I just use an old 4X36 belt grinder. It's designed for woodwork, but it's pretty hard for metal shavings to get inside. But I still use a neodymium magnet to catch as much as I can. I put a plastic bag around it. Once it's covered in metal dust, you can just turn the bag inside out and pull the magnet away, and the dust is in the bag
@@lindboknifeandtool You have to cut away part of the frame. It's usually stamped, so the metal is bent into shape, and there's a rounded corner right where you want a hard edge. Sometimes there's a plastic shroud too, and you have to cut some of that away. But It's worth the effort given the price of 2 X 72" grinders. Holding the piece isn't a problem. Both the ones I owned came with a little platten. It's more just a stopper, reall, but it's just big enough. Or you could attach a larger plate to it
Id love to see walter try out the new grizzly 2x42 grinder. I have a feeling he would have some good things to say especially for the 300 dollar price tag.
i just got into blacksmithing and knife making, picked one of these and am loving it so far. I modified mine to run thicker belts by removing some material around the drive wheel. Now i just have to learn how to grind better ha
I started out with a very similar 2x42. it worked for the first few knives but it had alot of limitations. it was a huge game changer when i finally got a 2x72 with variable speed, and small wheel attachments, etc.
I got that 2x42, I modded an adjustable wrap around table, and found a method of grinding that maximized the inertia of the drive wheel. It’s underpowered and not very flexible, but it’s a good starter machine.
I have the Dayton version of this grinder and after a couple mods it does well for me at my skill level. I bolted a 1/4” 4x12” aluminum plate to the work table and trimmed the corner off the stock table to make it easier to change belts It is also easy for me to move in and out of my building to use.
Isn’t Dayton a fairly expensive and respected brand name, something like the quality and reputation similar to Jet bench grinders? I’m asking because I’m fairly new to the hobby of restoration and basic metal work and also a new property owner of 3 acres, so I am starting to be learning about tools. I have coke to the idea that the top brands in grinders and similar related equipment are Baldor, Dayton, and Jet-is this true in your experience? What opinions do you have regarding quality and value?
I purchased the Dayton grinder at Grainger for about $250 2 years ago and I just checked (10/30/24) it is on sale for $200. It has worked well for me as a hobby maker
Used one of these for about 5 years before it died. Installing a glass platen is a must, so is cutting off the guards around the steel to get access to the wheels.
I purchased that exact model this summer. Appreciate the honesty in your reviews. I had trouble with the 36grit as well so I removed as little of the bottom gaurd as possible so it slips over the drive wheel easier and doesn't catch. The 6 inch is useful but ultimately swapped it out for a wire wheel and sure you could find buffing wheels as well.
I got the exact same grinder under a different name. I managed to get it to fit 36 belts by using a fine grit belt and jamming a pop stick between the wheel and belt and hand moving the belt.
I have a similar machine but fixed the table before I even started using it and rather than weaken the rigidity of the machine by chopping up the frame to accomodate 36 grit ceramic belts I stuck a belt in there and worked it by hand until it sanded its own clearance.
I had one like that, like you said to test the water it's too weak. I will be using the top pulley from it too build my new one as soon as all of the materials I have bought show up. I have an old 2/Hp motor should have plenty of power then.
i bought one of these over the summer to mess around with knifemaking, it was perfect for learning the fundamentals. not sure if i'll ever upgrade but i made a few great knives and the bucktool was a great beginner grinder. One thing i modified on it was to cut away most of the guard so I could use the wheels for grinding radii.
Mine is a Jet with a short belt and a disk (6") sander on the other end. I got it used (around $35?). It was supposed to be from a sales demo. That thing will sit on top of my work bench and stay there forever (won't move unfasten in position).
