Comparing Grinders. the 2x72 type

Which grinder

  • Beaumont KMG

    Votes: 6 25.0%

  • Bader

    Votes: 2 8.3%

  • Wilmont

    Votes: 2 8.3%

  • Build one (post which grinder plan)

    Votes: 7 29.2%

  • Other (post which grinder)

    Votes: 7 29.2%
  • Total voters
    24
C Craft said:
I did the build and I have never regretted it! The one thing about building your own you have to have the knowledge to understand what you are looking at on the plans. Square is critical for the machine to run and function as it should!! Close is not close enough. You are not playing horse shoes or hand grenade's! If you realize at some point the last element you added is off. Stop and fix it, If it costs you a whole day in the build. Because the machine will not function and you won't ever be happy with it! Square and True!!!

Actually over the weekend while the forum was down I found this in a book mark I had. It is on another forum but you should be able to see the plans. If you can't and you want to use this build I will find someway for you to see it!!!

You should be able to see these, I am not signed in and I can see them!

http://www.customknifedirectory.com/forum/showthread.php?s=9646b315214cfcd4a7b06aaff50e1d8b&t=62944
Those plans are very detailed and pictures of the actual build which helps to figure out the drawings. I built mine of steel although the one thing about aluminum is, it is lighter, no rusting, etc. However aluminum is going up everyday with the new tariffs!!
Click to expand...
Awesome!!
 
The tensioner is easily modified!! However I have never had trouble with my spring I used!!

Here is another modification I made after I got mine up and running! Looking at the tracking pivots. I put a bolt in from the tracking pivots. From the opposite side of the tension arm I put a threaded cap screw to use as an adjustment!! I will try to show you this in a pic later on! That tension arm as little a part it seems to play is ultimately important. The third wheel of the three runs off of it! The tracking adjustment basically just raises and lowers the tracking roller mount to track the belt. However if that arm is the least and I stress the least out from square with the other two wheels you will have to track the belt way off to one side or the other to make it track correctly. When I got mine altogether I noticed that to track it I had to actually roll the tracking so far out the belt was running slightly off one side of the tracking pulley. I didn't like how it looked, (even though it did not seem to effect the overall running of the belt). One night after running the grinder a while I backed of and something caught my eye. I have been doing carpenter work all my life and I can see a warp where no one else sees it!!

1532999847856.png

I remembered that when I drilled the hole for the hole for the tracking tension and support arm, the hole walked on because of a dull bit!! That is where the pivot for the tracking and tension arm pivots off of! So I turned the machine on and watched the belt run. It was running true but the tracking pulley was off!!! that is when I realized that the position of the tracking and tension arm was the problem!! Now how to fix it. I still had enough of the steel that the arm was made of and tracking and tension support was made of the same!! I cut a new support arm drilled it and installed the new arm. This where the adjustment from up above came into play. Realizing that a hair off multiplies by distance. You being a sniper will understand that principle!! I already had the holes in the piece you see that the tracking and tension arm mount onto. This was the only weld I did on the entire build but I got the tracking and tension arm square to top of main arm slide and I tacked it. Then I came on the back side of it and welded it. With the other adjustment you can dial it in for tracking the belt perfectly!!1533000634874.png

This is a pic of where I made the adjustment on my clone!!!

OH HOW I HATE PHOTOBUCKET ANYMORE.
I hope you are able to see these photos!!

This a shot of my KMG clone and the backside of the tension and tracing arm. If you look close you will see the set screws I used for adjustment!

http://s164.photobucket.com/user/craft5759/media/Grinder forge cart/Today Feb. 1 2016 021_zpsbi10vgdj.jpg.html?sort=6&o=32

In this pic you will see after I used the set screws to make the adjustment need I permanaately shimmed behind the tracking adjustment!

http://s164.photobucket.com/user/craft5759/media/Grinder forge cart/Today Feb. 1 2016 024_zpsbyqckce1.jpg.html?sort=6&o=26

You said this.
JJB11B said:
I have a buddy that has a CNC plasma table, I bet I could get him to cut the parts for me
Click to expand...

