Looking for belt grinder

JN7556 · Aug 22, 2015

So I'm starting to get into the knife making business, and I wanted to see if anyone could suggest a good but relatively inexpensive belt grinder that I could use to practice with on the weekends when I'm not at school/work. I don't need anything super fancy, and something portable would be even better. Looking forward to seeing what you experts come up with.

NC Biker · Aug 22, 2015

Your best bet would be the Craftsman 2x42.

JoshRG · Aug 23, 2015

The craftsman 2x42 is definitely a solid pick. However for my style of work i actually preferred my delta 1x42. The craftsman is nice and it does allow for easier freehand grinding but the work rest is flimsy as is the platen and the darn thing runs at the speed of light. It is VERY easy to over heat not only blades but handle material. YMMV but if I had to pick just one, a slower running 1x42 (aside from a 2x72) would be my choice. Just my 0.02
Blessings,
Joshua

Lu1967 · Aug 23, 2015

You stated "knife making business" I would go with a vari-speed 2x72 and expand it with various attachments as you need them.Good luck,Lu

12345678910 · Aug 23, 2015

Drew Riley · Aug 23, 2015

First off, fill out your profile info. If we know what continent you live on, we can make some better suggestions for you.

Now, generally speaking, a 2x72 is going to be the most versatile configuration for grinding knives. Then again, you said "relatively inexpensive", so it would help to know what's relative.

If you're good at scrounging a few parts here and there, and already have a few basic tools to work with, you could probably build a serviceable grinder for $500, or maybe a little less.

JN7556 · Aug 23, 2015

knife to a gunfight said:
First off, fill out your profile info. If we know what continent you live on, we can make some better suggestions for you.

Now, generally speaking, a 2x72 is going to be the most versatile configuration for grinding knives. Then again, you said "relatively inexpensive", so it would help to know what's relative.

If you're good at scrounging a few parts here and there, and already have a few basic tools to work with, you could probably build a serviceable grinder for $500, or maybe a little less.

Sorry about that, I always forget about my profile info.

As for something "relatively inexpensive", since I've never bought one of these machines before I really don't know what a good price would be, but I can afford something in the $200-$300 range. If I save up some extra for a bit i can probably stretch that up the $400.

jaymeister99 · Aug 23, 2015

I started out with a Craftsman 2x42. A few years back I put up a bunch of posts of my modded Craftsman 2x42:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/866965-Craftsman-2x42-Grinder-Mods?highlight=craftsman

You can get one for under $200. With another $50 you can make it into something somewhat usable. But it has some major drawbacks compared to more expensive grinders, particularly its underpowered and it runs insanely fast.

But as you will hear many times here, get the best you can afford. I recently got a KMG, I wish I would have gotten one years ago. No sense in fighting a cheap grinder if you can afford a better one. If you don't stick with the knife making you can sell a good grinder for almost what you paid for it.

A Grizzly 2x72 would IMO be the next step up from the Craftsman, I think they run around $500.

drebs · Aug 27, 2015

So not to high jack the thread but I have many many knives and would like to learn to thin behind the edge. For steels like s30v, 440c, s110v, 1095, m4, zdp-189, and more is there a belt grinder you would reccomend? I'm looking to spend $250 tops prob.

I was looking into water cooled ones but $550 is a little to rich for me I'll just keep some ice water next to me.

Thanks!

JN7556 · Aug 27, 2015

drebs said:
So not to high jack the thread but I have many many knives and would like to learn to thin behind the edge. For steels like s30v, 440c, s110v, 1095, m4, zdp-189, and more is there a belt grinder you would reccomend? I'm looking to spend $250 tops prob.

I was looking into water cooled ones but $550 is a little to rich for me I'll just keep some ice water next to me.

Thanks!

Only thing I can think of for less than $250 is a craftsman 2x42.

Tx Bass Tech · Aug 27, 2015

I just posted in another thread about the Kalamazoo 1x42 I have. It's not perfect but I did add a new platen I got from a guy on another forum. I googled Kalamazoo 1x42 mods. I use it for handles and sharpening. I'm just doing kit knives and rehandleing of old knives. I guess you could grind a blade on it, but it is less than ideal for that. For the few blades I've done, I do most of the work with files first then finish on the 1x42.