Need A Grinder

D

DustinHall

Joined
Dec 31, 2008
Messages
687
I'll be looking to buy a new grinder soon and I need your help on what to choose. I could save for a couple months and get a nice one but, that would mean that I couldn't make any knives until then as I have no grinder right now. :eek: So would you suggest I buy a cheap grinder (under $200) to get me by until I'm in the position to buy a serious grinder or wait it out and battle these knife making withdrawls until I can afford something better? I'm leaning more towards getting something now. Second question is should I try to build my own grinder or just buy one? Any recommendations are welcome and appreciated but, again, I do not have much money to spend atm. Thanks.
 
I would not waste my money on anything less than a Coote, the big problem is speed. If you choose to build one or purchase someing less, get some type of speed control. You will spend alot of time and $ in frustration dealing with high speeds.

There is alot to be said for working out style and function issues with files and sand paper.]

good Luck
 
I'll second that!!

Go big or GO HOME!!! ...:D

But seriously,you can grind on small cheap grinders,but the quality of your work will reflect this (imho). instead of buying cheap,buy files and sandpaper and go to town.while saving for a kmg,coote ect!!
 
I'm going to disagree. I made my first 15 knives with files and sandpaper, then got the 2x42 craftsman. It's not great, but if works well enough if you have a good grasp of the process and are willing to live with its limitations. Get what you can afford, learn to do the best you can with it, and make enough knives to save up the money for the big one. You can always use the small one for handles when the big one arrives.
 
Files and sandpaper are a good investment - I would not want to struggle on a small sander again after learning how to use a 2x72.
 
You can do other things in your shop that will keep you busy till you can get the 2x72 you want.

Do some sketches, make some mockups, build a workbench for your incoming equipment, organize your shop layout, etc. I got my KMG a few years ago and it took a week or two for me to even clear out a place to put it.

Try making a couple of knives with files and paper just to improve your hand skills, it will not be wasted effort and it's not quite as tedious as you'd think. I guarantee, the look of your hand finish will greatly improve and you may even figure out some shortcuts. The key is to just be productive.

That's my $.02 keep the change!!
 
That hurricane looks fantastic. Let us know how it works out ofr you after you've been able to use a few times.
 
Save your money.

My first grinder was a Pro-Cut, that I bought for 400.00 and put my own motor on it.
I still have the Pro-Cut, after 10 years; now it has a 1 1/2 hp variable speed to run it.
I run a KMG with a 3 hp as my main machine these days.

Good luck in your search, Fred
 
I know lots of makers that exclusively use a disc grinder for all their knife making. You could start with a 9" disc mounted on just about any motor shaft. It would get you started - and you would still use it later for things like flattening scales and maybe even blade fine sanding.

Look at Beamont Metal works for ideas. The mounting bracket isn't rocket science, and if you aren't comfortable, you could buy the mount there too. Start with an old furnace motor from the dump and eventually upgrade to a variable.

Sooner or later, you will want a 2 x 72 - but you'll still use the disc.

Rob!
 
I use the 2x42 craftsman. I guess my work shows it. I use it to grind out the shape and go up to 120 or 220 then its all hand sanding from there. I can't wait for the day when I can afford a kmg or make a No weld. It is hard to work with, but not impossible. I only paid $130 bucks for it to hold me over until I can get something better and slower.
 
Thanks for all the suggestions and ideas. It would take me forever to save for a KMG but, I might be able to afford one of those hurricanes.
Pancho - I think you're knives look nice, I might have to look into that Craftsman 2x42 as I need something to get me by for now and it'll probably be a hell of a lot better than the 3x21 handheld belt sander I've been using anyway. Still curious about building one though. If you got pics of your home built grinders I'd like to see 'em.
 
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