Recommendation? Looking for an intermediate grinder?

oldschool45

oldschool45

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I'm getting back into knife making after a long while off. Making mostly kitchen knives out of carbon steel. The New Jersey Steel Fairy just dropped off about 10 pounds of 1/8" W2. So I'm looking for a grinder and space is a premium so I'm not going to go for a 2x72 grinder. I'm looking at the following 2 grinders both under $400 but I am open to suggestions.
Grinder number 1- Palmgren 2x42 grinder with side 6" disc and 1/3 hp motor but might have a better platen
Grinder number 2- Buck Tools 1x42 grinder with side 8" disc and a 3/4hp motor

My thinking is the higher hp motor with a smaller belt Buck Tools one maybe the way to go? The flat rest may work better with the grinding jig I plan to make or buy. I also see a way I may be able to beef up the platen.
Other than that is there any real difference in belt availability. Or other grinders I should consider?
Thanks.
 
Take a look at the basic chassis for the Reeder Grinder. Get it with the wheel kit for just under a grand. Add a motor/VFD package from eBay and Bob's your uncle.

You won't regret getting a good 2X72 chassis and variable speed motor.

Put this in an eBay search for a motor/VFD package that is set up for a grinder. Top notch fellow. Very much worth it. Plug and play.
"KB Electronics KBAC-27D, Techtop Motor & Drive"
 
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Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
Take a look at the basic chassis for the Reeder Grinder. Get it with the wheel kit for just under a grand. Add a motor/VFD package from eBay and Bob's your uncle.

You won't regret getting a good 2X72 chassis and variable speed motor.

Put this in an eBay search for a motor/VFD package that is set up for a grinder. Top notch fellow. Very much worth it. Plug and play.
"KB Electronics KBAC-27D, Techtop Motor & Drive"
Click to expand...
Stacy, I appreciate the input. The Reeder, motor & VFD combined is about 3 times what I want to spend for now and I don't have the bench space to mount it. I just consolidated 2 households and I'm going to have to remove my re-loading press to have a stable surface for what I do get. Knife making is one of those hobbies I get into for a season every couple of years and I don't want to put that much investment into it. If down the road I add a workshop/shed to the house I may look into getting all the cool toys as if I wanted to make knives for money.

They make a version of the Buck Tools 1x42 with a 2 speed motor. Is that enough variable speed to be worth playing/paying for? About a $40 difference or $250.

I really lucked out this go around as I have access to two shops with plasma cutters, real heat treating ovens and knife nuts in management positions. So now I get to work on edge geometry and handle/finishing work.
Thanks again
 
If you only have room for small machines make smaller knives. Maybe get into slipjoints.
I order my slipjoint steel flat ground and you should be able to make one with a decent variable speed 9" disk sander and a drill press.
 
Hengelo_77 said:
If you only have room for small machines make smaller knives. Maybe get into slipjoints.
I order my slipjoint steel flat ground and you should be able to make one with a decent variable speed 9" disk sander and a drill press.
Click to expand...
I've made 8" kitchen knives and other stuff up to 1/4" thick with files and a China Freight 1x30 sander. I'm just looking for an upgrade from that and wondering which is the better choice? The 1x42 with the bigger motor or the 2x42 with the smaller motor. I've also got a delta 4x36 with a 6" disc on the side that will also be put back into service.
 
Bill DeShivs got a 1x42 not to long ago and was happy with it. He wrote a short review on it in Shoptalk here
 
1x42s typically benefit from a little work to beef up the platen and stabilize it better. And an 8" disc is much preferable to a little 5".
A buddy of mine rigged an additional idler wheel onto his machine allowing for the use of 1x72" belts. He split regular 2x72. Made all of his knives with it.

Hengelo_77 Hengelo_77 Didn't Bill get a 1x30?
 
I have been using a Kalamzoo1sm for years. It has a 1725 rpm speed which I like. While I now have a 2x72 I still use the little
kalamazoo for each build. As a bonus it is a USA made machine.
 
Plug this in at Amazon before you buy. Cute little 1x30.

