kalamazoo grinder

ScottRoush

ScottRoush

Joined
Jan 10, 2010
Messages
1,818
I apologize if this topic has been overdone, but, being new here.. I'm not seeing a search function? Am I blind???

Anyway... I would like folks opinions on this grinder on way or the other.

Thank you!
 
Which model Kalamazoo? I would have bought the 2x48 that comes with a motor, but the motor seems pretty underpowered. I ended up buying a 2x48 Multi-tool instead with a 1hp Jet grinder. It works really well.
 
I've got a K-zoo 2FS (2x48 w/o motor) connected with step pulleys to a 1.5HP motor. I like it fine, but it does have a few flaws I have come to acknowledge.

  • First, the contact wheel is bit of a letdown. It's only 5 inches in diameter, tucked halfway over the "foot" of the grinder's base, and my wheel was heavily crowned.
  • Second, the platen is overly wide even with a borosilicate liner, making it hard to get into tight places while profiling behind the blade. I'm working on a KMG-style platen assembly, but it'd be nice for it to be better out of the box.
  • Third, the work rest is kind of small. It's sturdy for its size, but I still built a larger, more robust rest so I could experiment with grinding jigs.
  • Fourth, nobody else uses Kalamazoo!. Any gadgets or improvements have to be made by the user. Fortunately, the parts all seem pretty common. The "tool arm", for instance, is 1" keyed shaft.

Another downside organic to 2x48 grinders is the belt size. A 2x72 would offer better selection of better abrasives.

For all those negatives, let me be clear: I don't regret buying my little grinder. It runs smoothly, tracks well, and hogs steel like any similarly-powered machine. However, if I had to do it over again, I'd save up a little longer and look into a Coote or NWG.

Usually the long-timers say this, but be sure to fill out your profile!
 
I have a 2x48 Kalamazoo with motor. It came with a Baldor motor which is the good part of the grinder. The wheel sucks, the top wheel sucks, the tracking is good, the platen is a flimsy piece of brake-bent 12 gauge sheet steel, I made my own platen for mine. When I set up a second shop I got a 2x72 Grizzly for about the same price as the Kalamazoo. It tracks like crap, but the wheel is better, the platen is better, and the belt speed is half as fast. I am eventually going to take the Baldor motor on my Kalamazoo off and use it to power a KMG clone, and scrap the rest of teh piece of s#@t. Draw your own conclusions. I have been using that kalamazoo piece of S#@t for 22 years and it's still running. It owes me nothing

-Page
 
the Baldor motor is great, too bad the rest of the grinder is s#%t. It is unbelievable that anyone would buy the versin without the Baldor motor

-Page
 
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