Belt Grinders - A Buyer's Guide for Knife Makers
Belt grinders (also referred to as belt sanders) are the core tool used in modern knife making. In this video, knife maker Walter Sorrells discusses the ins and outs of buying a belt grinder -- how they work, anatomy of the grinder, what to look for when you buy.
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Before buying this sander I would use a rotary sander kzhead.infoUgkx3Pc2vLXfcgM5oIpF1iYcIWyFhHUC-G6v and didn't see the need for a belt sander. Boy was I wrong. this belt sander does the job quickly and gives a professional finish to the wood work.
This was exactly the type of guide I was looking for. Excellent, Walter. I like your style. Thanks.
A very well done overview. Thanks so much for doing this.
Thank you for this type of advertising @7:06, rather than copping to clickbait to increase views like so many channels have done. I really appreciate this video. You've released it at a very important time for me, many thanks for the content, experience, and knowledge shared!!
This video couldn't have come at a better time.......Thanks Walter & Thumbs Up
Great video, and I appreciate the fact that you keep bringing in budget and means and not saying to go into more debt.
This is a great guide. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience.
I really appreciate these videos you put out, they are a real library of knife making knowledge that I have been utilizing for years. I've really been stepping up my knife making the last year or two and a lot of these videos have both inspired and motivated me, thank you!
I recently built my own 2x72 its life changing. It would be cool to see you do a video on how to build one since you have fancier tools than I and a deeper knowledge of belt grinders
much thanks. a ton of information that was perfect for what I needed.
dude, thank you so much for these videos.
Great video, I am trying to design a universal grinder and this info helps a ton!
Mate, very informative to someone like me just starting out. Thank you.
Very good, well thought out video guide! Thank you!
You are the 007 of the knife making community (in more than one way)
Thank you for all your videos! They really come in handy
"That's 2 inches by 72 inches, for those of you in metric world..." Yeap, this explains a lot.
Or more common, 50x2000
Let me clear it up for you. 72 inches is 6 feet and 2 inches is 1/6 foot. 👍
@@Snugglez187 how many hands is that?
@@henrylombard1965 0.5 x 18 hands. 😁
@@henrylombard1965 18 hands 👍
Great info sir, very valuable insight. Many thanks for your time and effort.
Thanks for this video. It REALLY helped me make a better choice.
Thank you for being thorough and explaining everything for my newbie brain! Great video
Great video great points you're always the best knife teachin person on KZhead
Searching for first belt grinder to explore knife making, these are great tips and were perfect to help me guage my expectations vs the price!!
Thanks, Walter! I am not much of a knife maker but I refurbish older knives. Been thinking about a belt grinder, and had no idea where to start. Your video gave me some great answers, and also brought up some of the questions I hadn’t even thought of asking.
Thanks Walter! I feel like I have earned a bachelor's degree in knife-making simply by watching your extremely informative vids!
From one Walter to another... your videos are awesome!!!
i liked after the intro. as usual, very generous of you. all the best.
Great video and info! Wish I had seen it when I was just starting out lol
Great tutorial. Cheers.
another great vid Thanks Walter. Keep on inspiring
Good info, so thumb up. I started with a HF 1x30, worked up to an older Craftsman 1x42, now looking at bigger. I mostly sharpen, and repair broken tips, etc.
That was the classiest commercial plug in i've ever seen. Will definitely check'em out
Hello Mr Sorrells! ive just begun my first knife, turning out good after my standards! Or well i think im just fiercly proud that ive started with it. I did get a grinder that turned out to be to weak! So this video gave me some more knowledge on what to look for. So thanks!
Thank you for making this video!!!!
I recently saw you on a knife making show on TV and I thought you did an awesome job. Great video.
which show was it??
Very informative video! Thanks!
Great video. Thanks!
Thanks for all your help Walter I've been watching you for a couple years now never made a comment but I figured I'd thank you since you have given me a lot of valuable information.
Good info sir, thank you.
