New Cast Hardcore Grinder

S

Shay Oudanonh

Joined
Sep 19, 2000
Messages
15
Hello there everyone,

Well, it started two weeks ago........I was saving up my money to purchase a belt grinder and figured that I would buy the KMG-1 produced my Rob Frink from Beaumont Metal Works. Everything was fine until I found out that Tru-Grit have a 1HP fixed speed Hardcore grinder on sale so I figured hey, good deal! I might go with the Hardcore, since I alway wanted the Hardcore anyway so I called up John at Tru-Grit to find out all the details. Well that's when the trouble really start. John indicated that the machine on sale was a casted version of the grinder unlike the (Delux)original which is milled from billet of aluminum.

I said WHAT? Casted Vs. Milled (Delux) version? John indicated that the two machine should be the same and should performed the same way but he said that he didn't have any info. on it. I have been trying to find out more about it ever since and so far I am coming up blank.

My questions are; first, is the fit and finish the same for the two machines? How about the overall performance between the two? Would I be better off with the KMG-1?

Thank you for taking the time to read my post and any inputs would would be much appreciated.

Shay
 
Shay, I'm no grinder expert (I'm really new to this knife making stuff) but I had the pleasure I visiting the Tru-Grit shop during my vacation in California. I saw both models of the grinder. John (I think it was John) turned on the machines for me and gave me a quick demo on it. It was a pretty cool machine. The cast versions seem to track just as well as the nicer looking milled aircraft aluminum ones.
 
I bought my Burr-King from Tru-Grit several years ago (very nice machine, very nice people), and I believe it is made from castings, someone please correct me if I'm wrong. The Hardcore appears to be based on the Burr-King, and it's only negative is the involved process of changing set-ups. Castings wouldn't keep me from buying the Hardcore--aren't Bridgeport mills made of machined castings in part?. There is no way, however, that I wouldn't get variable speed no matter which brand I bought, which would be Rob Frink's KMG-1, given the rave reviews it's getting. Search back a ways and you'll find all this discussed at length.
 
I used to make bronze, brass, silver, gold and aluminum castings. Done correctly, castings are a less expensive alternative to a fully machined part.

Some people do not like the finish of rough castings, some sand castings are better than others in appearance. Lots of castings from Chin* seem to be rough. Those done in a metal, ceramic or investment mold can be very accurate, smooth and even duplicate a fingerprint in detail. Ruger firearms (and others) use steel castings made in ceramic molds for lots of their gun parts and they have a great reputation for durability and trouble free performance.

I would think the cast parts would work just as well and am sure whatever necessary mating surfaces are machined to fit.
 
I don't know the price on the cast hardcore,but I hear they are smooth and track great plus they already have a motor.I am not trying to run anyone down Robs grinder is nice but is 800 plus around a 100 for shipping that is 900 and you have not gotten a motor on it
the hardcore is ready to grind out of the box.
That is my 2 cents worth
 
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