So I'm looking for a decent belt grinder for around $250, and I think I may have found what I'm looking for either here:
http://www.zoro.com/g/00035998/k-G13...nw_wcB&whence=
or here:
http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?P...oqKExaW7Tw_wcB
My question is, does anyone have any experience with either of these two grinders? Right now I'm leaning towards the Kalamazoo mostly because it has many,many positive reviews(the other grinder has none at all) and a Baldor motor. Unfortunately none of the reviewers use the grinder to make knives, they use it for sharpening. I don't know if a 1/3hp motor is powerful enough for making knives or not.
However; the Dayton grinder has a 1/2hp motor(versus the Kalamazoo's 1/3hp motor) and has a 2" sanding belt and a slightly lower price. Which brings up another question: does a belt 2" in width really have that big of an advantage over a belt 1" in width? It seems to me that a 2" belt would allow you to grind slightly more blade steel at a time than a 1" belt making the machine more efficient. I know people have said that you could make a grinder youself for under $250, but I would rather spend the free time I have practicing grinds or teaching myself mistake,by mistake, how to make knives.
Any suggestions?