KMG1 Grinder Questions?

I

idahohiker

Joined
Apr 20, 2002
Messages
56
Hello:

Am still researching knifemaking, but am getting closer to taking the plunge. Was wondering if anyone knows a bit about the KMG1 grinder from Beaumont Metal Works? From what I've read and heard, it is one of the better grinders out. Does anyone have any suggestions or opinions on this? Any help will be greatly appreciated as usual. Thanks for your guys' help, you've all been great.

Bob
 
Bob, I have a video by Peter Atwood that shows it pretty well. If you come over this weekend I will send you home with it. Ive heard nothing but good about it. Yo can see a burr-king and my homemade grinder too. Bruce
 
Howdy There...!
Have a buddy up in NC that has one of the first grinders that Rob sold, it is a tank. I have ground blades on several difrerent models and I would Rob's up against any of them. It is the most solid and vibration machine I have ever seen. I would highly recommmend it to anyone. Also, he is a super nice fellow, send him an email.
Good luck on your choice, but strongly advise Rob's.

Later "Possum" :cool:
 
Rob's KMG1 is hard to beat. Do a search here on it and you will dozens of positive testimonials. Also, Ed Caffrey recently wrote up a mini-review of sorts here
 
My wife bought me one for Christmas this year,I set it up on a table I made,(I set down to grind)it is rock steady,runs smooth and the tool
change over is super fast on it.There are alot off attachments you can add onto it.
I do not think you will go wring with it,One thing about Rob is if you have a question or need some help on anything to do with his grinder he is very quick to respond,your money will be well spent on one.;)
 
Hello Bob,

Thank you for the interest!

I'd be glad to answer any technical questions regarding: specs, performance, installation...etc.


I normally keep them on hand, ready to ship. However due to an excesive increase in sales this spring and summer....I'm running about 3-4 weeks behind.

Feel free to drop me a line if I can help.

Sincerely,
Rob
 
Had I known then what I know now I'd have bought the KMG1 rather than the Bader BIII. Live and learn. If there's a drawback to Rob's machine it is that you will have to find your own variable speed motor and controller. This is doable and there's plenty of help here.

That's right, do yourself a favor and go variable speed up front; otherwise you will later and then have bought two motors and spent all that time grinding without the super control variable speed gives you. I don't know how much experience you have, but learning to grind on a variable speed is so far superior that there's just no other reasonable option.

And the more HP the better; you probably can't have too much power but you sure can have too little. 1.5 HP is the minimum you should accept. Just my 2c. :)

Dave
 
I second everything Dave said.I have a GE 1 1/4 VS and it has power to spair,I got it at surlpus Center with the VS controller for around 325 for the whole set up,You may want to give them a look if your are going wth a VS motor.
 
I recently got a rather well equipped KMG-1 and hooked it up to a 2HP variable speed Leeson DC motor and Minarik controller. I have used a Bader 2 I purchased new in 1983 for many years. The difference is night and day. The smoothness and tracking on the KMG-1 leave that old Bader in the dust, despite modifications to improve its performance. Variable speed is a huge improvement,too. I can't speak for the satisfaction level of the other major grinders, but I can certainly testify to my satisfaction with Rob's machine. Plus, dealing with Rob is a joy.

One of the things I like the most is that the belt doesn't move side to side as you drag a blade across to grind. Can't say that for my old grinder...LOL. The KMG-1 is built like a tank, so vibration is minimal. Tool arm change is rapid. Tracking and tension adjustment are a breeze. Accessories are equal to any of the other grinders. The new rotary platen (yippeee, mine's on the way) is an innovation that will become very popular. Rob is very receptive to ideas for improvements and new tooling for the knifemaker.

Get the impression I'm very happy with my KMG-1??? Hehehe.

Good luck, enjoy the craft, it's addictive.
 
I called surlpus center a few weeks ago
an I was told that they had no more of the
vs motors. But you mite give them a try
anyway, may have gotin some in by now.
 
Hello all:

Thanks to everyone who helped me to answer some of my questions. I took your advice and e-mailed Rob at Beaumont Metal Works. I'm looking forward to his reply. Everyone here has been more than helpful. I try to read the posts every chance I get, and am learning new stuff everyday. I sure am looking forward to trying to make my first knife and will keep you posted as to my progress. Thanks again to all and am looking forward to meeting some of you sometime in the near future.

Bob
 
I would also like to put in a good word for Rob Frink and his product. I received my grinder about a week ago, but I pestered Rob for a good month before that with questions by both email and phone. He was always a pleasure to deal with and endured my lack of mechnanical knowledge very diplomatically.

I also followed others advice and got a variable speed motor. Check out TruGrit in Ontario, CA. They sell a 1.5 HP variable speed for $525. The plus is that the motor, VS control, and heat sink are all a single unit. This is the motor used to power the (spendy and smooth) Hardcore Grinder. Some will call the lack of a fixed motor a drawback but Rob told me it was a deliberate choice to allow makers the option to put exactly the motor they wanted on the grinder. Looking, for example, at Ed Caffrey's decision to put a monster 3 HP unit on his, or my own choice to go with the motor from the Hardcore, I think Rob made a good choice. By the way, he also stocks some motors that he can send you if you don't want to deal with buying one seperately.

Good luck,

John
 
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