Which cheap grinder?

J. Hoffman

J. Hoffman

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Jan 1, 2011
Messages
1,784
I'm looking at either getting a Craftsman 2x48 or the Grizzly 2x72. I know that everyone says that you should not skimp on a grinder, but I also figure that either machine will also be useful for other things once I do upgrade. I like the idea of the Craftsman because of it's price, which will leave me more money for other things. I'm concerned about the availability of quality belts for the Craftsman. I've looked around and there doesn't seem to be much of a selection of belts for that size. Am I better spending the extra money getting the Grizzly.
Thanks for any advice.
Jess
 
I've never used a Grizzly but I've ground dozens of blades on my Craftsman 2x42 and she's still going strong. I intend to use it till it dies, save my pennies and skip over the Grizzly, eventually moving up to a good variable speed 2x72.

It seems the only advantage of the Grizz is that you can indeed get more, better belts for it. At 2-3 times the price I don't think that justifies it. I've seen where people convert a 2x42 to 2x72, that might be worthwhile.

Try Tru-Grit and SuperGrit for 2x42 belts. I get good name brand ceramics from them at the same cost as the horrible AO belts* at Sears and ebay. :thumbup:

EDIT: to be fair, they're horrible for grinding steel. They're just fine for wood and such, which is what they're meant for.
 
That's a good point, I forgot about the buffer the Grizzly has too. I like flat grinds and hand-rubbed finishes so neither one means much to me but it could make a huge difference to many makers :thumbup:
 
The contact wheel on the Grizz means a lot to me, even when flat grinding a contact wheel is just better for profiling as well as blocking out handle shapes. An 8" wheel is just right for how I like to form a palm swell.
 
I started with a Grizzly 2x72 "knife-maker grinder" and still have it. I have upgraded to a KMG for my everyday knife grinding, but the Grizzly is still used for handles and other misc. grinding stuff. Even the 2X48 would be useful. I have a beat-to-shi... 1X42 that I found in the dump that I use every day (the switch was burned out.) Remember, this is just a start. You will always be upgrading your equipment and putting your old equipment to other uses. Just get something and go to work.

-M
______________
ABS Mastersmith
 
If I have to choose between those 2, the grizzly

but if you have the skills to build a knife, why not a 3 wheeled grinder?
The versatility is great.
The small wheel attachment is great.

even a NWG is PDG
 
I've had a grizzly for 4yrs... the motor is great... no bogging. It could use a third wheel (just above the platen) to improve tracking, but I have learned to work around it. You make back the added cost with the money you save on belts in a year. Plus if you are into modding machines, the Grizzly is a great platform to work from.

Rick
 
I keep running down the same mental alleys. I'd LOVE to have a real grinder, but they are so darn big, and I need one I can easily move outside. My workspace is still a Steelcase desk located in my garage, and I am very actively discouraged from doing much in the way of grinding and sanding in that space because of the dust it generates. As a result I have to move my equipment outside (weather permitting) before doing anything that stirs up more than a trivial amount of dust (i.e. anything the machine runs for more than a minute at a time).

I keep thinking of getting something like the Grizzly and mounting it to a rolling cart so I can take it outside... but I have no space in that part of the garage to park the rolling cart. To make room for that I'd have to give up storage space, and I'm already short on storage space. The only other alternative I can think of would be getting rid of the Steelcase and putting in a more efficient work surface... and now we're talking serious money or effort. And oh by the way, I suck at woodworking and furniture construction.... but then you probably guessed that already.

Very frustrating. I need a shop.
 
I really appreciate everyone giving me there suggestions, and not just telling me to get a KMG or Bader. I would love one of those, but at this stage, they are not an option. And Numbers, I don't really know that I do have the skills to build a knife, so at this time building a grinder is out of the question. I'm still waiting on steel for my first knives, and will be doing those with files and sandpaper. Maybe after you see my first knife, you will understand why I can't build a grinder.:D

The Grizzly is nice because it has the buffer attachment, but the Craftsman has the disc sander, and I could get Craftsmans buffer and still be less than the Grizzly.

