Quality vs Junk Grinder Accesories

Kevin Zito

Kevin Zito

KNIFE MAKER
Ok ... so while I wait out the rain, I am looking at grinder parts and accessories on the internet. I do plan to get what I can from USA Knifemaker, however, some things are not available. Who do you all use for your parts? Also, I have noticed TREMENDOUS variations in prices for things. Should I watch out for certain red flags for trash. I am, in no way, looking for a 12 inch contact wheel (yet, hehe), but check out the listing in the link below. Something must be wayyyyyyyyyy off, right?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/12-Soild-C...=item1a6b53326f:g:aK4AAOSw5cNYRPAT:rk:10:pf:0

Edit: Am I correct in thinking that a small wheel attachment is an eventual necessity?
 
Yep, you'll eventually want a small wheel attachment. For the large contact wheels the Chinese wheels work just fine. You might wish to look around here at different size wheels. https://goo.gl/yPw5Aa

I have ordered 3 or 4 of them in different sizes and been pleased with all of them. The 12" diameter I did have to balance a bit, but that's very easy to do.
 
KenH said:
Yep, you'll eventually want a small wheel attachment. For the large contact wheels the Chinese wheels work just fine. You might wish to look around here at different size wheels. https://goo.gl/yPw5Aa

I have ordered 3 or 4 of them in different sizes and been pleased with all of them. The 12" diameter I did have to balance a bit, but that's very easy to do.
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What are the differences in the wheels that cause such a major price difference? I know that some come with bearings and some don’t. Is it easy to put bearings in the wheels like you have?
 
I have all the attachments possible for my burr king....minus the surface grinder attachment.

Rather than change tooling all the time to use other attachments, I changed the style of my knives so that I always have my flat platen (which also allows me a 2" and 5" contact wheel) and my tool rest (which swings out of the way when not in use).

The point is.....you don't NEED the small wheel attachment right now if funds are limited. On the other side of that coin....if the tooling changes were quicker on my grinder, I might occasionally use some of the other attachments.

But there are workarounds. Just food for thought.
 
The small wheel attachment is crucial for some things but gets the least use overall. Yes you want one, but I’d get it last. The reason why is because you can make do without it until you really need it, and becaue believe it or not, it’s the hardest tool to learn to use well. You will botch more stuff with a small wheel than you ever thought possible.

When I was first thinking about getting into knifemaking, I imagined all the things I’d do and all the things I’d need. Like everyone else, I watched endless YouTube videos, read forums, did google searches. Then I got my grinder and started making knives. And all the stuff I had imagined was so different than what I ended up doing, which determined what I ended up needing.

The point being, don’t buy anything until you KNOW you need it. Prove to yourself first that it cannot be done with what you have. I made a rule that anything I buy has to pay for itself.

We all get TAS (tool acquisition syndrome). What helps to keep it in check is to challenge yourself to find a way without it.

I discovered that I use my flat platen 80% of the time. The big contact wheel I was so hung up on gets used for profiling blanks and shaping handles. The small wheel gets used very little, but is indispensable when you need it.
 
John Wilson said:
The small wheel attachment is crucial for some things but gets the least use overall. Yes you want one, but I’d get it last. The reason why is because you can make do without it until you really need it, and becaue believe it or not, it’s the hardest tool to learn to use well. You will botch more stuff with a small wheel than you ever thought possible.

When I was first thinking about getting into knifemaking, I imagined all the things I’d do and all the things I’d need. Like everyone else, I watched endless YouTube videos, read forums, did google searches. Then I got my grinder and started making knives. And all the stuff I had imagined was so different than what I ended up doing, which determined what I ended up needing.

The point being, don’t buy anything until you KNOW you need it. Prove to yourself first that it cannot be done with what you have. I made a rule that anything I buy has to pay for itself.

We all get TAS (tool acquisition syndrome). What helps to keep it in check is to challenge yourself to find a way without it.

I discovered that I use my flat platen 80% of the time. The big contact wheel I was so hung up on gets used for profiling blanks and shaping handles. The small wheel gets used very little, but is indispensable when you need it.
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10-4... all great points! Right now I use a dremmel for the smaller curves. It works pretty good.
 
J. Doyle said:
There's your good work around. That's what I do too. In fact, the things I do use a small wheel for, I'm not sure I'm not better and faster with the dremel.
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Yep. Matter of fact, I’ve gone back to a file for rough shaping the interior radius of guards and such.

I do use my small wheel for a good number of things, but mainly because I have a decent assortment of diameter wheels for specific jobs.
 
J. Doyle said:
There's your good work around. That's what I do too. In fact, the things I do use a small wheel for, I'm not sure I'm not better and faster with the dremel.
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Are there metal sanding drums for dremels or you get what you get? I have one and it seems to work fine a,though wear out quickly. Understandably with the small amount of sanding material. Also do you recommend a particular speed, slow , medium or full throttle?
 
