Looking for a beginner's belt grinder! (~150$)

Sure doesn't, but it is great to practice on due to cost, and local availability. DO NOT use picture frame glass for your platen. Can't handle the heat, will break, and will cause you much injury.
 
I have a Grizzly with 2x72 belts, and I am happy with it. That being said, It's been my experience that you get what you pay for with tools for the most part. So I would decide what you can afford and spend that much, maybe even a little more. I will upgrade some day, and the Grizzly will still get used. For now it works good. I just joined this forum today, and I don't yet know how to post pics or I would show some of the knives I've done on the Grizzly.
 
I've scraped a file and sandpaper to a knife for about 5 minutes and gave the hell up. Horribly tedious and frustrating. That was my driving force to get a real grinder and real tools. Get a nice grinder with a glass platen, and you'll probably not ever look at a file again.

Kind of like my advice to people starting to play the guitar. The reason people give up is because they got the Sears kiddie rig that wont stay in tune, and the action is a mile off the fretboard. Start out with a little Fender, and it's a whole new ballgame. Good tools provide instant gratification and results, which in turn grows encouragement and confidence.

I got great results right away starting with belt grinders, and the Craftsman is OK if you're careful, and plan on making some very simple knives. Get some good quality belts, and a pyroceramic glass platen. I got mine from Ellis refractory, but they are no longer around. Shop/look/ask around. Maybe a local fireplace manufacturer can cut you a 2in oblong piece of this material.

Go ahead and use a quality known steel. Ditch the welding/mild stuff. You just may grind an awesome blade out, and it would be a shame if it weren't real steel. It's not much more expensive anyway.
 
Josh Mason said:
I've scraped a file and sandpaper to a knife for about 5 minutes and gave the hell up. Horribly tedious and frustrating. That was my driving force to get a real grinder and real tools. Get a nice grinder with a glass platen, and you'll probably not ever look at a file again.

Kind of like my advice to people starting to play the guitar. The reason people give up is because they got the Sears kiddie rig that wont stay in tune, and the action is a mile off the fretboard. Start out with a little Fender, and it's a whole new ballgame. Good tools provide instant gratification and results, which in turn grows encouragement and confidence.

I got great results right away starting with belt grinders, and the Craftsman is OK if you're careful, and plan on making some very simple knives. Get some good quality belts, and a pyroceramic glass platen. I got mine from Ellis refractory, but they are no longer around. Shop/look/ask around. Maybe a local fireplace manufacturer can cut you a 2in oblong piece of this material.

Go ahead and use a quality known steel. Ditch the welding/mild stuff. You just may grind an awesome blade out, and it would be a shame if it weren't real steel. It's not much more expensive anyway.
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I believe that company was taken over. Hi Temp Tools or something for pyroceramic glass and lots of Forge making stuff.
 
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