Wilmont TAG 101 vs NorthRidge Grinder

jll346

jll346

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I am shopping for a new grinder. Due to some life set backs I have lost everything. I have previously owned 2 KMG's and a TW-90. This would not even be a question if the TW-90 platen would pivot like all the others. Absolutely the only issue I ever has with it. Being able to go horizontal is definitely now a must. That is what has led me to the TAG and the new NorthRidge grinder. Basically the same price, both go horizontal. Northridge looks a little nicer with a smaller foot print, but a super short tension arm. Anyone with info on either or both machines would be great. Thanks

Jim
 
I have worked on a TAG 101 a few times, and I own two grinders, one of which is a Northridge--I think the Northridge grinder is the superior grinder by far--first as to the short tension arm, it has a gas shock, which I believe is superior to a spring--like on the TAG--Northridge also plans to offer several options in the future which will just put them further ahead in the 2x72 Belt grinder market--for example the plan on a surface grinder attachment--the only 2x72 on the market that has one is Travis' TW-90 and it is a nice one but I can tell from Northridge's approach to building stuff that they will definitely have a good one when they offer it. The vertical changeover on the Northridge is straightforward and works well. My Northridge runs quieter than other grinders I have had or worked on, and that includes the TW-90, the Hardcore, the TAG, the Pheer and a few others.

Good luck to you--I can say you won't go wrong with a Northridge IMO
 
I just wanted to add my comment on the Travis Wuertz surface grinding attachment. I have one and it will fit any grinder with a 1 1/2 tool arm which is nearly all of them except the Bader and the TW-90 which uses a 1 1/4 tool arm. (They already fit the attachment.) It is very easy to make a steel or aluminum 1 1/2" tool arm into a 1 1/4" tool arm if you want a horizontal grinder that uses 1 1/2" tool arms by machining the first 8 inches of tool arm on two sides. I had a machinist do it for me. If you look closely at the photo below on the right side and bottom of my aluminum tool arm you will see it was relieved by 1/4" to fit the Wuertz suface grinder attachment. Travis also makes an adaptor arm for vertical use of his surface grinder. The point is that you can choose any grinder you want and be able to add the Wuertz attachment. Larry
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y4vrPBil.jpg
 
The surface grinder is definitely something down the road to look at. I did not have one with my last TW90. I just want to get back I to the game and go from there. As far as Northeastern making one that's just talk at this point. They have yet to even produce contact wheels?
 
I was in the same spot not long ago and after much debate ended up with an Esteem grinder from Brett Mathews. I do not regret the decision, it's very nice.
 
MadmanR1 said:
I was in the same spot not long ago and after much debate ended up with an Esteem grinder from Brett Mathews. I do not regret the decision, it's very nice.
Click to expand...

That has also crossed my mind. Lots of options.
 
FYI, personally, I much prefer the spring on the TAG-101, to the gas shocks. Now, that's not to say I prefer springs on all grinders, most of them suck, especially the one on the KMG, but the TAG-101 uses a very long spring and a high leverage setup on the tension arm, I find it gives very consistent pressure (adjustable by tooling arm stick-out, but unnecessary), and a very long throw. The gas shocks are typically very short, and have a high pressure fall off after passing the threshold, like pulling a compound bow back. I've got a gas shock on my LB-1000 fyi.

It may seem better on paper, but my experience is just that I don't like it as much. YMMV of course. It's the same with the TW-90's tensioning mechanism, it seems nicer on paper, but at the end of the day, I don't actually like it better.
 
Yeah I'm not a fan of the shock either. That's one big issue I have with the Northridge. Also trying to decide if the third tool slot is better/needed.

The Northridge horizontal is also much nicer than the TAG.
 
The third slot is something you'll either use or not. I use it extensively and wouldn't want to be without it. It allows you a lot of latitude for complex setups, and it always allows you to keep the adjustable tool rest in the bottom slot, and simply pivot it out of the way when not using it, and still use the middle slot for other tooling. I keep the adjustable rest in the bottom usually, and have a few other rests and fixtures I put into the middle when I need them.

The reason the TAG horizontal mode isn't the same as the others, is because back when it and the TW-90 were the only grinders that went into horizontal mode, Chris of Wilmont didn't want to use the same mechanism as the TW-90 and be accused of copying it, even though it's a basic mechanism. Of course, the grinders that have come out since, haven't had this aversion to copying. We can all agree that the horizontal flipping option of the TW-90 is slicker than the TAG-101, and Chris is well aware of it. I think he's been planning a different flipping option for a while now.

FWIW, you'll either *rarely* need to go horizontal, or you'll need a dedicated horizontal, in my opinion. Personally, I cant live without a dedicated horizontal, I use it on every knife I make, but IMO it's mandatory for pocket knives the way I make them.