All pieces will need to be flat iron, or you will loose you square and true! The very reason none of this is welded is because if you weld it you will get warpage. That warpage will cause it too be unsquared and untrue and you will never be happy with the finished product.
You must have a way to drill square and true, (a good drill press) or it will not turn out well!
When I did the top and bottom to slide arm. I set it up like the finished product would be and I clamped it around the arm material with a few thousands shim, (to keep it from being to tight on the arm)!
I marked the holes with a center punch and drilled the correct size for 1/4 x 20 tap. For all of the holes top and bottom. Then you will have to go back and step up to the next size bit so a 1/4 x 20 screw will pass thru it, and counter sink the holes! However by doing it this way you do not have to worry about the holes wandering or not matching!!

Here is a pic before it was mounted and the hole cut for the belt to the step pulleys! Or at least I hope you can see these pics!
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u20/craft5759/Grinder forge cart/000_1181.jpg

I hope this helps!!
 
I've had experience with the ratcheting belt tension mechanisms, and for the most part they are great. Notice I said "for the most part"..... where I came to dislike them is when using J weight belts..... I'd grind a bit, and any J weight belt would have to be retracked back to center, time and time again. I finally figure out what was going on..... as the belt heated up, it would stretch to the limit of the small spring that was suppose to keep it tight, and because of the "ratchet" mechanism, it would reach the limit of it's ability to hold the belt tight. At first I thought no big deal, just reach up and give the ratchet adjustment another click or two..... that was until I did that with a mylar backed belt..... it flew off the machine, and I took a nice gash on the right side of my face from the belt edge. I tend to be very cautious around grinders that use that type of belt tension setup now. :) That doesn't mean they aren't "good"...... they're just not good FOR ME.

I know I've said it before, but it bears repeating that there is no one grinder out there that is "perfect". In my experience you will either need to modify the grinder to your liking, or adjust your usage/methods to the grinder. I'm of the first one. Because I have experience with many different grinders, when considering a grinder, I look for the one(s) that offer me the least necessary modification to make it work as I want it to.

I do have a personal list of "deal breakers" that will turn me away from any given 2X72" machine....

1. Anything other then a 1 1/2" tooling arm (I personally dislike aluminum, but that easily solved with a visit to the local steel yard. But if I'm not gona use it, why am I paying for it?)

2. Ratcheting belt tension adjustment (because it bit me once, and I won't give it another chance)

3. Grooved tracking, drive, or platen wheels. (this was tried way back in the 80s, and several people got injured when they tried to use those grooved wheels as a contact wheel to grind on... the belt shredded, causing things from minor cuts to people loosing eyes.)

4. A grinder that comes with the hydraulic spring cylinders for belt tension (because I'd change to a typical coil spring anyway, and again, why pay for it if I won't use it)

5. Under built (those that use "lightweight" as a selling point.....to me that's just another way of saying "We're too cheap to build it heavy duty")

6. "Open" motors, and any VFD other then a KBAC with the NEMA enclosure. (Open motors are a burn out waiting to happen in a grinder application, as is any VFD without a NEMA enclosure. I specify the KBAC brand VFD, simply because I have spent countless hours trying to help others with problems in other brands, and over the years since their introduction, have only had ONE KBAC fail, and that was totally my bone headed fault.)

7. "Bells and Whistles".....by that I mean anything that doesn't contribute to the machine's function as a grinder. (Powder coating, fancy paint jobs, etc...... what are you trying to cover up? If I want the machine painted, I can do it for a lot less then what I'm being charged for the fancy powder coating or paint job)

In the past it was much easier for the "new guy".....there were only 3-4 choices for "good" 2x72" grinders, and no matter which one you chose, it was a safe bet you'd have a very high quality machine that would last a lifetime. That all changed when knifemaking became the "vouge" thing to do..... most of the "Johnny come lately" outfits offering grinders are looking at only the dollar signs, plagiarized existing designs, and adding what they they think is"cool factor". In many ways I view the current grinder market like I do the Made in China knives..... rip off designs, that are far lesser machines then the originals.
 