Von Gruff said:
I have my flat platen and the 12 inch wheel, a 4 inch and a 1 1/4 wheels and they all get a run for each knife but my tool change takes about as much time as a belt change so it is not a big thing to swap out one tool head for another.
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This is very good information. Thank you.
 
Retroguy said:
Are there metal sanding drums for dremels or you get what you get? I have one and it seems to work fine a,though wear out quickly. Understandably with the small amount of sanding material. Also do you recommend a particular speed, slow , medium or full throttle?
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I use the regular little sanding drums. As you said they wear out quickly, but I only use them to clean up the area. The bulk is removed with an angle grinder, band saw, hack saw, or file.
 
Kevin Zito said:
I use the regular little sanding drums. As you said they wear out quickly, but I only use them to clean up the area. The bulk is removed with an angle grinder, band saw, hack saw, or file.
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Yes I love the dremel. I clamp it in a vise sometimes also, but wonder if it's going to implode sometime.
 
Kevin Zito said:
Ok ... so while I wait out the rain, I am looking at grinder parts and accessories on the internet. I do plan to get what I can from USA Knifemaker, however, some things are not available. Who do you all use for your parts? Also, I have noticed TREMENDOUS variations in prices for things. Should I watch out for certain red flags for trash. I am, in no way, looking for a 12 inch contact wheel (yet, hehe), but check out the listing in the link below. Something must be wayyyyyyyyyy off, right?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/12-Soild-C...=item1a6b53326f:g:aK4AAOSw5cNYRPAT:rk:10:pf:0

Edit: Am I correct in thinking that a small wheel attachment is an eventual necessity?
Click to expand...
Kevin I have bought stuff of eBay before and I have yet to get burned. Check out the sellers ratings and feedback and if they started selling yesterday well,...…….. that may be a red flag!! This guy has been on eBay since Dec. 31st 2001, he has good feedback rating and he has no bad feedback. All that adds up to a good buy usually!

Kevin Zito said:
What are the differences in the wheels that cause such a major price difference? I know that some come with bearings and some don’t. Is it easy to put bearings in the wheels like you have?
Click to expand...

If you buy a 10" wheel from Grizzly http://www.grizzly.com/products/Grizzly-10-Aluminum-Rubber-Wheel-For-G1015/G9242 You got $91.95 in it! The bearings will run you $10.00 or less and then getting a machine shop to cut the pockets to accept the bearing, depending on the shop rate, or how much beer you bring, about $30.00! For a grand total of $131.95. This is looking not to bad a price, depending on the shipping!!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/12-Soild-C...=item1a6b53326f:g:aK4AAOSw5cNYRPAT:rk:10:pf:0
 
Kevin Zito said:
What are the differences in the wheels that cause such a major price difference? I know that some come with bearings and some don’t. Is it easy to put bearings in the wheels like you have?
Click to expand...
Kevin, when you ask "What are the differences in the wheels that cause such a major price difference", are you talking about the wheels on that link? OR, the difference in price of the wheels on that link vs what you find here in USA? If you're looking at wheels in USA that are priced in the $120 to $150 range, I expect will be NO difference. If you check close enough most likely you'll find the USA wheels were made in China, perhaps by the same folks listed in the link.

I usually order the wheels with bearings installed since they're only charging $4 to $5 for the installed bearings. When I can order a 10" wheel for $70 shipped and it will be here in a week or so, that's my choice. As mentioned before, there have been quite a few folks ordering wheels from the linked site with good luck. If you wish a special hardness wheel, it's easy to get, just ask. It does add a week or so to delivery.

Yes, it's easy to install bearings in the wheels if you wish, but you do have to make sure you've got the correct OD size for bearing. By having them install the bearing that takes care of any possible fit issues.
 
This is a Multi Platin arm I built with a 2" and 4" Rubber wheel, I bought the steel parts from Polar Bear Forge, had the 2" wheel and got the 4" wheel from Grinderparts.com I think? I set it up so I can spin the platin 360deg. With this platen I can do the following without changing the arm, 2" round wheel, 4" wheel, flat platen and slack belt.
 

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Kevin Zito said:
Ok ... so while I wait out the rain, I am looking at grinder parts and accessories on the internet. I do plan to get what I can from USA Knifemaker, however, some things are not available. Who do you all use for your parts? Also, I have noticed TREMENDOUS variations in prices for things. Should I watch out for certain red flags for trash. I am, in no way, looking for a 12 inch contact wheel (yet, hehe), but check out the listing in the link below. Something must be wayyyyyyyyyy off, right?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/12-Soild-C...=item1a6b53326f:g:aK4AAOSw5cNYRPAT:rk:10:pf:0

Edit: Am I correct in thinking that a small wheel attachment is an eventual necessity?
Click to expand...

That's the 12" wheel I bought. Very nice wheel if i needed another i would buy another or even larger?
 
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