pheer 427 vs 454 vs esteem

Justin Schmidt

Justin Schmidt

Joined
Feb 18, 2016
Messages
2,209
so after our move to florida I plan on buying a grinder. I'm only looking at pheer or esteem for the simple fact that they are one man shops and I'd much rather give my money to them than a big business. the 454 and esteem look eerily simular. I like the simplicity look of the 427 and the 1200 price tag. I'm sure I can't go wrong with any of these choices but my question is there really a huge difference between them? they reciever nothing but praise from these forums and from what I hear Jose and Brett are both stand up guys. thanks in advance.
 
I don't own ether but own four other 2 x 72" currently.

JFYI, There are two Grand daddy machines that pretty much all of the others are based on.

There is Burr King, Which my Hardcore Products machine is based on.

Then there is Bader, Which my Tag 101 Wilmont grinder is based on. Chris is always a one man shop http://www.wilmontgrinders.com/Pages/default.aspx

The two you are looking at are both based on the Bader format, Hence why they look like each other. If you can afford the option of a machine that's a 90/45. Get it! ;)
 
I have a Pheer 427 and love it. The main difference in the 454 are a few nice upgrades. The flat platen tilts on the 454 and does not on the 427. Also the motor bolts directly to the grinder frame...the 427 does not, so you have a little more self setup involved. I went with the 427 about a year ago with 1.5hp motor, variable speed and have been completely satisfied. Jose was really awesome to work with, highly recommended.

11350984_461661570670072_348214332_n.jpg


I have since upgraded to a 5in drive wheel, adjustable workrest, and built a tilting frame...so it has been very adaptable:-)
 
thanks for the reply. those are definitely some top notch machines but out of my price point. if I had that kinda money I'd probably get a TW-90 lol
 
Rival1314 said:
I have a Pheer 427 and love it. The main difference in the 454 are a few nice upgrades. The flat platen tilts on the 454 and does not on the 427. Also the motor bolts directly to the grinder frame...the 427 does not, so you have a little more self setup involved. I went with the 427 about a year ago with 1.5hp motor, variable speed and have been completely satisfied. Jose was really awesome to work with, highly recommended.

11350984_461661570670072_348214332_n.jpg


I have since upgraded to a 5in drive wheel, adjustable workrest, and built a tilting frame...so it has been very adaptable:-)
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I was thinking about the 427 mainly because it's 400 cheaper and that can buy alot of belts. the set up you have is exactly what I was looking into. glad your happy with your purchase.
 
I have a fully decked out Esteem, and while it's a very good machine there are some things I don't care for about it. The biggest issue I have with it is the tool rest. All steel which adds to the already heavy setup and the multiple joints without index marks makes getting the same angles a huge pain. It only has room for one tool arm, which at first didn't seem like an issue, but after trying a GIB and a Oregon Blade Maker machine, I can't see not having that option for what I do.

I bought the Esteem for it's ability to tip on it's side, which it does well and is how it stays all the time now that I have other grinders. However, my Oregon Blade Maker unit works every bit as well, has better tool rest options (for my style of work) and the tracking seems to be a bit smoother as well. I also like the aluminum D plate and tool arms on my OBM unit vs the steel on the Esteem. Makes changing tools much less work. My OBM setup with a Baldor 1.5 HP 220 motor and KBAC 27D was around $1300 after all was said and done.

I'm about to get another OBM, set it on its side and relegate the Esteem to a full time surface grinder with Travis's unit.

Here's a link to the OBM grinders and parts page.
http://stores.ebay.com/oregonblademaker

That all being said, Brett was great to talk to and completely willing to listen to and answer questions from a noobie such as I am.
 
valknut said:
so after our move to florida I plan on buying a grinder. I'm only looking at pheer or esteem for the simple fact that they are one man shops and I'd much rather give my money to them than a big business. the 454 and esteem look eerily simular. I like the simplicity look of the 427 and the 1200 price tag. I'm sure I can't go wrong with any of these choices but my question is there really a huge difference between them? they reciever nothing but praise from these forums and from what I hear Jose and Brett are both stand up guys. thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

I just went through the same decision process in considering 4 grinders...Esteem, Pheer, Northridge, and AMK. I initially though I would be pulling the trigger on an AMK but eventually opted for the Esteem. Brett has been great to work with. Here's a link to a not too lengthy thread that details my entire decision process, there's also a post in there in which I'd compared apples to apples pricing.... [http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...l-be-pulling-the-trigger-on-an-AMK-77-grinder
 
Justice4all said:
I have a fully decked out Esteem, and while it's a very good machine there are some things I don't care for about it. The biggest issue I have with it is the tool rest. All steel which adds to the already heavy setup and the multiple joints without index marks makes getting the same angles a huge pain. It only has room for one tool arm, which at first didn't seem like an issue, but after trying a GIB and a Oregon Blade Maker machine, I can't see not having that option for what I do.