My 2x42 is great! Still yet to test it on thicker metal, but for modifying saw blades into usable knives it's perfect. I have the version with the disc sander on the end, so can work metal and wood on either. :)
Please recommend a stationary belt sander for a hobbyist, sharpening and also prepolish steps for flattening and smoothing metal pieces, that is not necessarily top of the line pro grade but is not severely underpowered. I want a mid tier unit that will not bog down too easily and I don’t need a grinding wheel combo. I just want a good strong belt sander for sharpening and light deburring and for my pre-polish sanding on small parts involved in my restoration hobby. Thanks.
I've got a Dayton 2x42" that's got a 6"PSA disk instead of the stone. You do need to mod it a bit but still a fun tool. I've had it for about three years.
This is what I use in my shop. I JB Welded a nice piece of mild steel to the small tool rest for a slick work surface that makes it easier to change the belts.
You'd be surprised at the types of mods you can add to this thing. The people over at District Cutlery have made a DIY radial platen that works VERY well. Although they don't make knives at their shop directly, they do a lot of knife regrinding with that radial platen.
Hi Walter, when doing an overview of grinders please consider what abrasives are easily available. 2X72 grinders have many more abrasive options than even 2x48 or 2x42.
I have had that issue with my own cheap belt grinder of a different brand and had to grind it down (I considered cutting it into a section off to make it easier to use)
My even cheaper model is useful but not for serious work. I moddded mine with a chuck on the right of the belt which holds a polishing buffer wheel, also a strong magnet beneath the belt wheel interface to collect the metal dust. Meets my needs 🙂🏴🇺🇸🏴
Interesting Video, but here in Germany it is more or less useless for me, the grinders you are testing are not to byu for me. I'm using a cheap belt/ disc grinder combination ( price 100€/ ~115 USD) for refining my throwing knifes, I roughly cut out using a angle grinder. This machine uses a 2by40 belt. I've tuned it a little bit by removing covers etc. In summary it works fine, but I have the same problemls like you. IT needs more power, the belt speed is to low imo and the table isn't precisely adjustable. But it works. By the way, Walter, thank you for 14 years of making videos. I got a lot of tips watching them 👍
Bought a $150 Craftsman 2x42 much like this, around 9 years ago. Added a glass platen, got rid of the safety junk, cut away anything that got in the way of changing or using belts, clamp a sheet of G10 over top of the slotted table to make it smooth. Been my only grinder for all this time. I think I've managed some pretty decent knives with it, but yeah, I'm a slow hobbyist who only averages maybe one knife every few months. I would of course *love* to get my hands on a 2x72 with all the bells and whistles, but it's a pretty big jump from $150 to multi-thousands of $$$ ...with not much in-between. 😖
I was going to say the grooves on the table would interfere, glad I wasn't the only one thinking that. They would drive me nuts. I've been using a flat table forever and would never change.
I have that super cheap grinder. Mine is an older version because I paid $259 for it on Amazon a couple of years ago. My only complaint is the wimpy motor. I took the grinding wheel off and put a 6" buffing wheel on it. Doesn't work at all. The buffing wheel completely stops the motor. It also may not turn fast enough. I bought mandrels and use the buffing wheels on my drill press instead.
About the only purpose I can see for the grinding wheel on the left side of this machine is possibly to act as a flywheel for the underpowered motor (maybe help it to maintain momentum?). That said, I'd try one of these and likely be happy with it for my purposes. Thank you for the review!
Bought this and 5 days later the new grizzly came out, wish i got that instead. The grinder is nice and you can also put a buffing wheel on the side where the grinding wheel goes if you buy a washer to hold it down. Really good for the price.
i bought one of these, i like it for the money. They could of designed it better tho. Handles are in the way for some uses, cover is useless and i just left mine off. Motor gets pretty hot if you use it for 30 minutes so i make sure i dont work on it to long. Belt changing handle is in the way if you want to do any slack grinding up top on the belt but it unscrews easy enough to remove. Table handle is in the way for any longer blades on the grinding stone. And i wish that top wheel cover was removable. Havent noticed any power issues with it
Thanks for the review. Can you please review the new Grizzly T32459 - 2" x 42" Knife Making Belt Sander/Grinder? It's like a mini 2x72 w/ variable speed and 3/4hp motor. Current sale price on Grizzly (with shipping) is ~$350.
i feel kind of called out. i built my belt grinder from a standard bench grinder. i had the time, resources and effort to put into that. mine looks about the the same as the one in this video and it functions exactly as i want it to. thats not saying the fancy belt grinders aren't better.. i just have this as my grinder.