Thanks for the video , I just acquired a washing machine motor and I plan on making a belt sander , I was looking for what features are needed so that I don't forget and the belt sander you showcased was just the thing that helped me realized how to make it , it will have interchangable bit where it can have nothing , a large round wheel or a flat surface for different bevels.
you have an amazing voice sir.
Thanks muchly!! Great info 👍
Great info!!! Thank you!
This comes in handy. Thx.
Good video thanks
Thanks Walter this video was just what I needed to see at the right time!!! I regretfully bought the 1" by 42" Kalamazoo. Read a few of their reviews which they must write themselves because this belt grinder is not for knife making. The platen is way wider than the belt meaning I can only grind flat chisel grinds or work above the platen to do convex sharpening and taking forever. Fortunately it was only a couple hundred bucks. I will make a much more informed purchase on my next belt grinder thanks to your video. I'm so grateful that such a master at your craft is willing to offer so much advice and help to all knife makers. Thanks again. Chip
Great info, cheers!
Just in time. Getting ready to buy or build one. Thanks
i'm goin to make one this summer, here in Spain this kind of grinders are very rare and expensive
Nicolas Mora I'll video the build and get back with you.
I did the build route last year and learned a lot of useful skills in the build. Unfortunately, building it myself I probably ended up spending twice the money I could have purchased one for. Of course I just had to learn to weld and buy a welder, and stand, and have made constant improvements and upgrades to it.
I built a pretty good 72 x 2 in one days time... well worth!
Actually have a good single speed motor, three-quarter horsepower, but it’s 1720 or maybe 3450 RPM probably either is too fast for this application, or maybe usable with speed direction which adds complexity of coarse
Thanks Walter
Thanks for the good info vids!
Great advice! Thank you! :)
Very good information, you are right about the get what you can afford. 2-4k for a sander is a bit steep for alot of us. When you can spend under 100-300 with very little modification and have something that'll work fine and last for years. Especially if you're doing it as a hobby. Thanks for the videos!
Matches exactly what I found about grinders (sanders). Thank's for confirming!
Thanks great video lots of real good information. 👍👍👍
Great video, Walter! I'll just like to ad that If you're like me and have more time than money, making one is an option. I made mine with some features I wanted that is not seen on many grinders and those that have them cost quite a bit more. I saved about a $1500 making mine, but my time might not be worth as much as yours. It's all an individual time/money calculation... ;) Thanks for making these, I enjoy your channel a lot and your dvds btw.
That's a wealth of information! Btw I just subscribed to your channel..Keep your video coming..
Awesome job thanks
wow i learned a lot. thanks
I think he is the best knife guy on the internet. Thanks
Thanks, man - appreciate that!
Thanks for the information. Very helpful as usual! Also, you have a voice for radio.
This was eksacktly the video I needed. I'm going to buy a new one...
Great video! Also, you have a very Nick Offerman style cadence to your speech. Entertaining.
great video
I love this channel. I have to laugh because I made my first knife after the angle grinder video. I quickly bought a Jet 2x42 and have made several knives since. I'm laughing because tonight I talked to Bret with Esteem grinders to buy a 2x72. What a great guy. Then here comes Walter on queue with my buyers guide. The universe has spoken
ROFL you stole the exact words from my mouth, I to just bought from Brett, he really is a really nice guy, I bought mine about 3 weeks ago and did a lot of google homework, Esteem grinders kept coming up a lot from some of the older fellas on the forums so I looked into them and pulled the trigger, this is was my first 2 x72 so I hoped I made the right choice, I have had zero problems this far, Brett makes his grinders suited to a Bader style and they are super well built and very heavy duty, his machine passes the nickel vibration test easily, the only thing I would have liked to have been a little different was his tool rest which is not a deal breaker by any means... Thanks for another good video Walter, I like your style and dry humor personally keep em coming!!
This was a good video on the options and features to consider, but a 2 x 72 bench grinder is one of the more easier builds you can do yourself for way-way less. You still would need to purchase some of the parts including the motor and grinding belts but the rest can be fabricated. Thanks for sharing!
Very nice, thanks for these kinds of videos! I'm propably going to buy me a better one based on your information, to speed up my work
Hi you are the real champion of blade on the fire S3 E11 in my heart. You got the most difficult material and the best production.
