I agree. I bought a Pheer a couple of years ago and it's been great. Value wise, can't beat it. I also agree that the worktable is less than stellar. However, I found some scrap at a local junkyard and cut myself a bigger table and welded it to some square and it works a pip. Good tip on the metal small wheels...I've had that issue with the ones from Jose and I'll try some metal. Also, customer service with Jose is unmatched. I had to call him several times during set up and sent him video and he spent all the time I needed to get me up and running. Awesome.
hell of a machine, well worth the money I'm sure. certainly glad I decided to make my own though, barely a fraction of the price but the same can be said about looks and quality. videos like this are the only reason I've got one and was able to customize. great review, thank you for your time
I have a Pheer 454, a Wilmont TAG 101, a Beaumont KMG, and I'm preparing to buy a 4th which will stay in horizontal position for profiling, but can always be set back up to do regular work, Much smarter than just a horizontal. Been using the first two for 3 years, the Pheer for 1.5 years. I also have that DD work rest total POS, not worth the money, at all! Here's my take: KMG is bullet proof but dumb, heavy, and slow, yet fairly reliable and tough as nails. Bearings have had to be replaced twice and Beaumont people got defensive on the phone when I pointed it out, not cool. However Beaumont has a huge markup on their motors and VFDs which pisses me off and because of that I won't buy another machine from them ever again. WIlmont: By far the best grinder in our shop. well designed , well constructed, powerful, supported and made by Chris Williams who is an awesome guy. He will do what ever it takes to make you happy and is very knowledgeable. Hi machines are not cheap but the machine is worth every penny. If I had a negative comment it would be that the tool rest is made of mild Steel and not Stainless or Aluminum. I grind with a cool spray and so i have to clean the rusted build up from time to time. It also has a nice set of accessories. Pheer: The best valued grinder in my shop. works great, reliable, accepts KMG parts (unlike wilmont). However...my beef with Pheer is that some of his parts are total crap. The tracking wheel hinge mechanism is mild steel welded together out of square and looks like a farmer made it, the tightening knobs are plastic garbage on the tool rest and tool arm. The tracking swing arm is mild tube steel not solid steel or billet aluminum, lame. the spring on the tracking arm slips around not providing consistent tension. the tool rest he provided went straight into my waist pile. I never even used it, total garbage. The holes drilled into the chassis were drilled by hand and were completely not square so when I tighten the knobs (in either tool slot) the tool trest walks inward thus pulling itself into the belt. The very first time I used it I got hit in the face with a belt that ripped, sucked hard! However motor is good, VFD good, tracking is good, chassis build is good, you just need to know its a budget grinder and if you want it to operate like a bad ass you'll have to make some upgrades. Jose, the maker , is a nice guy and is also willing to make things the way you want. Summary: you get what you pay for, except in the case of the wuertz, great build, great maker (Travis) but over priced and not compatible with KMG tool bars, he uses Bader compatible tool bars. Not enough value for the cost. But the guy from Ekim is right, "they are all good". If I had the money I'd buy another Wilmont chassis from Chris and buy the motor and VFD online from another supplier (save a little money), tool rest from Northridge tools (who also make an excellent grinder) and make an awesome custom built tool arm called the RAT $400. A few other notables: NorthridgeTool Oregon Blademaker Bader Grinders Hardcore Grinders Wuertz Machinery Hope this helps.
Very nice discussion and review. So hard to find unbiased reviews (on anything). Two thumbs way up! Btw I have a Burr King 760 I got for $600 along with 75 belts. Couldn't pass that up. I'm an artist, not a knife maker, but whipping metal off at 8000 rpm is priceless. My 1hp 8" bench grinder sits forlorn and unused now. I wish I had a variable speed drive, but i can work around that, as I'm not working with heat treated stuff. I figure I could sell it and put the money towards a variable speed unit down the line. Thanks again!
Great video! I used my 1x30 for six months then bought the Beaumont KMG and I don't regret spending the cash for it. The quality of your product is 50% skill and 50% tools used to make it (in my opinion). Keep up the good work!!
+Dark Dragon Blades I completely agree with you! Even the best tools will only get you halfway there. There are guys out there grinding on the biggest pile of crap that completely put me to shame in the quality of the work they can achieve. I'd love to see what some of those guys can do with a quality grinder. Thanks for watching!
Wrong, there are guys out there who aren't as lucky as me and you and don't have a belt grinder etc etc. Look at the Japanese masters, doing there work by hammer and stones! You, nor I could replicate what they do. So, when I say wrong I mean it's 100% skill. Without the skill, you can't use the tools to make fine knives and swords. The power tools just make the job quicker and easier in many respects.
