I currently have 3 different 2x72" machines in my shop. A 25+ year old Wilton Square Wheel (my first "real" grinder), a KMG, which in my opinion is the best grinder available for the money, and a very modified version of the GIB. Out of all of them, the KMG is without a doubt my favorite "go to" machine.

Since we're talking about grinders, I'm gona give my advice to all those who might be looking to purchase a grinder.....DO NOT waste your money on something that you think can "get you by", simply because the price is something you think you can afford. Save your pennies and get yourself a "top end" 2x72" grinder, and you will never be sorry. It will be a machine that you will use everyday, even if your not building knives, and will last you a lifetime. AND, if you ever decide you want to sell it, chances are you will get nearly what you paid for out of it. Even with that advice, I'm sure a lot of folks will go ahead a buy some cheesy 1x42" machine.....then maybe a 2x48" machine, and so on....until they spent 2-3X the money it would have cost for a KMG (or similar) and realize they would have been money ahead if they'd just purchased a good 2x72" to start with. (Rant over! <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />)

Buy the HEAVY duteist Grinder with a varialbe drive (KMG or the TWEURTZ grinders) highest horse motor you can afford do it once and you can build knives not fix grinders.

Jimmy

What happened to Johnny Hicks...the reason I ask is because I live only 2 hours south of Lubbock and I go there on a regular basis.

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Jimmy

What happened to Johnny Hicks...the reason I ask is because I live only 2 hours south of Lubbock and I go there on a regular basis.

Sorry for the late reply, I didn't see this till today. Johnny got out of knifemaking and started sculpting bronze statues in the 90's. Where and what he is doing now is something I don't know.