Last edited:
I bought my pheer grinder mainly because money was an issue and I actually have been pleased with the grinder as a whole. But, if money weren’t an issue, I would probably go with a TW-90. If it were to be something else, I would want it to also be able to grind with the belt horizontally. I’ve never used one that way but it seems like it would be a a lot more versatile and useful for different tasks...
 
Erase KMG off your list. Old technology. Much nicer direct drives for same or less $$.
 
Last edited:
I bought a Wilmont LB1000 kit for $800. I bought 1 1/2 hp motor and TECO VFD for <$300. wiring and such was from office scrap. it uses 1 1/2" tool arms which can be made with thick wall tube or solid. mounted kit base to 1/2" steel plate from office with 1/2" rubber gasket between base and mount. plate is bolted to 3" oak which is bolted to work bench which is bolted to shop wall. kit took 30 minutes to assemble.
i second direct drive, I can change motors in 10 minutes. find a 3" drive wheel as well as a 4" or 5" drive wheel. when you start finishing, you will need the slower speeds from a 3" drive wheel.
 
Last edited:
EdCaffreyMS said:
I've had experience with the ratcheting belt tension mechanisms, and for the most part they are great. Notice I said "for the most part"..... where I came to dislike them is when using J weight belts..... I'd grind a bit, and any J weight belt would have to be retracked back to center, time and time again. I finally figure out what was going on..... as the belt heated up, it would stretch to the limit of the small spring that was suppose to keep it tight, and because of the "ratchet" mechanism, it would reach the limit of it's ability to hold the belt tight. At first I thought no big deal, just reach up and give the ratchet adjustment another click or two..... that was until I did that with a mylar backed belt..... it flew off the machine
Click to expand...

Glad you mentioned about the ratcheting system - I'd been thinking I wanted to add that to my grinder. Then I read another place about the J weight belts stretching under use, and with your confirmation I think I'll pass on the ratchet system. Ed, you've saved me some work. Thanks.

Ken H>
 
KenH said:
Glad you mentioned about the ratcheting system - I'd been thinking I wanted to add that to my grinder. Then I read another place about the J weight belts stretching under use, and with your confirmation I think I'll pass on the ratchet system. Ed, you've saved me some work. Thanks.

Ken H>
Click to expand...
And for me the ratchet is a must. I wouldn't consider a grinder without it. I've used a lot of J-Flex and have never had an issue with tracking or belt breaking. Try both grinders if you can, see what works best for you.
 
At one time I owned a tw-90. The ratchet feature was absolutely awesome!! Never ever did I have an issue
 
I worked tool & die for quite a few years and could have build my own grinder. And I could have gotten it right.

However, I bought a TW-90 instead. Why? There were a number of reasons but what it really came down to was the fact that I could.

The TW-90 was a shortcut to a high quality machine.

For me, I like the ratcheting system. Never had a tracking problem or belt break because of it. I have broken belts (my fault) and there's a guard above the tensioning wheel that saved me from anything more than a change of underwear.

Another thing with building vs. buying is resale value. I could put my grinder up for sale right now and probably have it sold by lunch. Recouping much of my money.

A home built machine is the opposite IMO. Myself, I would never buy a homemade machine from anyone. Other than for parts. You'd never know what you're getting.
 
Last edited:
I've had them all, but always preferred my Square Wheel. Stiill got it and use it for everything, even sharpening drawing pencils.

:)
 
Another thing with building vs. buying is resale value. I could put my grinder up for sale right now and probably have it sold by lunch. Recouping much of my money.

A home built machine is the opposite IMO. Myself, I would never buy a homemade machine from anyone. Other than for parts. You'd never know what you're getting.
Click to expand...

Very wise words. I have a student in the shop right now, who is on the fence about building or buying a grinder. I told him the very same thing. I explained the precision aspect necessary, and got a startled looked. Many of those who attempt to build, do so with the idea in mind that they are going to save a bunch of money, however, what they don't realize/understand is the level of precision necessary to create a machine that works as expected. That being said, those with experience tend to be the ones who can pull it off, where as beginners generally don't have the experience level necessary to create the level of precision needed.
 
i would see if there are grinder makers or knife makers near by that would let you see in person and maybe use a grinder before you pay money for it. i was able to use several Wilmont and other brand name grinders before i decided on which one to buy.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top