OT: Speaking of Belt Grinders...

raghorn

raghorn

Joined
Feb 23, 2002
Messages
3,674
I'm looking for recommendations for a belt grinder. Should I go for a Grizzly? If so, who is a good source? I can't seem to find anyone that sells them. If not, which others are available out there that are a good value and won't make me want to upgrade in the forseeable future?
 
Others can address this from more experience, but
virtually any brand is better than none.
Seems some are specialized for knife work.
I picked up a used craftman generic 4" belt with 6" disk.
Hasn't seen much use as it's buried under a pile of "Ye Olde Junque."

Tracking is what keeps the belt on the rollers,
it must be adjustable and stay adjusted.
Motor must be strong/powerful 'enough',
& durable enough not to wear out overnight.

Probably more useful to ask what size=>width belt is most useful.
Ditto for the disk.
 
Thanks, Dean. The knifemakers' books seem to recommend models using the longest belts available. What say the folks that use them here?
 
Seems like longer belts just means you have more grit to wear away,
so longer time between belt changes.
Maybe, could have slight impact on heat build-up,
but seems unlikely to be very significant.
 
Raghorn I have done a ton of research on this and I found the the KMG grinder(2x72 inch belt) is one of the best. It will cost you a little more then the grizzly but is MUCH better built and designed. You can read up on it at beaumountmetalworks.com. A good video to get about knifemaking is the one Fowler knives put out. It has great shots and info it it. Also you will want to consider running a 220v motor on the grinder. You will appreciate the extra torque and power.
 
I agree on the KMG. They are great. That's what I would have if I could afford one. I have a Coote Belt Grinder . I think it's the best inexpensive grinder out there. You are pretty much stuck with one contact wheel size when you buy it, as they don't change easily like the KMG. You have to furnish and install your own motor though. It's not a problem if you're the least bit handy. I have a step pulley arrangement that gives me 3 speeds. I highly recommend Norman Cootes machine if you can't afford a KMG.

Steve
 
I have a Kalamazoo Industries 1 x 42 that I'm quite pleased with. Baldor 1/3 hp motor.
 
I'd love to run a KMG, but own a 2x72 Grizzly. With a few cheap mods (pyroceram, 10-inch wheel), it's a great grinder for the price. You can really hog into it without slowing it down.
 
If I could find the sander without the motor I'd buy a couple and a couple of hundred belts and send them over to BirGorkha. I think they could learn how to use a belt sander in about 15 minutes.
 
KMG is definitely the best out there for my taste, and the owner, Rob I think his name was(got a replacement drive wheel for my Grizzly from him), is a great guy to deal with.

That being said, KMG is way out of my price range personally, so i got the Grizzly. Found a Grizzly, Sears Drill Press, 5-10 belts, Propane torch, some epoxy, and half a MAPP gas tank for #345 or so I think from guy on here, he had to sell his stuff. I was hahppy to take it off his hands. :)
 
Originally posted by etp777
Found a Grizzly, Sears Drill Press, 5-10 belts, Propane torch, some epoxy, and half a MAPP gas tank
for #345 or so
Click to expand...
345 pounds of what exactly?

:)
 
Mike - how much are you looking to spend?
 
All I can speak from experience on is the Grizzly. It's a good grinder if you're somewhat handy.
Although mine is as it was when I bought it, but I haven't gotten really serious with it as yet and maybe never will, I have been satisfied with it mostly.
My Grizzly does what I want it to except for changeing speeds. Some guys have modified theirs, I understand, to correct this, but I don't know what all they've done, more about this below.
That would be a huge plus for the Grizzly!!!!!!!
I think the Grizzly is one helluva grinder for the money and I especially like the through shaft that you can mount a buffing wheel or other device on the opposite side.
I have mine set up with a heavy & coarse buffing pad, and my Grizzly buffer, not enough horsepower, set up for finish buffing.

I also bought the set of videos that Allen Blade made, took me forever and some nasty threats to finally get them, and have been so disgusted with him since I haven't looked at them.:rolleyes: :grumpy:
But Allen is one helluva knife maker and those that have his knives swear by them.
The pix I have seen of Allen's knives show outstanding work so whatever he did to his Grizzly must have worked.
The videos show the tweaking that Allen did on his Grizzly which I think he uses primarily to make his blades. They also show some tips and methods of grinding the different grinds such as convex, hollow and flat ground blades I understand.
These are supposed to be some really kick ass videos, I'll get around and watch them one day when I'm feeling froggy again.;)
I have too many irons in the fire as it is. Discovered the other week that my router table and fence had warped so I need to repair that before I can make anymore Flutes.
It's always something it seems.:D
 
Raghorn:

The Grizz is what I want to get, and right now what is holding me up is finding bench space with enough overhead room for the belt in an upright position (currently have alot of shelves in the way and moving them will be a big job).

Some benefits of the Grizz are the incorporated 1725 RPM buffer run by a pretty powerful motor. This saves bench space since you don't have to mount (or pay for) a separate buffer. Also, this motor should run on a dedicated 20-amp 110 circuit just fine. Recently I replaced the motor on my table saw with a similiar size by Baldor, and it hasn't tripped a circuit breaker yet.

The downside is you can't pick up those 2"x72" belts at the corner hardware store, so it would be necessary to plan ahead. I always do, but Murphy invariably steals/hides my stuff right before I need it.
 
After reading alot about grinders and knife making I decided that I didn't want to invest, at this time, four or five hundred bucks into something I wouldn't know if I liked or not.

So I bought a Delta SA-180, like Pendentive talks about. So far I love it. I have been handling bare blades while my efforts to date haven't been perty, they have been workable.

I haven't even managed to hurt myself.
 
Yvsa, I use a slow down wheel from Beaumont Metal works(maker of KMG-1) to cut speed of my Grizzly in half(that's why I know Rob's such a good guy). Another useful addition for those who flat grind is to get a piece of Pyroceram to attach to the platen. You can get these from Steve Primos. Both Rob and Steve are members on the boardhere, and post form time to time on the Shop talk forum.


and :P to you ddean. :D
 
My Grizzly does what I want it to except for changing speeds. Some guys have modified theirs, I understand, to correct this, but I don't know what all they've done,
Click to expand...
Yvsa,
Here's a pic of how I modified mine:
griz.txt

Regards,
Greg
 
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