The belt grinder struggle

Greenberg Woods

Greenberg Woods

Joined
Dec 27, 2013
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I don't know if this is in the right place, if not mods, please tell me and i will take it down or move it

Hey guys! Just paid my membership after a year of pestering everyone with questions!

What i have been wondering about is belt grinders. I have been checking craigslist in my area every day for months now, and i have not seen anything that is good for knife making, something on par with a KMG. Being in highschool and working in carpentry puts me in a spot I think a lot of other younger makers are in where its hard to justify a new grinder. I did notice however that in posts about things like the esteem grinders, a lot of the more professional makers talk about having no more use for their old belt grinder. I was wondering if there was a system or if we could make one where myself and others in my position could pay a fair price for other makers used grinders that are no longer in use. I may be overlooking something big, but to me it seems like a way to help foster a new generation of knife makers while helping the current one make space and money of their unused grinder. Thanks for reading, and happy new year guys!
 
What I have been wondering about is belt grinders. I have been checking craigslist in my area every day for months now, and I have not seen anything that is good for knife making, something on par with a KMG

Being in high-school and working in carpentry puts me in a spot I think a lot of other younger makers are in where its hard to justify a new grinder.

I did notice however that in posts about things like the esteem grinders, a lot of the more professional makers talk about having no more use for their old belt grinder.


I was wondering if there was a system or if we could make one where myself and others in my position could pay a fair price for other makers used grinders that are no longer in use.

I may be overlooking something big, but to me it seems like a way to help foster a new generation of knife makers while helping the current one make space and money of their unused grinder.
Click to expand...


I've never seen anyone say they have no use for their old belt grinder


Even if they transition to a new one, its easy to keep the old one and dedicate it to a single operation that it's still good for.
Lot's of makers have multiple grinders


There is a system in place, the tools and supplies portion of the exchange.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/765-For-Sale-Knifemaking-Supplies-amp-Tools



I do see folks that gave knifemaking a shot and then didn't seem to like it sell off their equipment.

However grinders hold their value and there will be no huge bargains there.
Especially when you consider shipping.
 
I used search tempest to try and locate a KMG or anything similar on craigslist for 3 months. I found one KMG/Kiln/Drill a younger fellow was selling in North Carolina. It was the only one I found and it was gone in two days. There was one other in Mississippi but I thought it was too shady and I'm in Ohio and that was too far anyway. I was willing to drive to NC but didn't do me any good since it was sold. In the end I drove 10 minutes down the road to Beaumont and plopped down the cash for a KMG. They just don't come up very often. I ran into an old highschool buddy that got into knives and he had two KMGs. Sold one but to his buddy so it never made it to craigslist, which I suspect happens to most when people do sell them.

Knife making is expensive and I'll take this opportunity to be a boring adult and say use this as motivation to get into college and be a biologist or something. Then just buy everything you need and make knives at your leisure :)

Outside that you can look for a "maker" group. There is one here in Columbus and you can pay a small class fee and then a yearly membership and use anything they have that you took their training course on. The one here has everything from CNC plasma cutters to a forge and anvil. You can 3d print your scales and hammer out a knife all in the same place!
 
In response to the "being an adult" i am honestly way ahead of you. A major goal of mine is to enter the metallurgical sciences and to make sure i earn enough to comfortably support my hobbies and passions.
 
You can get the all time Sears Crapsmans 2 x42" like this one.

http://www.sears.com/palmgren-2inch...-SPM7891037227?prdNo=5&blockNo=5&blockType=G5

I started with files and then bought one of these and sold each knife for enough to buy materials to make at least three more. I had a coffee can. The sale from each knife I would put 1/3 of the cash in the can until I could buy my www.cootebeltgrinder.com I bought the 8" wheeled 2 x 72" and Like the count mentioned, I still own it some 15 plus years later even though bought a Hardcore Products grinder some 13 plus years ago.

http://trugrit.com/index.php?main_page=shopping_cart

I bought a KMG after that but sold it some five years later. So, you can do this in stages if you get the big degree in Biology or desire to become a machinist/ full time knife maker.

Stay safe and have fun!
 
If possible start with a 2 42" at least. The 1" is two narrow and you can get better belts for less going to the 2" x 42 with 2 x 72" being the most economical way to buy the best grinding belts.
 
I have a 6 by 42 that has been working alright. I have been doing this about two years now, so its not really about starting the knife making for me. Its about really advancing for me.
 
The 6 x 42 is usable in knife making for a few things and you can get Ceramic belts for it from Scott at www.trugrit.com

I do again suggest you do a 2" wide belt. I built my Coote 2 x 72" on to a dolly to make a mobile knife making, sharpening system I can use on the tailgate of my truck for demo's etc and sharpening work. Its probably given me the most return of all my machine purchases for knife making due to its low cost, simplicity and flexibility of use.
 
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