What kind of surface grinder do you have???

NickWheeler

NickWheeler

Joined
Dec 3, 1999
Messages
9,437
Okay, they're not a must....but to make smooth lock-backs (and liner locks I would imagine) it is damn near a must.

I have been looking quite a lot, and I would like to see what kind of surface grinders are being used out there by you other makers.

I've looked through the past 3 or 4 years of KI checking out the shop-tours.

I've seen some small Delta/Rockwell tool-maker grinders that look like they would work well. One even had a fine pole chuck.

I don't want to quit fixed blades, there are too many designs I still want to do. So a machine that would assist in prepping fixed blade stock would be nice.

I know several of you own one, so please speak up on this one!
biggrin.gif


I'm not looking for advice on whether or not they're necessary, I already know I want one.

Thanks guys,
Nick
 
I own a 6X12 model from Harbor Freight. $995 including shipping.
I reserached for a long time before I purchased mine.....here's what I found.
All 6X12 import surface grinders sold in the US are made in the same factory. Most of them come into the US through San Diego, Ca. At the port they are uncrated, and the machines that are going to the various compainies get painted and their stickers slapped on. This is the only thing I can find that creates the great price differences. The machines that are sold through Harbor Frieght never get unpacked and painted, just forwarded to the company. Take a close look at the one's advertised by Grizzly, J&l, or Jet.........if you look past the paint and stickers, they are all the EXACT same machines.
I would prefer to have purchased a used Boyer-Schultz, or something similar, but everyone I looked at was $2000+, and needed extensive work to be operational.
Mine arrived, I set it up to run 2X72 belts, and added a good Taft/Pierce fine pole mag chuck. Total cost was less than $1500. I've had no problem with tolerances, or accuracy, either from the belts, or the machine itself. Mine was origonally purchased with folders in mind, but once you have one, you'll discover 101 uses for it everyday.

------------------
Ed Caffrey "The Montana Bladesmith"
ABS Mastersmith
www.caffreyknives.com
 
I have a Grizzly. The only thing I wish it had was a ball bearing table, becuse I've found the lubrication to be critical to surface finish. (In the winter, the way oil can get a bit thick - so I use 10W pneumatic tool oil.)

Also, remeber to get some sort of accurate indicator to measure the column movement. The handwheel graduations are too coarse when you're trying to remove material by the tenthousandths!

------------------

Tom Anderson
Hand Crafted Knives
 
Nick,
I have a large piece of tempered glass with
sandpaper attached. Couldn't resist.
Later,
sashcord
biggrin.gif


------------------
Be alert...the world needs more lerts.
 
Thanks for the replies guys. It seems to be a toss-up: buy a used American machine and deal with the wear, or buy a new import and deal with possible poor tolerances. I used to think that converting to a belt was silly, that it would throw off your machine too much because of the splice in the belts....but I can see now that it would make the machine a lot faster. Time IS money
wink.gif


I can't seem to find the machine from Harbor Freight. Neil Blackwood told me the same thing Ed, that they're all the same machine. Since HF was selling their's for $1000, and Grizzly $1400, that would just flat piss me off.

Anyway, thanks.

Sashcord, I have a precision ground plate that you stretch abrasive cloth over, and YES it can be done by hand. BUT, whewe, it takes so damn long
eek.gif


I know with a surface grinder everything from blade stock, bolster stock, guards, scales, liners.....it would all get thrown on the chuck and ground.

Thanks
Nick
 
Hey Ed, give us some more info on the belt sanding conversion and how it works/how you like it? Thanks.
 
Nick,
I have a 6 x 18 Chavalier. They offer quite a line of surface grinders and milling machines.
 
Tom: I'm not Ed, but, I did convert a KO Lee 6 x 12 over to belts. Then, I threw a 6 x 18 mag chuck that I picked up from the MSC "bargain table". I actually BONDED the chuck to the machine, as it's too big for the clamp spacing. But, that's another story...
I replaced the rock with a 7", 90 durometer solid wheel,
Built a spring tension arm w/a crown pulley, and mounted an idler pulley (all parts/wheels P/F BADER). Mounted these to a Aluminum plate and whammo!!

If you want to de-bark stock, re-grind post heat treated blade flats or taper tangs, it's great. Holding 10ths is trickier, because the contact wheel is rubber, meaning that just because you crank the handwheel down .002 doesn't mean that .002 is being removed!!
As for flatness, I've had great success keeping things very flat-the belt puts very little stress into the steel, so it doesn't potato chip on you.

The way I set mine up, I can always return to the rock anytime...

RJ Martin
 
hard wood block and elbow grease
biggrin.gif


------------------
I may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer... but I've got the sharpest knife in the room.
 
Nick, The item number on the 6X12 Surface Grinder in the HF catalog is: 33732-5RJH. That is in their latest catalog #731-G. Good luck with it. Mark Hazen
 
Nick,

Have you considered used equipment? You would be surprised what shows up in the want ads and at a "Used Tool/Machinery" dealer. Not only could you get a sweet deal, but it might include some tooling (magnetic chuck, lubricant tank, etc...).

Here in Tucson, we have a very large supplier of used machinery and he probably has several on the floor...

Check your yellow pages, do a web search, try eBay, don't get discouraged...

Give these businesses a call, better yet visit them...

Vancouver Bolt & Supply Inc, 805 W 11th St Vancouver, WA (360) 699-4406

Aimmco, 6206a E 18th St Vancouver, WA (360) 737-9655

Center Line Co, 2917 NE 65th St # M Vancouver, WA (360) 693-9022

Davis Development & Mfg Inc, 9500 NE 72nd Ave Vancouver, WA (360) 892-7802

Gillaspie Manufacturing Inc, 12800 NE 95th St Vancouver, WA (360) 260-1975

Good Luck...

Bruce Jensky

 
Wow, thanks for the replies!

Bruce, holy cow, how thorough was that?
biggrin.gif
Thanks! I'll give these places a ring tomorrow and see what they can tell me.

Actually, used equipment is mostly what I had been looking at. The only problem with ebay, is after the initial price, it seems like they're all in FL or NY, so I'm looking at anywhere from $400 to $900 additional shipping charges for a 6-900 lb. machine.

I know, don't whine
wink.gif


It seems like most of the big name units I've found are 3 phase, but then again a $125 converter would fix that problem. I'm not sure how much power I'd lose with a converter though.

Well, the search continues. Thanks everybody!

Nick
 
If anyone is close enough to me, I have a Tachella with all three axis' powered by hydraulics, needs some work, would sell cheap or trade. email me if your interested.

Ted
MMHW
 
nick, just keep looking, you never know where
you will find stuff.got my grinder from the local junk man. one mans junk another mans treasure,very true! i bought two no. 2Brown &Sharp surface grinders and a 20" band saw,
sold one grinder for the price of all three.
it dont always work this good. just keep looking. took me six years to get one.

------------------
Tracy Dotson
Dotson's Custom Knives
Baker Fl.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top