Northridge Tool Grinder 2x72 Review

Pittknife

Pittknife

Joined
Oct 1, 2013
Messages
901
Hey Guys,

I've gone through a couple grinders starting with a KMG and decided to give the Northridge a try. One of my biggest issue is the tracking and vibration with the KMG, I've tried everything to reduce it even converting it to direct drive.

I went to George's shop and brought some fixed blades to grind and was so blown away I immediately bought his full grinder package.

Here are the advantages:

- Comes with a flip base that is incredibly and fast to flip. It is so easy to flip and has a shock. I had to build my flip table to do that on my kmg to go horizontal.

- The extra tooling arm slot just isolates the vibration so well. I got the rat arm and its amazing, it can go at any angle and double locks so it doesn't slip or turn unless you want it. You can put a coin on its side and with grinder full speed the coin doesn't move.

- Tracking is just unreal, I free hand hollow so I notice the little gouges from vibration in higher grits, but this grinder has eliminated this.

- Accessories, man these guys have so many accessories.....

- Quality, hands down the best highest quality grinder I've ever used or seen.

- Customer service, George, Chuck and Bill were so accommodating and let me grind a bunch of things to test out a machine. They bent over backwards to get me spacers I needed for my wheel and always answered my questions. Not like some providers...

I sold my other grinder and in the process of selling my kmg to get another Northridge. I can't recommend this enough man, its like going from a camaro to a corvette z06.

Here are some pics:


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I grounded this recurve insert with it

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Good review and looks like a good grinder. Having a grinder to go horizontal is really handy for sure.

Ken H>
 
What is the purpose of that little center wheel? Stop belt flutter?
 
You're right, now that I look on a computer screen I see it is knurled. Didn't expect to see one of those on the belt side of the grinder.
 
In my opinion, that's where it SHOULD be. Release tension with left hand, pull platen or wheel forward against belt with right hand, reach over with right hand and tighten tool arm in place, release tensioning arm with left hand. One of these first modifications I did to my crummy KMG.
 
Yeah, I can see the utility. I was going to make a ratchet for mine like the TW-90 and just never got around to it. Probably never will, it doesn't bother me much.

I'd rather build more grinders so I change tool arms less :D
 
how is the workrest vs the Esteem? that's my biggest problem with the Esteem.
 
I bought one a couple of month ago. This is my first grinder. I already had the motor and vfd. I got the ratcheting belt tensioner on mine.
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Picked up a Northridge last month and I love it, although I dont have any prior experience other than a lil Craftsman 2x42 - and compared that that thing, well NIGHT AND DAY
 
Sorry late response I got slammed at work on a big project.

That is lock your looking at, you can lock it from both sides, whichever you prefer.

I think this is better than the tw-90 for a lot less. And it does have a rachet system I just didn't get it.

There is no comparison of the arm on this table vs the Esteem. The northridge has double locks, easy to change around and the most stable work table I've ever seen or use. I'm about to list my kmg and get another northridge.
 
I am going to sell my KMG and get one of these.
Does the wheel 10" contactwheel fit a Northridge?
 
Pittknife,

Is the drive wheel crowned on the north ridge? I'm looking to get a small bit of belt wobble out of my KMG Klone. I'm thinking a straight drive wheel may be the answer.
 
I went from a HF 1x30 to the Northridge standard package, wired it up 220V and grin ear to ear every time I walk into the shop and see it.
 
Hi Guys,

Yes 10" wheel will fit. I have a 12" and will be putting a 14" soon.

The drive wheel is not crowned and has zero wobble compared to my other grinders.
 
Are you still loving the grinder? I'm about to buy one, but thought I would get a last minute opinion. There are not many reviews out yet for the Northridge. Many on here love the TW-90 or Esteem, but the build details on the Northridge look amazing.
 
The Northridge grinder looks like a really fine piece of equipment. It cures the 3 main problems with the KMG grinders which are lack of a second tool arm slot, lack of a gas piston tensioner, and direct drive. My other criticism of the KMG is the that the tracking wheel is too small and needs to be four inches with bearings that have a spacer between like the Jackstraw aftermarket tracking wheel and the tracking wheel adjustment knob needs to be larger to make quick and accurate tracking adjustments. I finally got my KMG working well after making modifications recommended by Matthew Gregory. If I was buying a grinder now it would be a Northridge or a TW-90. There are a lot of choices now in belt grinders and that is good news for everyone. Larry

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