KMG vs Upright style belt grinders?

G

Greebe

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Aug 2, 2009
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I finally found a motor for building a belt grinder and was pondering the KMG vs upright style belt grinders? I know the KMG gives you options for different tooling, but is it really all that needed vs just the upright style belt grinder with the flat platen and two wheels? Seems like it would be quicker and easier to build with less materials and space taken up.

What are your guys thoughts on the two styles of belt grinders?

Thanks
Greebe
 
It really all depends on the amount you are going to use it. If you make a lot of knives, then a KMG would be better suited to you. It is a heavy duty machine with a lot of options. I guess it all depends on what upright grinder you are comparing it to. It is probably the most heavy duty grinder on the market, and the ease of tooling changes is pretty cool also.
 
On the KMG or other three wheel style grinders, you can get closer to the platen or wheel, and even look down on the work if you want to. I also believe the tracking is better controlled when the wheels are close by on either side of where the grinding is done. Easily worth the time and effort to build a three wheel style over a two wheel style grinder.

Best of luck with the project, Craig
 
I think the 3 wheel style (KMG) is much more versatile that the 2 wheel style (upright). You would be limited to what ever size wheels come with the upright, where as with the 3 wheel style you can swap out the wheels sizes as the job calls for. I run a Grinder in a Box grinder from Polar bear Forge with the multi platen. With the set up I have I have a flat platen a 3" contact wheel, an 8" contact wheel, and a slack belt all with the simple rotation of the platen on the same tooling arm. Next will be to add a small wheel attachment on it own arm and possibly a single larger wheel on its own arm.
 
3 wheel, all the way. As Cdent says, one can look down at the work from above- a real blessing sometimes. An 8" contact wheel is great for blocking out handles, and a small wheel is great for handles too.

I started out with a single speed platen grinder. While good work can be done with them, I'd be hating life if I had to go back.

I'd recommend the G.I.B. kit, such a Unky has, or the EERF grinder (same thing, but in CAD file form for free so you can have it cut by some one with waterjet or CNC plasma.) Or, just look at designs and build your own from scratch. A 3-wheel grinder is a pretty easy basic machine. The only drawback is you'll have to find one more wheel to start with. A small price for the added potential.
 
cdent said:
On the KMG or other three wheel style grinders, you can get closer to the platen or wheel, and even look down on the work if you want to. I also believe the tracking is better controlled when the wheels are close by on either side of where the grinding is done. Easily worth the time and effort to build a three wheel style over a two wheel style grinder.

Best of luck with the project, Craig
Click to expand...

Yeah. Having three wheels lets you have a slight counter-tilt between two idlers when you get a belt that wants to walk on you.
 
I started out with a 2 wheel grinder that my brother had made. It was sturdy and well made, but would only use 42' and 60" belts. I could have lengthened the arm and used 72s. But, I had the bug bad and got a KMG and planned to use the 2 wheel as a back up. It didn't take long before I tore the 2 wheel completely apart and remade it into a KMG type machine. It is just so much better. Versatility, tracking, clearances.
 
If the platen does not adjust you are limiting your options. There are task that are done with the belt running vertical and task where the belt needs to run horizontal and there are task that are best approached with the belt running somewhere in between.
Making knives you need a grinder that gives you options if not you will limit your progress.

Fred
 
Awesome answers. I would not have thought about the better viewing angle part on a KMG. That makes a lot of sense though. When I first started thinking about making a belt grinder I was planning on making one like a KMG. Then I got to wondering it if was overkill, but I Think you guys have convinced me that a KMG would be best. I will be using it mostly on tomahawks that I make and eventually knives. Plus it would be nice for other uses in my machine shop.

Thanks
Greebe
 
BTW. I was thinking of making the grinder so that it could tilt onto its side for a horizontal set up as well. Do you think that this would be worth the extra work involved? Again I make and sell tomahawks and want to start making knives again once I get a grinder set up, so the horizontal application would be for those two items.

Thanks
Greebe
 
Yeah I was kind of thinking of making a cross between a KMG and this Wilmont TAG-100. http://wilmontgrinders.com/WilmontGrinder.aspx



wilmont21.jpg


wilmont18.jpg


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Is the side tilting feature worth the extra effort to build?

Thanks
Greebe
 
One thing I learned from a couple hundred years (it seemed) running web-fed printing presses is, the more wheels in contact with the web (or belt in this case) the better and more precise control you have over tracking, tension and even speed.
 
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