New 2x72 Grinder needs you!

[sakurama]

Like I don't have enough going on I've been watching Forged in Fire and it's really made me want to take a stab at making a knife. So to speak. I don't want to fully fall down the rabbit hole like my friend Ben who bought a forge and anvil but a grinder would allow me to toy with stock removal knives.

As you may know the 2x72 inch size belt grinder (or sander if you prefer) is the main size and style used by knife makers. I'd been looking for a good used Burr King 762 for a while but once I discovered the versatility of the knife style grinder I became convinced it was a more versatile tool.

So in my research I found this:

He's an engineer who decided to try his hand at designing a grinder and making a run of them. I've done a lot of research on these and while I don't have first hand experience with this tool (it's a prototype) it looks like a really nice tool. Much better than any similar priced options and more in line with the TW-90 which is way more $$. I've committed to buying one and he only needs one more person to commit to be able to start the production run.

Surely there must be one of you also looking for a good 2x72 grinder and can be the last person. I like supporting entrepreneurs and people bold enough to take an idea and turn it into something real. I've spoken to him and he's a very earnest good guy - I don't think he's out to scam anyone - and he really has no idea how to get the word out. I found him through a local CraigsList ad and then through his instagram.

So I thought I'd start a thread here to let people know about it. Check it out and if it seems like the tool you need get on board so we can get this project moving. He's giving a pretty good discount through the end of the month to help get this off the ground.

Gregor

 

[LXCam]

Looks cool, how much?

As for your other comment regarding the versatility of a belt grinder. Let me tell you that I bought my burking for one particular product that I needed to slack belt burnish which it did so perfectly. But moving beyond that one dimensional aspect it's the one tool that gets used more than anything else in my shop. I couldn't live without it at this point and I own just about every type of sanding machine made....I think.

But getting back to your post, I wouldn't mind having another unit set up for certain applications so I don't have to make major adjustments to my BK when doing certain tasks. If the price is right....?

 

[sakurama]

Looks cool, how much?

But getting back to your post, I wouldn't mind having another unit set up for certain applications so I don't have to make major adjustments to my BK when doing certain tasks. If the price is right....?

I'm with you on the Burr King. I used a 2" one and was amazed at how useful it was. I searched forever and found a good deal on 562 - the 1" version - and I use it all the time. I would really love to have a 2".

I think his pricing right now is $2149 which includes a 3-phase motor and VFD. So it's more expensive than a used Burr King 762 but variable speed with the VFD is really helpful. The design pivots to horizontal which is super nice and uses the standard 1.5" tool post so you can use other wheels etc.

I think the price is pretty fair all things considered. He also offers options without the motor/VFD as just a frame - no wheels or motor - for $775 and as a weld up kit for $650 for those who want to build it up themselves.

If you get in touch with him he's very open to input.

Gregor

 

[ThaddeusHicks]

Thank you for the post Gregor! It has been great to see and hear from everybody about the design. I am looking forward to producing this tool but even more so how people use it to achieve their goals.

More information on me and my project:

I am new to knife making but after my first few knives at a friends house I got hooked on it. Like most people on this site I enjoy designing, building, and making stuff. That is what drove me on during the late nights working problems and finishing my homework while at Washington State University in their Mechanical Engineering program. I have had a great career so far designing products for companies, as well as, traveling the world to visit customers and vendors. But after a few quick lessons in knife making I became obsessed with the knife making process and how I could apply engineering principles in a practical way. When it came time to start looking to purchase equipment I decided that I would try to design and build my own grinder.

Over the course of a few months designing in the afternoon after work I developed my first prototype design. You can check out the design at:

(I will be the first to admit I am not great at taking videos but hope to get better).

Since my knife making experience is pretty limited I took my prototype unit to a well respected blade smith master and got some great feedback on the current design as well as some features I could improve the design with.

With my feedback in-hand back to the design I went. After about another 1/2 month of design work my 2nd design is ready and I think we have made some real progress on a 2x72 machine that is versatile enough to be used in the knife making industry and beyond. In addition to knife making I use mine all the time for sharpening my lathe tools, profiling wood and metal parts, and for general fabrication work.

