Help me choose a grinder !

[SKIVIE]

Ive got a few extra bucks and want to purchase a 2"X72" Belt Grinder. This is that kind of money that the wife doesnt know you have.

I would like all your suggestions on wich one I should look into. I want the ability to do flat, covex, and concave grinds. Ive been to a few dealer websites but would really like to hear from those that use them and the attatchments they wouldnt want to live without. I wouldnt mind building one but not sure how to attack that. Thanks in advance for any help you can give me on this investment.

Shane

[SVanderkolff]

If you do a search, this question has been answered about a dozen times in the last year. But it gives me a good excuse to heap praise on the KMG grinder from Beaumont metal works. I think if you do the search you will find the overwhelming answer is the KMG.
Good Luck.
Steve

[beebee58]

I just returned from the ABS school and they have 6 bader's and 2 kmg's. The bader's were bought before the kmg's where made. I only used the "kmg's", and I wish I had bought one instead of my burr-king. And I only bought it less than a year ago.
kmg
kmg
kmg
kmg
kmg
kmg

[Bob Warner]

I like my KMG and recommend it completely.

[SKIVIE]

Ive been to the Beaumont site and looked over the KMG and would have to agree but I guess I should have clarified a little better. If I purchase the KMG Wich accessories should I go with. I can just see me buying something then wishing later I had done something different thats why I asked for those that have experienced the different attatchments what they thought.

Platen, what size wheel etc....

Thanks for your responce everyone.

Shane

[SVanderkolff]

That really depend on what you will be doing with it. I got the 8" wheel the flat platen and the 2" wheel. That does everything I need. Also if you talk to Rob and explain what you want he is great to work with.
Steve

[Drac]

Shane,

I got a KMG a couple months ago and I got the small wheel and the slack belt attachments with extra arms. The arms make changing attatchments easier and faster. If your going to do convex grinds you'll need a slack belt, which is also great for shaping handles. I got the small wheel attatchment because I do a lot of finger groves and it just makes it easier and faster for finishing those small curves. I can't say anything about the big wheels as I don't do hollow grinds.

Jim

[RJSmith]

I'd have to agree. I am very happy with my KMG. I bought the 8" wheel, platen, and a 1 1/2" wheel. It does the job fairly well, but I plan on getting a bigger wheel somethime in the future. If you plan on doing larger knives you might want to consider one of the bigger contact wheels.

[SKIVIE]

That info helps tremendously, Thanks guys.

Shane.

[AKmik]

Shane,

I am with everyone on the Kmg. I have the KMG8 set up with a variable speed 1.5hp motor,a base plate and an extra tooling arm. This thing is awesome, fast set ups,two bolts for a work rest,and two for slack belt work or platen for flat grinding. and belt swaps are ten second business.

I had a problem with wiring and gave Rob a call, he had me fixed up right away. Great guy to deal with and a great machine.When someone says its built solid , that's an understatement. Worth every penny, and it cost me $250 to get it here.

Here's my set up, along with a custom drafting lamp dust collection hoo haa for my shop vac. Someday I'll have a space big enough for a centrally located dust collection system.

see ya.
Mike

http://images5.fotki.com/v66/photos/...jpg?1081153346

[Michael Sanchez]

Like everyone else said KMG.

You can't loose and Rob is a great guy to work with.

Mike

[Jeff Higgins]

HARLEY DAVIDSON! Oh wait... this is about grinders? Okay then...

I have used a Bader BIII for a long time. Its a nice grinder, but my next grinder will be a KMG. There, I said it and I'm sticking to it!

[SKIVIE]

Ive made up my mind and im going to go with the KMG, just trying to decide on the attatchments. Platen, possibly a 10" wheel, and im really debating getting the small wheel attatchment, anyone have that and do you use it much ? Oh and it looks like the platen can be romoved to be used as a slack so ill probably do that.

Thanks for all your help guys !

Shane

[Michael Sanchez]

I got a similar set up as Ed Caffery, if you don't know about it take a look at his web site. I use the small wheels constantly for handles and such.

I you wan to know more let me know
mike

[Drac]

Shane,

I do have it. It's great for shaping and getting the scratches out of the finger groves, a real time saver as you can use any grit belt for this.

On the slack belt, I did chose the speed and convence (a.k.a. lazy) of just being able to trade out the arm instead of breaking out the tools everytime.

Jim