low end grinders

[Doug Lester]

Ok, let's address the question of low end grinders again. I posted a while back asking about the Grissly knife grinder now I've run across the Coote grinder. I know that the Grissly can have either a 8 or 10" contact wheel on it and one can change between between the two if so desired but, as far as add-ons go, that's about it. Unless one gets froggy and makes their own. The Coote is made for the one size contact wheel that you order it with but it has some attachments available for it, such as a rest for the contact wheel and a "finger mount" for small wheels. However, it doesn't come with a motor or pulleys, though they say that a pulley assembly is now available. It strikes me that if I'm having to supply the pulleys and motor, it would give me the opportunity to vary the speed of the belt. Comments from anyone with experience with these machines would be very welcome.

Doug Lester

[DC KNIVES]

Doug, I personally do not have experience on either one but have seen both.I have a Burr-King now as well as a small Craftsman, and a couple of others I built.I also just sold a Kalamazoo.The Grizzley is a good starting grinder but is main issue is speed, as it's very fast which makes fine grit sanding tough.The Coote while stuck with one size wheel does allow the use of step pullies which will give you a poorman's variable speed.For that reason alone I would recommend the Coote. The other difference is the Grizzley's motor kind of interfere's with the contact wheel unless your running the 10" so hollow grinding anything but small blades is tough, no such problem on the Coote.Hope this helps.Dave

Just to add, having the Coote allows for you to pick the motor size and speed you desire.

[Andrew Garrett]

The word 'on the street' is that the Coote is a precision piece of machinery. The guys that have them, swear by them as can be read here in many threads just like this one. A search of the forums will reveal all that you seek.

The Coote, from what I gather, is KMG precision with a two wheel design--a huge step up from the Griz. Speed control alone steered me away from Grizzly.

I selected the Multitool II 2" x 48". I started with it bolted directly to a variable speed bench grinder and then built a mount with pulleys and a separate motor. It works great for me, but only has an 8" wheel and no work rest. It has a platten and a disc sander built in.

[AcridSaint]

If I were choosing between the two, I'd go with the Coote. I've never used either, but I looked very closely at the Coote and stopped looking at the Griz fairly quickly. You don't get any choice in the motor and a lot of folks mention burning out the motor or the switch on them. There are no small wheel attachments and, in addition to it being very fast, you don't have a readily accessible way to slow it down. I like that the Coote allows you to start fairly cheaply and work your way into a nicer machine. Most folks mention that it tracks better as well.

As far as contact wheels go, on the Coote site it mentions that there may be a little wiggle room, which tells me that the either the 8" fits on the 10" or vice versa. I would call Norm Coote and ask him straight out if you want to be able to use both. Also, there's not that much difference between the two sizes, not compared to an 8 and a 12 or 14, etc. By the way, many folks get a 10" for the Griz because they have trouble grinding on the smaller 8", due to it being so close to the motor.

[Ray Rogers]

I agree with everything said here but there has been o mention of cost and you specifically asked about 'low end' grinders. I have the Grizzly and, while everything that has been said is accurate, I have made many, many knives on it and still use it even though I now have a high end grinder as well. Many other makers could also make a similar statement. That's not a plug for the Grizzly over the Coote per se but the cost difference to get the Coote set up with all those bells and whistles you're talking about certainly would be. With two sizes of contact wheels, small wheel attachment, and a motor and pulley set up you could spend far more than the cost of a Griz. So, if you really want 'low end' then I think you must give the Grizzly serious consideration. The machine you seem to want the Coote to be isn't really low end and the cost of it would be better applied to a stripped down KMG which could be expanded over time ...

[J.Arthur Loose]

The Coote is what I use, 10" contact wheel. You can use the others, you just have to drill a couple holes. I bought mine with the pulley set 6-7 years ago. I have a 1 HP TEFC motor from Harbor freight. No complaints, though I should get around to upping the motor to 220 V.

[Doug Lester]

Arthur, I take what you mean by drilling a couple of holes are holes in the arm to take up or let out slack in the belt for the different size wheels? I've got a 2hp motor on the way. It turns a little fast but I should be able to adjust for that with the pulley size. It looks like it is going to run $150-200 more than the Grissley but it's going to be worth it. I'm planning on getting the grinding rest for the drive wheel and the ceramic platen liner. Now I've just got to save up the sheckles for the grinder itself.

Doug Lester

[J.Arthur Loose]

Yep- drilling holes in the arm to account for the difference in wheel sizes.

My understanding is that you really want your motor running at 1750 RPM, so I don't know if a faster motor being stepped down would somehow adversely affect the grinder's performance...

[Mungo Park]

I just bought a coote second hand, it came with a 10 inch contact wheel, "tool rest" and the small wheel, and a 3 step pully wheel. I have a 2 horse moter that runs at 3200rpm. I am just puting the motor on to it and trying to get the right pulley wheel combo. I did look at the grizzly but found trying to ship it to Canada a real nightmare. The coote was second hand and closr by so the price was a real factor for me. Now that I have the thing I am glad I got it even second hand it looks great.
I was thinking about building one myself, but by the time I bought a contact wheel bearings and idler wheel and sundry parts , shipping for them all it was getting expensive.
Cheers Ron

[Greg obach]

there good machines... i still use mine all the time... ( hoping to get a bader one day.. )

just mount the coote so the wheel hangs off the bench... so you can't jamm a piece of steel under the wheel and bend the shaft..


next you need a heavy duty disc grinder.... i really really love the one i have
http://p222.ezboard.com/fprimalfires...icID=977.topic

it makes flattening stuff a snap


G

[LYNN DRURY]

I Use A Coote 2 X 48 And I Love It. Has The Best Tracking System I've Seen.
I Flat Grind My Blades And Would'nt Part With It.



Lynn Drury