Now that I have a design that I think has some good potential I have started the process of creating a business on the side to produce these machines. Leveraging my contacts thru my experience in manufacturing I found that I could bring this to the market at a competitive price point. Some of you may be asking why am I going thru all the trouble of starting a business while working a full time engineering job. To that I would have to say that my career has gone from a more design related focus to an Engineering manager type role. While I have lofty goals of being a CEO or VP of Engineering the only way to get there, I believe is thru hard work. Starting my side business is a way for me to design and market products I have an interest in, learn more about business, and have fun getting some experience in the whole product making process. It has not been easy so far but I have learned a lot of important things from designing to marketing to building trust with your potential customers.

I think there is a lot I can learn from the community and I look forward to working you to bring the 2x72 grinder on the market thru continuous design improvement by aligning, acting, and adjusting.

 

[locul]

For a couple of years i have been looking into the knife maker hobby. The hobby will not make me pay that amount for any grinder....if it only grinds knives. But as you Gregor, point out they are incredible versatile and that counts a lot in a small shop. Sadly my shop counts as a small shop. Even by Danish standards.

I have not looked at the US market as shipping would be explosive high. I have found a great looking tool in Europe.

Best of luck with the knife venture.

Regards from Denmark
Mikael

 

[sakurama]

That looks like a nice tool. Their video is great however. Thaddeus, that should be a bookmark for you when it’s time to make a video of the grinder.

Gregor

 

[cjarvis]

FWIW, you don't need a fancy grinder to make knives by stock removal method. I used a 1x42 Rikon with extended table and a beveled wood block to make my first couple.

 

[locul]

FWIW, you don't need a fancy grinder to make knives by stock removal method. I used a 1x42 Rikon with extended table and a beveled wood block to make my first couple.

That is correct. But these knife grinders are extreme versatile.

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[sakurama]

FWIW, you don't need a fancy grinder to make knives by stock removal method. I used a 1x42 Rikon with extended table and a beveled wood block to make my first couple.

Absolutely but as Locul says these are pretty versatile. I have a 1" Burr King and I use it all the time but 1 inch is a little limiting for most things in my shop. I've used a 2" Burr King and it was amazing at stock removal and the width of the belt was very useful.

I've been wanting to add a 2" belt grinder to my shop for years now and so to me it makes sense to pay a bit more to get the versatility that this style offers. I am also of that minority of people who would prefer to set my machines up with jigs and such to be able to repeat tasks so this sort of machine makes sense for me as it has the second tool arm receiver.

Gregor

 

[ThaddeusHicks]

Thank you for the video link and the idea. I have bookmarked it and queued up my friend who is going to help me out with marketing photos and now a video

Thaddeus Hicks

 

[cjarvis]

That is correct. But these knife grinders are extreme versatile.

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Absolutely but as Locul says these are pretty versatile. I have a 1" Burr King and I use it all the time but 1 inch is a little limiting for most things in my shop. I've used a 2" Burr King and it was amazing at stock removal and the width of the belt was very useful.

I've been wanting to add a 2" belt grinder to my shop for years now and so to me it makes sense to pay a bit more to get the versatility that this style offers. I am also of that minority of people who would prefer to set my machines up with jigs and such to be able to repeat tasks so this sort of machine makes sense for me as it has the second tool arm receiver.

Gregor

I don't disagree with either of you, but for me, I wanted an inexpensive way to "dip my toes in the water" without having to invest $$$. I thought it might be something OP might consider.

I still use the Rikon frequently for other things, but I would LOVE to have a 2x72 setup like the Burr King. Budget doesn't allow at the moment.

 

[tarmy]

Check out Beaumont Metal Works...I looked all over, found them and got the 2"x72" with a bunch of assessories. I got it for working on metal for welding projects...pricey but a beast and I beat the **** out of it...and love it.

 

[Teenager with old tools]

I've been using what I assume is homemade 1x42 with a motor from the 30s made a knife on it and it worked great. Plenty of it with slack but still has backing for grinding. Paid 20 bucks for it

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