what size contact wheel

Ryan Minchew

Ryan Minchew

Joined
Sep 29, 2005
Messages
580
I've already have an 8" contact wheel. Now I'm going to buy either a 10" or a 12" wheel. Any recommendations on which size? Is one neccesarily easier than the other?
 
J.S. Carter said:
go with a platten that mimmicks a 36" wheel! Very shallow hollow grinds are awesome!
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I've seen those mentioned but where do you get them? Also do they wear as fast as a metal or pyrocam platen? If so that would throw me off. My platen wears so fast I have to change grinding spots to make grinds look good.
 
sounds like you need to reharden your platten!. it shouldnt be wearing at all, a little polished is all it should get! I'd get me a 3 foot stick of annealed 3/16" - 1/4" tool steel. (01, 10xx, A2, 5160, etc) draw a 3 foot circle on the floor and use an arbor press to make the correct radius. then cut off to the proper length, weld your fixtures and harden. then polish the outside radius to a mirror finish and install :D alot of work but you can say you made it! :cool::thumbup:
 
I may try that. As far as the platens wearing, I've bought 3 all of them have a bad pitting problem and I've done the pyrocam platen thing twice and it's worse than the platen. Thanks for the help. I'm probably going to order a wheel, then try making an arched platen. I'm on a time constraint or I'd do it now (aren't we all). Thanks again.
 
Ryan I see a lot more going to 14 inch wheels now. I have an eight, ten and eighteen inch wheel. I use the 8 to rough hollow then the ten for smaller blades. I am just learning the eighteen and it is different. You do not feel the hollow when you lay a blade on the wheel. I do on the eight and ten. Mike Miller
 
Mike, where did you get the 18" wheel, and if I may ask, how much was it? What brand of grinder are you using it on? Thanks.

Ryan, I would try and find a 14" wheel to grind on before you made your decision. It takes a bit to get used to, but I really like the grind.
 
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Unless you are going to grind a lot of blades that require exactly a 10" wheel to get the hollow right,...... get a 14".
It will cost you more, but you will use it more.
Stacy
 
Fitzo,It is a homemade variety that was put together. Mainly plywood with a bearing center and hard rubber wrap. Tracks better than a grizzly and my Wilton. Mike
 
Thanks for the info, Mike. I need to make a cardboard mockup one of these days and see if an 18" will fit on my KMGs.
 
Mike ,In addition it was made by Rick Menefee and he had Bob Steele turn the wheel on his lathe after he had it glued and screwed together. Bearing were put in and the hard rubber glued on. It has as a base a truck rim and 4by 6 inch channel and motor is suspended on a hingle plate at the back. It is not something you want to move around all the time. I tried it to do a skinner then liked it. Rick made him a 14 inch variable speed grinder for hs folders and he thought it was taking up his space so i jumped on it and moved it out that day. Couldn't be happier but it takes some getting used to. Mike Miller
 
I think peer pressure from knifemaker's is even worse than the school yard. I just ordered a 14" wheel. I really appreciate the help.

Mr. Miller what are you going to the Arkansas show?
 
Mike, thanks for the info. Now I have the wheels turning! :) Making one would sure save a lot of money versus the $1000+ CRC wants for the commercial version.
Are the bearings mounted directly in the 18" wheel, or is it on a shaft and mounted to a pair of pillow blocks?

Ryan, after helping spend your money, I hope you enjoy the wheel. It'll seem a little wild to hold a line at first, but you'll get used to it quickly.
 
The bearings are mounted on either side of the 4 inch channel. The shaft looks be be at least one and1/4 inch. The shaft is turned down and stepped on the drive side for the pulley. The wheel side is stepped down and threaded to tighten up. Even the drive wheel is wood. Looks like a six inch drive wheel mounted just like the grind one, bearing on one side and stepped down thread on the other. The whole configuration is a "T".
 
Thanks a lot for the info, Mike. It'll surely help a lot if I decide to try and build one.
It sounds like a cool grinder you have there!
 
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