What Size Length Best For Platen For Belt Grinder

What Grinder Should I become for Pocketknife Making?

Introduction

A mutual problem when starting your journey into knife making is finding useful, reliable info all in one spot. Information technology tin exist challenging and expensive to attempt and decide on what sort of tools, materials, and supplies are going to suit you best for the blazon of work you would like to pursue. In this article and in more to come, we will attempt our best to requite you the correct starting place for blacksmithing and knife making!

What to Know most Grinder Specs!

Grinder Dimensions

Chugalug grinders are classified past the width and length of their belt size. For example, 1x30 grinder has a 1-inch broad chugalug that is xxx inches in circumference, a 2x72 has a two-inch wide belt, that is 72 inches in circumference.

A wider chugalug exerts more than friction on the flat platen of a machine, needing more power and a longer belt allows for less fourth dimension between belt changes but will also demand extra ability.

Belt size plays a massive role in the utilise of the grinder, as a general rule, the bigger the chugalug, the more useful information technology is for heavy stock removal.

Motor Size

To grind steel with abrasive belts, you lot need high chugalug speed and the ability to exert high pressure. Your motor has to keep upward! The Larger the motor, the more than powerful the grinder. A rule of pollex is you need 1 horsepower (hp) of motor power per i" of chugalug width for a 72" long belt.

For example, a 2x72 grinder runs best with a motor of 2hp.. But a 1x72": grinder would grind nifty with just 1hp. When you lot reduce your belt length, y'all likewise reduce the need on the motor which is why our 2x48" machines are supplied with a 1.5hp motor.

Belt Speed

The speed at which your belt travels is the third fundamental component to grinding steel. It needs to motility significantly faster than a woods-sander to grind optimally. The 2x48" machines in our shop run at 4100 surface anxiety per minute (sfpm).
You can make do with less, just the stock removal charge per unit will endure.

Calculate the belt speed like this: sfpm = (π 10 drive cycle diameter) x motor rpm

Typical wood sanding frequently only requires 2500-3200sfpm so carry in heed that a woodwork oriented grinder will have a slower stock removal charge per unit on steel.

Variable Speed

Variable speed can exist a wonderful improver to a grinder, assuasive y'all to do the heaviest of steel hogging at full speeds and the finest of handle sanding and low speeds. The speed is controlled through a Variable Frequency Drive (vfd) hooked upwards to a three phase motor on the machine. Information technology can add a good bit of expense, but nosotros find them incredibly useful in our shop.

How much money should I spend on a Chugalug Grinder?

When deciding what grinder is right for yous, information technology's essential to consider your budget, equally well as what piece of work y'all volition be doing. We take put together a list of common grinder sizes, and why you would choose it.

Pocketknife Making Grinder Sizes

When deciding what grinder is right for you lot, it's essential to consider your upkeep, too as what piece of work you volition be doing. We have put together a list of common grinder sizes, and why you would choose it.

1x30
$52.99

A 1x30 chugalug grinder is the cheapest chugalug grinder to start knife making with. They're nowhere virtually as versatile every bit the higher dollar machines, but for less than $60, they're a fantastic tool and a great identify to start. The one" wide belt is adequate for grinding bevels and profiling knives.

The major downfall of the 1x30 is that the belt isn't wide enough to flatten off material finer, which is a big job in any knife shop. Some of the more expensive models include a 6" disc sander on the side, which can help with this though. The 30" long belt doesn't provide you with much abrasive surface surface area either meaning you'll have to modify belts more and the motor doesn't have the near power in the world.

Overall a 1x30 is a swell low-cost pick to get into knife making. If you decide to use this size of grinder, keep in mind that it is essential to use expert ceramic based abrasives; otherwise, the grinder won't perform to its full potential. Plenty of incredible knife makers (Will Stelter included) started with this machine and it is a certain-burn manner to help ignite your knife making passion only you will end up outgrowing it if y'all're serious about pocketknife making.

Toll Effective Option

Higher-Finish Pick (pictured above)

1x42

The 1x42 is very like to the 1x30, simply has a smaller pick of abrasives readily available for information technology; we would non recommend it. Shelling out for a 1x42 isn't entirely worth it since a 2x42 is a like price and offers a wider belt for more stability.

2x42
$215

A few different companies make the 2x42 belt grinders, they commonly come with a half-dozen" disc sander on the side and are suited to the woodworking market.. They accept a broad variety of proper belts available from about major annoying companies. They are also easier to use than the 1x30 due to the wider chugalug.