Lothian blade on fire. best translation error ever
"... Best ..." not "... best..."
Thanks for this video, I'm going to be the most badass knife maker you never heard of!
The water cooling mist/jet is a great idea.
I’m getting a Harbor Freight 1x30 grinder ...80 some bucs. That is probably perfect for beginners who just want to try it (I’m not just trying it). I know it won’t hold up and will be tedious but I will modify it cus I have other stuff to buy before a good grinder.It will give me something workable to play around with for a couple months.
In the UK They are called linishers. I use a oscillating bobbin sander to shape the handles and a wadkin pattern makers sander. And 24" disc sander by Wadkin. I use a onsrud router system to copy handle scales. To customise scales, from alternative materials. All machines are heavy cast iron.
Like the video and the advices in it. What you think about homemade belt grinders. I'm a fan of "do what I can by myself", so I'm planing to make one soon. I would really appriciate few tips about this. Thank you in advance.
Thanks, Walter! I've been thinking about this for a while, because I only have a cheap-o 1x30 from HF and am DYING to get a real grinder... Now to make and sell some knives to pay for it. :P
in glad you made this video. when i build things i tend to over engineer things. iv been told its a bad thing...... but now ill stick to my guns. thanks for your generosity in sharing your knowledge.
i was gone to say exactly what you just did. very good video. Thanks walter
good video
Thank you for the video. I recently bought a used grinder, and I don't know if it was manufactured or built. How can I possibly find out what brand it might be, and how to get attachments for it? Thanks.
Super informative, man. Thanks for sharing all your knowledge on these grinders. Do you have any thoughts on the many DIY grinder builds out there?
All Power, to the Grinders... Get a stronger grinder, with less Watts... Get a silent grinder, with less Watts... Hey Sorrell... Thanks for your great vids... :) You say: Get the strongest motor, you can afford... You, and others, advise, that 1 horsepoweer, is about the weakest power, you should buy... In fact: "you better buy a 1,5 or 2 HP motor"... It seems all the most experienced knifemakers, agree on this... That advice, is generally for 2-poled motors, thus running near 3.000 r/min at 50 Hz... (near 3600 on 60 Hz) But, if you mainly use HALF speed, then, you could just as well, buy a motor, running 1.500 r/min, and that, would only need to have half the Horsepower, to give about the same momentum, so the belt do not stop, under heavy use... What you really need, is the strongest momentum (Nm)... A speeding belt is of no use, if it slows down, much, when you are actually grinding... So, note this, and evaluate, your need, before you buy... A 2 pole moter, turns once, for each cycle in the mains... 50 Hz, gives 3.000 r/min, minus the slip.. A 4 pole, turns once, each second cycle, running 1.500 minus slip... And has about twice, the momentum... A 6 pole, turns once, each third cycle, running 1.000 minus slip... And has three times, the momentum... A 8 pole, turns once, each fourth cycle, running 750 minus slip... And has FOUR TIMES the momentum... The momentum, has the unit Nm, and is also called the torque... It say how much "weight", is behind the movement... A wrench, with twice as long handle, has twice the momentum... So, you can not turn the nut faster, but STRONGER... The larger the diameter of a motor, the higher the momentum... You want a "fat" motor... You could say, a 2-pole motor is geared like a racingcar, for SPEED... While a 8-pole, is geared like a truck, for POWER-pull... So, when you do not wish the belt to slow down, when pressing hard, then the 8-pole, would be the first choise... But they only give just under 750 r/min... (still, at 50 Hz mains suply) The more poles, the more expencive too, but "not that much".... It is well worth it... And on the Sites for used things, the prices are nearly the same, no matter how many poles... I am only a "hobbyist", so I must grind at home... And I do not wish my neighbours to be bothered, by the noise... For that reason, I am upgrading my belt grinder... Now, building a "real one", for 2x72... :) I went for a used motor, and found a great deal, a Lenze motor, including a Lenze Inverter, to regulate the