Need advice - belt grinder or bench grinder?

[Dr Stan]

Have you used Search Tempest to see if there are any grinders or belt sanders available close to you? I'd also start checking out the estate sales of farmers/ranchers.

[Sunset Machine]

The first thing I noticed about belt grinders was that they raise a little wave in the belt above the work. I don't think that's good for sharpening things. A bench grinder puts a little hollow that makes the edge easy to hone with a stone.

[ScrapMetal]

(01-29-2016, 05:02 PM)aveH Wrote:

(01-29-2016, 04:46 PM)ScrapMetal Wrote: What I am thinking of/looking at right now is one of the KMG belt grinders -  Beaumont Metal Works, specifically the 3-speed KMG-10 (the variable speed seems like over-kill).

-Ron

P.S. I'm still as pissed off as I was the day I found my shop broken into.  There is a choice piece of hell for those that steal others' stuff.

That is a good choice many of the knife makers feel that belt grinder is the "bees knees".

The variable speed can be a really good asset, to be able to turn the speed (say down) at the turn of a knob can be invaluable for fine finishing.

DaveH

That's pretty much what I've read about them.   While searching the net for "best" or "quality" grinders the KMG name kept popping up.  Now you've made me re-consider the variable speed - I'll have to give that one some further thought.

(01-29-2016, 11:33 PM)Highpower Wrote:

(01-29-2016, 04:46 PM)ScrapMetal Wrote: What I am thinking of/looking at right now is one of the KMG belt grinders -  

.... specifically the 3-speed KMG-10 (the variable speed seems like over-kill).

Yeah, I'd say you are looking WAY beyond Harbor freight there Ron.  

Come on!    All's I have to do is paint it with some crappy red paint and you'd never know the difference.    Usually if it's a tool that I'm planning on keeping for a long time and using on a continual basis I will try and get the best quality that I can afford at the time.  Over the years I've found it saves me a lot of time when I don't have to re-engineer or "fix" something to make it useful.  I end up making enough tools as it is I really don't want to spend time fixing/making tools to make the tools that I need.  I'd never get anything done, not that I accomplish a lot as it is.

(01-29-2016, 11:59 PM)Dr Stan Wrote: Have you used Search Tempest to see if there are any grinders or belt sanders available close to you?  I'd also start checking out the estate sales of farmers/ranchers.

I wish it were as simple as that.  Unfortunately, I live in a virtual "machining wasteland".  As an example:  In watching craig's list within a half day's ride of me I have only seen two South Bend lathes come in the last several years, one of which I bought.  A junk Atlas showed up just the other week.  Other than that no metal lathes, maybe one or two small mills, no grinders other than beat to hell craftsman stuff, and maybe a couple of over-priced HF band saws.   Pretty much everything I have has been shipped in or I've driven across the country to get.  It gets a bit frustrating at times.

(01-30-2016, 11:11 AM)Sunset Machine Wrote: The first thing I noticed about belt grinders was that they raise a little wave in the belt above the work. I don't think that's good for sharpening things. A bench grinder puts a little hollow that makes the edge easy to hone with a stone.

I can see where that could be an issue.   Will definitely give that plenty of thought.

Plenty of food for thought,

Many thanks,

-Ron

[Roadracer_Al]

Sorry the linky no worky.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bN76TvJspY

Ron, I, and I'm sure other members in metropolitan areas, could be encouraged to help with buying and shipping off of Craig's List.

This is what you want!

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/tls/5414638381.html

[Dr Stan]

I know about the machine tool wasteland as I lived in Kearney for about 8 years. The SB lathe I had there came with me and left with me. I did buy & then sell before I moved a nice farriers forge and an anvil (approx 100 #) which I acquired about 50 miles or so west of Kearney. I also modified Gingerly's horizontal band saw plans to build myself a cut off saw while I was there.

[ScrapMetal]

(01-30-2016, 07:20 PM)Roadracer_Al Wrote: Sorry the linky no worky.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bN76TvJspY

Ron, I, and I'm sure other members in metropolitan areas, could be encouraged to help with buying and shipping off of Craig's List.

This is what you want!

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/tls/5414638381.html

 
I gotta admit, that vid made my day!

That Baldor is a nice grinder.  The only issue I have with those is that it is difficult (and expensive) to get the proper wheels for grinding HSS/Cobalt.  CGW is about the only one selling them and in limited grits.  Most all the wheels I see for those are for grinding carbide.  (It sucks to be living in the past at times. )

(01-30-2016, 07:21 PM)Dr Stan Wrote: I know about the machine tool wasteland as I lived in Kearney for about 8 years.  The SB lathe I had there came with me and left with me.  I did buy & then sell before I moved a nice farriers forge and an anvil (approx 100 #) which I acquired about 50 miles or so west of Kearney.  I also modified Gingerly's horizontal band saw plans to build myself a cut off saw while I was there.

Yep, you definitely know what I'm talking about.  Doesn't anybody need metalworking done in the state?   I don't get it.

-Ron

[Roadracer_Al]

Ya, if you like that, just search YouTube for "bait bike" or "bait car". There's some entertaining stuff out there.

You could also scratch build a grinder using some bearing blocks.

[Dr Stan]

(01-31-2016, 06:45 PM)ScrapMetal Wrote: Yep, you definitely know what I'm talking about.  Doesn't anybody need metalworking done in the state?   I don't get it.

-Ron

Most "metal working" performed by the ranchers & farmers amounts to heating it up with a torch and beating the living hell out of it.   Or just welding it together with a stick welder using 7013 so they "don't need" to clean off the dirt & cow dung before running a "bead".

[ScrapMetal]

(02-18-2016, 11:40 AM)Dr Stan Wrote:

(01-31-2016, 06:45 PM)ScrapMetal Wrote: Yep, you definitely know what I'm talking about.  Doesn't anybody need metalworking done in the state?   I don't get it.

-Ron

Most "metal working" performed by the ranchers & farmers amounts to heating it up with a torch and beating the living hell out of it.   Or just welding it together with a stick welder using 7013 so they "don't need" to clean off the dirt & cow dung before running a "bead".

You definitely hit that one on it's on the head.  Growing up here in what used to be a "farm community" that is pretty much all that you see as far as "metal working".  Heck I probably have examples of that kind of work in my garage somewhere. (Not mine, but inherited. )

I am still considering a couple of options but the KMG is currently the front runner.  One issue I need to decide how to deal with is that I already have access to 3-phase 208v power in my shop.  I don't believe the speed controller on the KMGs is for 3-phase input so I need to study the issue a bit more and make sure I get it right.

I'll let you know what I come up with.

-Ron

[Vinny]

You have 208 3-phase in your shop??