tilting belt grinder, how useful?

V

vikingGoalie

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Aug 20, 2019
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So full disclosure this is probably me being too impatient but...

So I've been lusting after a vevor 2x72 belt grinder, it simply looks like the best value on the market at that price point.
So I saved my $$$ and now have enough and literally the day after i got the money to purchase it goes out of stock. (it's been in stock continuously for the last 3-4 months)
Asking when it might be back in stock gives back vague answers from support. essentially they think they will have a few more back in stock in 3 weeks.
The non-tilting version is still in stock.

The question is...
How important is a tilting belt grinder, do people use that functionality much? I hate the 4x36 craftsman I have, and that's with forging bevels in and trying to minimize my reliance on it. I can make it work but it takes literally 4x longer to do anything on this (i had built a 2x72 grinder before, worked great but I broke it)
 
I bought a dedicated horizontal grinder so i didn't have to change mine back and forth anymore, but if it's your only grinder, i'd definitely wait to get the tilting feature. It is definitely handy to have. I make slipjoints and use my horizontal grinder several times on every knife i make
 
I don't have one...and I want one. Using a small wheel attachment would be easier and more precise as you can run the table parralel to the floor and eliminate/minimize mistakes.
 
👍 thumbs up for horizontal…certainly an aid.
 
thx everyone for helping me exercise some patience, guess i'll wait....
it is a bit excruciating because I can almost taste having a "real" belt grinder that won't make me angry every time i use it (like now).
 
navman said:
I don't have one...and I want one. Using a small wheel attachment would be easier and more precise as you can run the table parralel to the floor and eliminate/minimize mistakes.
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I don't have one either, but I think about making a mounted vertical table that we rest our work on, guiding it to be square.

that seems like a viable option for people who don't tilt?
 
To be contrary, i've had a vertical one for the last 4 years and haven't felt a need to get a rotating attachment. I tend to do full flat ground kitchen knives, or sabre ground with a forged finish on the flats
 
Alex Topfer said:
To be contrary, i've had a vertical one for the last 4 years and haven't felt a need to get a rotating attachment. I tend to do full flat ground kitchen knives, or sabre ground with a forged finish on the flats
Click to expand...

I think they only use it for profile work?
 
my grinder tilts but I rarely use it in that position
 
Alex Topfer said:
ah yeah that would do it. 90% of my profiles are done with a hammer
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i have to admit, that my hammering has improved because of my crappy belt sander I currently have, as it's a lot better for me to minimize it's role in making a knife.

so in a way the crappy belt sander has helped me improve there not that I'm anything other then sucky right now, just saying...
 
Very exciting, getting a proper grinder is a big step.

Tilting is useful and variable speed is a must.

Keep us posted.

Hoss
 
variable speed is definitely a more important feature for the work I do.
My grinder doesn't have a secondary socket, so my tool rest bolts to the same arm the platen is attached to and only mounts perpendicular to the belt which is useless in the horizontal position. I bought a brodbeck disc sander attachment which I use instead of running the belt horizontal. Not ideal, in fact, it makes me want a different grinder sometimes.
 
I started off with with a vertical only grinder on step pulleys, then built a tilting grinder with variable speed, and both are definitely game changers. The VFD makes a bigger difference than the tilt, but it's still a very useful feature.
 
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