Do what you have to for the time being......but rather than waste money on something you're gona be disappointed in, save up your money and buy a "good" 2 x 72" machine! I've seen it time and again over my career..... people "can't afford" a good 2 x 72, and try to get away with something cheap....when it disappoints, they go a bit more again, and again, and by the time they've gotten fed up with "cheap" grinders, and decide to buy a good 2 x 72, they spent enough money to have purchased 2-3 of the top end machines.

Here's the problem..... the HF grinder, and the one you're looking at are simply not made for anything other than LIGHT hobby use on wood. They are not intended for grinding steel, nor are the belts that you can buy for them.

In all honesty, the fact is that IF you're making knives, you simply can't afford NOT to have a good 2 x 72 grinder. NOTHING will improved your knives more, or faster.

The other fact to consider is..... if you spend the money on cheap grinders, that money is GONE...and you will never have the ability to get it back....those machines simply have ZERO resale value. When you purchase one of the top end grinder, it will hold it's value. Meaning that you could use it for a decade, and if you ever decided to sell, you'd get your money back, or very near what you spent on it. Even though I've been doing this for 30+ years, we still make tool buying decisions like this...... "How much does the machine I want cost?" "How much money will that machine make for me?" "How much time will it save me?" "How will the quality of my product be improved with it?" And finally.... "How many knives will I have to make/sell to pay for it". If I can answer those questions positively, then I start saving my pennies for it.

Here's a little secret...... None of use started this journey with all the tools we wanted/needed. We all had to save and scrimp to get those tools we needed.... I suspect that if you asked a dozen Bladesmiths what their most used tool in the shop is, they would all likely say that it's their grinder.

Me? It took me 4 years of saving pennies here and there to buy my first "good" 2 x 72 grinder... but no other tool I've ever purchased has had a bigger impact on the quality and quantity of knives I was/am able to produce. It's just that important.

Jaden,

Ed's advice is excellent, as expected. It is very frustrating when starting out in knife making- the tools are expensive, you need a place to do the work, and then there's the learning curve <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//blink.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':blink:' /> ... I would recommend patience and do things the "hard" way until you are able to get what tools will actually help you improve. You can do excellent work with a file and a lot faster than than you'd think- and you will learn so much while doing things with simple tools <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//cool.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='B)' /> Keep an eye out for used tools as well (my surface grinder only cost me $150 and weighs 1700 lbs.)- Craigs List and FB Marketplace are your friends, but you need to know what to look for. The tools are very cool, but don't "put the cart before the horse"- build your basic skills, save up some dough, and when your skill is being restrained by your tools, then it is time for the new tools. Hope this helps <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//wink.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';)' />

Ed C.

Not trying to sound rude; but those choices are a waste of your money.

Spend the $200 on a 4 1/2 disc grinder and a few good files.

Learn to rough out with the disc and draw file to hand sanding finish.

Just about anyone can draw file to a much better finish than your choices;

and do it faster as well.

Whilst filing you can be saving your money for a grinder that will do what you need.

We all start at the same place.

Thank you all for your advice, I am going to save my money for a 2x72 and spend time focusing on my Hammering skills which needs improvement! I also go a nice file set which should keep me going for a while, Like you said no one starts out with all the tools they wanted.