping the motor (or a good motor) 180 degrees would be a easy fix but I don't think myself personally I would like the belt tension system. But who knows it might be great.
 
Thank you for the answers and suggestions. It seems clear based on the motor and possibly the construction of the frame that this isn't a great solution for $500. I guess I'd rather go with something better known instead of taking a chance on this piece. I had been looking at the Grizzlies but I read that there were problems with tracking. I'll keep researching.

If anyone here has a great grinder solution for $500ish please feel free to share it.

I appreciate the help and the time taken to write the posts.

J.
 
Honestly the GIB 2.0 is a nice option. I did not jave all the money up front so i boighta part at a time. Scrounged the motor from work (180v DC we would never use) and got a DC variable drive. OBM wheels and their tracking wheel assembly. Knifegrinderparts drive wheel though. It has an offset set screw which is important.

Probably have $1k i it over all but it has a small wheel with 5 wheels, ceramic glass platten and a work rest.
Take your time and space the purchases out and they dont hurt as much.

Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk
 
Take a look at Oregon Blademaker and Ameribrade. I like both designs better than the basic KMG(ish) clone.
 
Storm Crow said:
Take a look at Oregon Blademaker and Ameribrade. I like both designs better than the basic KMG(ish) clone.
Click to expand...

I just got the Oregon Blademaker grinder and like it a lot, if you can find a cheap motor on craigslist or eBay then you should be good to go.
 
Interesting price hike. :)

Yeah, the more I look at it, the more I seriously questing the tensioning system. Looks like you'd have almost no leverage, especially reaching up and over a work bench, to press down on it will trying to install a belt. That leads me to believe the spring is not very strong, and tracking will likely suffer as a result.

This design would probably lend itself far better to a small double acting pneumatic cylinder, (similar to Brian Fellhoelter's ubergrinder) placed inside the lower tube to actuate the tracking arm up and down. I imagine you could fit a small cylinder in that that could easily get you upwards of 100lbs of tension on your belt, and this could be actuated with simply the flick of a switch.
 
I agree with all the above, the motor, platen and tracking would be a concern to me.

I've had an Oregon Blade Maker grinder Chassis for a few years and its been great. Got a new surplus motor locally and a nice VFD and was under $1k.

This to me is a great first option for an entry level 2x72.
 
knife to a gunfight said:
I agree with Marc... Not to mention, that motor is gonna be screamin fast. I'd message the seller and see what he'd take for just the frame. Then get yourself a 1.5hp 3 phase motor (IronHorse is a good brand for about $150 brand new, or I've seen used 3 phase surplus for $150 or less for more quality brands), and then a 1.5hp VFD. You can find a Chinese VFD for about $100 to $130 that are actually quite good. You need to build an enclosure to keep the dust out, but that's really not a big deal.

The other alternative is to find a 1.5 to 2hp single phase TEFC motor at 1750 RPM or so. It'll be sealed from dust and be much more manageable on speed. The VFD setup would be the optimal choice though.

Now, as for the grinder itself, that looks to be based off of these plans: http://dcknives.blogspot.com/p/2-x-72-belt-grinder.html
I've seen a number of makers that have built the machine in one form or another, and the feedback seems generally positive as far as I recall. Not sure why the motor is on the side that it is though, as not you have to kind of weave the belt in around the wheel and the frame. I'd have flipped it 180 degrees and put the frame on the right side of the base, switch on the left.
Click to expand...


You are correct sir.
 
Last edited:
Kevin McGovern said:
With a 4 inch drive wheel (this is what I have on mine, with a 3450 RPM motor) it would be under 4000 SFPM. I don't think my set up is too fast. The drive wheel in the picture looks to be 3" which would make it even slower than that.
Click to expand...

I don't know... looks like 4" to me. Not impossible to grind with, but it's faster that I'd personally want to go on higher grit belts.
 
ncrowner said:
This guy just raised his price to 650...check it out
Click to expand...

Wow, looks like saw the interest from us and hiked up the price. Given some of the comments I'm surprised he wouldn't want to compete with a low price.

Considering Oregon Blademaker and Ameribrade now, thank you for the tips. I may just have to buy pieces at a time and hope I get lucky finding a second hand motor.
 
knife to a gunfight said:
I don't know... looks like 4" to me. Not impossible to grind with, but it's faster that I'd personally want to go on higher grit belts.
Click to expand...

You know why it looks like a 4"? because it probably is. You are absolutely right. I thought my memory was bad when I was in college, but having kids really kills brain cells. Not only is the wheel on my grinder 5" not 4" as I have been thinking, but my motor is 1725. My SFPM is around 2300. Since I think it's around the best compromise for a single speed, yeah, 3400 would be pretty difficult to use at higher grits.
 
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