Question about Grizzly's 2" x 42" knife making sander grinder

I see some hollow grinds in my future. Between this and your radius platen, this $300 grinder should be perfect for me, a hobby maker.
 
I'd personally go back and read Stacy's post. I personally think Grizzly had an awesome chance to knock it out of the ball park. But I think after reading the threads they come up with a bad bunt. Just my opinion. Your mileage may vary.
 
You might want to make a two-arm setup for a 10" wheel. The best method would be a wide bar if 5/16" plate with an appropriate slot cut so it slides in both slots. I'm guessing about a 4" wide bar. Two arms with a 4" x 4" x 5/16" plate welded across the ends would work for a home brew double arm..
Lateral stability on a 10" wheel mounted on a 1/4" thick single arm may be a bit sloppy. It may be prone to yaw when you lean into the wheel to hollow grind or hog steel ... which could make tracking crazy.
 
looks to me like all you need to di is make thicker spacers for the arm side of things, and now you can use much thicker metal arms
since it is a screw together design... that makes it very easy to do.....
 
You could go thicker, maybe up to a half inch until it starts to interfere else where. Unfortunately, do to the lack of tension on the Grizzly, even if you had a really stout double arm I don’t think you’d be able to get very aggressive with the grinding as you’ll start to push the belt off the wheel. It’s a small and relatively weak grinder so you just have to grind accordingly.
 
Pinoy Knife said:
looks to me like all you need to di is make thicker spacers for the arm side of things, and now you can use much thicker metal arms
since it is a screw together design... that makes it very easy to do.....
Click to expand...
My last post was sort of tongue in cheek. I was pointing out that manufacturing parts to make the grinder useful will be a bit of work. A short synopsis of the point I and Contender have been making is:
Sure, you can take it apart, build all sorts of attachments and accessories, etc, ... but the whole point of a low power, entry level grinder, at a low price is to get started making knives as simply and cheaply as possible. If you were to have to do all that modifying and manufacture of parts and tooling to make it useful, it would be far better to put the money into a full power grinder (like the Reeder).

What I read and hear about this grinder is making me wonder if it isn't really that great???
 
I would say the grinder is wonderful, for what it costs. There is absolutely no way an American manufacturer could build a grinder like this at this price and make any kind of a real living doing so.

One of the big reasons this is so cheap is because they cut out a lot of quality control. Quality control costs a lot more than most people realize. This is obviously going to lead to a lot more problems in quality.

Like Stacy said, to expect this to be a wonderful tool that never gives you problems is just unrealistic. If you want something that’ll work for a long time, spend some more money. Most people buying these are fully aware they will need to do some DIY to get it working better.

I have talked to dozens of people who have bought this grinder and all of them seem to be overall happy with them. Trouble free? No. But overall happy.
 
Maybe it should be pointed out that what makes one happy does not for another. Maybe Stacy & LCoop (and likely most here) need a higher quality machine to be satisfied, that makes sense due to the skill level they posses, I assume. For someone with my experience & skill level, it's a great machine. If I had to file knives, I wouldn't make them. If I had to spend $1500+ on a 2x72 with at least 1.5HP and VFD, I wouldn't make them. If I had to use the POS 1x30 I've been using, my satisfaction with my output quality would likely make me lose interest. To one, the Grizzly is a flimsy Chinese piece of junk. To me it's a great machine that I'm glad to have. If the subject were to change to maybe precision rifles, the tables may turn. One might say the Savage 110 or Ruger PR is great. I'd tell you if you are serious about hitting little pieces of steel at great distances, you'd be better off spending more an at least a semi-custom and proper load development specific to the barrel. The same difference of opinion could be had on motorcycles or any subject. The higher quality grinders still need extras. They don't come with contact wheels, radius platens, and small wheel attachments etc. I'll say it just once more then I'll shut up before I rub someone wrong as I'm a new here and I'd like to be welcome back, I like my Grizzly 2x42.
 
Yup as with everything there needs to be a range of price in what’s available. Most of the people I’ve talked to that have bought these grinders are just getting into knife making. The simple fact that it’s available for the price it’s at is, like you said, getting people to take the plunge.

I hope you get along great with the Grizzly!

As far as precision rifles go I’ve been playing with a TC Encore I built in 6x47 Lapua as my latest toy. Wonderful performance out of a classic single shot!
 
What's nice bout the Grizzly is it's a great cheap entry level grinder... and with the Contender upgrades you can slowly upgrade as you need to and grow in your skills, only costing a little $$ at a time (vs. a huge chunk all at once for a 2x72). At some point as one's skill levels advance it will be time to transition to a better machine.
 
GRapp said:
Maybe it should be pointed out that what makes one happy does not for another. Maybe Stacy & LCoop (and likely most here) need a higher quality machine to be satisfied, that makes sense due to the skill level they posses, I assume. For someone with my experience & skill level, it's a great machine. If I had to file knives, I wouldn't make them. If I had to spend $1500+ on a 2x72 with at least 1.5HP and VFD, I wouldn't make them. If I had to use the POS 1x30 I've been using, my satisfaction with my output quality would likely make me lose interest. To one, the Grizzly is a flimsy Chinese piece of junk. To me it's a great machine that I'm glad to have. If the subject were to change to maybe precision rifles, the tables may turn. One might say the Savage 110 or Ruger PR is great. I'd tell you if you are serious about hitting little pieces of steel at great distances, you'd be better off spending more an at least a semi-custom and proper load development specific to the barrel. The same difference of opinion could be had on motorcycles or any subject. The higher quality grinders still need extras. They don't come with contact wheels, radius platens, and small wheel attachments etc. I'll say it just once more then I'll shut up before I rub someone wrong as I'm a new here and I'd like to be welcome back, I like my Grizzly 2x42.
Click to expand...
This is enough for me.
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This is a great little niche machine, especially if they fix the issues. The immediate effort to make it a "real" knifemaker machine has produced some great improvements already.

