Wilton Square wheel grinder

J

Jim Harvey

Joined
May 5, 2000
Messages
31
Anyone out there with experience or opinions on the Wilton Square wheel grinder? I'm looking to purchase or trade for a blade grinder and would like some feedback from owners of various machines. ( If you know anyone looking for a Mill Drill, let me know)

Thanks
 
I've been grinding on a Wilton for almost 5 years and I love as much today as I did the day I got it. Be sure to get a 10" smooth faced wheel. As far as other tools, I bought several items from Harbor Frieght such as a 6 by 48 belt sander, a 12" disc sander, a buffer, and a lathe mill drill. They were dirt cheap, and I have no complaints about them at all except for the fact that they're all made in China.

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Always think of your fellow knife makers as partners in the search for the perfect blade, not as people trying to compete with you and your work!http://www.nebsnow.com/L6steel
Buzzards gotta eat, same as worms!!!
 
I got a square wheel about 3 months ago and love it. If you can swing it get the variable speed. I opted for just a slow down wheel and although it works well wish I had went ahead and spent the extra for a variable speed, more versatility that way. Ed Caffrey has a page on his website for modifying the square wheel to suit knifemakers, great ideas!!!
Good Luck
Jon
 
I have a bader b3 and I like it. It is smooth and has nice accessories. I also have a home built and I use it for heavy metal removal.
If you have the option for variable speed get that too. The variable is a life saver for the finer belts and is more forgiving at least for me on the detail work. I cannot comment on the other brands and models as I have not had the pleasure of using them.
At the time I bought mine I was comparing different brands and was looking for the machine that would accomodate different types of grinding. The bader will do flat platen work,small wheel grinding fork(3/4"to 2 or3"etc) and contact wheels from 5" to I think 14" inch for hollow grinding. I don't feel limited by the machine when my imagination runs wild.
I use 8" and 10" contact wheels. The tracking for the belts is good too.
I purchased it from Jantz Supply in Oklahoma.

These are my 2cents--

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Scott Jones
Heck yea I invented it ...What is it???
I only do what the voices in my wifes head tell me to do.
It's kinda like hangin, you never get used to it.
 
have had one for 18 years...works great... i think either ed caffrey or ....shoot..cant remember...some forger way up there in the top of the u.s., has a page on modifications to the square wheel on his website...will remember later...email me....i used it for about a year then got a variable speed, which i feel is absolutely necessary for nice finishes...

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http://www.mayoknives.com


 
Don't forget your neighbor to the north! There's a machine called a BEE made by a fellow by the name of Don Bee in the Kichner/Watterloo area of Ontario that sold me a unit with variable speed for under $2000.00 canadian. With the US dollar as strong as it is over the Canadian dollar it might be worth your while to drive to Ontario.

Nice machine that does most of what you tell it to...chipmunk powered (cheaper than hampsters and go twice as fast) and good support from the maker.

for what it's worth

All the Best

Dileas Gu Brath
 
If you want to go variable speed, save some money by buying a single speed Wilton from Jantz for $895 and then buy a variable speed chage over kit from K&G. A 1 horse leeson kit for $535 and 1 1/2 horse kit for $642. Those include the motor, controller, and heat sink. That comes to $1430 plus shipping for the 1 horse, and $1537 plus shipping for the 1 1/2 horse.The shipping on the Wilton from Jantz would only be $6.95, thats their flat shipping rate. Jantz sells the variable speed for $1689, and the conversion kit for $715 and they only offer the 1 horse baldor.
I'm planning on buying the kit from K&G soon. Just two more knives to sell!!!
biggrin.gif
Take care! Michael

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Always think of your fellow knife makers as partners in the search for the perfect blade, not as people trying to compete with you and your work!http://www.nebsnow.com/L6steel
Buzzards gotta eat, same as worms!!!
 
Jim,
I have a Square Wheel and a Burr King sitting side by side. Both are variable speed. The Burr King does the hollow grinding and the Square Wheel does everything else. Couldn't make it without it. I've been using this Wilton for about 16 years.
 
Thank you all for your input. I guess the Wilton is the way to go! I have a machine shop here in New York and naturally, all the machines I have arent' enough! I'm going to have to get rid of something ( think Mill Drill Mill Drill!) to make room. Yeah,m I know it's a mortal sin to get rid of equipment, but One more machine and they'll have to run themselves ( and some do!) cause I won't fit!


