looking for Badder 3

steelswing

steelswing

Joined
Jan 28, 2003
Messages
888
If any one has one to sell or knows where I can get a good deal I would appreciate it I'm itchin to grind;)
 
If you decide to get a brand new Bader, I suggest you call the Bader folks themselves. Why pay one of the distributors a cut? Bader will ship it right to your door.
 
I have a BIII. Good machine, but heck if you are looking for a good deal on a machine the most bang for your buck has just got to be the KMG from Rob Frink. I seriously doubt many folks here would disagree with that bold statement. For the price of a used Bader you can get the KMG and power it yourself and have a better machine to boot.
 
I just bought a BIII this past spring with a varible motor and when I compared apples to apples - as much as I could - my BIII was only about $100.00 more than the KMG. That being said the best deal I found was thru James Poplin at Pop's Knife Supply. Check out his web page and see what you think. When I contacted Bader they quoted me the list price.
 
Kinda like the PC vs. Mac debates.

However, if Rob Frink made a computer I'd buy his.

Steve
 
Originally posted by Sando
Kinda like the PC vs. Mac debates.

However, if Rob Frink made a computer I'd buy his.

Steve
Click to expand...

LOL you know it, bro!

Yeah I bought my Bader from Pop too. My biggest beef with Bader is the cheesy sheetmetal base. I thought it could have at LEAST been 1/4" plate.
 
Originally posted by Sando

However, if Rob Frink made a computer I'd buy his.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't buy a laptop from Rob, though - I mean, it would work fine, be utterly indestructible and fantastically well built - but it'd crush your legs :D

My KMG is now bolted to the bench I built for it. *Hopefully* the belts I've ordered will arrive soon...

Peter
 
Here is a link to Pop's Knife Supplies
http://www.popsknifesupplies.com/

You can reach Pop (James Poplin) in person in his shop after 7pm eastern. Often distributors can give discounts beyond what the manufacture will offer. It keeps people calling the distributors rather then the business itself.
 
>> I wouldn't buy a laptop from Rob, though

hahhahaa Don't you know it!

Steve
 
Originally posted by ESpy
And now - got belts :D

I expect to have a hollow-ground thumb by Monday...

Peter
Click to expand...


Grind! Peter Grind!

Damn the thumbs!

Grind like the wind!

.....

Oh yeah, don't forget to use some steel too.

Steve
 
"Grind like the wind." That gave me a hell of a chuckle. Thanks Steve. Now if this damn day would get over with so I can break some more W-2 . . .
 
Okay...the DaQo'tah is interested in this topic...


But first lets talk money: How much?

Lets say I dont get a deal, no cut in the asking money, I just pay what everyone else has seen in how much it is...


How much for the "Ready to grind" set up?
(No add-ons, no "Before you can grind you need to get a___") Just how much do I write the check for inorder to plug the grinder into the wall and start the first knife?


KMG $_______

BADDER 3 $______
 
That will depend on how you want them set up. For me - I am on the lazy side and I knew that when I was grinding instead of stoping to change the belts on the pully I would more than likely just keep going. I knew that I wanted the varible speed motor setup. I am also not very electrical. Therefore when I priced the 10 inch wheel setup with varible speed motor, contoller, wiring, belt, pully - it was not that much cheaper than the B-III. I bought my B-III ready to go out of the box for$1580. It came and I plugged it in to the 220 - no set up or wiring. I love the fact that I can just rotate the knob and adjust the speed to whatever I want.

That being said - I have used both machines and they are both good grinders. It depends on your abilities and personality. This just happened to meet my needs. If I was more confident in assembling things then the KMG may have gotten more attention. Having used both its hard to say one is better than the other - they both have some advantages and disavantages.
 
The KMG is my first "real" grinder. I've been pratting about with a little linisher/grinding wheel combo for a while, but whilst it is great fr some tasks, really wasn't up to the job of grinding bevels. Underpowered, lousy to non-existent tracking, belts wear out too fast etc. etc.

I've looked around for a suitable belt grinder in the UK for some time now, and there isn't anything available. Considered building my own, but came to the conclusion that time spent building a grinder was time I couldn't be making knives - and I tend to spend a too much of my time building tooling anyway (rolling mill sometime this year :)). I went for the 8" wheel package, spare tooling arm and small wheel setup (1/2, 1 & 1 1/2"). The only real downside was the shipping - 144# by air.

One of the most useful things was being able to source a motor over here; unfortunately, getting the pulleys took far too long. I built a new bench to support the grinder, finally had everything together Friday evening and spent about 8 hours on Saturday playing with it. Well, I had a bunch of forged blades I wanted to clean up...

The thing is fantastic - rock solid, no vibration to speak of and eats steel. Probably fingers too, I haven't managed that yet. The ability to do fast tool changes is great - I'll need to do it less as I adapt and plan my work around it. I think the thing I find most difficult to adjust to is the difference in material removal rates - I've been using files up to now.

Peter
 
I'm more on lines with mark I need to take it out plug it in and go. I am not too mechanical. Thanks everyone
Peace
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top