KMG grinder or no ?

So now after some opinions I'm leaning more torwards the esteem grinder. I'm a little confused about the options though and what I should ask for in my grinder build. I do a lot of full flat grinds but want the ability to do hollow grinds, and need to be able to use the slack as well. I see multiple options for tool rests in the information I got from Brett.

Here is the photo I was sent in the attachment . Not sure what to go with for tooling arms and what not

[ESTEEM 2 x 72 Grinder Price List

Complete frame with base plate, tracking wheel assembly, and bolts for assembly​ ​ $675

Complete frame assembly with base plate, tracking wheels, drive wheel, double ended tooling arm and contact wheel, everything but motor. ​ ​ $950

Complete grinder with 110 volt single phase 2 h.p. motor and poly contact wheel​ ​ $1,195

Complete Grinder with your choice of 8” contact wheel or platen 2 h.p. 3-phase motor with Teco VFD drive (Nema 1) VFD runs off 220V single phase ​ $1,450

Complete Grinde. 3-phase motor with your choice of 8” contact wheel or platen and 1.5 or 2 h.p . 3-phase motor with KBAC-27 VFD drive (Nema 4) VFD runs off 220V single phase for 2 h.p. motor 1.5 h.p. will run off 110v220v/ single phase. ​ $1,650

Additional options:

Knife grinding fixture ​$350

Platen assembly with tooling arm​$235

Platen assembly (Bader Style)​$145

Double ended tooling arm​ ​ $95

Single ended tooling arm ​ $85

Small wheel attachment (no wheels)​ ​ $95

Double ended small wheel attachment $125

Adjustable work rest assembly​ $85]


The base package I'm looking at is the complete grinder with VFD and all that jazz.
 
I have a variable speed Burr King with all the attachments and a KMG with the 3 step pulleys. I use the Burr King for the hollow grinding and use the KMG with the flat platen and slack grinding.
 
Direct drive is fine if you have no intentions to water cool your grinder. This is something I had never intended to do at first but the deeper down the knife making rabbit hole I go the more I understand the benefits of having the option. So down the road I may water cool it, still playing around with post HT grinding though! I would NOT water cool a direct drive.



Simply, not True.
Travis and others have been wet grinding with cool mist on the TW for years with no problems at all.
 
Augus7us said:
Direct drive is fine if you have no intentions to water cool your grinder.
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You've got me curious too
Why would you say that ?


totally enclosed motors should have no trouble ?

I suppose washdown motors are available, but very expensive.
 
Well I never said it was not possible. Perhaps I could have worded that better though, so apologies for that. However I am not at all surprised someone has done it, just that it doesn't necessarily mean its safe or will not eventually ruin your equipment.

I did make that statement out of safety concerns though, especially if you are running a 220v motor. To my knowledge nema rates them as drip proof or moisture resistant, but I would not regularly spray water near the shaft or motor for that matter. I've never seen a 2x72 water cooled that doesn't have some degree of residual spray going all over. My point was more that indirect drive can have the motor mounted away behind a plastic shield or under the table.

I have quite a few industrial tools in my shop that are watercooled and have been around many more. I don't recall seeing any industrial machining type tool that has the motor mounted next to the area being sprayed like that. Maybe something homemade but nothing in a machine shop. From mills to japanese water stones on everything I've seen the motor is always some distance away on a pulley or enclosed in some kind of housing or both!

In closing feel free to water cool you're direct drive grinder if you don't feel there are any safety concerns.

Happy Grinding!
 
One thing you may want to consider is the present U.S./Canadian dollar exchange rate. The Canadian dollar is $0.85 U.S. right now so buying a TDM grinder is something you might want to look at.
 
Lo/Rez said:
One thing you may want to consider is the present U.S./Canadian dollar exchange rate. The Canadian dollar is $0.85 U.S. right now so buying a TDM grinder is something you might want to look at.
Click to expand...

I checked it out and it told me they do not ship outside of Canada. Will they if you call them?
 
I ordered mine with the platen, an extra tool arm, 8" wheel and double small wheel attachment. The diameter of the hole on the tool arm for the platen and double small wheel attachment is larger than for the wheel. I will swap the platen and small wheel attachment on the one tool arm and leave the wheel mounted to the other one with the smaller hole.

The grinder comes with one tool rest. I would get the KBAC-27 as it's better sealed and Brett said that Teco quality has gone down hill a bit.

I wouldn't let the possibility of converting to wet grinding in the future keep you from purchasing a direct drive unit. Direct drive has some nice advantages, and shielding the motor if/when you ever decided to convert to wet grinding wouldn't be difficult. I personally wouldn't let it keep me from buying a direct drive unit.
 
I dont think you hear alot of burrking grinders , mine is the burrking knifemaker model, 2 hp , variable speed , changeing out wheel size is a snap , adjustabiliy is greal , like for different angles , very simple belt changes, i have had it about 5 years now ,,,,,, not a single problem,,,,, i got a real steal on mine but i think new now they are near 4000,,,, but i will be petty much a life time investment , i have had a kmg, sears harbor ft, and a homemade one,,,,,,,,,, i still have a couple if the older ones setup for special purposes ,, but the burrking could do it all if i felt like adjusting every time,,, I guess if you are serious buy the best to start out with ,,,,,, it will save you form haveing to do 4 or 5 upgrades over the years
 
I agree with dartonman about buying quality. When it comes to tools I think it's best to "buy once, cry once" and get a tool that will last and be a pleasure to work with. There are probably quite a few good choices, and most are no doubt heads and tales above some of the common less expensive alternatives. To me, one of the really nice things is how many American Made choices there are, including the Burrking.
 
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