 
The square wheel is a great machine, and I think it's biggest benefit is the ease of changing set-ups.

The thing I didn't like about them is everyone I've ever been around was VERY LOUD.

I went with a Burr King variable speed and it's great. Due to some legal matters, that machine is no longer made.

However, the new Hard-Core is like its clone but prettier and a little easier to change set-ups.

Also I have heard nothing but good praise for the JL grinder that K&G is selling. Also, Loveless was helping to sell a grinder awhile back that looked like it would be very accomodating to a knife-maker.

When it comes down to it, a good deal of makers have two to three grinders set up for various grinding procedures i.e. hollow grinding, flat grinding, and small-wheel work.

Just something to think about. It is a big purchase.

Nick
 
Your right about that, ( big purchase). Where could I see this other machine? I'm always looking to compare things,especially when it involves my money!

 
Ive been lurking this post, thanks for all the good info, as im in the market for a new grinder as well. I think i will go with either a bader or square wheel with the caffrey mods.

I was reminded in reading this thread, a statement that Don Fogg told me, it was about the focus that some makers put on always getting new tools-

"Dont become a tool collector, become a knife maker".

i guess his point is to focus on the knife, and not to loose that focus, or even share it with the energy consumed with new tools etc.

Hope to meet some of you at the blade show.

Matt.


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"Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty"
Thomas Jefferson

www.lameyknives.com
 
Jim,

I started out working in the shop of my friend Bob Barber. He has both Wilton Square Wheel and Bader B-II grinders.

I used the Wilton and found it to be a good grinder, but when the time came to buy my own grinder, I picked the Bader B-III. I think it has the best value for the dollar.

Another local maker, wanted the Wilton, but picked the Bee grinder (a modified Wilton) made in Canada - because of the exchange rate, he was able to save a couple of hundred dollars over the Wilton. You can see the Bee at... http://www.ckg.org/Downie/Downie.htm

Good luck,
Bob
 
I'm certainly a "square wheel kinda guy". I've used every grinder out there, but keep coming back to the square wheel. It is louder than other brands, and the slow down wheel, or varible speed is a must. I have another trick to make them a bit quieter that I haven't put on the wilton page yet. Wedge a piece of heavy foam rubber between the bottom of the motor and the grinder's base. The reason for the increased noise is the mounting method (bolted directly to the side of the housing)
I taught a class a few years ago in Canada, and used a Bee grinder for three days. It's a great machine, but the only thing I didn't like was how springy the tension arm was. It made tightening the belt for convex grinding difficult, just never could get the belt tight enough. Otherwise, it is a very solid machine.

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Ed Caffrey
"The Montana Bladesmith"
www.caffreyknives.com
 
I bought a Wilton Square Wheel grinder almost 20 years ago. It has done everything I ever wanted it to do. Since then, I have bought a BurrKing, a Dozier grinder, a J L Grinder, and have used a Bader grinder at the ABS school in Washington Arkansas. They all work great. I don't think a person would go wrong with any one of them.
The Dozier grinder is really smooth, but it's also expensive.
Of all my grinders, I find myself using the Square Wheel more than any of the others. Maybe thats because it's the first grinder I owned.
By the way, I earned the money for my first two grinders by mowing lawns part time.
I'll be at the Blade Show, table 26-C if anyone wants to talk about grinders.
 
Has anyone used one of the "Hard Core" grinders from Tru-Grit? Would like to know others thoughts on how it compares to the Bader and Wilton.
 
Hoss-

Ken Onion used one at the OKCA show in April for sure, he was in the blade grinding competition put on by John from Tru-Grit. They supplied Hard-Core grinders for the event.

Not much use, but enough he probably has some thoughts on the machine.

Like you can see from the posts above, there are a good handful of great machines out there that would all do you well.

What-ever one you go with, I would really recommend the variable speed. IMHO the slower speeds are the only way to go for the finer grit belts and some of the handle materials that we all come across. Michael seems to have found the most cost effective way to go via the Square wheel.

Whichever machine you choose, you'll grow around it as a knifemaker.

Nick

[This message has been edited by NickWheeler (edited 05-28-2000).]
 
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