110V Electric Bench Belt Sander, Abrasive Belt Machine with Brushless Motor, Small Multi-function Desktop Belt Machine, Stepless Speed Angle Adjustable, 550W​

 
I have a Kalamazoo 2x42 with a marble platten a stone store cut for me back home. It’s crammed on a 3’x4’ cart along with a small grinding wheel, drill press, and a very bad 1x30 that I’ve used once in the last 6 years. And I still have 1’x1.5’ of free space. If you’re worried about space it takes up none. I’ve been using the Kalamazoo for a few years now with a 1hp 1750rpm motor, I love it. I had to do a little modifying to mine to make changing belts easier. I also adjusted the platen to sit a little better for me.

I’ve been watching that thread with the 1x30 Bill got. That might be a better option than the Kalamazoo though. I’m considering one if I can put away enough money to pick one out. Seems like a pretty cool machine.
 
Thanks everyone!
There are 2 versions of that Chinese 1x30, 550w, 110volt sander 1) can't be adjust 90' and lacks the contact wheel setup but its only $275 on eBay the 2nd is the one in the youtube review and it runs about $100 more $380ish both with free delivery. And I'm back to the buck tools 3/4hp highspeed 1x42 sander for $205.
It looks like I used my 1x30 Harbor Freight for slack belt sharpening and threw out the platen and the work table so I can't go back to it. Mine is old one with a 1/3hp motor the newer ones only have a 1/4hp motor.
So now I wait till I get my blanks plasma cut and decide I may also check pawnshops for something workable.
 
"IF" you could swing $400 ($339+$50 shipping) this is the slickest 1X30" grinder I've seen. Plug "B0B9NC46LS" into the Amazon search box. It looks just like a baby 2X72 grinder. It uses a 3/4hp servo motor with speed control. I use that same servo motor & speed control a a drill press and a leather sewing machine. Those motors work with full torque from 400 rpm to 4,000 rpm in 100 rpm speed steps.
 
oldschool45 oldschool45 I hate to say it, but I don't think your going to be happy with the options listed. Are they an upgrade to a HF 1x30, slightly. Are you going to notice a large difference in material rate removal (the whole point), not IMO. I didn't listen either :) but I'm gonna go with Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith S'scomment. Save up for a variable speed 2x72. It's worth it.

That being said, I noticed you live close to Cincy, and I do as well. I have a vintage 1x42 Foley-Belsaw in nice condition, if you are interested. Send me a message...I'd like to see it go to a knife maker who would use it.
 
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Just a newbie with a post count of 2 here. But, like most, amateur makers, I've also been saving for 2x72.

Walter Sorrells recently reviewed this 2x82 (not a typo, yes, a 2x82), which you can convert into a 2x72. It is Chinese, but for the price under 1 grand, not bad.
2x82 Vevor Grinder with Variable Speed

They also have the same grinder without variable speed controls for 200 bucks less:
2x82 Vevor Grinder WITHOUT Variable Speed
 
I made my first few knives with files and lots of sandpaper so when I stepped up to a 1x42 grinder it was a big improvement. It has a 1/2 hp motor and is just a single speed. That’s all I’ve ever used. I don’t sell my knives, I just make them for friends and family so I don’t have any money coming back in to put towards a new grinder. If I had waited to get a 2x72, I’m not sure it would have ever happened for me. None of the options you listed will be ideal or as good as a 2x72 (which I still don’t have but wish I did), but if your choice is either one of those or nothing at all, I’d say any of those will make a knife. I don’t have any input between the 2 you listed since mine doesn’t have a disc sander, but I can see how that would be nice to have
 
Old Bill bought a fancy 1 X 30, and you can't bog it down! I don't think I would want to make a knife with it, but you surely could. I use in in my knife restoration business, but I have 3 2 X 72 grinders and a 2 X 36 also.
I recommend a good variable speed 2 X 72. Mine is a Pheer, and I have been very happy with it.
 
Well the blanks are getting knocked out on a plasma cutter and I should have them back Friday. I'm leaning towards the Chinese 1x30 variable speed that is built like a mini 2x72 grinder if under powered. JV Knives JV Knives I'm slammed at work right now but I will message you about that 1x42 Foley
Thanks,
 
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