However, they are not without their drawbacks; almost don't have a suitable slack-belt selection or usable contact wheels. They typically only have a 1/3hp motor and and then as you grind they will slow and "bog downward", limiting your grinding ability.. It is too restricted in its configuration, as it can't be hands tilted 90 degrees to the side. This tin can be a worthwhile option for a beginner without breaking the banking concern but you lot will be dreaming for more power as your career develops.

Cost Effective Choice

Higher-End Choice (pictured above)

4x36

The 4x36" belt sander is one we get a lot of questions about, equally it's a common sander a lot of people already take, institute at most hardware stores effectually the worldUnfortunately, it is non ideal for well-nigh knife making/blacksmithing applications. Information technology is designed for woodwork and the mode information technology's built doesn't allow for the employ of the edge of the chugalug to be utilized, which is an essential part of a belt sander in knife making applications.

Due to the weak motor and wide belt, it will bog down easier than other machines. Most people volition exist ameliorate off buying a 1x30" or 1x42" when starting into knife making.

2x48
$330-$1495

The 2x48" grinder size is an interesting one, it'southward the smallest belt size that can come up in a "square wheel configuration" body, just nigh commercially available grinders of this size come in an upright style. These grinders also have an first-class array of belts for them, virtually the aforementioned choice that is bachelor for 2x72. Y'all'll notice an increasing number of accessories available, from modest wheels, to contact wheels to surface grinding attachments and they often have a larger motor than the smaller grinders. If you are a serious hobbyist or a professional curt on space, a 2x48" is an excellent option.

We love how easily this size of grinder can fit into a pocket-size workshop and how versatile it tin can be with a variable frequency bulldoze speed controller. It has prices ranging from $330-$1495 depending on motor power and the particular configuration.

Build Your Ain

Cost Effective Selection

2x72

The 2x72 is the industry standard for professional knife making. Partially due to the vast array of belts bachelor for the grinder, too every bit being a mostly powerful and still reasonably compact machine. There are a wide multifariousness of options available, ranging from building one yourself to ownership a superlative of the line professional grade grinder, designed to suit a Bladesmith perfectly.

Forth with not bad abrasive options, the number of accessories that are bachelor for a 2x72" car is too second to none. Cycle attachments from ane/4" to xvi" and merely most every size in betwixt are available for getting into tight spots, profiling, fullering, and wide hollow grinds. Surface grinding attachments, slack belt rotary platens, and other attachments are becoming more than available for them likewise.

A Knife Makers 2x72 (and some 2x48'due south) ordinarily come in the "square wheel" configuration, with a 4-vii" bulldoze bicycle in the back, a tensioning and tracking wheel on the tiptop, and a flat platen with two contact wheels facing the user. This style is the grinder of choice due to its adaptability and versatility. Virtually of them out of the box have a flat platen, 2 contact wheels, and a slack belt without changing any tooling. When the demand arises for different specialty tooling, the switch is piece of cake. A turn of a handle for the tooling arm to come costless, and yous're able to replace it quickly with some other.

A more upkeep friendly option is the vertical style that has a big drive/contact wheel on the lesser, a flat platen halfway up, and tension and tracking bike at the top. The vertically configured style takes up less space than the square-wheel style. Still, it is far less versatile, as information technology ordinarily doesn't have the option for changing tooling the aforementioned way the square wheel does and the flat platen is less useful.

The vertically configured 2x72's are an fantabulous grinder for the money and will out-perform about smaller grinders. They're an excellent option for hobbyists or for those just finding out if knife making is something they'd similar to pursue.

We recommend a square wheel configuration 2x72" or 2x48" if it's within the budget, adding attachments as y'all can afford them is an excellent way to build upward your shop slowly.

Build Your Ain

Cost Effective Option

Higher-End Options

Conclusion

There are many unlike options for those looking to become into knife making, or just getting more serious about it. A 1x30" is an excellent option for getting into knife making, and if it's the only thing you can beget to get into information technology, so get for it. However, if the budget allows for a bigger badder grinder, then having a auto that provides room for growth is the route we would recommend. Call up, a grinder is only every bit useful as the abrasives that information technology's running. So putting money into quality belts is a worthwhile investment, no affair what grinder you have. Ultimately, the most important factor is skill and experience at the machine.. Unfortunately, that isn't something that you can buy. And then become out in that location, try it out, exercise, learn, see what works best for you, and have fun!

-The Alec Steele Company