What is this thing used for?

B

Boston_Strong

Joined
Jul 7, 2016
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I was watching forged in fire the other day and one of the makers had a grinder at his home shop with a giant contact wheel (I would guess at least 24 inches) and I was wondering what is the purpose of such a large contact wheel?

Here's a pic for reference
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It's use is as you see it. I'm not being nasty. It's a grinder that will do a hollow grind but a shallow one. They seem to becoming more popular in recent years.
Frank
 
I want one. Mostly because I think hollow grinding is easier than flat bevel grinding free hand. More points of contact or whatever you want to call it, when I hollow grind free hand it's just easier to get into and stay true to the wheel than it is on the flat platen for me.

But if I have to "walk the grind up" on my 12" wheel because it's not giving me the bevel height I want that goes right out the window and I may as well have flat ground it. So I'd love to have an 18 or 20" wheel because you can make short bevels with a big wheel without changing the radius, but you can't make tall bevels with a small wheel unless you open the radius up.
 
That is a Burr King 2 x 72 belt grinder with a 20 inch wheel. It is made for knife making for those who want a very shallow hollow grind. Only flaw is that it doesn't have a work rest, probably wouldn't be hard to add however.

Hoss
 
A maker I know has one to do pocket knife blades on..He loves it and it does a very nice shallow grind perfect for pocket knives.
 
Those also mimic the large water stones that Japanese knifemakers often use. To this end, they are also great for grinding urasaki on single-bevel Japanese knives.

- Chris
 
Damn, everything about that grinder makes me feel inadequate. Haha. That's awesome.
 
72 inch DIAMETER which is a 36 inch radius. That 20 inch wheel would have a 10 inch radius. Nathan made the platens in 36,48 and 72. I have a 36 and 72, both which are very good for doing curved clip points. IMO the 72 probably best simulates the huge old grinding wheels that you used to see in places like Solingen.
redbate said:
You can also get radiused platens as well, I've seen them go up to 72 inches radius.
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Yeap, the big wheel merges the fullness of a flat grind with the crisp lines of an hollow grind
 
Murray Carter has a Hardcore grinder with a 20" wheel that he runs in reverse, like his Japanese water stone. I think wheels are more efficient at removing material and belts last longer.

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Tony Bose had Bur King make the first, then they added it to their line up.

I do some hollow grinding with a 14" wheel, but a 20 is a hell of a lot bigger. I might get one.

Tom McGinnis in the photo above has a knife making school & is a Bur King dealer in Ozark Mo. Good dude!
 
HSC /// said:
Murray Carter has a Hardcore grinder with a 20" wheel that he runs in reverse, like his Japanese water stone. I think wheels are more efficient at removing material and belts last longer.


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Click to expand...

Yes! That is true.
 
I want to switch over to hollow grinding most of my knives when upgrade my grinder i probably wont even buy a flat platen at first. Between belt life and the fact hollow grind are more astheticly pleasing (to me, unless its a big nick wheeler style bowie) If i need flat i have my 2x42 in reserve.
 
HSC /// said:
Murray Carter has a Hardcore grinder with a 20" wheel that he runs in reverse, like his Japanese water stone. I think wheels are more efficient at removing material and belts last longer.


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Click to expand...

And the reason for that is the rubber under the wheels ........ ? I felt the same in my new disc sander in which I glue 3mm rubber on disk ....
 
Natlek said:
And the reason for that is the rubber under the wheels ........ ? I felt the same in my new disc sander in which I glue 3mm rubber on disk ....
Click to expand...
The rubber plays a part, but more the fact that the wheel rolls with the belt.
 
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