Opinions on this Grinder

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unky_gumbi

Joined
Aug 28, 2009
Messages
7,951
So I have been looking at grinders for some time now and had pretty much settled on the Grinder in a box in the for sale area on here, but I just stumbled on to this one any opinions on it and thoughts of what would be better?
The suremak one would run a little cheaper for me I think if I go with the plug and go model and I wouldn't have to hunt down and order wheels separately, but I think the Grinder in the box make be more versatile for a marginal price increase
 
In past threads people have said good things about them. Have you considered the kit sold in the for sale area? Seems to be better and more versatile. Good luck with whatever you choose!

Jake
 
That one doesn't look as versatile as the other kits...and seems a bit expensive since it is made from aluminum.
 
strahd71 said:
In past threads people have said good things about them. Have you considered the kit sold in the for sale area? Seems to be better and more versatile. Good luck with whatever you choose!

Jake
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Yes I have looked at most of them and agree that they are more versatile then the one I linked to, but it comes down to a thing of money right now. I do stock removal with a file and my knife making has come to a stand still because of tennis elbow. I want to get the knives I have started finished and make more.
This means I may have to bite the built and purchase something a little less expensive, but I don't want to waste my money on something that may not work. I was looking into the 2X42 Craftsman as a make do solution, but believe it or not they don't offer it up here. If the suremak one is good enough I may get it and save up for a second grinder later. You know you can always use more tools:p
 
With the Craftsman on sale, perhaps it would be worth it for someone to buy one and ship it to you. Mine is due to arrive in a couple of days for $99 US, tax and shipping included. I'd love a KMG or clone, but funds don't permit at the moment.
 
For $887 not including shipping for the one you linked to I actually think it is CHEAPER to do the grinder in a box route.

Here is my breakdown of the grinder in a box build I plan on doing

Grinder kit $262 shipped
2hp 3phase 3450rpm 56c frame motor $64 shipped from ebay
2hp variable speed drive and phase converter $152 shipped
8" and 2" contact wheels for platen, 4" drive wheel, and tracking wheel $270 shipped from usaknifemaker.com
misc bolts to put it together, knobs, and tension spring approx $30 from local harware store.

Total $778 and all you have to do is drill and tap a few holes. My build doesn't include the cost to wire a 220v line in my garage. But my best friend is an electrician :rolleyes:

If you went with a single phase 110v motor at 1 1/2 or 2hp you might spend a little more. One from grizzley.com is $258 shipped but you still land right at $820 which is less than the Suremak by at least $100 or so.
 
On the shipping he covered that in one of the last threads it didn't sound too bad. I totally understand about the money! Were trying to get stuff taken care of to buy a house I don't even have a shop to use my knife making is non existent at the moment.

Again good luck
 
The shipping is very reasonable IMO $80 and change to Canada for the 3 boxes but I have yet to find a Canadian supplier for all the wheels I would need so I would have higher shipping on all those parts too to the best of my knowledge and that's what would drive the price over the suremak. What I think I may have to do is find someone that is making a run to Fargo or Grand Forks and have them grab me one of the Craftsman 2X42s for now and just wait for the Grinder in a Box. I would really rather spend my money on one I know I will be know happy with then something I may not be. The 2X42 may not be exactly what I want but it will be portable and have other uses after I get the real deal
 
Have you checked Kijiji? I managed to find a fully stocked 2x72 Coote down here last fall. Works great even if it is used. The local buy and sells have deals if you can find them.
 
There isn't a large knife making community in Winnipeg as far as I know so finding the right tools can be hard
 
I ran into the same dilemma when I was looking for a grinder. I wanted a good quality machine, but could not afford something real expensive. I wanted a Grizzly 2x72, but they would not ship to Canada, nor was shipping available for the 2x42 Craftsman. Was really frustrating.... Anyways, I ended up ordering a 2x48 Multitool with the 1hp Jet grinder from Trick Tools (they ship to Canada). The whole thing after shipping cost me around $600, but I ended up getting the package from UPS like not even a week after I placed the order. Really fast shipping and in no time I was grinding away in my basement. I just finished grinding out a really large flat ground camp knife. I found that you can even mount the belt grinder on the other side so the belt spins down and you can grind vertically rather than horizontally. That's how I have mine mounted...in the vertical position on the left side of the grinder. Works great!
 
