Small Sander / Grinder recommendation

T

TheBishop

Joined
Aug 27, 2009
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203
Hello fellas,
Looking for a recommendation for a small sander/grinder for sharpening and fixing dinged blades, not making blades.
Trying to get a knife sharpening biz up and running ... starting to pick up, mainly edge work .. but every now and then get that butchered blade that needs some regrinding, not just a re-profile.

Budget is tight as is space. I've read about the Craftsman 2x42, the harbor freight 93981 but may be a bit large.
Just want to shorten the sharpening process and repair the tragedies I find on the abused ones, and start the new edge before I finish it off by hand.

Want to cut the time frame down. Might double as being able to offer utensil/outside hand tool sharpening.

Any input greatly appreciated!
 
Sounds like a job for the harbor freight model. I bought one 1.5 yrs ago for 80.00 and have used it every day. It is hard to bog it down and it's perfect for sharpening/a little grinding...I also saw a sale paper recently from harbor and it was reduced to 40.00!

I just keep mine free from dust by vacuuming it out everyday.

Good luck,Dan
 
A 1" x 30" belt sander is a good place to start, it can be used for sharpening and redoing bevels on damaged knives. There a wide range of grits available for most any job. I would get a good one, they are not too expensive. I put a pic of the HF but it is really junk.

image_11211.jpg
 
Patrickknives said:
A 1" x 30" belt sander is a good place to start, it can be used for sharpening and redoing bevels on damaged knives. There a wide range of grits available for most any job. I would get a good one, they are not too expensive. I put a pic of the HF but it is really junk.

View attachment 268327
Click to expand...

Patrick, very interesting reading up on these.
I'm wondering on these 1/3 HP units. ran across Edgemasters for $199 ... check this out:
302731_preview.gif


Is it my imagination or are these 2 the same design?

I saw a few others that look identical.
 
I've had a HF 1x30 for about a year now and quit counting after 50 hours of use, I'd guess I have @ 70 hours on it now. Works well on handles and a little reprofiling. It throws a lot of sparks with high carbon steel and they get caught right below the tool rest. I clean mine out after every use.
 
went to HF and grabbed the 1 x 30, just for the hell of it.
Grabbed some belts in klingspor in40, 80, 220, 400, 800, the norton in 1200 and 3000.
A Strop and compound from trugrit.

Start to finish about $100.

Budget starter set for what I'm doing.
Will report how things work.

Was surprised seeing the size of the 2x42's.
Much smaller in life ... if the need comes up, will try that before jumping into the $1k range.
If I can make $ faster than by hand, especially in the horrible conditions I'm seeing blades. $100 well spent I'm guessing.

Thanks for all the input, it at least gave me a start.
In time real tools ... but this 1 x 30 intrigues me ... I'm wondering if they are mostly the same as I can't see any dif between several manufacturers.

Now to wait for the belts .....
 
A bench grinder and a set of paper sharpening wheels can save you lots of time and hand work.
 
Where did you purchase your belts and strop? I found a few but having trouble with the finer grits.
Thanks, Rick
 
I bought a Kalamazoo 1x42 that I only use for sharpening and handle finishing. It has a slow speed motor and plenty of power at 1/3 horsepower. Plus with the Baldor motor should last for a very long time. It is a little more expensive at close to $200, but I really like mine. Belts can be bought from 36 to over 1000 grit, plenty of range for sharpening.
 
FTR-14c said:
Where did you purchase your belts and strop? I found a few but having trouble with the finer grits.
Thanks, Rick
Click to expand...
FTR ... truegrit: http://www.trugrit.com/belts1.htm

I mainly stayed with Klingspor just to try 1 company first, than Nortons for the high grits. Wildshot on the leather belt, will see it when it gets here. But did get the compound to see how it is.
Also went to http://www.vintagebladesllc.com/vshop/xcart/product.php?productid=1123&cat=102&page=1 for chrom Oxide in .50 ... 3.5 oz for $15 ... not bad.
 
Big Chris said:
I bought a Kalamazoo 1x42 that I only use for sharpening and handle finishing. It has a slow speed motor and plenty of power at 1/3 horsepower. Plus with the Baldor motor should last for a very long time. It is a little more expensive at close to $200, but I really like mine. Belts can be bought from 36 to over 1000 grit, plenty of range for sharpening.
Click to expand...

Chris, that looks like a real piece of machinery :)
Where did you find it under 200 if you don't mind .... i'm seeing 275 everywhere.
 
TheBishop I bought it about two years ago while working at a machine shop through MSC. It was in a seasonal sale catalog and just assumed it could be found for similar price elsewhere. I think my actual cost was $190.

I am sorry for the bad info. I was quick to the keyboard and didnt try to back up my information. $275 was the best price I was able to find as well.

Chris
 
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Big Chris said:
TheBishop I bought it about two years ago while working at a machine shop through MSC. It was in a seasonal sale catalog and just assumed it could be found for similar price elsewhere. I think my actual cost was $190.

I am sorry for the bad info. I was quick to the keyboard and didnt try to back up my information. $275 was the best price I was able to find as well.

Chris
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Same here.
I'll see how this cheapo works out once the belts come. If I can get proficient with a 1" and get things popping sharp, I know I would want something more solid. The HF is definitely junkyish, but it may just be the same as the other 1 x 30s. Flip side, at 40 a pop and there is an easter sale coming at HF for anyone looking ... 25% off ... a cheap worker and expandable.

If this is the same as Edgemasters ... check out this video and setup ... if they are the same, at 30 say on sale a pop ..... $150 can give you a fast setup:

[video=youtube;HCihlSO0zso]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCihlSO0zso[/video]
 
I would love to find a quality 1x30, but they all seem to be the same grinder with just a different name on them. Does anyone know of a decent little 1x30. I have a dremel brand right now and it is junk. I would love a GIB 1x30 version.
 
Bishop I have a little HF 1 x 30 that I use just for sharpening. That thing has run and run and run for years. Eventually the switch went bad so I re wired it just to run when plugged in. Got tired of that and bought a foot pedal switch for it. I use to keep it just set up with a leather belt. Recently though I tried a felt belt. Using the same compound seems like the felt belt just does a better job. Also seems to last longer. Seemed like the leather belts eventually stretched and wouldn't track well, even had some that would pop off and not stay on the machine. Have not had this problem with this felt one. Might be something to look at. Got the felt belt from Jantz.
 
Horsewright said:
Bishop I have a little HF 1 x 30 that I use just for sharpening. That thing has run and run and run for years. Eventually the switch went bad so I re wired it just to run when plugged in. Got tired of that and bought a foot pedal switch for it. I use to keep it just set up with a leather belt. Recently though I tried a felt belt. Using the same compound seems like the felt belt just does a better job. Also seems to last longer. Seemed like the leather belts eventually stretched and wouldn't track well, even had some that would pop off and not stay on the machine. Have not had this problem with this felt one. Might be something to look at. Got the felt belt from Jantz.
Click to expand...

Thanks Horsewright!

Just ordered 2, have a variety of diamond sprays and .5 Chromium Oxide paste.
Did you have a preference?
 
I've been just using a green scratch remover. A lot of knives I like with a pretty toothy edge but my leather working knives and edgers I want really polished. This felt belt with this compoound has taken care of both needs really well.
 
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