To All You Guys Using A Rolling Mill

Jim McGuinn

Jim McGuinn

Joined
Sep 8, 2013
Messages
385
Hi I am new to the forum I made a few knives about 20 years ago and stopped because I did not have the time, equipment, money ect. A bout a year ago I decided to give it another try. I have made a couple of grinders based on the KMG grinder but with direct drive using a VFD and they work great. Now I have started on a rolling mill It will be my version of the Hugh McDonald mill but with gear reduction unit and larger rollers. My question is this would it be worth the extra work to make it where both upper and lower rollers are driven? Does the steel tend to curve up when exiting the rollers due to only one being powered?

Your input will be greatly appreciated.

Jim
 
I don't recall ever using a rolling mill that did not have both rollers driven.
 
it don't matter if both rollers are driven or just one the steel will curl under certain circumstances.
 
The gear box has two output shafts I could rig it up with an idler gear to reverse the rotation of the lower roller. My question is is it worth the extra work and expense.
 
Many of the smaller mills used by knifemakers only have one roller powered. Even the more expensive ones like the Matt Whitmus mill originally only had one roller powered. Chuck Bybee has had one of those for a while that he uses to stomp down Timascus and he said he speicifically requested both be powered when he had his built. I would wonder if the basic design of the McDonald mill with the movable "stomp down" action would minimize the benefit of the second powered roller.
 
At first I doubted that enough pressure could be applied with the leverage gained by stomping on the peddle. But after some calculations I found I can get over 8000 lbs of force.
 
Jim McGuinn said:
The gear box has two output shafts I could rig it up with an idler gear to reverse the rotation of the lower roller. My question is is it worth the extra work and expense.
Click to expand...

I am of the opinion that it is not going to be worth the extra time and expense of doing so. I have a whittmus rolling mill (both rollers powered) and have used a McDonald mill one roll powered. The mill that Matt makes will reduce further per pass and do wider stock than the McDonald mill will but the reduction is about the same.
 
My rollers are 8 1/4" wide hoping to be able to angel the steel as it passes through the rollers and make it wider.
 
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