I'm stumped and need advice on a kmg grinder

[BallisticGuy]

So I'm slowly advancing on my knife making. I using the basic tools and have the handle making down decently using wood, brass, micarta, or g10. I'm looking to flat grind and convex grinds and I'm ready to move to thicker steel!

I have a $1500 max price range, I'm wanting a 10in contact wheel to start but I may go with the 8in it will just be more forgiving on the thinner blades. I'm also looking for a platen and a 1in wheel attachment for handles and fingers. Keep in mind I'm a novice looking to go in the right direction so I need help with different options. I had a guy from Purcell willing to help me out on learning but I went away to Maryland for medical treatment and I lost his contact info. This has proven to me that this art really helps with the issues I have, I don't know why I didn't start earlier in life.

Thanks to the member that have helped me out with my kiln and materials.

So $1500 price range with options

- 10in or 8in contact wheel solid or slotted
- 1in contact wheel
- Platen option as well
- 1-2hp with variable drive but I don't think I'm in the price rand for a nice variable drive.

I'm looking at the baeumont metal works kmg's if anyone has any personal use with them.

 

[amcardon]

KMGs are definitely nice. I recently sold my grinder and almost cried when I did... I had a limited budget so I shopped around a lot and ended up going with a Grinder In a Box (GIB) from Jaime at Polar Bear Forge. I bought all my wheels from Tracy at USA Knifemaker and my belts I got from Trugrit. I ran a 1.5HP motor I bought from Wayne Coe. I did not have a VFD on mine and I really wish I would have spent the extra money on it. By the way, I had 2 rotating platens (3" & 8" on one, 4" & 6" on the other) and a flat platen with ceramic flat and 2 2" contact wheels. I had the small wheel adapter from beaumont and all the small wheels from Tracy. I loved that grinder!

I'll be looking to buy another one here in a year or so (once we buy a house) and plan on buying one of Travis Wuertz grinders, the TW90... They're expensive, but I got to play on one once and it was seriously amazing. If you aren't already an active member on BladeForums, I would highly recommend it. The subforum "Shop Talk" is fantastic.

An interesting thread on making a KMG better

Another option, Pheer Grinders