Need advice on grinder quickly

t1mpani

t1mpani

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Jun 6, 2002
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Okay,
Suffering pre-$3,000 jitters here. Beaumont/KMG didn't show up for Blade. I actually found out that would be the case a few days before coming, and so told myself that I'd just hold off on grinder-ing. Trouble is, I stopped by the Burr King guys on a whim and got to play with the variable speed 960 and got all hot and bothered by it.

Now please understand up front, this is my first foray into serious grinders, so I don't really KNOW what I want. I understand that it is much quicker/easier to swap setups on a KMG. Others bring up that Burr King tracks so smoothly.

I guess the issue is, between a bit of a Blade discount and not having to ship the darn thing, the Burr King is about $600 less than what it'd cost me just ordering from them at any other time. Also, I can have it now.

Mr. Frink's listed phone number is only for during the week, so I have no idea whether his waiting times are two months or two years.

Anyway, I need to be headed back home tomorrow fairly early, and so would need to have my mind made up pretty quick. I don't want to impulse buy and regret it, but would also hate to pass and then find out that it'll be ages before I'd ever see a KMG.

I'm extremely open to opinions right now! :o
 
They are probably both great machines!and whichever you choose you'll end up saying it was the right decision at the time and your probably right(also take a deep breath,the machine your talking about are both great).I have a bader bm3 and I love it ,it's great although recently I've seen machines that have features that I would have loved to have-just think about the poor guys that are still making knives using files only, kind of puts it in perspective.
 
BITEME said:
They are probably both great machines!and whichever you choose you'll end up saying it was the right decision at the time and your probably right(also take a deep breath,the machine your talking about are both great).I have a bader bm3 and I love it ,it's great although recently I've seen machines that have features that I would have loved to have-just think about the poor guys that are still making knives using files only, kind of puts it in perspective.
Click to expand...

But I don't WANT perspective, I want an adult to make a decision for me! :D. But yes, you're right.

lonepine said:
Listen to your inner voice. ;-)

- Paul Meske
Click to expand...

My inner voice was the one that started freaking out a little while ago. ;)


Anyone out there recently order a KMG? Any ideas on the current wait time?
 
KMG's I think ship right away. I think it was about $150 to ship to Colorado. Burr King sounds cool also and maybe such a good deal.
 
The variable Burr Kings I've used were NICE smooth machines. Industrial quality, good tracking, little to no vibration.

The one thing I didn't like was how the front wheel drive design made changing attachments more involved.

I don't know what else to say, the KMG is of course a great machine as well. I really like the rear-wheel drive, tooling arm design. My favorite is direct drive grinders, though. Solidity and simplicity.

Ken Onion loves his Burr Kings, told me he'd buy them over again. I definitely try to listen when he talks.

Good luck.
 
$150 was BK's quoted shipping as well, as long as it's to an industrial address. Residential is apparently about $100 more from them. Of course, it's a much heavier setup if you get the pedestal.

Yeah Salem, the attachment setup is the only thing causing me pause. Well, that and the fact that I've just discovered that by the time I eventually got the small arm attachment, I'm into it for the same money as a TW-90. :D

Time to head back in, play with the Burr King one more time, and make decisions.

Thanks to everyone very much for the replies!

Warren
 
I would try to stick with your original intent, you had already put thought into it and made your decision, there had to be reasons you chose the KMG which probably haven't changed just because you saw the Burr King. I have never used either but from my perspective and experience using 2 and 3 wheel machines, the 3-wheel is just more versatile and easier to change setups. As much as I switch from platen to small wheel (I don't use a big diameter contact wheel very much), that would be the kicker for me.
 
TW-90!!!! Mine was delivered friday. I sold my fully loaded KMG to help fund it. The KMG is a very heavy duty grinder that will last a lifetime of great grinding. However, this TW-90 is truely ANOTHER WORLD!!!! Simply AMAZING!!!
 
I'm back home, with no grinder in my truck. Having passed through the shadow of temptation, I have emerged with steeled resolve!
:D
 
I ordered a kmg 3 weeks ago and recieved it within a week fyi. Its also my first ADULT grinder lol.
 
I have a kmg and Love it. However I did get to work on a Hardcore, which is a knock off of a burr king and it was much smoother and quieter than my setup. I would really like to own one as a second gridner but would not trade the kmg for one due to the versatility and ability to change tooling arms in seconds.
 
I am putting my money on the TW-90. I have spent a lot of time talking to more experianced users in my research (professional grindor for Chris Revees, he wants a TW-90). I met Travis at a show and have spent some time to get to know him (attended his hammer in). His TW-90 is an incredible machine, tracks like a laser, plenty of power for the largest stock, easily duplicatible adjustments to set up. What I find the most value in the TW-90 is Travis as a designer, he is a knifemaker/ tool designer that is forward thinking and will continue to offer attachments designed for the knifemaker, a great example is the new surface grinder attachment.
 
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I love the surface grinder attachment for the TW-90, but I know both it and the TW-90 are well out of my price range:(.
 
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