Look at the Reeder Basic Chassis. It is many times nicer than the upcoming Diktator. The two are like comparing a Yugo to a Mustang.
I only posted about the upcoming Diktator to show the bottom end of grinder prices. There is also the Tubinator by Diktator. It is probably the lowest price production grinder out there. It isn't a great grinder, but it is cheap (relatively). What you might save in dollars you will lose in quality and durability by a large factor.
Regardless of who's chassis you choose you will need some wheels and probably a motor. The Reeder comes with a wheel kit option that is top rate parts. They machine their own wheels, not Chinese junk.
As far as a motor, for the additional cost, a 3-Phase motor and a VFD will be money well spent. Most low-cost setups, like Diktator, use 3600RPM motors and a small drive wheel with no VFD. This means all you have is fast. You won't make knives long before you discover that fast is only an occasional need, but slow is a constant need. For a hobbyist, looking around for a deal on a 1.5HP 3-phase motor and a low-cost import VFD will work just fine. If the extra for the motor/VFD combo is too much for now, scrounge around for a used single phase 1.5HP TEFC motor and use it at full speed until you can save up for a three-phase motor and VFD setup. If that works, a Reeder setup with a wheel kit would run just around a grand.
My short summation and advice is:
A grinder will end up costing a fair amount anyway. Besides the chassis/motor/vfd, you have an endless supply of belts to purchase, accessories like a contact wheel, extra tool arms, work rests, grinding accessories and jigs, glass platens, etc. Your best bet is to start a savings plan to purchase a good grade unit like the Reeder Basic Chassis and a TEFC 1.5 to 2.0Hp motor and VFD. You will end up spending only about 50% to 100% more than the cheap unit but will get many times the useability and value. Doing this will help you progress faster, and if you give up knifemaking you can sell the grinder for a good percentage of the cost. The old saying in knifemaking about purchasing a good grinder is, "Buy once, cry once!"
