Suggestions needed for apprenticeship

A

Alaska_Guy

Joined
Mar 14, 2014
Messages
70
I feel honored as I am getting the opportunity on the weekends to spend time with a well known knife maker.... This knife maker uses a Bader II with variable speed. I currently only have a 1x42 and he suggested I purchase a Bader as well if I am going to get serious. The only issue is I don't have 3k to drop on a Bader with attachments belts etc.

I was debating on the eerf or other options but it looks as though I'm unable to swap pulleys for grinding on these models...

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks
 
Get a KMG.It is a good solid machine and can be added too and upgraded as you gain skill.
 
Yes, you can easily put a pulley setup on the eerf/gib model. I did and it works great. There was a thread a while back that showed someone else's way of doing it. I really like mine.
 
I have a few motors laying around... They are all single phase. 1HP motor from a tablesaw. And a 2.5HP motor from an air compressor... Would either of these work if I used step pulleys to adjust my speed? I imagine 1680rpm is plenty fast anyhow? Rather not purchase if the stuff I already have would work. I know they are not sealed motors and they could die from the metal shavings... But I am willing to take the chance if they would work.

Thanks again for the input on the KMG... It's just too far out of my budget currently starting out.
 
They don't specifically say... Does the $750 non motor KMG come with the idler wheels, contact wheels, drive wheels, tracking wheels etc?

So far this is what I had put together....

Item Name Price Website
10" Contact Wheel $90.50 http://www.amazon.com/Grizzly-G9242...025&sr=8-1&keywords=grizzly+10"+contact+wheel
4" Drive Wheel $53.00 http://www.beaumontmetalworks.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=20
2" Idler Pulley $44.00 http://www.beaumontmetalworks.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=19
Tracking Wheel $61.48 http://usaknifemaker.com/tracking-tension-wheel-3-1-2-by-2-1-2-with-1-2-bore-and-bea.html
Step Pulley 5/8" Arbor $42.00 http://www.beaumontmetalworks.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=21
Misc hardware $25.00

Total $315.98

I already have the motors, so I would just need the actual unit at that point correct?

I already have my small 1x42 that will do flat grinds if I need to... I was going to just get the 10" contact wheel up front so I can do hollow grinds.
 
If you ask me I would do flat grind all the time. Flat wedges cut easier, but that's just my opinion. If it were me I would spend the 750 on the kmg. It only comes with the platen and the chassis (which includes all the wheels you need other than contact wheels) and then get your contact wheels and other attachments as you get money for them. I would keep making knives on the kmg until you are super super comfortable with flat grinding and then get a contact wheel and start doing hollow grinds. It is obviously cheaper to put together your own grinder, but the kmg is already all set up and you know that everything will be level and what not. Think of it as an investment in a better machine that you can constantly upgrade.
 
Ah ok, that makes total sense. So it's basically ready to go minus the motor? That's a heck of a deal then. I agree with the flat grinds. They are my favorite. However, the guy I am learning under uses his contact wheel far more and that's why I was interested in going that route.

Thanks for all the helpful advice!
 
I totally agree that a KMG will get you going and last the rest of your life.

Don't overlook the importance of contact wheels though. Hogging off bulk with a contact wheel is much faster and gives MUCH longer belt life than just grinding against a platen.

If doing a stock removal blade (or a forged blade that's left a bit thick) I hollow grind EVERY time, before going to the flat platen.

And I'd be lost without (at least) a 2" contact wheel for handle shaping.

A VFD and 3 phase motor is a purchase that you will never regret. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top