I’ve got a delta 2x34 I think? Lol it’s a small one. I loved it until I worked on some titanium, now if I put pressure on the belt the motor bogs down and just stops 🤷♂️ not a clue what’s going on.
Reminds me of the grinder I started with. The good old craftsman 2x42. I used that thing for the better part of five years before I killed it. Also, I'd also love to see you review the new Grizzly 2x42. Looks like a pretty neat option for a starter grinder at $325 shipped.
Hey! Are you troubled by looking for the source of high-quality abrasive belts? If you need to purchase abrasive belts directly from the factory, then contact us quickly!
@@cryptid_legend7567 Honestly I checked every source I have been following since day 1 when the grizzley came out, 0 Reports of any of them failing. Bladeforums, Facebook grinder groups, google, reddit... Nothing... If you're hearing this somewhere please share your source.
It’s unanimous !! We all would definitely like to see Walter try out the new grizzly 2x42 belt grinder!!
I just use an old 4X36 belt grinder. It's designed for woodwork, but it's pretty hard for metal shavings to get inside. But I still use a neodymium magnet to catch as much as I can. I put a plastic bag around it. Once it's covered in metal dust, you can just turn the bag inside out and pull the magnet away, and the dust is in the bag
Brilliant idea. I hate trying to clean metal shavings off my magnet! Thanks for the tip!
Hard to get into a Ricasso but yeah they’re great for surfacing too.
Use a belt sander cleaner rubber block to hold the piece down and it works well
@@lindboknifeandtool You have to cut away part of the frame. It's usually stamped, so the metal is bent into shape, and there's a rounded corner right where you want a hard edge. Sometimes there's a plastic shroud too, and you have to cut some of that away. But It's worth the effort given the price of 2 X 72" grinders. Holding the piece isn't a problem. Both the ones I owned came with a little platten. It's more just a stopper, reall, but it's just big enough. Or you could attach a larger plate to it
I just found out yesterday that Grizzly has a new 2x42 knife grinder. You should review that.
Id love to see walter try out the new grizzly 2x42 grinder. I have a feeling he would have some good things to say especially for the 300 dollar price tag.
was about to say the same thing!
I came here to say exactly this.
Was just looking at that exact grinder, on sale for 269 at the moment
“The OG Ladouceur” is a small channel that just put out a quality review of the aforementioned Grizzly Grinder.
@@UsDiYoNa thanks ill check it out
i just got into blacksmithing and knife making, picked one of these and am loving it so far. I modified mine to run thicker belts by removing some material around the drive wheel. Now i just have to learn how to grind better ha
Professional Knife Sharpener, Belt Grinder
I'm a fan on budget tools. They've paved the way for me to afford better options. Some I'm still using years later. Good video!
Professional Knife Sharpener, Belt Grinder
I started out with a very similar 2x42. it worked for the first few knives but it had alot of limitations. it was a huge game changer when i finally got a 2x72 with variable speed, and small wheel attachments, etc.
Professional Knife Sharpener, Belt Grinder
Grizly has a new 2x42 in. Grinder variable speed and flat platen with tool rest, and it tilts for around 350.00 thank for sharing.
I got that 2x42, I modded an adjustable wrap around table, and found a method of grinding that maximized the inertia of the drive wheel. It’s underpowered and not very flexible, but it’s a good starter machine.
When will you make the video on an overview of belt grinders?
