How to/what do I need to build a grinder?

As my workshop and restauration pile grows the idea of a grinder have slowly started to grow in my head, first and foremost for heavier restaurations, but I hope to try making a razor or three some day :)

I would like to build it myself, problem is that I really don't know squat about how it should look and what parts I need except for a motor and wheels and would like to know as much as possible before I start building.

I guess what I'm really asking is if anyone can help me get to know everything I need to know to build and use a grinder :)

Thanks

Here is a good place to begin: No Weld Grinder

The grinding belts you will use are metric, but you should have no problem finding them. Mirka has all sorts of abrasives.

And another, with a good many more designs to choose from...

CNCCookbook: Belt Grinder Ideas

I'm in the process of building one of these myself, and i'm going to be modifying the contact wheel from a 2" wide one to a 1" wide one to make it easier to build razors, but with the standard stuff, it will be a 2x72" belt grinder. Just take your time on the drilling and tapping, and you'll have no problems building it. Here's a link to the plans. www.dfoggknives.com/PDF/GrinderPlans.pdf Good luck, it's a fun build. BTW I'm building mine out of 6061 aluminum.

Thanks guys, I will take some time and look through the different solutions and hopefully build one in not too long.

I do have a couple additional questions though:

What size(s) is recommende for the grinding wheel? Should I go for a solution where I can use different sizes?

As I understand 2" width is whats recommended for razor grinding, or have I missed something here?

2" is the standard, however charlie Lewis swears by a 1" wide one. As far as wheel size, its personal preference. 8" seems to be the most common one but it will depend on how much hollow you want in the razor

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Originally Posted by recurvist22

2" is the standard, however charlie Lewis swears by a 1" wide one. As far as wheel size, its personal preference. 8" seems to be the most common one but it will depend on how much hollow you want in the razor

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Lately I have been using 2" belts and liking them a lot. I have come to the realization that belt size does not matter, it is all in how I use the grinder.

Charlie

That big one at Mike's must have grown on you, Charlie. LOL

Thanks for the info, now to next question :)

I have a two motors readily avaliable, both 1400 rpm, one 0,35hp and one 0,5hp will anymof these be sufficent for razor grindng, or should I try to find a stonger one?

Mine is 3 hp with a phase converter speed control. You can control speed with step pulleys. 1hp might do the job, 2 is better. 3 is probably overkill, but it was used and the price was right. You could try the 1/2 hp, but I'd suggest searching for at least a 1. Good luck. Another source for DIY grinders is USAKnifemakers. They sell plans and a precut kit. Also many sizes of wheels. I have 8, 4 and 2 inch plus a flat platten. If you just have one, 8 or 4 would work.

I am yanking the motor out of the wife's old treadmill(shhhhhhhh don't let her hear that.) You wouldn't think it, but most treadmill motors are over 2 hp and have the speed control built right in to the panel on the treadmill. Or you can buy a dc motor controller.

Been there, done that. It worked great for about 3 years - then it died in the middle of a knife class. The only problem with them is that they are not shielded, so sooner or later metal dust gets into the motor and they fry. There are many advantages to a variable speed set up -this time I bet the bullet and went with a 3 phase 3 hp motor and a phase controller. Not cheap, but no worries about metal dust (shield case motor). The thread mill set up should serve you well for some time, and the price is right.

I made one for about $800. Here was the thread if you're interested:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/forge...r-project.html

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Originally Posted by Undream

I made one for about $800. Here was the thread if you're interested:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/forge...r-project.html

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Thanks Brad, very interesting and cool not at least :)

I've gotten some good ideas so far and they keep developing in my head. I like designing and build stuff on my own, and I think I have a lot of what I will need to build a basic grinder to start out with.

I also found two old files in the scrap metal at work today that I brought home for future projects, one 1" wide and the other 1 1/5"

I built mine with the no weld grinder plans in the second post of this thread. Pretty straight forward and if you are lucky you can get a lot of the metal needed at a scrap yard.