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The Newbies Arena Are you new to knife making? Here is all the help you will need.

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  #1  
Old 03-08-2013, 07:21 AM
stillwaters stillwaters is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: New City, NY
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Bench grinder vs. Belt grinder

Does anyone use a bench grinder instead of a belt grinder? Can't afford a decent belt grinder so I was wondering if a bench grinder will get the job done.
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  #2  
Old 03-08-2013, 08:04 AM
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NJStricker NJStricker is offline
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Location: Central Ohio
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When I first started out I used a bench grinder (what I had at the time) to make one of my first knives. I ended up having to file a lot to get the bevels flat. Basically, I had to fix a lot of things that got screwed up by the bench grinder.

If you are starting out, I suggest starting as small as possible, with 1/8" or 3/32" thick stock, and about a 3 inch blade. Hand file it. Filing can go a lot faster than you think on the thin stock.
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Old 03-08-2013, 08:04 AM
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cbsmith111 cbsmith111 is offline
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Although no one here will recommend one, and for valid reasons, a $50 1x30 belt sander would be closer to suitable than a bench grinder.
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  #4  
Old 03-08-2013, 09:06 AM
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Ray Rogers Ray Rogers is offline
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Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Wauconda, WA
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I started with a bench grinder - noisy, dirty, slow, heated the metal far too much and never successfully made a blade although it could have worked for pen knives and other tiny blades. I've only know a couple of guys who could get good service out of a bench grinder.

Followed that with a 1x30. Did make two or three small knives with that but switched to files and sandpaper after that and got the blades made faster with fewer mistakes. After a while, I bit the bullet and bought a Grizzly and entered the wonderful world of the 2x72, even if I was at the muddy bottom of that world. Still use that grinder 20 years later ...


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  #5  
Old 03-11-2013, 07:15 AM
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Crex Crex is offline
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Location: Acworth, GA and/or Hanging Dog, NC
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Bench grinder is a tough way to go. Side grinder will shape and profile better/faster once you master it (other wise it will maim or kill you). You'll wind up with belt sander of some configuration if you stay at this very long at all. Grizzly is not a bad machine to start with and or use....lot of guys use them exclusively and turn out excellent work. Like in any mechanized world there are "cadilacs", you have to decide how far you want to take it,
I prefer hammers and files mostly, but that's just me. Quality hammer control can greatly reduce the need for much grinding or filing.

I suggest you fill out your profile. Let us know where you are as some of us might be right next door and you can come see for yourself.


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Old 03-11-2013, 07:19 PM
argel55 argel55 is offline
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Chandler, Oklahoma
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Have a friend that makes fabulous knives with a table saw. He took the saw blade off and mounted a stone in its place. Has a stop on the edge side so he can slide the blade forward and then move it side to side. Flip it over and do the other side.
He used EDM stones to smooth the grind and then goes to sand paper to finish it. Alot of dfferent ideas.
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Old 03-12-2013, 05:56 PM
bob levine bob levine is offline
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Tennessee
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Angel, that sounds like an accident waiting to happen. Speed is way too fast and its just an overall bad idea.If you have no regartd for your body than go for it.
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  #8  
Old 03-13-2013, 05:36 AM
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Crex Crex is offline
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Not only way too fast for safety, but if anything comes loose or breaks apart on a tabe saw it's direction is straight at the user/operator's vitals! No place else to go.


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2x72, art, blade, blades, edge, file, files, flat, grinding, hand, knife, knives, made, make, sand, saw blade, stone, tiny


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