2x72 belt grinder

[R. Thiele]

I have been doing research on different 2x72 belt grinders...I am wanting to but a good quality grinder..I value my money anyways, i stumbled upon people talking about Pheer belt grinders. I have read a lot of reviews, and they seem to be positive.  My only hang up is the cost vs stuff like Northridge and the like. They are way cheaper. Does anyone here have first hand experience with their product...or any recommendations of one i should look at?

 

 

[Adam Weller]

I think this is second thread this week asking about Pheer... I didn't have a chance to respond to the earlier thread.

 

I bought a Pheer grinder 5-6 years ago. Like you said, it was more affordable then the big names. I hesitate to say too much because it is the only grinder I have ever used, but I absolutely love it. How anybody functions without a grinder in their garage is beyond me. Forget knife making - I use it for everything. 

 

I bought his earlier model (the model number is in the 300's, like 327 I think). The one he sells now is the 454 and it looks like he has made quite a few improvements to it compared to mine, but the cost is similar. I bought the 1.5 hp model, so I can run it off 110. I have had no issues with it, no vibration (I built a very solid table for it), tracks well, plenty of power and it's still going strong. Things I still want to add would be a glass platen and some contact wheels (I still only use a flat platen or small wheel). 

 

[R. Thiele]

Thanks for the info. I definitely want larger contact wheel and what not. I have been managing without a grinder....but it is slow going.

[Wayne Coe]

Check out the video on the grinders page then look at the DVDs page for getting the DVD at www.WayneCoeArtistBlacksmith.com.

Let me know if I can help you.

 

[Bill Kirkley]

I think Travis Wuertz's TW-90 is as good a grinder as you can buy. It is more expensive but it is a quality machine and very versatile.  
 

Here is a link to his sight:  https://traviswuertz.com/

Edited April 8, 2020 by Bill Kirkley

[R. Thiele]

Thanks for the leads guys. I will look into them.

[Russ Evans]

I am also in the market for a 2x72 grinder. I am torn between the OBM and the Ameribrade. I am looking at the complete entry level packages. They are both less than $1000. Any feedback on these?

[Russ Evans]

I ended up with the Ameribrade and after reading and watching vids and making a wish list of features I completely blew my budget ! I have a package that I think will cover all my needs. I have on order the grinder with 2 hp VFD, 7in drive wheel, 10 round contact wheel and tooling arm, flat platen with tooling arm, small wheel holder with tooling arm, 2 small wheels, The new tilting hinge for horizontal grinding, and the stand with arm storage. Usually the only negatives that I hear about the Ameribrade is that it uses 2in arms instead of the 1.5. I do find that the accessories that they make to be reasonably priced so I don't think I will regret my choice. Now comes the long wait as the are about 4 weeks out before shipping.

[R. Thiele]

Dude! Congrats, let me know how it works for you.  I am still a lil ways out before I buy one.

[Kreg Whitehead]

I did a little research and my 2x 72 Grizzley was about 700 off memory.

I have gave it the chevy stress test for sure.

Keep in mind its not gonna do a hollow grind …..I guess anything is possible but its more set up for flat grinds.

[Al Dolney]

Any thoughts on the Shop Fox W1843 knife belt sander/buffer?  It's a Grizzly G1015 2x72 grinder.  The biggest difference that I can find is that the SP comes with a 10" drive wheel while the Grizzly comes with an 8" drive wheel with their 10" a $91 option.

 

I did a search on Shop Fox on this forum and found very little information.

 

[Brian Madigan]

Shop Fox and Grizzly grinders built on a buffer motor is not a great option. I don't like the motor being in the way of the contact wheel. It's OK for slack belt and platen grinding, but I doubt that a motor that small can't keep up with grinding pressure at 3600 RPM. It's a waste of money for the knife maker, IMO

I've had a few grinders where the drive and contact wheel are directly driven by the motor, and the motor is always in the way.

 

The design I like is the KMG style, where there's a swappable tool arm, tension and tracking wheel, and a drive wheel. It's the most flexible and sensible design for knife makers.

The contact wheel out front has no interference on either side. I can use any size contact wheel, changing in seconds between a 1" small radius to a 12" or 22". 

The drive wheel's diameter can be smaller for lower powered motors, or larger for high speed, high power. The motor can be face mounted for direct drive with VFD speed control, or belt driven with step pulleys for 3-speed on a fixed speed motor. I'd say don't spend $700 on a sub-par grinder when ~$1000 will get you one that you can expand indefinitely. 

 

https://beaumontmetalworks.com/

 

There are other manufacturers that copy the KMG design, and they might be cheaper and lighter. Some have improved on it, and KMG have a new frame called the KMG TX that is made from 1/4" plate rather than the 1/2" and 3/8" heavy stuff of the original frame. I have the oldest style, and they still make that one, but it's kinda heavy. 

 

There's a reason there are so many KMG clones, and that's because it's such a good design.

 

[billyO]

I'm not sure how up to date this is, but Salem knows his stuff and here's a resource comparing a bunch of different grinders:  

https://sites.google.com/site/vorpalcustomknives/shop-techniques-3/grinders