Looking to get a 10" contact wheel

[T.Saslow]

I've been trying to get my hands on a 10" contact wheel for my grinder for a long time now and I have two (seemingly) good options at the moment. Im at the USAKnifemaker Hammer In and I can get a 10% discount on machinery, so I was thinking about getting one of there wheels. However, I did stumble across a website that sells what appear to be modified Grizzly 10" contact wheels (they now have bearings). I'll leave a link. This wheel is only $170, which seems like a steal. Does anyone have experience using the wheels sold here? Is there a big enough difference in quality and function to justify the extra $130 for the one from USAKnifemaker?
Thanks for your time,
Tanner.

http://www.knifegrinderparts.com/collections/wheels

 

[StuNY]

The best deal of course is to buy the wheel from grizzly for $80 and modify for bearings. That is what I did, but if you don't have a lathe then your link is probably next best. As far as the wheel itself assuming they use quality bearings and machining it works great! I run it on my 2hp grinder with KBAC 27 at double speed setting. It is very good for really hogging out metal/profiling running at full speed with 36 or 60 grit Blaze belts. I use it for all my profiling now and don't do as much initial cutting with the bandsaw since is so much faster, and much better than the flat platten for this due to the low friction. Wheel runs very true and well balanced and rubber holding up very well. Durometer is just right as well.

 

[T.Saslow]

Alrighty, sounds like I'll drop the $170 on the grizzly one. Thanks for your imput!
Tanner.

 

[JBC69]

I have a set of his small wheels and pyroceram platen... all of it is quality stuff. I'd buy the wheel without any hesitation.

 

[T.Saslow]

Already ordered 😀 I think one of Bruce Bumps file guides is next on the list, but I may pick up a small wheel holder and some wheels after that. If only money grew on trees...