MEMBER ITEMS FOR SALE
Custom Knives | Other Knives | General Items
-------------------------------------------
New Posts | New PhotosAll Photos



Go Back   The Knife Network Forums : Knife Making Discussions > Custom Knife Discussion Boards > Tool Time

Tool Time Let's talk shop. Equipment, Tips & Tricks, Safety issues - Post it here.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 11-20-2012, 01:17 PM
irondun irondun is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 3
two wheel grinders

Hello-
I'm ready to move to a 2x72 grinder and have found a wealth of information and opinions in the old posts. The only grinder I've used is a 1x42. I'm curious as to why several people strongly dislike two wheel grinders. What are the inherent problems in the machines?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 11-20-2012, 04:32 PM
Ed Tipton Ed Tipton is offline
Skilled
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 352
Irondun...For me, the biggest complaint against two wheel grinders is the lack of versatility. Another problem is that there are not enough grits readily available for grinders in the two wheel size...usually something other than 2 x 72.
I am luckier than many, I have a two wheel Grizzley and two other very nice and very versatile three wheel grinders that I made. I borrowed many of the ideas from the pictures on the internet....mostly KMG grinders.
My advice is to use the grinder you have for awhile until you figure out what features you want...as well as what you do not want in a grinder.
Consider making your own grinder. Designing and making your own grinder is in my opinion the way to go since it is going to be much cheaper, and you can incorporate your own ideas into the design.
Your grinder is going to be your biggest asset in knifemaking, and it is NOT the place to skimp, but I would wait until you are confident that you know exactly what you want, and use that time to save your cash for that great day.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 11-20-2012, 05:57 PM
irondun irondun is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 3
Hello, Ed-
Thanks for your reply. I was thinking about a Grizzly( price is so attractive), but I do like the layout and adaptibility of the KMG. I sent for the NWG plans but it's not clear to me how much savings are possible. I was mostly curious if the faults of the Grizzly and K'zoo are due to cheapness or basic engineering.
Ken
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 11-20-2012, 10:34 PM
Ed Tipton Ed Tipton is offline
Skilled
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 352
Irondun...I do not consider that either the Grizzley or the Kzoo are cheaply built. The main thing is that for about the same money, you can build yourself a KMG clone, and have much more bang for your buck. I have my own shop, and I already had the motors and most of the steel on hand, and I can cut accurately and weld. If you have those skills, you can save a ton of money....or....perhaps you have a friend who could assist you. I have less than $200 in each of my grinders...not counting the labor. Of course, if you have the funds....
It's not so much the cheap construction with the Grizz and the Kzoo, it's more about the design features and the flexability found in the KMG design.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 11-21-2012, 08:42 AM
AUBE's Avatar
AUBE AUBE is offline
Master
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Cebu, Philippines (or Michigan, USA)
Posts: 909
As Ed said, versatility. The 3 wheel grinder I built loosely based on the NWG plans also tracks better than my Grizzly. But the main benefit is being able to quickly switch out tooling arms...you can go from a 8" wheel to a 10" wheel, to a 3/4" wheel, a flat platten, rotary platen, etc. You can't easily do that with a 2 wheel model.

The Griz is definitely a nice machine, and runs strong, but I still prefer my KMG clone...and they came to about the same price.


__________________
www.ecosknives.com
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 11-21-2012, 11:28 AM
irondun irondun is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 3
Thank you for helping me clear that up. Guess I've got my winter project laid out - at least it's inside work. Maybe I'll learn some welding.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 11-23-2012, 09:38 AM
Ed Caffrey's Avatar
Ed Caffrey Ed Caffrey is offline
Super Moderator
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Great Falls, Montana, USA
Posts: 4,393
Send a message via AIM to Ed Caffrey Send a message via Yahoo to Ed Caffrey
I don't know whether to say that I've had the fortune or misfortune......to use just about every 2x72 machine available today. The "two wheel" design machines, including the Burr-King, all have a combination of issues that turned me away. In the "two wheel" configurations they offer a very limited field of view when working on them, and when you do change them around....you need a small tool box and a LONG coffee break to do it.

I personally think that the KMG is the best grinder on the market for the money. If it's your first time stepping up to a 2x72" machine, I would encourage you to purchase one. I say that because unless you're well versed in fabrication, often times your first couple of attempts at building your own will be disappointing. First, you have no experience to base how well (or how poorly) a self-built grinder is working, unless you experienced one of the high precision machines. That leads into my second point....when you pay the "big bucks" for one of the top of the line grinders, what you're paying for is the precision.....meaning that everything is square, true, lined up, and operates as smoothly/accurately as possible.
Don't get me wrong, I've built several grinders, but it took me until about the 5th one before I got all the details and precision nailed down to the point that they would run/operate in a manner that was acceptable to me.
It really all boils down to what you want, and how you want it. I've never regretted laying out the money for a top end grinder, simply because with minor care it will last my lifetime and beyond....and it will always pay for itself.


__________________
WWW.CAFFREYKNIVES.NET

Caffreyknives@gmail.com

"Every CHOICE has a CONSEQUENCE, and all your CONSEQUENCES are a result of your CHOICES."
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
advice, buck, build, building, design, flat, hand, helping, knifemaking, made, making, man, project, steel, weld


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Used Square Wheel Contact Wheels and Drive Wheel polishguy General ::: Items and Bargains 3 05-05-2011 09:09 PM
New Square Wheel Grinder Drive Wheel polishguy General ::: Items and Bargains 7 09-08-2009 09:46 PM
7" drive wheel source for square wheel grinder Rick Baum Ed Caffrey's Workshop 11 02-27-2009 05:29 PM
New supplier 8" contact wheel for $61, 4" wheel for $25 alexkuzn The Newbies Arena 4 09-19-2006 01:38 PM
Grinders Tbonz The Newbies Arena 2 10-09-2003 07:12 PM


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:08 AM.




KNIFENETWORK.COM
Copyright © 2000
? CKK Industries, Inc. ? All Rights Reserved
Powered by ...

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
The Knife Network : All Rights Reserved