Whats the best belt sander for a beginer?

Steelhog

Steelhog

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Jul 2, 2009
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I was wondering what the best belt sander for a beginer to start with for knife making would be? I am looking at the Grizzley H3140. Let me know what you think, or post a pic of your set up.
 
If you buy a high quality grinder it will shorten the learning curve greatly due to the fact you wont have to learn to adapt to the limitations of a cheaper machine.Buy a Bader,Wilton square wheel,KMG,NWG,or another one designed specifically for knife making and you'll only have to buy once,instead of twice.I personally love the KMG.
 
How much money do you have to spend? A quality, variable speed grinder will shorten the learning process if you are willing to practice and learn, it will also eat steel faster than a begginer is capable of controlling.

The price range dictates the grinder recommendations. If you're specific, "I have $xxxx and 220v or 110v outlets," allows us to give more specific and helpful answers instead of playing the answer a question with a question to get enough useful data game.

Under $600 Coote, Grizzly and NWG
Under $2000- KMG, used Burr King 960 (if you're lucky,) Bader, Wilton Square Wheel
Over $2000- Maxed out KMG, Bader, Burr King 960, Dozier

Most quality makers can grind better on a Grizzly than beginners can on a KMG, remember it's the man running the tool, not the tool.
 
McAhron said:
Buy a Bader,Wilton square wheel,KMG,NWG,or another one designed specifically for knife making and you'll only have to buy once,instead of twice.I personally love the KMG.
Click to expand...

My second one is a Wilton Square Wheel ... great machine.

Larry
 
for the folks that absolutely cannot afford even the grizzly's.... which would be preferable? an 8" bench grinder or something like the harbor freight 1" belt sander??? A bench grinder would continue to have value even when I could afford to upgrade to a KMG or whatever.... but what value would that 1" sander have???
 
I can't tell you much about that small 1x30 from HF, people make knives with them. Chris Moss makes exceptional knives with one, I find mine barely adequate to square up the edges on sheaths.

A bench grinder can be used to rough profile, I used to use a 3x24 hand belt sander chucked upside down in a bench vise.

The trick to tools is not seeing what they're selling but seeing what YOU need.
 
I've made 5 on a harbor freight 1x30 and while it'll do the trick it is far from ideal. I'm in the process of building the NWGS and can't wait to get it finished. I've done some basic profiling and other work on a KMG and a Bader at a local knifemaking brothers shop. Both were light years ahead of the little 1x30.

This was my first with the setup mentioned.
FirstKnifesmall.jpg


This was my last with that setup. I'm actually going to redo pretty much the exact same knife (slightly different handle setup) when I get the 2x72 built for comparison.
Wildernessinhandsmall.jpg


If you're on a very limited budget then by all means get the 1x30 and order some good belts. Aluminum Oxide will not work well. If you can, save up and build the NWGS, it's probably you're least expensive option to get a professional grade grinder.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Charlie
 
Nobody's mentioned the cheap man's workhorse, the Craftsman 2x42. It's wicked fast, belt selection is just OK, but it's a decent starter machine for $150 or so. It takes practice to get used to the speed, but you can learn to make some good blades with it. I've made about 70 so far on mine over the last year. Here's one totally done on the Craftsman.
100_3011-e1264213060415.jpg
 
hmmm... That Craftsman might be the tool I need. Any tech minded folk know how to slow that puppy down??
 
If you can spare $450.00, grizzly's 2"X 72" model http://www.grizzly.com/products/G1015/images/ is definitely a good starting point. That is the grinder I currently am using and will keep after I get a better one. It will allow you the advantage of experimenting with the full size 2" x 72" belts as opposed to fooling around with the smaller 1" x 30" or 1" x 42" belts. There are pretty big differences in the way you will go about grinding on these smaller models....I also have a 1" x 42" Delta with an 8" disk.....my very first grinder. I had to learn a new method of grinding when I switched from my Delta to my Grizzly. Keep all of the grinders you will inevitably acquire....each will have a more specific use when you eventually get that custom grinder we all dream of. I will definitely keep my Grizzly for blade profiling, scale removal, and other less glamorous tasks. I will also keep my Delta for sharpening blades, squaring parts, and fitting contours.

Bob
 
If you're looking to spend under 200 go with the Craftsman 2x42. The only thing mod I would suggest to is getting the ceramic glass platen for it here and setting up the way it's recommended. The metal platen that's on it isn't the greatest. As long as you take your time and don't press too hard against it you should be fine with the speed of it.
 
Hey thanks for all the quick posts. I realy am kinda clueless as to what I need. The reason I mentioned the Grizzley is because I have a chance to buy one used. But the Craftsman 2x42 is cheep and looks nice.
 
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