Info on Grizzly

I have one. Tracking can be an issue at times with the belt wanting to wander around a bit. Some electric tape over the middle of the idler pulley can help. Also, you can't hollow grind effectively without a larger drive wheel. The platen that comes on it is graphite and not very useful past the first couple of knives. It will groove where you grind the most. Get a ceramic glass platen from Darren Ellis (http://elliscustomknifeworks.com/). Also, put a filter over the cooling slots in the motor housing.

The Grizzly is a very entry level grinder. If I had the funds, of course I would spring for a KMG, but for a bit more than the Grizzly costs, you can get a Coote. The bottom line is that I've been able to produce some pretty nice blades (IMO, of course) with the Grizzly, and it beats the heck out of a small Sears grinder or files. If you absolutely can't afford a better grinder, it will work for you pretty well. And if you get good grinding on it, I've heard you will be even better on a better grinder.

--nathan
 
Keith

I started out with one. I bought it without the motor and highly modified it to make it belt drive with step pulleys. I still have it but haven't used it since I got my KMG.

The big problem with the Griz is the fast speed that it runs. It is great for rough grinding but not so good for the finer work.

That being said, there are plenty of knives that are being made on them, you just have to be more careful when you get closer to completion.

A glass platen and a helper spring on the tensioner make the griz a much better grinder.

Brian
 
Yeah, it does run just short of light speed. Makes belt bump very hard to control, so run good quality belts. I've often wished I could slow it down when finishing. You just have to have a light and accurate touch.

--nathan
 
Do a search for Grizzly knife grinder through google and you will find a lot of tips and mods for it.
silver pilate summed it up well. even with all the negatives I'll keep a Grizzly in my shop as a rough grinder.
 
The grizzly is a good cheap machine, with all of the negatives summed up above, beats heck out of my other grinder (2x48 Kalamazoo)
If you have the money get a Bader, if you don't quite have the money for a Bader get a KMG If you don't have the money for a KMG get a grizzly and put the money you saved on not buying a coote into belts while you save up for a good machine. I don't have any money rigt now so my next grinder is going to be a homebuilt Bader rip-off until I can afford genuine Bader

-Page
 
I have owned a Coote for several years and find it a more than acceptable grinder. With step pullys or verable speed motor, a good platen, and good belts you can make anything the other grinders can. One exception is the small wheels. I will probally buy a KMG for that feature one day.
Just what I think,
Lynn
 
for me it was a waste of money.
I never made one blade on it but that was just me.
now its in my brothers shop and used to notch tubing after I modifide the platen with difernt size tubes set long ways.
the guys that can produce blades on it are a lot beter then ill ever be.
 
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