speed... The Frequency converter/voltage controller, not only regulate the speed, but, adds to the torque, at low speeds... The motor is only ½ HP, (370W), but with 4 poles, and with three phases, it is surprisingly silent, itself... But with the inverter, It runs even more silent... When running 3 r/min, you can NOT HEAR it... But also at full speed, (1330 r/min), you can still speak normally soft, with others... In fact my microoven, makes MUCH more noise... Wow... When trying that, you feel, "all, should have one"... But they are expencive... Unless you find a used one... Using this Inverter, you can also change running direction... And decide, how slow it should accellerete, and decellerate, and that makes the bearings last longer... And you set the max current, so the motor is protected... If the motor has a thermostat, the Inverter use that to stop the motor, when aproaching 150 centigrades... My head was nearly exploding, by going though all the possible settings... This version has the Vector regulation, which gives even extra added power, adding to the torque, and saving money on the bill, at the same time... You can code it to start at the same speed as you used last or to a preset speed... After the initial coding, it is simple... Your turn it on, and regulate the speed, or regulate the speed, and turn it on, as you please... This version, plugs into the normal mains, (1 phase, 230V), and creates a 3-phase output, for 3-phase motors... The motor, can both be used, connected as star or delta connection.... Note, that on 3-phase motors, running from a mains 3 phase supply, simply change position, of two of the three leads, to change direction... And wire the motor to be in STAR configuration, in the box on the motor... The lid, usually shows how... Running a motor on three phases, gives the most silent motor... You do not hear the 50 hz hum, like from the motors fed with 1 phase... It is turned into a 150 Hz "him" (not "hum), which is just much less audible, and gives much less vibration... So, if you HAVE 3 phase outlet, already, then, NEVER buy a 1 phase motor... Fed with 1 phase, the motor makes one "jerk", per pole set, per round... The 3-phase, gives three jerks, instead... not 50, but 150 per second, per pole set... (Or, not 60, but 180) In a 4-poled (2 pole-sets), that becomes 300 "jerks per second"... In a 6 poled (3 pole-sets), 450... In an 8 poled (4 pole-sets), 600 jerks per second... With just 300 jerk/second, that frequency is far from the oscillation frequency of a 8 kg motor... So, you can hardly feel it vibrate... Additionally... 1 phase, "gives a push, and wait, and gives a push, and wait" 3 phases, has three windings which each does that, but "turned 120 degrees", so one takes over, when the former waits... In fact together, they create a rather constant push... And that means, there is nearly no vibrations... The 150 or 300 or 450 or 600 Hz is really "weak" The slower the rotation, the lower the noise... But the 8-poled, give less noise than the 2-poled, at a given speed The lower the watts, the lower the noise... As each "jerk" is simply weaker... Using a three phase motor, gives the lowest noise... And the fewest vibrations... So, if you really need to run about 3.000 r/min, using 1 HP, that is, with a certain size of drive wheel... Using a 1.500 r/min motor, also 1 HP, fitted with twice as large drivewheel, give the same beltspeed, with less noise... And it has about the same momentum, with that double sized wheel... But, using same size drive wheel, then the 8-pole, gives a 4 times stronger momentum, than the 2-poled. If you has a 3.000 R/min motor, slowed down to 750 r/min with a simple Voltage regulator, (10 dollars on ebay) then it has only less than 1/4 of the momentum, of a 750 r/min motor having the same power, in watts... That means, having only 1/4 of the horsepowers, the 8-pole, give the same or stronger pull, at 750 r/min... Ofcause also noise and vibration in the other wheels, make less noise, the slower they run... So, if you do not really need "industrial grade speed", then you can save power, and noise, and make it all last longer, by using a 6 or 8 pole motor, at one third or one quarter, of the watts... Best regards Dan...
OMG! Mommy make the bad man stop!!
When did you find the time to write this!
Excellent input
Thanks.
Thanks for the info Walter it's verry informatif.pat from Belgium.