I bought the Esteem for it's ability to tip on it's side, which it does well and is how it stays all the time now that I have other grinders. However, my Oregon Blade Maker unit works every bit as well, has better tool rest options (for my style of work) and the tracking seems to be a bit smoother as well. I also like the aluminum D plate and tool arms on my OBM unit vs the steel on the Esteem. Makes changing tools much less work. My OBM setup with a Baldor 1.5 HP 220 motor and KBAC 27D was around $1300 after all was said and done.

I'm about to get another OBM, set it on its side and relegate the Esteem to a full time surface grinder with Travis's unit.

Here's a link to the OBM grinders and parts page.
http://stores.ebay.com/oregonblademaker

That all being said, Brett was great to talk to and completely willing to listen to and answer questions from a noobie such as I am.
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I was looking at the OBM is looks like a really nice machine but just didn't think it could stack up quality wise. glad to hear that it does. what exactly is the point of a second tool rest?
 
I actually read through all that a few days before posting this just didn't have the exact info I needed but thanks though
 
I went with the 427. I liked the price. Figured most of the changes from the 454 were mostly cosmetic.
 
Justice4all said:
I have a fully decked out Esteem, and while it's a very good machine there are some things I don't care for about it. The biggest issue I have with it is the tool rest. All steel which adds to the already heavy setup and the multiple joints without index marks makes getting the same angles a huge pain.

That all being said, Brett was great to talk to and completely willing to listen to and answer questions from a noobie such as I am.
Click to expand...

agreed, same here
 
thanks for the reply guys, I think I'm gonna go with the pheer 427. I like the sounds of the Northridge tool grinder but I'd much rather spend my money helping out a small business owner instead if a bigger company.
 
I recently bought a Pheer 454. I chose that because the work rest inserts into a separate holder and it becomes more versatile. The grinder is a massive upgrade from by Coote. I splurged and got the 2hp and VFD. I spent alot of money for a hobby but I do not regret it. Jose provides a quality product and I am happy I did it.

Yeah, a grinder is a huge investment. But that is the key word, investment. It is the single most used equipment in knifemaking.
 
Joe Cabaup said:
I recently bought a Pheer 454. I chose that because the work rest inserts into a separate holder and it becomes more versatile. The grinder is a massive upgrade from by Coote. I splurged and got the 2hp and VFD. I spent alot of money for a hobby but I do not regret it. Jose provides a quality product and I am happy I did it.

Yeah, a grinder is a huge investment. But that is the key word, investment. It is the single most used equipment in knifemaking.
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I completely agree. my wife is on board with it we just gotta get this move out of the way. I'm disabled so this hobby probably get treated like a job with lots of hours and pride put in to it
 
The second tool arm slot makes it, as Joe said, a more versatile machine. I can change rests without messing with the D plate and platen. Same thing would work with a contact wheel. Oh, and the OBM unit is every bit as nice as the Esteem. You'll love your machine. My units grind, buff, polish, surface grind and sharpen. I sold my disc grinder and seldom if ever use my buffer. Grinders are magical machines. LOL.
 
the 427 has an open square tubing for the work rest to slide into if needed. I plan on free handing so I don't know how much use it will see.
that they are, probably why they're so expensive lol
 
Free handing blade grinds is a learning experience, (one that I am still learning!) but that's not what I'd use the tool rest for. When you decide to experiment with dovetail bolsters and you don't have a mill then an adjustable, locking and stable tool rest is your best option. The articulating arms that attach to main arm didn't look stable enough, especially for some of the monster sized pieces I do outside of knifemaking.

I should note that I use the Pheer for more than knifemaking. I use it regularly for my work as well as other odd jobs I can pick up. If my only use was grinding blades then I would have gone with the Esteem.
 
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Naganalf said:
How should you decide what size contact wheel to get? Is bigger always better?
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The larger the wheel, the larger the hollow grind that can be made on any given knife. A smaller wheel will dig in more than a larger wheel which means you can't grind in as much with a smaller wheel before you break through to the other side of the knife....which would be a bad thing. If your not going to be doing large chopper then a 10" wheel would be just fine, or even an 8 inch wheel. These are the sizes that most folks tend to start out with.
 
image.jpg
I would just tell Brett I am not the only one who should have an Esteem with a second tool arm slot....
 
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