Please give your opinion on moving up from 8" wheel.....10"? 12"?

G

godogs57

Joined
Apr 16, 2004
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Been working with 8" wheels on my Bader forever. I like a high grind on my blades and am wondering if I should consider a larger wheel.

I can pull off the high grind on the knives i make, and they tend to look pretty good, but I was wondering if a 10" or 12" wheel would make the process easier/smoother, etc. When I get into those high grind lines I really really have to watch what is going on in order to keep from messing up. I can do it, but wonder if the larger wheel would make things easier.

I know that if I get a serrated and a smooth wheel from Bader, with hubs, I will have to sell a kidney on the black market or something.

Should I do it? 10"? 12"? Thanks in advance for your opinions.
 
Hello:

I use a 14" serrated wheel on a 5 HP grinder moving at about 7200 SFM and I love it..but I hate grinding so I want the material off and I want it off now.

If you can hold steady enough a larger diameter wheel will be a bit "smoother" but you will not get as "dramatic" a cut as a smaller wheel will be..at 14" a single edged blade will look alot like it was flat ground instead of hollow so...that may be a consideration as well...

Personaly I like a larger wheel..some folks like smaller..all a matter of preference...

NVHAmmerhead
 
Sometimes, Bader has what they call "2nds" on their wheels at half price. I got a "2nd" a few years back, a 12" serrated wheel, for $200(half price). Reason they listed it as "2nd", is they said it was a smidge less than 2" wide. Not an issue for me, as I (and, most others) tend to run their belts off the edge of the wheel/platen anyway. Might be worth a call to Bader to see what they have available as "2nds".
 
Go for it! I only hollow grind; have a 1.5, 3, 6, and 10" wheel. Just finishing my first hollow with a 36" platen. One of my next equipment purchases will be a 14".

You can create a higher hollow grind with a smaller wheel but you always run the risk of undercutting or making the middle of the blade too thin. The larger wheels minimize this problem. I agree with you really got watch what you're doing.

David Sharp
 
Thanks folks...Danbo, I have been in love with your avatar for some time now by the way. Nice...
 
I have a 10" after using an 8" but was thinking about a 12" or even a 14" if it might fit my machine. Frank
 
My favorite wheel to grind on is a 10". That being said virtually all of my folder blades are ground
on a 14" if they're not flat ground.
Ken.
 
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