I have the Dayton version of this grinder and after a couple mods it does well for me at my skill level. I bolted a 1/4” 4x12” aluminum plate to the work table and trimmed the corner off the stock table to make it easier to change belts It is also easy for me to move
in and out of my building to use.
Isn’t Dayton a fairly expensive and respected brand name, something like the quality and reputation similar to Jet bench grinders? I’m asking because I’m fairly new to the hobby of restoration and basic metal work and also a new property owner of 3 acres, so I am starting to be learning about tools. I have coke to the idea that the top brands in grinders and similar related equipment are Baldor, Dayton, and Jet-is this true in your experience? What opinions do you have regarding quality and value?
I purchased the Dayton grinder at Grainger for about $250 2 years ago and I just checked (10/30/24) it is on sale for $200. It has worked well for me as a hobby maker
Used one of these for about 5 years before it died. Installing a glass platen is a must, so is cutting off the guards around the steel to get access to the wheels.
I purchased that exact model this summer. Appreciate the honesty in your reviews.
I had trouble with the 36grit as well so I removed as little of the bottom gaurd as possible so it slips over the drive wheel easier and doesn't catch. The 6 inch is useful but ultimately swapped it out for a wire wheel and sure you could find buffing wheels as well.
Professional Knife Sharpener, Belt Grinder
I got the exact same grinder under a different name. I managed to get it to fit 36 belts by using a fine grit belt and jamming a pop stick between the wheel and belt and hand moving the belt.
I have a similar machine but fixed the table before I even started using it and rather than weaken the rigidity of the machine by chopping up the frame to accomodate 36 grit ceramic belts I stuck a belt in there and worked it by hand until it sanded its own clearance.
I just bought the upgraded model to this. It's still in the box setting up my shop. The upgraded version makes it easier to change belts
I had one like that, like you said to test the water it's too weak. I will be using the top pulley from it too build my new one as soon as all of the materials I have bought show up. I have an old 2/Hp motor should have plenty of power then.
i bought one of these over the summer to mess around with knifemaking, it was perfect for learning the fundamentals. not sure if i'll ever upgrade but i made a few great knives and the bucktool was a great beginner grinder. One thing i modified on it was to cut away most of the guard so I could use the wheels for grinding radii.
Professional Knife Sharpener, Belt Grinder
Looking forward to the upcoming grinder vid!!
Mine is a Jet with a short belt and a disk (6") sander on the other end. I got it used (around $35?). It was supposed to be from a sales demo. That thing will sit on top of my work bench and stay there forever (won't move unfasten in position).
I have a similar machine. I modded the table to make belts easier to mount and attached a piece of hardwood to rib myself of the grooves.
Professional Knife Sharpener, Belt Grinder
My 2x42 is great! Still yet to test it on thicker metal, but for modifying saw blades into usable knives it's perfect. I have the version with the disc sander on the end, so can work metal and wood on either. :)
Please recommend a stationary belt sander for a hobbyist, sharpening and also prepolish steps for flattening and smoothing metal pieces, that is not necessarily top of the line pro grade but is not severely underpowered. I want a mid tier unit that will not bog down too easily and I don’t need a grinding wheel combo. I just want a good strong belt sander for sharpening and light deburring and for my pre-polish sanding on small parts involved in my restoration hobby. Thanks.
I've got a Dayton 2x42" that's got a 6"PSA disk instead of the stone. You do need to mod it a bit but still a fun tool. I've had it for about three years.
Nice review. I like the 2" wide belt. More useful than the 1x30 HF has for sale. Thanks for sharing
Professional Knife Sharpener, Belt Grinder
This is what I use in my shop. I JB Welded a nice piece of mild steel to the small tool rest for a slick work surface that makes it easier to change the belts.
Professional Knife Sharpener, Belt Grinder
You'd be surprised at the types of mods you can add to this thing. The people over at District Cutlery have made a DIY radial platen that works VERY well. Although they don't make knives at their shop directly, they do a lot of knife regrinding with that radial platen.
