Opinions on new tool?

F

Fochops

Joined
May 23, 2016
Messages
193
Grinding tight radiuses on knives can be a pain I've already found out. What do you guys think, oscillating spindle sander or small wheel attachment for my 2x72? I have not used either so the pros and cons are speculative at this point.

Spindle sander
Pros: flat surface for knife to rest resulting on creating a more true 90 degree grind. Also the ability to place inside a circle and grind the inside of it. Other random shop duties. Price $103 for a highly rated machine.
Cons: need to buy more abrasives and abrasive grit selection is lacking. 80-220.

Small wheel attachment
Pros: use belts I already have. Grit selection superior. Other random shop duties
Cons: no flat table to control angles, needs to be free handed, cannot work inside circles. Bearings wear. $160ish for tooling arm, small wheels, and wheel holder.
 
Maybe one of the Knife Makers' subforums would be a better place to ask? Maybe you could ask a mod to move this thread for you. :thumbup:
 
Get a normal grinder. Spins fast enough you can just skip those grits.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I have a spindle sander which is fine for sanding wood as long as you can use the coarse and fine sleeves. It won't really sand steel or G10 - the sleeves wear out too fast. Also, the sleeves are pretty expensive. The small wheel attachment, which I also have, will be of much greater use. It uses standard 2 X 72 belts, with all the grits you may need. You can put the axle through a hole in the blade and them put the bearing in the grinder if you need to sand inside a circle. Variable speed on your grinder gives you much better control and by slowing down you will get much longer life from the bearings. You can also make a jig to hold a flat plate at a right angle to the axle, allowing true 90* grinds.

Having said all that, I use both and think you would be better off with both. Get the spindle sander from H arbor Freight - theirs is plenty good.

Tim
 
I have done both. Hands down small wheel attachment on a 2x72. Spindle sanders you run through sleeves to quickly. It take longer and it's harder to get a consistent finish without dips.
 
I'm going to the small wheel attachment, the drums I found didn't work like I hoped they would. soft material is ok but the steel I found very difficult. My 2 x 72 i'm woking on will be able to rotate 90 degrees to the horizontal position and the tool rest I'v built will be able to go in so I can use while in the position. If you're doesn't rotate, you could make a specific tool rest for the small wheel attachment that goes up vertically so you don't have to free hand and can get perpendicular grinds.
 
Marcinek I've tried posting in the knife makers section but is states I have no privileges to post there. Thanks for the replies so far. I think I may end up with both eventually, just not sure which to get first.
 
I use both, but the small wheel attachment with a set of wheels beats the spindle sander hands down. Also, IMO if getting a spindle sander, you should only get an oscillating one to get better usage of your sleeves.
 
I've used both, and the Oscillating Spindle Sanders really don't do a good job at all. They're not made for anything harder than wood, and the sleeves don't last any time at all.

A good set of small wheels is definitely the way to go. If you can swing the additional cost, I recommend rubber or poly over steel, though both get the job done. I'd also consider building a vertical work rest if you want a 90 degree angle. Bearings will last a pretty considerable amount of time if you don't run them too fast. Replacements are cheap anyhow.

What kind of grinder do you have?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top