Why I bought a Northridge grinder

Thanks for that review Matt it was perfect. After searching the interweb for weeks and getting conflicting reviews I said Screw it and gave up but now you gave me one to set my sites on. Thanks again for spending the time on your vid.
 
I've had my Northridge for a couple years now after fighting another grinder. I'm only a hobbiest so doesn't get the use it like you fellas would. But I'm constantly amazed of the quality every time I get to use it. I don't regret buying at all. Northridge was close enough for me to drive up and get it.
 
Mine should be shipping today, hopefully electrician comes through and gets my 240 all set this weekend. Im stoked to start using this grinder and am hoping I can set up my additional platens without too much trouble. I have a few of Nathan's platens including the extra ,long one with the 3/4" radius top edge to be used in place of the top platen wheel. Ive been using this to finish out my plunges and I am not sure how else I might do it. Is anyone running a water cooled platen on a northridge?
 
timos- said:
Mine should be shipping today, hopefully electrician comes through and gets my 240 all set this weekend. Im stoked to start using this grinder and am hoping I can set up my additional platens without too much trouble. I have a few of Nathan's platens including the extra ,long one with the 3/4" radius top edge to be used in place of the top platen wheel. Ive been using this to finish out my plunges and I am not sure how else I might do it. Is anyone running a water cooled platen on a northridge?
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Tim, I have over a dozen tool arms, most of which I made, for various attachments. There’s no reason you can’t use your existing arms - they just need to be modified to align to the new machine. That’s what I did.

Or, use your old platen setup and make a new arm with the appropriate spacer to align it. 1.5” aluminum square stock isn’t all that expensive. Shouldn’t be a big deal if you know how to tap a hole squarely, and measure the Northridge offset.
 
Wow, cant beleive i didnt think of that lmao. Thanks Matt, my current tooling arm is 1.5" , DUH moment
 
timos- said:
Wow, cant beleive i didnt think of that lmao. Thanks Matt, my current tooling arm is 1.5" , DUH moment
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;)


Please post back here when you get the new machine up and running. Love to hear your thoughts! That holds true for anyone with a Northridge. :)
 
Fed ex.....being a multi pack, fed ex was unable to deliver both boxes on the same day, but I got them. Packaging was excellent. @ $200 to ship, If there had been an LTL freight option I would have picked that.
First thing I realized was that being a horizontal swing type, this grinder was a bit taller than my other. I am going to need to build a little platform to stand on so that I am the right height to grind.
When ever I am working with a new machine I take things very slow. So far Ive fired it up each of the last several days, moved it around in several different configurations, ran it at different speeds. The tracking is sooo nice! very precise.
I ended up getting one of Darren Nutt's water cooled ceramic platens a few months back. I hooked this up to the northridge right away. It was 100% compatible to my pleasant surprise :)
I profiled one 3v blade so far, just some very light grinding , getting the blade profile just right on the platen and I contoured the handle profile on the bottom 2" idler wheel. The platen stayed ice cold, while the wheels were pretty warm to the touch, that's normal of course. I probably shouldnt be grinding on the platen wheels but Ive gotten in that habit. On my previous grinder I used the platen, the platen wheels and the slack belt portion on both teh top and bottom for various different tasks while grinding kitchen knives. I have not done any real grinding yet but am expecting a full size heat treated blank from JT any day now. I am hoping I get to grind it out this weekend. I will really be able to test the performance of this thing under some heavy pressure and figure out what slight mods i need to make.
 
oceanrider said:
That is a great review video, very informative. Would you mind doing a video of it in action for various steps in knife making?
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It’s not my intention or desire to enter that arena. Sorry, man. Just not my thing. I feel strongly about teaching techniques in person, and not to just anyone. I don’t think most people benefit the way that they think that they do through videos. There’s so much more that you can’t see, that really can only be shown and explained in person.


Just my position on this. :)
 
Matthew Gregory said:
It’s not my intention or desire to enter that arena. Sorry, man. Just not my thing. I feel strongly about teaching techniques in person, and not to just anyone. I don’t think most people benefit the way that they think that they do through videos. There’s so much more that you can’t see, that really can only be shown and explained in person.


Just my position on this. :)
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Well said. I agree with in person. Call me ;)
 
Wow, I’ve been waiting for almost two months for a different grinder which should be coming soon now but I live within driving distance from North Ridge. If I’d have known before ordering I’d have ordered one from them. I spent a little less but not that much in terms of a purchase like this.
 
Chalet said:
Wow, I’ve been waiting for almost two months for a different grinder which should be coming soon now but I live within driving distance from North Ridge. If I’d have known before ordering I’d have ordered one from them. I spent a little less but not that much in terms of a purchase like this.
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Sounds like you may be able to change your mind then.
 
did not know about knifegrinder parts....cool site, i got a set headed my way. thx matt
 
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This machine is a dream. A genuine dream. I want to name it.


I want it to have my babies.


Freehand grinding flat ground swept plunges feels almost effortless. Chasing tiny details into tight spots is a non-issue, because the machine tracks so beautifully and runs so smooth.

I set one of my RAT arms up be be perfectly perpendicular to the platen.

And it is.

EVERY. TIME.

Even when I swing the grinder over horizontally, all I need to do is flip the arm and swap sides of the table, and it’s perfect. Totally repeatable.

No other machine I’ve used has felt so effortless, so consistent.
 
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