Professional Knife Sharpener, Belt Grinder
Hi Walter, when doing an overview of grinders please consider what abrasives are easily available. 2X72 grinders have many more abrasive options than even 2x48 or 2x42.
I have had that issue with my own cheap belt grinder of a different brand and had to grind it down (I considered cutting it into a section off to make it easier to use)
recently picked up a £30 belt grinder from a lidl (the brand name is parkside) and it is an absolute beast at hogging off material, great value imo
Professional Knife Sharpener, Belt Grinder
My even cheaper model is useful but not for serious work. I moddded mine with a chuck on the right of the belt which holds a polishing buffer wheel, also a strong magnet beneath the belt wheel interface to collect the metal dust. Meets my needs 🙂🏴🇺🇸🏴
Interesting Video, but here in Germany it is more or less useless for me, the grinders you are testing are not to byu for me.
I'm using a cheap belt/ disc grinder combination ( price 100€/ ~115 USD) for refining my throwing knifes, I roughly cut out using a angle grinder. This machine uses a 2by40 belt. I've tuned it a little bit by removing covers etc. In summary it works fine, but I have the same problemls like you. IT needs more power, the belt speed is to low imo and the table isn't precisely adjustable. But it works.
By the way, Walter, thank you for 14 years of making videos. I got a lot of tips watching them 👍
Eggzactamente because Sharing Info Tidbits Spreads the Knowledge Base to Tinker on More Efficiency Enhanced.
You need to look at the new grizzly 2x42 knife grinder. Variable speed and rotating chasing. Also is a four wheel like a traditional 2x72.
I wonder if you can sharpen lawnmower blades with that grinder? A jig for it. Modify it with a Baldor motor and a vfd.
Bought a $150 Craftsman 2x42 much like this, around 9 years ago. Added a glass platen, got rid of the safety junk, cut away anything that got in the way of changing or using belts, clamp a sheet of G10 over top of the slotted table to make it smooth.
Been my only grinder for all this time. I think I've managed some pretty decent knives with it, but yeah, I'm a slow hobbyist who only averages maybe one knife every few months.
I would of course *love* to get my hands on a 2x72 with all the bells and whistles, but it's a pretty big jump from $150 to multi-thousands of $$$ ...with not much in-between. 😖
I was going to say the grooves on the table would interfere, glad I wasn't the only one thinking that. They would drive me nuts. I've been using a flat table forever and would never change.
I have that super cheap grinder. Mine is an older version because I paid $259 for it on Amazon a couple of years ago. My only complaint is the wimpy motor. I took the grinding wheel off and put a 6" buffing wheel on it. Doesn't work at all. The buffing wheel completely stops the motor. It also may not turn fast enough. I bought mandrels and use the buffing wheels on my drill press instead.
About the only purpose I can see for the grinding wheel on the left side of this machine is possibly to act as a flywheel for the underpowered motor (maybe help it to maintain momentum?). That said, I'd try one of these and likely be happy with it for my purposes. Thank you for the review!
Bought this and 5 days later the new grizzly came out, wish i got that instead. The grinder is nice and you can also put a buffing wheel on the side where the grinding wheel goes if you buy a washer to hold it down. Really good for the price.
Professional Knife Sharpener, Belt Grinder
I started on the Craftsman 1/2 horse. I thought about getting one for nostalgia.
I'd like to see you mod the hell out of this thing. Could be a cool set of episode's for a long-term project for when you are feeling fidgety! 😂
i bought one of these, i like it for the money. They could of designed it better tho. Handles are in the way for some uses, cover is useless and i just left mine off. Motor gets pretty hot if you use it for 30 minutes so i make sure i dont work on it to long. Belt changing handle is in the way if you want to do any slack grinding up top on the belt but it unscrews easy enough to remove. Table handle is in the way for any longer blades on the grinding stone. And i wish that top wheel cover was removable. Havent noticed any power issues with it
I would like to see what you think of the House made grinder…
A much better investment is one with a 6" sanding disc instead of the grinder.
