2x72 grinders never for sale

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newbiekid13

Joined
Sep 18, 2013
Messages
15
Just a question, not looking to get a lashing. So in my search with my OCD like way I have yet to see any 2x72 used-either a reputable maker or homemade grinders anywhere in the damn country, craigslist, google this sale forum etc. Does anyone have a good explanation for this??? I am a few months out from purchasing but haven't seen much of anything. I guess waiting and saving for new is the way to go but just curious if anyone could explain this. (would rather buy used to keep cost down) In this day and age of trading and bad economy I figure some makers would sell their old grinders from the $$ twords new or metal etc. On a side note the site rocks and I have been addicted to it since joining thanks guys for all the great info.
 
What country do you live in? You can check our knife makers for sale section, they've got a sub forum for tools for sale. To name a couple common models for knife making, tag-101, TW90, and KMG. I hear grizzly makes some ok starters, Bur King is also held in high regard...:)
 
KMG, Pheer, and others sell directly through their site, if that's what you're asking. I saw a KMG on thEbay a few months ago. Like Kirby said, they pop up on here, too.
 
I guess the better comment would have been to say USED like an idiot I thought it but didn't say that with the earlier post post. That will teach me to post on a crazy day. The new grinders I have found all day long, thanks to the great info on this site. But I rarely see used ones on craigslist,ebay or here for that matter. Kirby truth be told your comment was spot on and funny, and yes to answer you I am in the states and have seen the great machines you commented on.
 
To find one used you'll have to be looking constantly, check Craig's list, surf ebay, browse the forums, etc. it's only a matter of time before you stumble upon something good. If you intend to start make knives, I'm going to assume that you know your way around basic tools, have you considered making yourself a no-weld grinder? They're are several plans available online. From what I've seen, you just need to buy the wheels and motor, otherwise you can build nearly everything else from scratch. The general price I've heard thrown around is in the $600 range for a serviceable grinder. :)
 
The nwg plans and some of the others I have seen are an option I have toyed with. Right now it would be tough with not having space or the tools at hand. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't crazy not seeing any USED ones kicking around. Found a few on c list but they where 3,$$$ and that is really not going to work . I guess i'll just keep on looking ,looking, looking.
 
Once someone starts using one, they realize how useful it is and they don't want to sell it. That's why you never see used ones for sale ;)
 
Either that or get to know a newish knife maker and put in a preemptive offer to buy their 2X72 grinder when they upgrade.
 
You do see used grinders here and on other knife forums


They don't often show up on CL because the public doesn't know what it's for.

Knifemakers talk to each other, so if someone dies or retires there is a line up of folks waiting for good used equipment.

They don't get worn out and replaced, we just change bearings or wheels to keep them running.

Even if a maker upgrades to a new better machine, the old one is often kept set-up and used for one operation.



They come up on this forum, maybe a few times / half dozen times per year
There is not a large savings on used machines, they hold value.
 
Fair enough, thanks for the insight guys. I guess wait and see is the name of the game. I am still a few months out so who knows maybe I will get lucky.
 
If time is money, how much time do you want to spend on eBay and craigslist. If you are is not getting hits for this, then that's just a good reason to buy new. An off brand grinder could not run true if it was build askew. I say buy new.
 
I put an ad on craigs list."Wanted 2X72" with my phone number. I got a call from a guy that lived 5 miles away. Bader III for $1000. Bought his 2 speed buffer for $100 and he gave me a tool box of diamond wood. Just gotta be lucky. Jess
 
Over the years, I've seen several KMGs, a few burr kings, a couple wilmonts, a hardcore and a few other names all for sale on the used market. IIRC, I even saw a TW-90 for sale once.

The older Jet / Wilton square wheels seem to be the ones that show up on craigslist the most, but often they are a 3" or other, instead of the 2x72.

That said, I've mostly only seen 2x72 grinders for sale via various knife forums, and most of the time it's a "local pickup" only kind of thing, due to the hassle of packing something like that up, and paying for shipping. On some of the older machines, they are probably being sold for a reason: in other words, they need more work and money put into them to make them usable.

Another thing to keep in mind: if the machines aren't too well used, they tend to hold thier value pretty well, and you're likely to only be saving a couple hundred bucks anyway.

Your best bet if you're absolutely set on getting one used, might be to just post some WTB threads across the various knife forum classifieds and see what pops up.

Otherwise, it may be in your best interest to just bite the bullet and buy one new.
 
Well thanks to all you guys who added your 2 cents. I decided to go with the NWG plans and have the wheels on their way. I will post when I get this grinder started, thanks all for the great advice.
 
My home made grinder is like my 6th child, I would no sooner sell it then I would sell my first born.....hold on a minute.... my first born is a pain in the rear, I Would sell him if the price is right, but not my 2 x 72 ;0)

I also did a lot of looking but finding anything of value is like finding Hens teeth
 
I don't think many makers replace their grinders. They may buy a new one, but they usually keep the old one and just use it for a dedicated use. Your best bet for finding a used one is from a retiring maker, or a new maker that jumped "all in" and has now lost interest. As someone else recommended, put a "Wanted" ad on CL or in the exchange. Sometimes someone doesn't want to sell something until they know someone is looking for it.
 
Wait... you're saying people lose interest in knifemaking? Where your evidence to support that theory?
 
First a comment/hint: Maybe you should fill out your profile so we'd know where you're at. Not long ago someone on here GAVE a grinder to an earnest (but smart) noob for free. He probably got a grinding lesson along with it.

Second comment: There are lots of ways to get your tooling setup. Where I live (near Chicago) auctions are SPECTACULAR possibilities. Craigslist can be the place as mentioned above but you can search the whole country's CLs on

http://www.onecraigs.com/

An example for you:

Belt Grinder/Buffer 2" X 60" - $450 (Wauwatosa WI)

(This could EASILY be modded with a longer shaft to fun 2" x 72" belts)

http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/tls/4345575329.html

$450 (Helluva deal IMHO)

This is a belt grinder I (the seller not me) adapted to a heavy duty double arbor. It has a 2.5" X 10" diameter rubber contact wheel, flat platen, and fits belts 60" in length. The idler pulley assembly is constructed with a 1.125 round bar. The belt length could be easily lengthened by simply replacing the existing round bar with a longer one. It has a 3/4 HP Dayton TEFC motor. I will provide several belts with the grinder. The arbor is 1" in diameter and one end can accommodate a buffing wheel or wire wheel. If you see this listing it is still available. Come try before you buy. If you want the solid maple bench top it is bolted to it is an additional $150.00, otherwise I will provide a piece of solid plywood to bolt it up on.

Final hints (for free on me). Knifemaking requires patience, serious skillz and ingenuity. You're gonna need a lot of gadgets/gizmos/jigs/fixtures/tools along the way. The UNIQUE tools that guys on here come up with are always amazing to me (btw some of them turn those into profitable sideline businesses to supplement their tool addictions). I hope you have access to all the gadgets/gizmos/jigs/fixtures/tools you need to fab your NWG. Building, and tuning, that will be a great start for you. You can come back and ask questions here or at USA Knifemaking anytime.

Have fun and good luck. This always fun for me even when I'm pulling my hair out.

Corey "synthesist" Gimbel



Corey
 
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