Wilton Square Wheel

Pinoy Knife

Pinoy Knife

Joined
Aug 9, 2002
Messages
1,319
Hey Guy's has anyone here used one ? I hope they are good , i may be buying one , What do you "Grind with and why??

Thank's Everyone
 
I have one and like it. It's not ver. speed
if your thinking one or the other go with the variable speed.
wheels/platen are easy to change and belts just as easy.
if it takes 10 sec's your being slow on purpose.
 
Been using a Wilton for the past seven years. Great machine, probably add another later this year. -- Charles
 
I have used one for years and am very satisfied...I added a pulley and a small motor on the side and can now run it very slow for finish work........carl combs
 
I sold my first knife in 1980. Since that time I have sold lots of knives and have put almost all my profits into equiptment. I have a Square Wheel Grinder, a Burr King, a JL horizontal grinder, a Dozer grinder, and one modeled after the Square Wheel that I built myself.
I like all these grinders. I don't think a person will go wrong with one of the above grinders or the Hard Core, or Bader, or the ones that Rob Frink makes. After all, its not the grinder, its the craftsman that uses it. I know knifemakers that don't have half the equiptment I have that make knives much better than I do.
Having said that, I would hate to do without my Square Wheel grinder. I have built a lot of custom attachments for it, and can change it from platen to contact wheel or one of the other attachments in a matter of seconds. I would recomend getting a variable speed motor if you can of at least 1 1/2 hp. Of all my grinders, I probably use the Square Wheel Grinder the most.
As long as you get one of the top name grinders I don't think you will go wrong. They are expensive, but can pay for themselves in a short time. Hope you can benefit from my experience, Tom Lewis
 
Yep, that's what I have, been using it for years. I don't have the var. speed either, but get along fine. I have been using mine since about '91. It has been 100% reliable, no repairs. A while back I picked up a like new spare motor, same motor as on machine, for five bucks at a yard sale. The machine should last me forever now!
 
For me it was a tossup between the Square Wheel and Bader. I ended up with the BIII but the Square Wheel has some real advantages. The platen can rotate to various positions and put the small wheels forward - very handy. If you had a variable speed Square Wheel It'd be hard to beat.

Dave
 
Im very new to knife making, but so far, from what I have read about it... It seems that we will never run into any problems so big that a bunch of money could not "almost" fix....LOL
 
Well said, guy. Moving from hobby to serious making involves upgrading and spending the bucks. We see shops we envy and wonder at times maybe the maker just wants a "wow" factor rating for his shop. But as you expand you see this is not the case. Just a matter of personal tastes and how much money you can afford to invest. I see a lot of equipment I can't afford but would own if possible. Just"one more knife" is just like "one more tool" to many of us. And you have the confidence factor, too, with the equipment. I can do a job easier and safer with the right tool or machine. And a maker that has a great shop has to turn out good knives just for upkeep and justify the investment.It also allows him to be more creative,which we can thank him for, too. I wish I had more equipment, and had to make some of it myself out of cheap odds and ends, but it works! One of the greatest inventions of our day is this forum, which helps fellow makers, big and small 'taters like me and many others.
 
I've had one for years. Trouble free, and good qaulity. When I was going to purchase a new grinder a year or so ago, I looked at the square wheel again......I was disappointed that they had "lightened up" on the guage of steel used....it just seemed flimsy compared to my 15+ year old machine.........I wound up buying a KMG, and am loving it! I have articles on my site about each......
www.caffreyknives.net/articles.htm
 
I guess I'm like most here. I have one sitting right beside a BurrKing and a KMG from Rob. I use the Square Wheel as much as the others. If I had to pick just one, it would be the SW.
When I ordered the KMG from Rob I had him do an arm that will accept all the wheels and platens for the SW. It has proved to be a good decision.
I liked the comment by Tom Lewis about the craftsman and not the grinder. Ain't that the truth :)
 
I have a burr king, square wheel and a KMG.

They all have a purpose. The square wheel is great for roughing.
The burr king is great for both.
I use the kmg for finishing. GREAT MACHINE.
I can make my own tooling for it with the arms and confiuration that it comes in from Rob much easier than the others. It is smooth and stable. I have another one on my list!
 
I have a Wilton Square Wheel too and it's all Kit's fault! :D I love the machine! Great advice given to me a while back. Variable speed is the way to go! ;)
 
I started with a Wilton single speed.. Now its uprgraded to variable.. Its not the fastest machine as far as setup changes, but it can do some things I cant do on any other grinder..
I REALLY like my JL vertical, and horizontal grinders, but the old Wilton is hard to beat for an all around machine..
I dont think they are made in the US anymore, anyone know what the imports are like? If they are anything like that POS Wilton metal/wood cutting band saw they can keep em..:barf:
 
I have had my square wheel for fifteen years and it is the best tool I own.I use it every day and have never had any problems with it.If I remember I bought it from a guy who quit making knives.I use it for roughing out my sculptures.the material I use most is fossil whale bone and it can be very hard. If anyone has upgraded to a variable speed I am looking for a motor to use as a back up.
Chuck
 

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Chuck, to bad we didnt live a little closer. I have had a brand new take off sitting collecting dust for 4 years now. I even took it with me to the Chicago show last September to try to sell and had it less than half price of a new one and it didn't sell. Shipping to Alaska would probably cost as much as the motor though.
 
I have had one for over 20 years, and its great, but I would steer you towards a Burr King or a Hard Core. They are both nicer machines for making knives in my opinion.
 
Hello,

I pulled out my old square wheel grinder from storage and somehow the platen and tool rest got lost.
Does anyone have one have a used one?
I got sticker shock when I called Wilton for a new one.

thanks, sam
 
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