People using homemade grinders

T

Taximanny

Joined
Jul 27, 2015
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I'm just curious as to how many people actually built there own grinders, and still using them.

Im thinking of building
Or just buying
If I do build it would be a BG272
Or a clone of the KMG

But curious as to who built and is very happy with it?
Would you build again ?
 
I built my KMG clone. All I can say is I saved a couple hundred bucks on paper but It took many hours and thats with a bridgeport and metal cutting chop saw. So it just depends on how much free time you really have and if you have the right tools to do it.
 
I kind of like to build stuff so I have a deep visceral understanding of it but......... sometimes I just can't seem to get it done. I've had the homebuilt grinder on the list for about 6 months but in that time I've learned new stuff and changed the plan several times. That's all OK but I think now I will just apply all I've learned to choosing one to purchase. I think now I've discovered most of the ready made models out there and looked at them. I think my choice will not be one of the more common ones. Somebody on here posted "Do you want to make knives or do you want to make tools to make knives?"
 
I built mine, it is a welded version of the "no-weld grinder" type.
I am very happy, recently i rebuilt the flat platen since an early error: it was "T" shape arm that had not much left hand knuckle clearance.
Mine is direct driven, with a VFD. I'll build another one when i'll have time, since 2 or more grinders will speed the workflow.
Going into the build of your grinder will open you the possibility of customize a lot of tooling
 
I built my own. If "that's your thing" I'd say definitely go for it. Metal is actually very cheap in the grand scheme of things - you'll pay more for the motor and vfd than anything else. I built a grinder I would value at $3500 (based on equivalents that are for sale out there) for a third of that.

But I wouldn't recommend building a direct KMG clone. I would suggest something with direct drive and using a vfd.

I wouldn't say you need a mill (especially if you start with a kit). For me, I started from scratch (other than the wheels) and the major equipment I used was a 4x6 bandsaw, angle grinder, welder, and a disc grinder. A mill and belt grinder would have been really nice to have. Now that I have a belt grinder I'm waiting to get a mill before I build my next one.
 
My friend built his grinder at work but they have a lot of different tools. He made a Bader clone and it works very good with quick switching out of platens and wheels. He bought his flat platen from an ebay seller.
 
I built my first one and it has worked and I have made just as good of a knife with it as a $3000 grinder. With that said, I've chased mistakes that could've been avoided with a better, variable speed, grinder. I have been thinking of building a new one but I believe I'm just going to buy one. You can buy nice chassis for $600-700 and put a motor and vfd and wind up around a grand in all. I figure to build one of equal it would cost $500-600 plus lots of time and headaches. I'm thinking of getting the pheer chassis and my own motor/vfd.
 
I also have a welded NWG. I initially used step pulleys when I built it in 2010, and upgraded to direct drive and a VFD in 2013. It's a full grade professional level machine, runs nice and smooth with no problems. As the others said, the motor, VFD, and wheels are your main expenses.
 
I made a 2x72 grinder with a flat platen and an 8 inch contact wheel. The frame came from scrap square steel tubing. I found an old office desk and chopped it up into useable lengths and followed the general guidelines in Wayne Goddard's 50$ Knife Shop book (available on amazon). I did not have access to a welder, so it's bolted together. I built it 12 years ago, have made several knives and used it for a LOT of other projects around the house. I'm just getting back into knife making a bit and am contemplating buying another, completed grinder from Oregon Blade Maker on eBay but I will not be doing away with my home built grinder. If you have access to steel tubing, or enough angle iron, you can easily build a very nice grinder. The wheels and motor will be the majority of the expense but if you look carefully, you can probably find deals on them or find other things that will work in their place (polyurethane wheels, etc.) Here's a short walk around my grinder, forgive me for the bad lighting.

[video=youtube;8DfyySzY_Wo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DfyySzY_Wo[/video]

There are also several sets of plans available for the 'no weld knife grinder' and it's a very good grinder but takes a bit of work and will likely still cost around 350-400 without a motor, if you use quality wheels, etc. Building your own grinder is very satisfying, I enjoy making those kinds of tools almost as much as I like making knives. I guess it comes down to how much money you want to spend and how much time you have to invest into gathering parts and building one. Time is very limited for me so my second grinder is going to be one already build.

Hope that helps.
Derek
 
I built a NWGS back in '08 or '09, and it's still currently my primary (albeit ONLY) grinder. I have made several modifications to the original plans to improve some things over the years, but overall, it's a very solid and capable machine. For having only basic tools and a limited budget, the NWGS was (and arguably still is) the most economical, proven option, with a very nice set of plans for anyone to follow right out of the gate.
Now, would I build another NWGS? Probably not, but not because it isn't a good machine. I simply have much better resources now than I did back then, and could just as easily build a more refined (granted, more expensive) machine.

Speaking of that, I'm actually am just about to finish up a set of plans I'm working on for my next grinder. So to answer the other question, yes, I will be building another grinder, rather than buying. This way I can get exactly the features I want, and MAYBE save a few bucks in the process.
 
