Should I get a mini-mill or a surface grinder?

Belstain

Belstain

Joined
Sep 17, 1999
Messages
320
I am thinking about buying a grizzly mini-mill. Would I be better off saving my money and trying to find a used surface grinder? Which would help me more for folder making? Would a fly cutter in the mill work good enough to make things flat?
 
I would recommend a surface grinder. While a mill is great, and there are many uses for one in a knife shop...the foundation for all knives, folders and fixed, is having things flat.

One of the biggest jumps you'll see in the smooth operation of a maker's folders is that after he's started using a surface grinder. In a folder, flat and parallel is paramount...and doing it by hand is not any fun, trust me on that one.

Just my two cents :)
Nick
 
Let me back up a minute. For FOLDER making only I guess I'd have to go with Nick. For general use I still say, go with a mill. One of my most dreaded chores is cutting the slot in the guard. It's at those times I love my mill!!:rolleyes:
 
Both tools are useful. I made folders without either for almost two years and I was able to get good precision. I bought a TAIG mini mill about six months ago. I've seen the grizzly mill and I think the TAIG is a much better built machine. I just got a surface grinder this past weekend. I spent over a year looking for one that would fit into my shop. I know it will reduce the amount of time I spend getting things flat and to thickness. Up till now I was using the platen on my grinder and then finishing on a glass plate. The story with both tools is that they save time, but you can make quality knives without either. My recommendation is that you give thought to what you plan to make and decide which tool will serve more of your needs.
 
I have a Taig mini mill that I hardly ever use. I bought it about a year ago from DeskTop Machinery. It's in excellent condition. Email me if you decide on a mill.
 
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