What about the grizzly knifegrinder

[Bama]

I am about to buy my first knife grinder what is the best for under $500 I like the Grizzly as I dont have a buffing wheel either. I have the no weld grinder plans and am going to build one eventually but $395 is pretty cheap. Thanks Anthony

 

[silver_pilate]

It will work. It runs fast and is only capable of one speed as the motor is direct drive, and you can't mount step pullies. The tracking isn't really good, but that can be helped by a strip of electric tape in the middle of the tracking wheel to effectively increase the crown a bit. Hollow grinding can be done but is a hassle as the motor is in the way on the left side of the wheel. The buffer is handy, but be very, very careful with this particular piece of shop equipment which is considered almost without fail to be THE most dangerous piece of equipment in a shop. This buffer also runs fast.

Again, many people have started with and still use a Grizzly for knifemaking. Heck, I ground many a blade on the grizzly before I was able to pony up for the KMG, and I still do 99% of the work on every handle I make on the grizzly.

You can grind great knives with this machine; it just takes a light touch and lots of practice to get it right.

--nathan

 

[Bama]

Thanks I was just wondering I may just build one from the plans first

 

[Bama]

I have a nice 1 1/2 hp motor what about the cootes grinder

 

[rayban]

You can grind great knives with this machine; it just takes a light touch and lots of practice to get it right.

--nathan

...for a beginner, same can be said for a KMG, right??

 

[drewfacehotm]

if you have the time and the materials, you'd be better off building your own, you can make a top of the line grinder for about what you would pay for the two wheel hobby grinders.

 

[rayban]

if you have the time and the materials, you'd be better off building your own

You left out the "knowledge" part, as with cutting, assembly, etc....pretty key stuff.....like the WARRANTY.....most folks, myself included, have to buy things we can't make.
Besides, and I've done the research, the cost of the right motor and decent wheels equate to the cost of a Grizz.

 

[Bama]

Well I have the knowledge to build it The hardest part believe it or not is buying the steel I need 1.5' of 4" square tubing but I can only buy it in 25' sticks what am I gonna do with 23.5' 4 " square tubing not too mention all the other left over steel

 

[fitzo]

You can buy most all the parts, including precut steel, thru the author of the plans.
http://www.usaknifemaker.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=59

 

[drewfacehotm]

true, but building a grinder would be good practice for making close fits, locating holes, and keeping things square. All things that can be applied to knifemaking. He already has the motor and the plans. you can get the grizzly contact wheel for $65 and mount that on a pillowblock bearing. Might have to spend $150 on the idler wheel and the tracking wheel. Good practice, saving money sounds like a deal to me.

http://www.speedymetals.com/ps-4803-205-4-sq-x-14-wall-square-steel-tubing.aspx

this site usually has decent prices for things like this

 

[silver_pilate]

+1 for Tracy at USAKnifemaker. He's top notch, and you absolutely cannot beat their service.

--nathan

 

[bikermikearchery]

+2 for Tracy at USAKnifemaker.
I have both the grizzly grinder and Tracy's NWG I use them both equally.
BUT, I really love my NWG.
Some time you need to get creative. I had all the materials to make the frame work for my partners grinder except for the two up-right tubes. cut up an old stationary bike and used it for the missing piece. this works like a champ.

 

[C.Edmondson]

I have a grizzly and Bader, Now theirs alot of difference in different machines, but after learning to use my Bader and alot of pratice, I could do anything on the grizzly I can do on the Bader. I think the NWG is a great idea, you always learn more if you have experience in making your equiptment. If you make it you will know everything their is to know about it, Good luck Bama,Charlie

 

[silver_pilate]

One of the biggest pluses for the no weld grinder (NWG), KMG, or other high end grinder is the versatility that you have as far as easily changing out tooling arms for platens, big/small wheels, slack grinding, etc. The grizzly is pretty much a fixed capability platform, though with some inginuity, you can adapt it a bit. But as Charlie said, I can do just about anything on my Grizzly that I can on my KMG (except use the small wheel). It's just alot easier and much nicer to do it on my KMG.

--nathan

 

[bjalongi]

I have one and would never buy another. None of the cast parts are square and the shafts are not machined accurately, so I have serious tracking problems even after hours of work and numerous replacement parts.

 

[Bill DeShivs]

If you already have a motor, a Coote or even a Kalamazoo would be your best bet. Just hook it up and grind.
While the QC on the Grizzly can be iffy, I have worn one out, and immediately bought another.

 

[oldpinecricker]

Was in the same situation this spring. I bought the KMG w/3h.p. motor and varible drive and am totally happy. There is very little welding on the grinders so cloning them would be extremely easy and I intend to build one myself.

The KMG/Bader design is way better and versatile than any Coote or Grizzly.

Do the KMG or clone and you'll thank yourself. I heard this before on this forum but when I got mine I became an believer.