Single vs multiple tool arms

Justin Schmidt

Justin Schmidt

Joined
Feb 18, 2016
Messages
2,209
Everyone has their own preference obviously. I'm planning my grinder build its gonna be a simple 2in sq tubing that's. 250 thick. Basically a pheer 427 on steroids. I'm planning on just using a single tool arms slot like the KMG but wanted others input. I personally don't see the point in multiple when you can just mount your work rest to the platen/wheel arm. Maybe it's because I've never used one. Any suggestions?
 
Valnut, Since you are building your own grinder I must give my opinion. You absolutely need to design in a second tool arm slot. Why? Because you will be doing things that are better done with a rest and you will probably build more than one rest for your grinder... One for an adjustable rest that you use most of the time and two for a tilt able rest tat you use to finish your swedges before and after heat treat and three for a horizontal rest to finish the underside of blades perfectly perpendicular. You will maybe have more than three rests if you want a long rest and a medium length rest for certain jobs. I have about six rests that I use for various jobs. Of course this just my opinion but if you make knives log enough you will build more rests. Larry

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I've used grinders set up both ways, and right now, I do tend to prefer multiple slots/arms. That said, it really depends on what kind of work rest you want to use/build.

Personally, the way I designed my grinder and tool rests, it gives me more versatility positionally with both the tools arms AND the rests. It also helps horizontally as well, if you plan on rotating your grinder.
 
That makes sense guys. I honestly planned on just buying a tool rest one that can move and swivel like what Brett offers for his esteem and what Larry has
 
I personally use two because I like to use the rest to square up spines and handles. I grind freehand and hate having the rest in the way so it's nice to be able to easily remove it.

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There's no reason you can't have BOTH options available. A tool arm style of rest, and then one that bolts right on a platen or the platen tool arm.
 
josh81 said:
I personally use two because I like to use the rest to square up spines and handles. I grind freehand and hate having the rest in the way so it's nice to be able to easily remove it.

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I understand where your comin from man to me it just seems just as easyto turn a knob and remove the rest completely from the platen tooling arm. Then again I've never touched a 2x72 so what do I know? :D
 
valknut said:
I understand where your comin from man to me it just seems just as easyto turn a knob and remove the rest completely from the platen tooling arm. Then again I've never touched a 2x72 so what do I know? :D
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My rest bolts to the arm with a 3/8 nut and bolt so it was a pain. If it was just a knob it probably wouldn't be a big deal.

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knife to a gunfight said:
There's no reason you can't have BOTH options available. A tool arm style of rest, and then one that bolts right on a platen or the platen tool arm.
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VERY good point. That may be the sole reason I do the 2nd tool arm slot. One of those better to have and not need than need and not have kinda things.
-justin
 
Larry, I had that mod of yours on my to do list but I think I need to put it at the top of the list. Thanks. :thumbup:
 
im in the not a fan of rests due to pinch points and danger. i use the one that i have only for profiling blade shapes (once in a while i set it up vertically )
 
I love my esteem but the tool rest is a pain to get set up. A secondary slot would be nice.
 
Alright secondary slot it is lol. Idespair really like to get a rest that can change angles and is pretty versatile
 
Personally, I'd consider something like this. It doesn't need a second tool arm slot, and it always solid to the wheel.
Yes, it's a 2" tube, 1/4" wall, with a 1.5" x 1/4" bar holding the rest.

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That's pretty interesting
This is the design I'm gonna replicate


But it'll be 3/16 wall that's all that my supplier has. And I'll make a regular arm for the belt tensioner with a gas shock
-Justin Schmidt
 
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It only takes a few minutes to have that second slot when you are welding up your grinder body. It will add a lot of possibilities if you want them later on. I did it on the one I am making. I figure I know so little right now I would rather add that possibility than wish I had it later.
 
Yeah that's pretty much what I'm thinking now. Gonna have to wait till next month to get the metal cause if finances but it'll give me more time to figure out everything.
-Justin Schmidt
 
Randydb and Valknut, I wanted a faster, more adjustable rest for at least two years before I finally took my KMG apart and made a second slot...days later I had the adjustable rest completed and have never regretted it. What a pleasure my grinder is to use now. You guys wont be sorry for taking the time to have a second slot. First photo is the old nonadjustable rest . Second photo is adjustable rest attached to tool arm which is complicated and time consuming to use and the third photo is the new adjustable tool rest that is fast to adjust with all my attachments. Larry
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LARRYZ10 said:
Randydb and Valknut, I wanted a faster, more adjustable rest for at least two years before I finally took my KMG apart and made a second slot...days later I had the adjustable rest completed and have never regretted it. What a pleasure my grinder is to use now. You guys wont be sorry for taking the time to have a second slot. First photo is the old nonadjustable rest . Second photo is adjustable rest attached to tool arm which is complicated and time consuming to use and the third photo is the new adjustable tool rest that is fast to adjust with all my attachments. Larry
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That third rest. Can you adjust the angle of the third rest? If so can you show a picture of how that works?
 
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