most versatile grinder?

As an aside, I visited a local knife maker's shop a couple of years ago. He had 3 B3's (one fixed speed, one variable, and one set up horizontally), and a monster 2"x120"-148" or so set up with a buzz box, variable speed frequency drive, and (I think) a 5hp motor. That thing was actually scarey when he turned it on. He also had a nice forge, 25lb trip hammer, 150lb triphammer, and a roll mill. Talk about an outfitted shop.... You can (will) spend a bunch of money over a lifetime on tools in this hobby/business, and what better way to spend it......
 
I'm far from experienced, I'm yet to turn out my own blade, but I've just bought one of these: www.radiusmaster.com.au

Seems versatile to me. Guess I'll know for sure as soon as the new workshop is finished.
 
apsilon said:
I'm far from experienced, I'm yet to turn out my own blade, but I've just bought one of these: www.radiusmaster.com.au

Seems versatile to me. Guess I'll know for sure as soon as the new workshop is finished.
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what kind of pricing do they have on this machine???????????
 
Price is just under AUD$2000 (~US$1500) fully optioned. May be different outside Australia.
 
apsilon said:
I'm far from experienced, I'm yet to turn out my own blade, but I've just bought one of these: www.radiusmaster.com.au

Seems versatile to me. Guess I'll know for sure as soon as the new workshop is finished.
Click to expand...

At first glace it looks pretty innovative, but if you look at the picture of the regular contact wheels, you'll notice that they are smaller than the diameter of the motor.
That means you can't really use them for hollow grinding, or profiling unless you buy much bigger wheels.:eek:

What it amounts to is a glorified Grizzly grinder with a worse setup for contact wheel grinding.

And, you're still faced with the same problem of upgrading the motor in future, as the motor is not remote mounted but part of the complete assembly. Just a thought.:eek:
 
One thing to remember is that if you start off with a KMG, it may not pay for itself for some time until you can produce blades that will sell. Many makers upgrade from cheaper grinders using the profits of knives they have made on those lower end grinders, and make the KMG purchase easier on the wallet by being able to perceive how quickly it pays for itself through comparison. You could buy a KMG today, use it for a year, and sell it for almost exactly what you paid for it, and that in itself can justify the purchase if you can afford the upfront cost.

I got my KMG used, and it was a steal! I havent seen practically ANY used KMGs....and that should tell you something! No one gets rid of them. Theres no where to go from there....
 
Mike Hull said:
At first glace it looks pretty innovative, but if you look at the picture of the regular contact wheels, you'll notice that they are smaller than the diameter of the motor.
That means you can't really use them for hollow grinding, or profiling unless you buy much bigger wheels.:eek:
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While it may look that way in the photo I can assure you it's not and that you can hollow grind on it. It is however an 8" wheel with no option to upgrade to the popular 10" size.

As for upgrading the motor yes it would be difficult if possible at all but 1.5hp should be enough for most things should it not?
 
I have 1/2 hp motors on my homemade grinders,usually grind(hollow-grind)a small hunter in 15 mins.if flat grinding,I'm sure it would pull it down.the only thing I have going for me is,I can play guitar better than Fitzo.
 
Tom Buchanan said:
.....the only thing I have going for me is,I can play guitar better than Fitzo.
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You ain't saying a whole helluva lot with that statement, Tom! I pretty much suck! :D

What type of music do you play? What kind of instrument(s)? I'm sincerely interested in knowing, if you will. :)
 
apsilon said:
While it may look that way in the photo I can assure you it's not and that you can hollow grind on it. It is however an 8" wheel with no option to upgrade to the popular 10" size.

As for upgrading the motor yes it would be difficult if possible at all but 1.5hp should be enough for most things should it not?
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Oh, certainly. The 1.5hp motor is fine. What I was referring to is if you ever wanted to go variable speed. You can't just change the motor out on that grinder.
 
I'm not an electrician but I would've thought the motor is fairly irrelevant if you want to convert to variable speed (afterall the motor is just a coil and bushes). The important bit would be the driving circuits and they're all external to the motor on this unit. They're housed in a plastic box at the back of the motor. I could be way off target however.
 
hey guys I found a new coote in another forum with a 6 inch contact wheel. I think its unused, or not very used, and the guy wants 325$ for it.. What do you all think? would this be a good buy? If I understand right there is not much you can change with this model, as far as bigger wheel, and all.......oh yea its a 2 x 42, or 48''...cant remember.. I know its not a 2 x 72 tho...
 
jonvevans, I strongly recommend you stick with a 2x72" belt. You will find more belts in more grits than in 2x48, and the belts last longer and heat up slower. A 6" wheel would be fine for small blades and handle work, but I'd personally want 8" or 10" if I was only going to have one wheel and wanted to do hollow grinding.

Just my $.02.

BTW, the price you quoted must be with motor? The 2x48x6" model is listed at $310 new on the Coote website.
 
fitzo said:
jonvevans, I strongly recommend you stick with a 2x72" belt. You will find more belts in more grits than in 2x48, and the belts last longer and heat up slower. A 6" wheel would be fine for small blades and handle work, but I'd personally want 8" or 10" if I was only going to have one wheel and wanted to do hollow grinding.

Just my $.02.

BTW, the price you quoted must be with motor? The 2x48x6" model is listed at $310 new on the Coote website.
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the pics only show grinder, and does not say anything about motor.. could you email me the link your talking about fitzo? I would appretiate it very much. As far as the 72'' I agree, but thought if this was a good enough deal, it would be a good starter...as always thanks for the input...
 
fitzo said:
www.cootebeltgrinder.com

I had posted it early in this thread for you, thinking it may be a good fit.... :)
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I looked at the link you previously mentioned fitzo, but I thought you might have been talking about another link that included the motor. I went back and looked at the link again, and item 1 in the description says that motor is not included. It was 310$ for grinder only..... I belive this was on the pricing page of the link...

I guess I need to bite the bullet, and start looking into the kmg grinder, and just be done with it...If it dont work out It sound like there are a few people in here that might take it off of my hands....

thanks fitzo...
 
I wonder if the $325 one included a pulley or something. I just thought it strange that someone would ask more for a grinder than a new one costs. Hence the question whether it included a motor.

Good luck with your decision making. I think you've gotten a good range of opinions to aid the process. One thing to bear in mind is that a KMG allows for greater expansion through the purchase of additional attachments. However, a barebones 8"-wheeled KMG package without a platen won't even do what the 8"-wheeled Coote will, since the Coote comes with a platen built in. I probably have $2500+ invested in my pretty much fullblown KMG; I have never added it up.

Another way to look at this is the possibility that it may be a real good thing that the only accessory available for a Coote is a small wheel attachment. :D
 
I know what you mean fitzo, I've done the same thing with other stuff too. The last truck I bought was a Dodge diesel, bought it because it was capable of being modifyed for more power, milage, and so on. By now I'm sure I have over 3000.00 in add's, and mods. Not to mention the stuff I still need ( want ) to put on would be another 3000.00 if I'm lucky..
 
Well, heck then, joncevans, you already got the "sickness".

Get the KMG!!! :D :foot: "TOOL TIME"!
 
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