Did you try taking the grinding wheel off to see if it bogs down less when you press hard?
Thanks for the review. Can you please review the new Grizzly T32459 - 2" x 42" Knife Making Belt Sander/Grinder? It's like a mini 2x72 w/ variable speed and 3/4hp motor. Current sale price on Grizzly (with shipping) is ~$350.
Professional Knife Sharpener, Belt Grinder
Has anyone ever tried similar products from woodskil brand? Any idea how they compare to bucktool and Bauer?
How many volts do I need to work metal on a belt sander
What about that Platon for cutting the plunge?
i feel kind of called out. i built my belt grinder from a standard bench grinder. i had the time, resources and effort to put into that. mine looks about the the same as the one in this video and it functions exactly as i want it to.
thats not saying the fancy belt grinders aren't better.. i just have this as my grinder.
I’ve got a delta 2x34 I think? Lol it’s a small one. I loved it until I worked on some titanium, now if I put pressure on the belt the motor bogs down and just stops 🤷♂️ not a clue what’s going on.
Professional Knife Sharpener, Belt Grinder
What ceramic belt you used
Reminds me of the grinder I started with. The good old craftsman 2x42. I used that thing for the better part of five years before I killed it.
Also, I'd also love to see you review the new Grizzly 2x42. Looks like a pretty neat option for a starter grinder at $325 shipped.
Professional Knife Sharpener, Belt Grinder
Professional Knife Sharpener, Belt Grinder
I have a 2X42 and I cut the end of the work table off and change the belts is so easier.
Professional Knife Sharpener, Belt Grinder
Does anyone make a conversion for existing bench grinders to convert one side to the 2x42 belt?
You never made the follow up video😢
Can you not upgrade the motor at some point?
Hey! Are you troubled by looking for the source of high-quality abrasive belts? If you need to purchase abrasive belts directly from the factory, then contact us quickly!
من فضلك قوة الماتور كام حصان وكام وات 🙏
Would like to know more about belt grinders
Professional Knife Sharpener, Belt Grinder
Good stuff!
I am trying to find this grinder and the only one I found looks like this , same brand, same belt size but it's $520. ! What gives ?
Get the 2x42 grizzly vfd. Trust me it’s eons ahead of anything. 5 years ago it would be $1000 at least
Be aware that you cannot run scotch brite 2x42 belts on this machine. I have one like it within its limits, but it does have a number of limits
I think the new Grizzly 2x42 is a way better deal as it's got three wheels, tracking, and Variable Speed!
i looked at a wurtz(I think i spelled that right),even if i won the lotto and made a knife a week,ill never see one of those beautys
Thank you
I bought a version of this about a year ago. It's badass because it works and it's cheap. Buy some good ceramic belts and you're good to go.
Professional Knife Sharpener, Belt Grinder
Thanks
Dude the new grizzly is a TOTAL game changer. Save the money and get that. 100%
I spent more than that on my variable speed 1x30 RIKON
Grizzley just made all of these 2x42 grinders obsolete. The new 2x42 is the way to go😊
No, they didn't. They're all burning up...
@@cryptid_legend7567 Where did you hear that?
@@cryptid_legend7567 Honestly I checked every source I have been following since day 1 when the grizzley came out, 0 Reports of any of them failing. Bladeforums, Facebook grinder groups, google, reddit... Nothing... If you're hearing this somewhere please share your source.
@@knifeknerdreviews4609 me and a bunch of people in my knife groups. It's pretty bad man.
@@cryptid_legend7567 What knife groups?
😂this was my first belt grinder
Your review is fine, but please stop waving your hands around. The action is distracting.
No.
First one I got still beating the hell out of it !
That's the samw.grider I used before I bought a 2×72.
Thanks