Need advice - belt grinder or bench grinder?

[ScrapMetal]

(01-29-2016, 05:02 PM)aveH Wrote:

(01-29-2016, 04:46 PM)ScrapMetal Wrote: What I am thinking of/looking at right now is one of the KMG belt grinders -  Beaumont Metal Works, specifically the 3-speed KMG-10 (the variable speed seems like over-kill).

-Ron

P.S. I'm still as pissed off as I was the day I found my shop broken into.  There is a choice piece of hell for those that steal others' stuff.

That is a good choice many of the knife makers feel that belt grinder is the "bees knees".

The variable speed can be a really good asset, to be able to turn the speed (say down) at the turn of a knob can be invaluable for fine finishing.

DaveH

That's pretty much what I've read about them.   While searching the net for "best" or "quality" grinders the KMG name kept popping up.  Now you've made me re-consider the variable speed - I'll have to give that one some further thought.

(01-29-2016, 11:33 PM)Highpower Wrote:

(01-29-2016, 04:46 PM)ScrapMetal Wrote: What I am thinking of/looking at right now is one of the KMG belt grinders -  

.... specifically the 3-speed KMG-10 (the variable speed seems like over-kill).

Yeah, I'd say you are looking WAY beyond Harbor freight there Ron.  

Come on!    All's I have to do is paint it with some crappy red paint and you'd never know the difference.    Usually if it's a tool that I'm planning on keeping for a long time and using on a continual basis I will try and get the best quality that I can afford at the time.  Over the years I've found it saves me a lot of time when I don't have to re-engineer or "fix" something to make it useful.  I end up making enough tools as it is I really don't want to spend time fixing/making tools to make the tools that I need.  I'd never get anything done, not that I accomplish a lot as it is.

(01-29-2016, 11:59 PM)Dr Stan Wrote: Have you used Search Tempest to see if there are any grinders or belt sanders available close to you?  I'd also start checking out the estate sales of farmers/ranchers.

I wish it were as simple as that.  Unfortunately, I live in a virtual "machining wasteland".  As an example:  In watching craig's list within a half day's ride of me I have only seen two South Bend lathes come in the last several years, one of which I bought.  A junk Atlas showed up just the other week.  Other than that no metal lathes, maybe one or two small mills, no grinders other than beat to hell craftsman stuff, and maybe a couple of over-priced HF band saws.   Pretty much everything I have has been shipped in or I've driven across the country to get.  It gets a bit frustrating at times.

(01-30-2016, 11:11 AM)Sunset Machine Wrote: The first thing I noticed about belt grinders was that they raise a little wave in the belt above the work. I don't think that's good for sharpening things. A bench grinder puts a little hollow that makes the edge easy to hone with a stone.

I can see where that could be an issue.   Will definitely give that plenty of thought.

Plenty of food for thought,

Many thanks,

-Ron