The Craftsman is listed on line as 2x48 and you guys are referring to it as a 2x42. Are those belt sizes interchangeable?
Thanks again for all the advice.
 
No, they are different sizes. Neither is as economical as the 2x72. Again note that you're getting a contact wheel with the Grizzly, this is the thing that sets it apart. In my opinion the contact wheel is far more important in knifemaking than a disc sander, even if you don't hollow grind.

You can also get a cheapo sander to get a disc sander if you want one for bolsters or whatever.
 
One other big difference is the Grizzly has a 1hp motor and I believe that the craftsman has a 1/3 hp motor. It makes a difference.
 
Yes, but...
With a Coote you can get whatever size motor you want and control the speed with different size pulleys. Some say it is built better but I haven't seen either one except in my dreams. I use a Sears 2 X 42 and keep hoping it will some day grow into a 2 X 72.

Three parameters of a project, Time, Cost, and Quality. You can have any two by giving up the third. If you need something quickly and high quality it will be expensive. If you need quality at low cost it will take more time.

- LonePine
Alias Paul Meske, Wisconsin
 
The Grizzly has a platen that you can use in place of a disc sander, as well as a contact wheel. It was designed as an entry level knifemaking machine. The Craftsman is a general shop tool. If you are going to make knives, you need a buffer (whether you think so or not.) The Grizzly has a good buffer. It will also use an inflatable drum sander, flap wheels, Scotchbrite wheels, etc.
 
I say go for the 2X72 even if it is an entry model. I just finished a Grinder in a Box build, it took me 6+ months to purchase all the parts here and there as I could afford it. Now I wonder how I did with out it:confused: Yes it cost me about $1200 Canadian when all was said and done, but the time it will save me is well worth the expense. I figure that if I had the time and materials I could pop out 3-4 knives a month no problem now. If I was able to sell half of them for a respectable price the grinder will have paid for itself in the same time it took me to build it. With hand tools I was lucky to get 1 a month done.
 
Ok, thanks everyone. I guess I will go with the Grizzly. I hoping to get it sometime this spring, after I have built a few knives by hand.
Thanks again everyone.:thumbup:
 
Good call on getting the Griz. You won't be sorry and like I said earlier, when you upgrade later, you will still have an excellent tool there that you can modify, etc... And the 2X72 belts will be compatible with your future KMG or whatever. And also what the other guys said: you can put a buffer or drum sander on the left side. You can even put a 9" disc there. You have the contact wheel and adjustable platen. All good stuff. Plus the extra hp is good.

And, I like your Spirit. Building knives by hand by draw-file is a great way to help appreciate your new Grizzly when it comes in. I've done it. Many of the knifemaking greats have done it. Have fun, work through it, make more knives.

-M
 
Or, you can do what I did. Keep scouring the web and this site for deals. I found my 2x72 on this forum a few weeks ago for under $400.00 and an extra motor,extra contact wheels, belts and bearings. Good luck to you whatever route you choose.
 
tryppyr said:
I keep running down the same mental alleys. I'd LOVE to have a real grinder, but they are so darn big, and I need one I can easily move outside. My workspace is still a Steelcase desk located in my garage, and I am very actively discouraged from doing much in the way of grinding and sanding in that space because of the dust it generates. As a result I have to move my equipment outside (weather permitting) before doing anything that stirs up more than a trivial amount of dust (i.e. anything the machine runs for more than a minute at a time).

I keep thinking of getting something like the Grizzly and mounting it to a rolling cart so I can take it outside... but I have no space in that part of the garage to park the rolling cart. To make room for that I'd have to give up storage space, and I'm already short on storage space. The only other alternative I can think of would be getting rid of the Steelcase and putting in a more efficient work surface... and now we're talking serious money or effort. And oh by the way, I suck at woodworking and furniture construction.... but then you probably guessed that already.

Very frustrating. I need a shop.
Click to expand...

Build this, add wheels and roll it outside, pretty small footprint.

IMG_3664.jpg
 
Is it possible to have TOO much power for your grinder? I see grinders up to 3 HP, but I ask because I have a couple of 5 HP motors sitting around. Could these be used if I got a GIB or KMG w/o motor?
 
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