Here's a picture of my Multi-tool....
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unky_gumbi said:
The big difference is the shipping to Canada:(
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Whoops, sorry! Didn't see that at first. I can now see your dilemma. If that is the case, I would also vote for the sears 2x42. I don't personally have one but if I weren't halfway through purchasing stuff for my grinder in a box it would be my second choice.
 
I have the 2 wheel Suremak grinder and I love it. I am actually looking for another grinder and not sure if I should build one or buy another 2 wheel grinder again. I spoke to Knute a week ago and he just finished an order of them (40?) to France.

Monday I am taken a set of DFX files to a local water-jet company and see what they will charge to cut out one. Email me off line and I will let you know the costs.

I agree, shipping to Canada is very high!

Dennis
 
The Multi tool grinder is very tempting but I may just go the craftsman way for now and hopefully the Grinder in a Box mid to late summer, if I can find wheels at a reasonable price for it.
I am going to bring up the Multitool grinder at work, that could come in real handy for us there too.
 
Now I'll be the first to admit that I am biased, but I do think that even with shipping, you can build a "grinder in a box" for less.

Here's my thoughts on break down:
Standard platen
$250 grinder in a box
$80.85 shipping for kit
$53 Drive wheel
$88 Contact wheel (assuming 2 for standard platen @ $44 apiece)
$58 Idler/tensioner wheel
$31.50 shipping estimate from www.usaknifemaker.com
$561.35 - total

Multi platen
$250 grinder in a box
$80.85 shipping for kit
$53 Drive wheel
$58 Idler/tensioner wheel
$98 8" contact wheel
$44 Contact wheel
$45.50 shipping estimate from www.usaknifemaker.com
$629.35 - total

All that would be left would be the motor and misc schtuff. I wouldn't go any less than a 1 1/2 hp motor, and I found those locally for about $225.

Jamie
 
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polarbearforge said:
Now I'll be the first to admit that I am biased, but I do think that even with shipping, you can build a "grinder in a box" for less.

Here's my thoughts on break down:
Standard platen
$250 grinder in a box
$80.85 shipping for kit
$53 Drive wheel
$88 Contact wheel (assuming 2 for standard platen @ $44 apiece)
$58 Idler/tensioner wheel
$31.50 shipping estimate from www.usaknifemaker.com
$561.35 - total

Multi platen
$250 grinder in a box
$80.85 shipping for kit
$53 Drive wheel
$58 Idler/tensioner wheel
$98 8" contact wheel
$45.50 shipping estimate from www.usaknifemaker.com
$585.35 - total

All that would be left would be the motor and misc schtuff. I wouldn't go any less than a 1 1/2 hp motor, and I found those locally for about $225.

Jamie
Click to expand...

I don't think you are being bias at all, you offer a great product and stand behind it:thumbup:. I am going to book mark your wheel supplier and keep and eye on things and do some more searching for a Canadian supplier to save on shipping for those parts.
So my mind is made up now it will be the Grinder in the Box mid to late summer, I have a couple of motors kicking around that were given to me I just need to make sure they are working. I found out that a friends father is heading to Grand Forks in two weeks so I can slip him a few bucks to cover the cost gas and some extra in thanks to pick me up the Craftsman 2X42 so I can get back to work on my current blades,. and save the elbows for work and hand sanding. I have mentioned that I have developed a bad case of tennis elbow in both arms from work so working the files just irritates it more, but the love of knife making is too strong to stop:o

Thanks everyone for your input
George
 
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