posted
I want to get into knife making but I am on a budget and was wondering how well this would work as a grinder. http://www.grizzly.com/products/Belt-Sander-1-x-30-/H3140 If any of you have any other recomendatons I would really appreciate any input. I need to stay under $150 and prefferably under $100
-------------------- Fred Bear Grizzly 56" AMO 45@28 Fred Bear Montana 64" AMO 55@28 Posts: 109 | From: Minnesota | Registered: Jan 2010
| IP: Logged |
posted
Chris is pretty accurate. You can't find belts of zirconia and such to fit that machine which are necessary to make any progress on steel. Steel will EAT silicon carbide belts like candy. You'll soon have invested enough $000.00 in belts that you could have bought a better grinder. Just save your money until you can step up to something more sufficient to avoid disappointment.
-------------------- Blade Show 8-Q Andersen Forge When the last deer disappears into the morning mist, When the last elk vanishes from the hills, When the last buffalo falls on the plains, I will hunt mice for I am a hunter and I must have my freedom. Chief Joseph Posts: 2245 | From: Warba, Minnesota | Registered: Jan 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
I've made dozens of knives on my Grizzly 1x30. You can buy 1x30 zirconia belts from Jantz and others, so that's not an issue. Even if you buy the regular belts, it's still a very inexpensive way to get started in knife making and it doesn't go through belts that quickly, especially if you're forging to shape. Even with stock reduction knives it wasn't excessive IMO.
The Craftsman 2x42 is in your price range as well. I have one of these too... my complaint is the belt speed is too fast and the belt selection isn't as wide as for the 1x30 or the 2x72 grinders.
If I was just getting started, knowing what I know now, I'd still get the 1x30. It's slower going than the 2x grinders, but starting out that's a good thing
-------------------- >>>-TGMM Family Of The Bow--> CT CE/FS Chief Instructor "Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live." - Norman Cousins Posts: 5053 | From: East Haddam, CT | Registered: Aug 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
Buy the little beast and have at it. The only way to get good is to start and make a lot of blades. Buy what you can afford and get more advanced equipment when you can afford it.
-------------------- Clay Walker Skill is not born into anyone. It is earned thru hard work and perseverance. Posts: 3246 | From: Vancouver, WA. | Registered: May 2009
| IP: Logged |
posted
Probably the best information I can add to it is to make sure you do not push the steel into the belt too hard. It will make the little motor in that thing work too hard and greatly shorten its life.
posted
I have been using a 1X30 for stock removal knives for some time now, works great, didn't cost much, and doesn't take up much room. Can't ask for much more than that... unless you are anticipating making lots of knives (not lots over time, but lots in a relatively short amount of time), I would go for it!
-------------------- >>>--Semper-Fi--->
It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt. -Abraham Lincoln Posts: 1253 | From: Boise Idaho...no, youdaho | Registered: Aug 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
Oh, and I have to commit knife making heresy here. You don't need all the multiple grit count belts. I start at 36 or 40 to get everything set and all cutting work done. Everything else is refining and finish work. From there I like to hit 120 or 180 grit next depending on how clean the bevels are on the blade. Then right to 400 grit. This not only saves me a lot of cash on belts, it also saves me a ton of time. Once I switched to this process I noticed my my knives look just the same as before.
Once I hit 400 grit with the belt sander, I switch to draw filing ( sanding ) by hand then finish sanding by hand. I uses 600, 800, and 1000 grit sand paper for this work. If I want a mirrored blade I will go to finer grit counts as needed. I know lots of guys step thru every grit level. For me I have found it to be unecessary.
-------------------- Clay Walker Skill is not born into anyone. It is earned thru hard work and perseverance. Posts: 3246 | From: Vancouver, WA. | Registered: May 2009
| IP: Logged |
posted
Thought I'd resurrect this thread since I'm hoping to start forging this year. This sander is down to $65 so it seems like a great place to start. My question is regarding the different types of belts available at Jantz and other sellers. Which type would be the most efficient? I'm hoping to forge my blades to shape, so (in theory) I'd be using the sander to grind the flats and such. I just don't know much about these different belts...
-------------------- Black Widow PSA V 48# @27" Samick Deermaster T/D 50# @28" Dale Dye Good Medicine 50# @27" "All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost." JRR Tolkien Posts: 493 | From: Hammond, LA | Registered: Apr 2011
| IP: Logged |
posted
I used a 1X30 Delta and bought my belts from Jantz for a long time. I would hate to go back to it but it worked ok at the time.
Posts: 92 | From: englewood colo | Registered: Oct 2007
| IP: Logged |
posted
The last two belts listed should last the longest while grinding.
-------------------- Clay Walker Skill is not born into anyone. It is earned thru hard work and perseverance. Posts: 3246 | From: Vancouver, WA. | Registered: May 2009
| IP: Logged |
posted
Great info as I am looking to purchase my first belt grinder with limited funds. Thanks guys for the great responses.
Posts: 365 | From: Morley, Michigan | Registered: Nov 2008
| IP: Logged |
posted
I bought one from HF a couple weeks ago and it works great. I'm a beginner as well and don't plan on going into the knife making business. HF has it on sale for $39.99!
Posts: 233 | From: Colorado | Registered: Mar 2007
| IP: Logged |
posted
I ordered some belts last week as well. I found Lee Valley to more user friendly than Jantz. Prices are fair as well.
Posts: 233 | From: Colorado | Registered: Mar 2007
| IP: Logged |
quote:Originally posted by Ragnarok Forge: The last two belts listed should last the longest while grinding.
Thanks!
Rusty
-------------------- Black Widow PSA V 48# @27" Samick Deermaster T/D 50# @28" Dale Dye Good Medicine 50# @27" "All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost." JRR Tolkien Posts: 493 | From: Hammond, LA | Registered: Apr 2011
| IP: Logged |
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