I had flipping plates on one of my TAG-101s (I've got two TAG-101s and two LB-1000s) here in my shop, but ended up making a dedicated LB-1000 horizontal, and I'm putting together a second one. I moved the flipping plates to a grinder I've got up at my cabin (for versatility since I only have room for one grinder there), as I just never use it anymore on the main grinder.

The way *I* make knives, I'd be better off with 2 horizontals and one vertical, than 2 verticals and one horizontal, regardless of whether the verticals could turn over. I need my horizontal much lower than any grinder that flips, unless I had them entirely too low for use vertically, which is very critical for me when flat grinding.

I personally find it too time consuming and tedious to flip even the TW-90, especially considering the extra fiddle factor of re-orienting tool rests and such, which are much more necessary in horizontal mode (once again, the way I make knives, ymmv).

I've said this before and I'll say it again, in my opinion have the "one grinder that does it all" is only important, if you can only have one grinder. Almost every full timer I know, has 2-3 grinders, in dedicated setups they don't change often, and wishes they had more.

Personally, I'd buy two variable speed LB-1000's before I'd buy any of the other options mentioned.
 
FWIW, here is this new unboxing video that was just uploaded yesterday along with some first impressions of the North Ridge Grinder.

[video=youtube;pFo6I90QB04]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFo6I90QB04[/video]

~Paul
My YT Channel Lsubslimed
... (It's been a few years since my last upload)
 
Javan, would you mind sharing a photo of your horizontal LB-1000/flipping plate? I'd love to see what kind of footprint this has...



javand said:
The third slot is something you'll either use or not. I use it extensively and wouldn't want to be without it. It allows you a lot of latitude for complex setups, and it always allows you to keep the adjustable tool rest in the bottom slot, and simply pivot it out of the way when not using it, and still use the middle slot for other tooling. I keep the adjustable rest in the bottom usually, and have a few other rests and fixtures I put into the middle when I need them.

The reason the TAG horizontal mode isn't the same as the others, is because back when it and the TW-90 were the only grinders that went into horizontal mode, Chris of Wilmont didn't want to use the same mechanism as the TW-90 and be accused of copying it, even though it's a basic mechanism. Of course, the grinders that have come out since, haven't had this aversion to copying. We can all agree that the horizontal flipping option of the TW-90 is slicker than the TAG-101, and Chris is well aware of it. I think he's been planning a different flipping option for a while now.

FWIW, you'll either *rarely* need to go horizontal, or you'll need a dedicated horizontal, in my opinion. Personally, I cant live without a dedicated horizontal, I use it on every knife I make, but IMO it's mandatory for pocket knives the way I make them.

I had flipping plates on one of my TAG-101s (I've got two TAG-101s and two LB-1000s) here in my shop, but ended up making a dedicated LB-1000 horizontal, and I'm putting together a second one. I moved the flipping plates to a grinder I've got up at my cabin (for versatility since I only have room for one grinder there), as I just never use it anymore on the main grinder.

The way *I* make knives, I'd be better off with 2 horizontals and one vertical, than 2 verticals and one horizontal, regardless of whether the verticals could turn over. I need my horizontal much lower than any grinder that flips, unless I had them entirely too low for use vertically, which is very critical for me when flat grinding.

I personally find it too time consuming and tedious to flip even the TW-90, especially considering the extra fiddle factor of re-orienting tool rests and such, which are much more necessary in horizontal mode (once again, the way I make knives, ymmv).

I've said this before and I'll say it again, in my opinion have the "one grinder that does it all" is only important, if you can only have one grinder. Almost every full timer I know, has 2-3 grinders, in dedicated setups they don't change often, and wishes they had more.

Personally, I'd buy two variable speed LB-1000's before I'd buy any of the other options mentioned.
Click to expand...
 
Matthew, I don't have my LB-1000 on flipping plates, I've got it permanently mounted horizontal. I made a "mount" using a piece of 4" angle iron and bolted it to an old cast iron machine stand I had from the scrap yard. I've got a photo around here somewhere, let me look.
 
Here it is right after I set it up, no tool rest on it then, but I use one pretty much always.

sidebuddy.jpg
 
Thanks, bud! I completely understand your position about multiple machines. Comes down to space, but I'm wondering if, for myself, finding that space doesn't make more sense...
 
If it's finding the space for a dedicated horizontal, it will definitely pay better than any other investment you can make, *if* you use a horizontal often. I could definitely live without the second vertical, it see's about 10% of the grinder duty, I mostly keep a soft platen on it, or rotary platen, for doing finish and handle work. The rest is split between the main vertical that usually wears a flat platen, and the horizontal, that's always wearing a small wheel holder.


The *only* think I ever flip a vertical sideways for, is a certain kind of clip I like to grind sideways on a 14" wheel. The LB-1000 foot doesn't clear a 14" wheel very well, but it can be modified in about 5 minutes to accommodate if necessary.
 
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