I started with a 3x24 hand belt sander held upside down in the big vise. The modern equivalent is the 1x30. There really haven't been many viable, desirable options between these less robust machines and the 2x72's strength & versatility until recently. One simply had to make a big leap and commit the bucks. This is showing to be a great alternative for the person like G GRapp who wouldn't pursue knives otherwise. And, it wouldn't be a bad second, single purpose grinder in the well-stocked knifemaker shop. Wish I had the space; I'd want to try one.

Good luck to all those who have purchased them. Hope the grinders serve you well.
 
I think I will get one just to run it as a dedicated horizontal small wheel grinder for my slipjoint making
 
Just my opinion, but I find it far easier to learn a new skill, by starting out with a foundation of good/high quality tools from the get go. Otherwise, when things aren't going right, you'll never know if it's you doing something wrong, or the POS tool you saved $$$ on. Doesn't really matter what discipline. Knifemaking, Gunsmithing, welding, etc...I'd have to say I subscribe to the buy once, cry once philosophy.
 
Long post and I'll let it go.

I want to make sure you folks understand that I am not trying to push people toward bigger tools or shame anyone for the tools they use. My intention is to advise people before spending money they may regret by finding that the initial cost only does a very basic set of tasks ... or is only a starting place.

I totally understand the situation of trying to make knives for fun and personal use with whatever you have on hand or can afford to buy.

I started in 1961 with a 6" Craftsman two-wheel bench grinder with two grit ranges - coarse and coarser. For tools I had a ball peen hammer, Channel-Lock pliers, a piece of RR track, two files, and whatever steel I found in the garage. When I was given a bucket of real blacksmith tools and started using 1095/W2 type steel my joy (and quality) went up a lot. At that time, I had to mow lawns, shovel snow, and paint garages to earn money for hobbies. I learned to set purchase goals that I could reach and save for them.
It was a huge step up to buy a used Sears Craftsman 4X36 woodworking belt grinder to shape steel and wood. Probably took a month's work to pay for it. When I got my first "Real Grinder", a Bader B-3, it was like getting behind the wheel of a Porsche after learning to drive in a VW. When I got a TW-90 I gave my Bader to my son-in-law. When I put together a Reeder from a basic chassis it became my favorite. I have added thousands of dollars in special platens, work rests, surface grinder attachments, MagJigs/Chucks, and wheels galore, ... all totaling many times the grinder cost. The path of acquiring or building new tooling and fixtures is never-ending. No one should expect to spend only the cost of a simple machine and the expenditures will be over.

Folks like Darren at Contender who make accessories (nice ones, BTW) for knifemakers to expand the capability of their equipment are a godsend to those who don't have a well fitted machine shop and TIG welders at home to make their own accessories. This thread shows how much guys like him will do to try and help knifemakers out. I doubt Contender will ever realize much profit on these Grizzly attachments. He is a knifemaker and remembers what it took to get started. Kudos to him for all his help.

Concerning the topic of this thread, my comments are aimed at saving money for a new maker.
If you have to spend $400 on a low power grinder, then several hundred more on accessories, you are halfway to a good 1HP to 2HP 2X72 knife grinder setup with all the attachments you need. (I'm not going into belts, sandpaper, and steel)
Ask anyone who has used a 1/3HP grinder how long it took to burn up the motor. Since almost nothing on it is reusable on another grinder, what is left is a door stop or garden ornament. Buying a good 2X72 allows changing/replacing parts, multiple suppliers who sell parts, attachments, and accessories that are all interchangeable ... and the big extra is that if you decide that knifemaking isn't your thong, you can sell the grinder and accessories for a surprising percentage of the initial cost.

I totally get that a fully loaded uber-grinder package from Contender/Reeder/KMG/TW-90/etc. at $3500-$5000 is not in most new maker's budget. However, a basic chassis setup which just needs a motor/VFD and a few wheels will do all the same work for between $1200 and $1500.
If anyone wants specific models and parts, please email me and I can talk suppliers and cost of forum.

Final comment:
I don't get a cent or any products from Greg at Reeder or from Darren at Contender for suggesting their products. I recommend them because I have bought from their companies and used their products. The grinder I build from one of Greg's basic chassis is, IMHO, far better than my TW-90, Bader, or Burr-King. I have found no one who makes a better articulated work rest than Contender. His MagJigs and Mag Chuck are awesome things to use as well.
 
Well said Stacy. I appreciate the kind words.

The neat thing about the custom knife making industry is that a lot of the tools that are being built to provide the industry are built by small shops/companies. These companies, for the most part, are involved and successful simply because they like knife making. This makes it all relatively close knit and fun. It’s great that the different companies can have there own niche.

I agree that Reeder cornered the market on a high value chassis. Meaning you get a lot for what you pay. I’ve never used one personally but just looking at pictures of it I can tell it’s well made and there was a good amount of development that went into it. Respect is due where it is earned.

Grizzly saw an opening in the market for a grinder at a certain price range and they nailed it. Unfortunately, that came at the cost of quality.

This is what any successful manufacturer has to do. They have to find an opening in a market and fill it at value. This is why the attachments I make for the Grizzly aren’t nearly as high of finish quality as the attachments I make for my grinders.

The price range has to reflect the value, and the price range is derived largely from the quality. People need to remember that.

Ya get what ya pay for and ya pay for what you can justify.
 
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