Thread: grinder build

How can you tell if a scroll chuck will fit? Is there something I should be looking for? Would be nice to have a play and try to make some small bowls etc, but not if it pushes the price up too much... thats razor money we're talking about lol

Originally Posted by AndrewJM

Thanks...

I didn't even know what a scroll chuck was lol... Im pretty ignorant to these things... my dad's toolbox was a set of screwdrivers, pliers and business cards for the handyman, plumber etc.
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I have a lathe and a couple of those but i didnt know they were called that either, LOL!

Originally Posted by AndrewJM

How can you tell if a scroll chuck will fit? Is there something I should be looking for? Would be nice to have a play and try to make some small bowls etc, but not if it pushes the price up too much... thats razor money we're talking about lol

They have internal threads and usually need an insert to fit the lathe you own. You need to know what threads you have. LIke mine is a 1x8 1in 8 threads per inch

oI YOU LOT! Hijacking my thread!?!!

Thanks for the Aldi tip Andrew.
Hey Nick - the plans i started with were the No Weld Grinder Plans from USA Knifemaker's Supply. Then i modified them heavily after looking at pics of the KMG grinders and their various clones and Wilmont Grinders. So it is a one off.
i would suggest getting the NWG Plans and maybe also the ones available from Wilmont grinders and see what suits you best. If you have the dollars, though, a properly engineered and made one is bound to be safer.
Regards,

Originally Posted by AndrewJM

How can you tell if a scroll chuck will fit? Is there something I should be looking for? Would be nice to have a play and try to make some small bowls etc, but not if it pushes the price up too much... thats razor money we're talking about lol

the scroll chuck is the turners best tool I think,
you just need to know your thread size & type for the main drive shaft for them to screw onto.
I mainly used a 4 jaw chuck or a screwed plate for bigger items like bowls etc.
the scroll chuck with the right thread was a hassle to find back then, but its been many years sinse I looked, but I think mine was a whitworth coarse thread or similar that wasn't readily available in Aus at the time (this is pre Ebay days for me LOL)
you may be able to get them easier now days as I have seen them on ebay etc

Originally Posted by Adam G.

a properly engineered and made one is bound to be safer.
Regards,

Come on now whats this safer stuff,
you smooth your face out with an extremely sharp piece of steel,
& possibly do a chunk of this with your wrong hand while half asleep LOL

To follow up to this post -

I built my grinder exactly to specs of the No Weld Grinder from USA Knifemaker's supply. It took some time to put together and get everything right. I love the grinder, but if I had to do it all over again I would just buy a standard KMG grinder and add parts as you get some spending money.

After buying the motor, steel, wheels, bolts, etc. to make mine - I'm not sure I even saved that much money over just buying a new one. Maybe I got a few more grind wheels with the savings, but also consider the time investment of building one vs buying. Just my 2 cents on the topic.

Originally Posted by Adam G.

oI YOU LOT! Hijacking my thread!?!!

Thanks for the Aldi tip Andrew.
Hey Nick - the plans i started with were the No Weld Grinder Plans from USA Knifemaker's Supply. Then i modified them heavily after looking at pics of the KMG grinders and their various clones and Wilmont Grinders. So it is a one off.
i would suggest getting the NWG Plans and maybe also the ones available from Wilmont grinders and see what suits you best. If you have the dollars, though, a properly engineered and made one is bound to be safer.
Regards,

+1.

I applaud anyone making his own grinder. But by the time you've built a KMG equivalent setup, you've sunk a whole lot of time and money into the project. Enough money that you could have almost bought the KMG, and enough time that you could have made several blades in that time. After discussing it with my wife, she told me to just buy one full option in Germany for 2500$. She told me that I never spend money on anything or go to the pub, so I should stop waffling about and just buy it and have fun.

Agreed, but just by the by... not many are available in Australia. KMG for eaxample - Beaumont will not ship international. Same with the completed USA Knifemaker's Supply Grinder.
the ones that are available here are extremely expensive. Eventually i will get one as i keep re-investing in equipment, but there are sooooo many things i need.

KMG could make a killing if they started shipping intl.
In Europe, Home is a good source.
It's where I bought mine. I am in the process of ordering a second one because one is just not enough
Well, it would be enough, but not having to change setup so often is nice, and my main concern is that if ever something was to happen to my current setup, the lead time would put me out of knifemaking for a month and a half.