New Wilmont 2" contact wheels

javand

javand

Joined
Oct 17, 2010
Messages
2,424
Just got a couple of these in from the Wilmont crew. They're very nice. Don't think Chris has them up on the site yet, so I thought I'd mention it here in case anybody wants to get one before he sells out.

Way nicer than the economy poly wheels at usa knifemaker, bigger bearings and spacers. I'm not sure if they're poly or rubber, maybe Chris will comment. They feel harder than the economy wheels.

Don't want to quote price in case I get it wrong, but afaik they're highly competative with the economy wheels.

I'm putting one on both of my flat platens, can't stand having two idlers.

Here's a pic:



20120820_174327.jpg
 
Just to clear up any confusion, I'm not being paid or given these wheels to advertise them.

I paid for these wheels, I happened to talk to Chris right after he got them, and asked if he was selling them individually, he quoted me a price I bought two, but I have no idea if that's the final price or not, so I didn't want to quote it.

I'm not trying to disparage the economy wheels, I've got two and they've worked fine for a couple of years, but I did have to do some work to keep them from running so hot that the bearings didn't leak lubricant and end up burning out. This is a problem with the lack of a spacer, and one acknowledged by Tracy as a compromise to keep cost down.

Wilmont is notorious for selling out stuff because they're a small shop and do limited runs, I thought some people might want to know about these before that happened, for all I know maybe Chris doesn't have any more.

I apologize if it seems like I'm overhyping wilmont products, but I'm excited about them, especially when I feel this area of tools has been stagnating. I am friends with Chris, but I'm paying for the tools I use, and if they sucked, I'd say so or keep my mouth shut. I hype what I think deserves to be hyped, and I'll admit I'm one of the biggest fans of the stuff Wilmont is producing. I don't think they're getting the credit their due. Just my opinion.

So, if this thread was out of line, apologies.
 
Javan,

Do the wheels have a spacer between the inner races on the bearings? That was my issue with "budget" wheels.
 
Yes Brian, they do. That's really the only issue with the economy wheels.

Mine held up fine, but only after I stopped using lateral compression to hold them straight. Not an issue if your grinder platen has bolts that screw into the platen assembly or welded shafts, but it was an issue for me with the gib initially, since the holes were already bored out 1/2", after I welded in a shaft for the wheels to ride on, instead of tensioning a bolt, they stopped running so hot and leaking.

That being said, I never had a single issue with my 8" economy wheel, and have been very happy with it.

Tracy has the better quality wheels for a fair price, in retrospect I wish I had bought them originally, but afaik the Wilmont wheels are basically the same price as the economy wheels, which is the only reason I mention them. If they were the same price as the more expensive wheels, it wouldn't be relevant.
 
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