i think i have a good game plan. i'm saving up for a kmg. since the shop isn't too far from my home town i will probably have the money for it saved up during one of my visits. i can save on shipping if i pick it up on my own. its probably going to take me a while but i will figure something else out for the time being. a friend of mine is going to teach me how to use an angle grinder. he has been making blades with them for over 20 years and he said he will supply me with the abrasives. Thanks to everyone who has helped me with this.
Hi Zack
I have spent a lot of years in a shop, farm shop or knife shop. I'm still adding tools and equipment. My philosophy is buy the best.
I have spent about 15 years tooling my knife shop. Good tools will last a life time, also good tools have a good resale value if you don't
continue with your knifemaking.
I agree with Ed, and Brian. We all try to find a cheaper way to do it,and we spend to much time and money trying to figure it out!
Wishing You the Best
Russell
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Yep! It's all those machines that folks purchased to "get by", then found that nobody wanted them when they got a "top end" grinder.
Of those two grinders you listed.....I can't speak to either. The first one would be a "No way" for me. It would be so limited in use that I wouldn't even consider it.
The second one looks similar to a KMG, but since there's only one picture, it's hard to tell anything about the machine.
Personally, I think the KMG is the best grinder available for the money. Where it really shines is in the customer service that Robb Frink offers. I was in Tom Ferry's shop over a weekend, and his KMG had a bearing go bad...he called Rob and told him about it....Rob asked if there was red loctite on the set screw. We looked and found none. All Rob said was...."I will take care of it." The next morning (Saturday), a FedX truck pulled up before 8am, with a brand new bearing from Rob! (Tom lives near Seattle, WA., and Rob is in Ohio). You won't get that kind of service from any other outfit. I had my heart set on a Bader B3, but wanted contact wheels on the platen instead of aluminum rollers.....when I asked for that, I was told... "If it's not on the shelf, your not getting it from us." The next day I called Rob, talked about what I wanted, and he made a flat platen to my specs! I now produce those platens. But the point is that it's not only about the machine you get, but the service from the company....and Rob Frink (Beaumount metal works) is second to none.
I know that variable speed costs more, but coming from someone who used a single speed grinder for years before going to variable speed...once you have the ability to control the belt speed, you'll wonder how you ever got along without it.
As I said previously....if you save up and get a top end machine, you'll have a quality piece of equipment, that with minor care will last you a lifetime.
That is amazing. If I ever get a belt grinder, I will buy a KMG just on that story alone. It's good to see companies that still focus on customer satisfaction.
Cheyenne Walker
Apprentice Smith
I agree with everything Ed says. Spending the money on a good machine will save you in the long run. I have a Bader B III variable speed. When I got mine Rob Frink had not started KMG. In the future I will add another grinder and it will probably be one of Rob's machines.
Also, if you can, get the variable speed model. They make things so much easier. I can't say that enough.
Brion
Brion Tomberlin
Anvil Top Custom Knives
ABS Mastersmith
Hey Zac,
Do you have the 50.00 knife makers book? Hope so. Bottom line, keep trying, keep asking for help and advice, and keep making those knives.
Tom
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Hey Zac,
Do you have the 50.00 knife makers book? Hope so. Bottom line, keep trying, keep asking for help and advice, and keep making those knives.
Tom
Yeah i have that book. Took me a while to ask for advice, i'm getting better at that part. and making knives, well that won't be too difficult. its my zen.
Between Christmas and New Year I ordered my first grinder, http://www.2x72beltgrinder.com/default.html , while the basic unit cost under 700$ with 1 hp motor and VFD controller, I may not have done it if I had this information then. I will advise if it works out as a starter unit.
I basiclly had just a 1x30 that was getting me nowhere fast.
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Between Christmas and New Year I ordered my first grinder, http://www.2x72beltgrinder.com/default.html , while the basic unit cost under 700$ with 1 hp motor and VFD controller, I may not have done it if I had this information then. I will advise if it works out as a starter unit.
I basiclly had just a 1x30 that was getting me nowhere fast.
Please keep me informed on how well it works. that is a stellar price if it is a quality machine. Thank you for sharing this.
Zach,
I started out with a homemade grinder. It was an anchor. I did not realize how important a good grinder was until I got my KMG. Save the money for a good grinder and you will be happier in the long run.
Scott
Check the classifides on other knife forums. I just sold my KMG not to long ago on bladeforums after getting a TW90. The past couple of months quite a few had been sold as people purchased other grinders.
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Check the classifides on other knife forums. I just sold my KMG not to long ago on bladeforums after getting a TW90. The past couple of months quite a few had been sold as people purchased other grinders.
thanks! i'll look around.
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Please keep me informed on how well it works. that is a stellar price if it is a quality machine. Thank you for sharing this.
I got it yesterday and painted the frame today. Hopefully I will get to set it up over the weekend and try it
As it came...
After I painted it...
From what I can see it looks like a nice machine and a pretty big bang for your buck. If you can increase the picture size to show more detail I'd like to take "a closer look" so to speak. If you get a chance, I'd like to see close-up pic's of the platen and the tracking assembly.
Nice paint job!
Rick
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From what I can see it looks like a nice machine and a pretty big bang for your buck. If you can increase the picture size to show more detail I'd like to take "a closer look" so to speak. If you get a chance, I'd like to see close-up pic's of the platen and the tracking assembly.
Nice paint job!
Rick
Thank you! I was an airbrush player when I raced 1/10 scale rc dragsters. I will try and photograph the parts tomorrow if the rain stops long enough to get to my shop area.
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I got it yesterday and painted the frame today. Hopefully I will get to set it up over the weekend and try it
As it came...
After I painted it...
Thanks man! i can't wait to see how it turns out and how it performs.
