I want ya'll's guidance on a grinder.

Hoplophile · Sep 7, 2001

I've finally amassed about $300 for a grinder. I want some guidance. I have an old Black & Decker 3/4 hp bench grinder already. The way I see it my options are:
1) Jet Multi Tool Attachment for the B&D
2) Jet Multi Tool & a 1hp motor from Harbor Freight, or Surplus, etc
3) A Grizzly 2x72
4) Build my own from scratch. (W/ a great deal of hand holding from Rob/Wayne/et al)

I live in an aprtmentment so the smaller size of the first option is appealing.
I made a tanto from an old file on the B&D a few years ago, but frankly it wouldn't even have passed muster as a prison shiv. I have a lot to learn about grinding. I'm not planning on doing more than 100 knives in my lifetime, this is just for all intents and purposes craft therapy for me.

mikeS · Sep 7, 2001

Save some more money. I built mine for about $400. I still need another contact wheel. Then you have to have money to feed it belts.

There is a bunch of good homebuilts and links to same in the archives Rob Frink is very helpful in supplying componets.

Michael Bennett · Sep 7, 2001

Norman Coote sells a 2"x72" with a 6" contact wheel for around $330 delivered, no motor. I like mine. It is well built and works out-of-the-box.

Mike

Chang · Sep 8, 2001

http://grizzly.com/fcgi-bin/lookup.fcgi/products/lookup.cfg?q=item&kw=G1015

Grizzly! It's on sale for $275 + freight. I got mine and I think it was a great deal. Just be prepared to have to align the wheels a little bit and spend some time flattening the platen on the driveway concrete. Don't buy their silicon carbide belts though, they suck for stock removal. Buy the belts somewhere else.

Tracking isn't the greatest, but with a little bit of wheel alignment, it works fairly well, and Grizzly customer service is great. I had a shoe bracket that wasn't cast right, and they sent me another one immediately, free of charge. The technician was on the phone with me while I realigned my wheels and he helped me go through things step by step.

hillbillychuck · Sep 8, 2001

My vote would be for the grizzly. I bought one last year and it has been a very servicable machine. I thought about making my own but after analyizing my situation closely I decided the grizz was the best choice for me. I didn't want to waste a lot of time, effort, and frustration on building a grinder. I wanted to save all of that energy for the knives(grin). I have had absolutely no problems with the grizzly grinder at all, and am planning on buying one if thier mini milling machines for christmas.

Chuck

XxBOSSMANxX · Jan 6, 2002

The grizz..............here`s mine

and some of the knives I`ve made with it............

It does a great job for the money but it doesnt give you many options for adding smaller wheels etc,the arm will extend upward to take up the slack when a small wheel is added but you cant go smaller than about 2.5".
Bossman

Alan Folts · Jan 6, 2002

My only input is to try to stay away from non standard machines, try to keep a 2x72 format... When any new abrasive comes out trying to cater to the exotic grinder they tend to make the belts in a standard machine shop length and width, 2x72 tends to be one of those. I am always amazed at the amount of different abrasives that are available for the 2x72 cheaper than the SAME abrasive in a 2x48 for example, it seems that the smaller belts have to be custom spliced in those smaller sizes... for the $ I would suggest the Grizly if thats the best you can afford...

We can always make some attachments or adaptations in the shop...

If you decide to build your own grinder i have some motors that you could beg/borrow/steal from me...

Alan..

Possum · Jan 6, 2002

Howdy There...!
Just saw your post and thought I would throw my two cents in.! Save your money and build or buy at good grinder. The grizzly and the coote are good machines for the price range, but if you are going to get into knife making you will want something better at a later date. I to started out doing things with small machines,there is such a difference using a larger and stronger grinder. Have a good friend that lives in Pittsboro that has one of Rob Frinks machines. He operates a rock shop there, give him a call and see if you can go see it. Good luck ...!

"Possum"

PS If you need his number send me an email.