Why all the KMG clones

B

beochie

Joined
Jan 21, 2009
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I've started(not finished)1 blade so I'm totally new to this, dont beat me up too bad.

Why all the 3 wheeled grinders? MWG,KMG,badger
I'm looking to build a 2 wheeler soon and cant see any downside to owning a 2 wheel burr king type. what am I missing? It seems easier and cheaper to build.
 
I only have a 2X48 grinder with two wheels. But I think it has to do with maintaining even tension on the longer (72") belts. When I operated web-fed printing presses, I was taught that more rollers = more control. Not to mention, a 2-wheel grinder running 72" belts would stand nearly 3 feet tall... kind of ungainly on the bench. Not an issue with the pedestal-mounted Burr King I looked up.
 
Typically it's easier to make interchangeable tooling arms for a three wheel grinder than a two wheeler.
 
I believe the 3 wheelers track better. Mine does better than my Grizzly. Biggest thing for me is the ease of changing arms for different jobs. With a 2 wheeler adding stuff is more difficult.
 
It's a fair question and has come up before. Two wheel grinders have a number of drawbacks. Perhaps the biggest is that you are generally working at different heights when flat grinding and when hollow grinding. It's also unlikely a single tool rest will function for both the flat platen and the contact wheel. Many two wheel grinders drive the contact wheel - which means changing contact wheel size changes belt speed (presuming the change is even possible.) Many two wheel grinders have the idler wheel generally up in the air. Think of this like a fishing rod tip which telegraphs even the smallest vibration.

It's probably also true (though a generality) that two wheel grinders are built to a price point and the overall quality can reflect that. Obviously, the burr king is an exception to that.

There are lots more, but I'm sure others will chip in as well.

Rob!
 
It all depends on how much tooling interchangeability you want, if you want very little or none, other than maybe a flat platen or tool rest then a 2 wheel grinder is fine.

I built a 2 wheel grinder out of wood, it uses a 90" or 72" belt depending on which contact wheel I put on.

Here's a video of it working

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40oBU5oboag
 
The "two wheeled" design grinder are generally less expensive to build, but as has been mentioned, they have a number of drawbacks. One that I haven't seen mentioned yet is the ability to get close to the machine when grinding. With a "three wheeled" design you have the ability to "snuggle" up close the the grinder, and actually look down at what your doing. Try to do this on the two wheeled design and all you'll get is either a 2" cut in the bill of your cap, or a case of "road rash" on your forehead. I don't know whether to say I've been blessed or cured to have used just about every type of grinder out there, and I personally do not like any of the "two wheel" grinders. Beside what I've mentioned, that type of grinder can make changing attachments or making adjustments a major hassle when compared to the "three wheel" type machines. I admit that my very first grinder was a homemade 2" X 48" of the two wheeled design, but it went away just as soon as I had saved the pennies to buy a Wilton Square Wheel.....that machine has been in my shop for over 20 years now, and sits right beside my current KMG, which is in my opinion, the best grinder available today.
 
I guess I get to play the Devil's Advocate again, but IMHO the only place that the KMG is favored over a Burr-King is in versitilty.It is easier to change arms than change wheels on a BK.In my case and I suppose others as well ,I don't feel I need to change wheels.I have another horizontal small wheel grinder just for that purpose.As far as tracking and vibration issues, I set my BK up years ago and have not once had to adjust tracking,it stays glued to the center.It is also the smoothest and most quiet grinder I have ever used.

Now don't think I dislike KMG's because I don't, they are a very fine grinder, but so are Dozier's,and Bader's. I am just a Burr-King fanatic.
One final note on the versitilty, is that as most makers stay in this adventure, they usually end up with multiple grinders to do different things, it's a given to just speed up production. So as it may be good for a newer maker, eventually they may end up with multiples and no need to change anything.Just my opinion.Dave:)

http://dcknivesandleather.blademakers.com/
 
I started with a Crapman 2x42" 3 wheel. I've been using a Coote for the last few years and love it. It's probably the best bang for the buck grinder out there. That said it does have it's limits and I am planning on getting a KMG. If nothing eles there built like a tank, you can get up close with it and theres a wide variety of attachments you can add to it. But as said I'll keep the coote and still use it for certain operations.
 
nc527 said:
how hard is it to build that wood framed grinder?
Click to expand...

Pretty easy, I think I had it grinding in less than a week, start to finish, including all the time I spent fixing the extremely bad machining job drilling the holes in the wheels...
 
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