Kalamazoo or Coote

Evan Martin

Evan Martin

Joined
Aug 6, 2007
Messages
521
I have seen both at least I have looked at them on the internet which one would you choose both need a motor both seem to be basically like the other the coote does have a few options but I don't think i need them both priced close. Right now I need a up grade but cannot afford a KMG or the like and don't have time to build a clone so these are the two I am looking at any help would be greatly aprecciated
 
I have a kalamazoo, 20 years ago it was all I could afford. The motor is good (I got the 2x48 with the Baldor motor)
It still runs, the platen was crap, I had to weld one up, the drive wheel is NOT a contact wheel, just a solid hunk o rubber
It eats a lot of metal (fast belt speed)when I had to get a cheap grinder for my shop in Ithaca I saved a few bucks and got a grizzly 2x72 which once you have it assembled and throw away the work rest (you will understand) and peel the graphite tape off the platen is a much superior machine, of courseif I could afford it I would get a bader or KMG ( i may build a clone since I'm broke)

-Page
 
I just got a coote. I've never used a KMG, but I can say that the coote is a pretty smooth machine for the money. If you're good at building machines, maybe shoot for building the kmg clone.
 
I have a Coote with a 10 inch wheel and it does a good job. My brother in law has the Grizzly, and for the money between the Grizzly and the Coote I would definitely go with the Coote.
 
I've got a coote with the 10" wheel and it's great. Sure, it's no KMG, but it does it's job just fine with great tracking and great reliability.
 
I'd go with the Coote. Andy Sharpe is on here somewhere and I think he owns a kalamazoo, so hopefully he can come in and give you another review of it.
 
I like my coote. 8 inch contact wheel, knifemaker's rest, platen, lots of room for slack belt. I'ts running on a 1hp motor with pulleys the way I want them. I'll eventually track down the triple pulley setups and make it multispeed.

tracking is great, platen is surviving thus far, make sure you have a SOLID base to mount it on, it's a narrow narrow metal stand base that's included. (railroad tie plates work well as backing for the plywood table I have)
 
Unless you can scrounge all your metal and machine your own wheels you would better off moneywise getting the Coote vs. building a KMG clone. I bought the steel for mine from a local supplier and it was expensive a year ago. If you buy the wheels instead of making your own you're looking at a couple of hundred bucks, if you go with the platen design. A good contact wheel will cost from $250 for an 8" to over $300 for a 10". You also need access to a good sized drill press and a mill helps a lot too. It's a heck of a lot of fun to build your own but the money for parts builds up pretty quick. Start with a Coote and buy a KMG when you get filthy rich selling knives.
 
Hey Cap, I'm here. I have the Kalamazoo. It still works Ok. Like IG said the tracking sucks. Compared to my Bader, the contact wheel bounces like a bowl of jello in an earthquake. Believe I would go with the coote
 
I own three KMGs, and absolutely love them and would recommend them to anybody who asks, solid machine, extremely versatile, and Rob is a great guy.

I recently bought Dusty Moulton's Coote grinder and have to say it's a well made machine too, and wouldn't have any reservation recommending it to the folks looking at the lower end models of grinders...I'd have to say that if you're looking at the Grizzly or the Kalamazoo, the Coote would be the better choice. I've also known Norm Coote for a little while too and he's a great guy too. Both the KMG and the Coote are made in the USA and we really need to support manufacturers here in our own country as much as possible. Norm has also made a disc grinder attachment for his Coote grinder that is a pretty slick addition that you might want to add too.

:)

-Darren
 
I've ordered the Coote after much research. It's the best deal out there. Mine should be in late next week.
 
sharpeknives said:
Hey Cap, I'm here. I have the Kalamazoo. It still works Ok. Like IG said the tracking sucks. Compared to my Bader, the contact wheel bounces like a bowl of jello in an earthquake. Believe I would go with the coote
Click to expand...

Hi Andy, this is what I recalled from our conversation last year, but I didn't want to put words in your mouth. You're the only guy I know personally that has one, so I thought you'd be a good reference on the subject.
 
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