And I have made quite a lot of knives with it and it is still like it was on the first day
I have a 1x42 that I use constantly, and I'm actually about to start building a new one with pneumatic belt tensioning. And I'm a full time pro. That said 99% of steel grinding is done with the 2x72. I just find the narrower slack belt much better for handle shaping than the big grinder. I'll rough handles out on the 2x72, but finish on the 1x42 after doing it for enough years you'll get a light enough touch on the slack belt that you can go from the belt sander, to a light hand sand with 600 grit for wood, or straight to the buffer for synthetics. You really need something with positive and more importantly adjustable belt tension though. I've currently got a Kalamazoo, but pneumatic tension is far superior. If I wasn't building one of my design, I'd buy a burr king 1x42 without hesitation. For a 2x72, I like the Bader style.
I will be getting my first belt grinder a 2x72 grinder from a maker in county mayo Ireland 🇮🇪
Wish I would've seen this before I picked up a 4" grinder. Didn't take long to figure out it wouldn't work!
I think that it is a grinding medium if it can be redressed to a fresh surface, and a sander if wear leads to replacement.
Id love to see a similar video about your press. That seems like a great way to not buy a power hammer.
Thanks Walter Maybe you have an answer for my question last year I came across a belt that has spongy back What are they made for and are they better ?? Thanks
1st thank you for all your work. I enjoy videos and your knifes. what is specifications on your bader motor. and what is Max rpm on it. what is a maximum rpm motor you can use for 2x72 belts. thank you.
Thanks for the info. Much appreciated. GF1 😁😁😁😁😁👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍😎
Walter..hope you are well. Miss seeing your stuff
I would love to see you build your own grinder
Thank you, great video. I know you explained some about variable speed motors but is a VFD necessary? I'm just starting out as a hobby and I plan on building my own sander. Kinda confusing on most build videos I've watched. And how about the RPMs if no VFD is needed.
Hi Walter. Very happy I watched this because I was thinking I needed a variable speed grinder. I have a 6”x48” wood sander singe speed and it works fine for my woodworking. I’m setting up a small knife workshop to compliment my wood workshop. Just wondering what speed your grinder run at? Thanks
Hi , Thanks in advance for any replies . I'm looking to get a belt sander to polish knife bevels . what grit do most use for this ? I've got a Tormek and a slew of fixed angle sharpener but have been thinking of getting a Ken Onion to polish because I have found 6000 grit belts for it . I have not been able to find very fine grit for 1x30 or 2x72 . I've only been able to tree top hair 1 time and it took way too much time . Thanks again
Thank
If is not too much ask, but, what is the model that you use Walter?, i need to buy one and is around the model thatd you have. Thanks for all your videos, are great!
I would like to hear your thoughts on building the DIY machines with treadmill motors. I am just getting into knife making and this is the rout I went just because of the cost. Now advantage I got is I once did metal fabrication so design and welding ws cake. I know not everyone has the skills to make one that works well. Total I have 30 bucks in it and I made it with the arms that can be changed much like you Bader. The motors are brushed motors so they wont last for ever but they are a dime a dozen if you take the time and look. I posted on FB that I needed a used treadmill working or not and in with 3 days I had two. You can also replace the brushes. I was wondering if you ever got the chance to use one and how the power compared. Mine is a 2 3/4 hp rated at 7800 rpm. I placed the drive on a jack shaft and reduced the speed to about 3600 though pulley set up. It seems to be more than powerful enough but I cant compare as its all I know. I doubt it is a true 2.5 hp but with the jack shaft and pulley reduction it does ok. The variable speed is nice as well. Any how I love the video it gives lots of great points. I would like to thank you as if not for you I don't think I would be doing as well as I am for a newbie. Its nice to have someone lay out does and don'ts so I can skip that painful learning curve some what. Keep up the great video and thanks for sharing your knowledge.
bader is just a bad ass machinery,love this grinder though i dont have one,here in Tanzania we dont have these machiners,i build mine and no one knows what it is for,will buy a bader in the future when i have a budget for it
Hello, could you help me understand the difference between contact wheel with flat rubber and contact wheel with rubber interuppted?
cool whip
Hi Walter, thanks for the video, can you or any of your subscribers let me know if 3"x79" belts will work better than the 2"x79" size for knives making? I can choose any of the sizes for my brand new belt grinder...