I have studied a lot on the various grinders out there, I have a background in mfg. and know what I'm looking at machine wise. Having said that, I am pretty confident, that it is not a very significant-if any real-savings to build your own, based on what's out there. Check out this grinder: http://amktactical.com/epages/3c926...26a50-9aba-43a5-9571-098ee03f1288/Products/33 I feel this is a great value, Allen, the proprietor and designer is a great guy, and will tweak your grinder to get you exactly what you want, for example, I paid a bit extra and got mine with a 3hp 220V Leeson motor, the plate that allows you to flip the grinder horizontally, and a 12" contact wheel. Brent from Esteem grinders makes a really good product as well: http://www.esteemgrinders.com/ I know several people have bought from him, and are big fans. I really think if you consider the time and true costs, buying a grinder is the best way to go. I highly recommend a variable speed VFD system.
 
Thanks for the links Fish301
These seem really affordable.
At these prices I think I would be nuts to build.
It would take weeks to build and tune if not longer.
In that time I could of made 4 to 5 knives that would of paid for a new machine.

I'm still using a craftsman 2x42 and actually thought about getting a second one to somehow put a wheel on.
I'm use to the speed so I wouldn't know what I'm missing...😜
 
I built my first couple, but now I've got Wilmonts. I wouldn't trade the time spent building them, as they contributed to my mechanical aptitude, and I've rebuilt numerous large machines in the years since, but you have to ask yourself if that's something you're interested in and have the time for.


Once you spend (or waste) money on fasteners, tooling, materials that will and wont get used (you'll either buy stuff that isn't right, or you don't need, or you'll spend the time(money) in exhaustive planning instead), potentially machinery if you don't have everything you need to build, etc. You'll not save any money over buying a Wilmont LB-1000. I certainly encourage it as money and time well spent though if you're interested in machinery and how things are made beyond just knife making however.

Some guys only want to know as much about machinery, machining, etc, as they absolutely must to be able to make good knives. I'm not one of those persons, and I think it makes me a better knifemaker because of it and I have a lot of fun learning about various things, but I also spend as much time on shop projects and research as I do making knives.

So, you'll have to decide what's important to you in the end. I'll send you a PM btw.
 
Taxi, I'm sure you would appreciate a variable speed grinder. One thing that is impressive about the machines I linked to is how quiet they are. I started out in a different game years ago--golf--and bought a really good belt sander, a Burr King 1.5 x 42--it was/is a really good machine, but it ran at 3450 rpm and was durn loud. I am really happy with my AMK, it's nice that it comes with a contact wheel and a flat platen at that price. You also can put a small wheel attachment on it--you just back out two bolts and the flat platen comes off and the small wheel attachment goes on--pretty straightforward. I have looked at all the machines out there, and I really like the Gas tension shock the AMK comes with--if price was no object, I would probably buy a TW-90, actually was going to til I found the AMK--I like the surface grinding attachment that Travis offers, but Allen says he's working on an option for that for the AMK Grinder. I'm sure you'd end up ahead if you go ahead and buy one of these machines--there's a lot to be said for getting on with the knife building!!

Good luck--let us know how you go!!
 
The Wilmont LB1000 looks like an elegant project, i just wonder if it would take enough belt tension before the tension arm uprights start flexing; maybe the air spring link adds rigidity.
If they are stiff enough i think it is one of the best grinders around in terms of being open to modifications.
 
I built mine, it's the only grinder I've ever used so I dont really have anything to compare it to. I do want to make some changes to it though, like someone said above, variable speed would be one of those things.

If you buy one, it's pretty much guaranteed to work yes. But, on the other hand it's cool to know all the knives you're making are coming off a grinder you made too. I just like making stuff.
 
My ever-so-handy father and I built the KMG clone that I use regularly.

Would I build or buy knowing what I know now? If I had the money, I'd buy a TW90 in a skinny minute. I really like that he's designed a grinder that will flip horizontal (which I could use bunches and bunches and bunches). I also like that he's sticking with the design and coming up with a lot of other attachments for it.

The KMG clone is nice, but I didn't factor in some way of attaching a work rest and it doesn't flip to a horizontal position.
 
I'm in the process of building my first machine
I have access to a mill and lathe so it makes it a lot easier. Made everything myself so far. I've got about $400 in it and all the parts are done. (Includes motor and VFD) just need to get it all assembled.
 
stezann said:
The Wilmont LB1000 looks like an elegant project, i just wonder if it would take enough belt tension before the tension arm uprights start flexing; maybe the air spring link adds rigidity.
If they are stiff enough i think it is one of the best grinders around in terms of being open to modifications.
Click to expand...

Believe me, it's plenty rigid for whatever belt tension you need.

I've got a lb-1000 mounted permanently horizontal with a small wheel holder and a tool rest, which if you have the space, is mandatory for doing slipjoint work IMO, and two tag-101's vertical. One usually wears a flat platen, the other either has a contact wheel or a rotary platen.

I would have been just fine with 3 LB-1000s. This setup allows me to do very little tool changing, and move from station to station as necessary and really streamlines dialing in slipjoints the way I build them, which is mostly one-offs, in small batches where each is similar but different, cutting out all the parts by hand. Even the slickest flipping mechanisms are cumbersome and time consuming, and switching out tooling arms definitely is.
 
stezann said:
The Wilmont LB1000 looks like an elegant project, i just wonder if it would take enough belt tension before the tension arm uprights start flexing; maybe the air spring link adds rigidity.
If they are stiff enough i think it is one of the best grinders around in terms of being open to modifications.
Click to expand...

I asked Chris about this when they first came out, and he assured me that there more than enough rigidity.
 
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