Printable View
Hi guys. I was just wondering what type of grinder I should get? I live in the UK and I was wondering if anyone knows a good grinder I can get here.
After reading threads here, I will need a variable thingy one. But they are expensive? What about a belt sander?
Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
For making razors? It honestly sounds like you want more than you can have. Choose two:
Works well
Cheap
Long Lasting
+1! Truer words have rarely been spoken.Quote:
Originally Posted by Philadelph
Not sure what you mean. Do you mean two belt sanders? Thanks.
And yeah, I want to have a go at making razors :)
I think Alex meant to choose a belt grinder that conforms to at least 2 out of his 3 suggestions. If you are going for a quality grinder you'll have long lasting and works well. Definitely not cheap. Unless you make your own.Quote:
Originally Posted by Darren T
Oh ok thanks. But a normal belt grinder isn't suitable? I would need one that I can change the speed? Sorry for the stupid questions.
A variable frequency drive is really the bees knees. You can make the grinder run at crawling speed.
Here's a grinder available from Germany. Not to many US companies will ship you a grinder. I know KMG doesn't. You could always have someone ship it for you. You'd have to calculate import duties and freight charges from the US.
You will also need to make sure it runs on your voltage/hertz. Although the UK claims to have a 230V electricity supply it is still the same old 240V 50hz. Unless it has improved by now. Best would be to talk or find someone from the UK who own and uses a belt grinder.
Sadly that's a little bit out of my price range at the moment lol. So I will have a look around and see what I can do. Yeah, I'm going to see if some of my friends have something that would work also.
Thanks Max.
If you're a really handy type, like Charlie, you can build one really cheap: http://straightrazorpalace.com/forge...er-v2-0-a.html
That could be an option too, cheers.
It is how you use the tool that matters most, not the cost or the name on the tool. This weekend I visited Dan Graves' shop his grinders are home made. He manages to do very nice work with them. Here are a couple of links with pictures of grinders there are many ways to skin a cat. The no weld grinder plans from USA knife maker are also nice. Plus they carry many of the parts.
gonza-rytec | brusky – rajce.net
How To Build A Good Belt Grinder
The easiest way to get into hollow grinding is to put a curved platen on a 1" belt grinder. It is not perfect but it works. If you could figure a way to slow the belt speed down it would work much better.
http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...-grinding.html
Charlie
Thanks for that and them links. I think, I'm going to have a go at building one. Can't really afford anything expensive so I'll try and make one. Thanks.
Darren - have a look at the British Blades forum - there is a guy there that makes grinders to order, but I doubt that they are much less than £1000 or so. Variable speed is excellent, but doesn't work too well in the UK with standard single-phase electric motors - it is much cheaper to use pyramid pullies to vary the speed - although with a long belt of suitable type a slower running motor generates a lot less heat than you might imagine.
HNSBs idea is pretty sound, too. Wayne Goddards book "$50 Knife Shop" has a lot of great ideas.
Regards,
Neil
Thanks Neil, I will have a look. I'll come up with something, cheers.
Making razors is not quite as easy as it looks, but if you get creative you can use what you have. I've made a few with a simple 4x36 sander & even lock my belt sander upside down in the vice. I'm by far not the first to do that. I too plan on building a larger and variable speed grinder in the future...one day :-)
I have no metal work experience. Only wood, and that is with some scales, nothing major. But I can't wait to give it a go.
I know I will probably make loads of mistakes and fail and have to start again many times, but if I stick to it I think I will be able to make 'something' that works.
I ordered some steel today so I need to find something to grind it out now! :)
Can't wait!