Yep, quality belt grinder worth every penny! From my experience. I started with 25mm (1" inch) belts for my home build belt grinder. Yes it working but two main reasons for change to 50mm belts are: 1) price - because two 25mm belts which do same work as one 50mm belt are more expensve than one 50mm 2) variety of belts - because in 50x200 (roughly same as 2x72 in USA) there is much more belts to choose from and even special belts for knife makers. I got lucky and get older motor for free and cheap (but quality hitachi) VFD on flea market so with my own DIY build i spent up to 250 USD for similar machine you have but yes it did cost me lot of time.... So for everybody who considering buying belt grinder. Do not go cheap and buy quality 2x72 :)
I appreciate your videos sir. I have the same grinder from José mine has the 16in and 8in wheels and you are right the small wheel attachment is the only way to go. I didn't know about the hard wheels not dishing out the soft handle material, thank u for that tip, also my 16in wheel has a bad hump on the right and I was afraid I would hurt something by taking a file to the backside while spinning. I will probably fix that today. please keep the videos coming sir.
Nice machine, I've got a KMG and love it, but not super crazy about the work rest, but then don't use it much. I also like how you've got it set for horizontal grinding.
Hi Mike First of all, let me start by saying, "If money wasn't an option.............................................." Another great, well presented, informative video And one, for the most part, where u almost remained clean! And let me finish by saying, as I believe you may have mentioned yourself, " If money wasn't an option........." Keep up the good work, fella
+TD Hughes LOL I noticed it while I was editing the video and said to myself "What a doofus! Oh well its staying....someone will get a chuckle out of me stumbling through the video" We sort the laundry here as follows...clean, dirty, and knife shop hahaha. Thanks for watching and the giggle this comment gave me!
nice prices not bad at all. Once some one gets established into the craft its always great to invest more and more to enhance grind looks and to reduce the time for multiple projects.I myself would like to grab one of the high end belt grinders but I'm also just going into my second year of the hobby and its been a blast and I love to do different kinds of knives because I consider it more of a art form.I currently run a 1x42 rikon and its been great(well since it was bought for me as a present,thank pops for that!)and it was a step up to another level itself in making grinds and shines.If I decide to go into a type of production of the same blades then I would prob invest in a bigger machine but I would have to make some hefty money with it because once I get a machine like that then that's the point of no return for me and I don't want to lose out on cash..i wanna make some cash! I do a lot of forging as well so my shop is half and half on the trade of metal working.I try to keep the ancient ways mixed into the modern stock removal ways.great video I'm glad I came across the review thanks.
Thanks for the info Mike. I'm setting up a shop and you make a lot of sense...A ton of money, but if you spend it once you can forget it... Thanks again and take care...Rod
+walleyefishin rod It really is and it will take some time to recoup that startup cost. I figure I have to sell another 30 blades to break even lol After that, it is all gravy aside from consumables.
@@EkimKnives yup try 60 blades when you factor in consumables, "good" belts are expensive. But, it's one of those things most of us try. The cheap Chinese belts, then you go to ceramics and trizact and my all time favourite (non woven) surface conditioning belts. They are soooo good. If I could offer anyone any advice.....start with ceramic.....forget aluminium oxide dog shit! You can than me for not wasting your cash later boys and girls 😀
Great video. @15min, Does the motor ventilation get blocked by the wooden stop block. If run for a long time, will it heat up due to bad ventilation? Is the motor covering strong enough to support all that weight? Otherwise I like it.
Ordered mine a year ago. Sat in the box ever since, well I’m just unboxing. Very excited to get back to grinding on something other than a 1x30 or whatever it is. I bought the non variable speed motor. Can that be changed without buying a new motor? I bought the small wheel attachment but see they cannot be used at full speed.
Hey Mike. Fan of your channel! Can i ask, how thick are the steelplates mounted on the sides of the pheer? Im building a grinder and wondering if 8mm if too much rather than 6mm. Thanks! :)
cool grinder for sure! Id like one of each u mentioned n a few more.u can never have enough lol ...Anyways FINALLY someone mentioned the problem small rubberwheels can cause... i thought its just me because hardly anyone mentioned it before. i dig the metalwheels way more too BUT not when it comes to n Ansopattern or so...easier to make using rubberwheels...as u said better finish n all...one thought on the grinder bade...my selfmade one got a big one n it sucks...as u said. ..big mistake...one day i will cut it...another thought concerning selfmade grinders...no matter how handy u are IF u do not have the proper tools,machines....think long n hard if u really wanna make your own grinder...WHY well in the end with all thr attachments,wheels...i probably safed a few bucks but n here comes the big BUT it is not perfect not everything is square not everything is perfectly lined up and it took me a while n still sometimes does to set everything up ... so timewise i wsdted a lot on working on the grinder...ok its nice when u know it inside out know why n how everything works but we wanna make knives no grinders...sooooo..anyways im pretty sure in the end i didn't even safe much...ok a basic grinder weldef together from scrapmetal used motor...doesnt cost 100 bucks n it works but add time parts....n u don't safe that much...if we are talking pheer grinder money... i made my grinders without any heavy machinery, n its posdible but a pain...no surface grinder no mill no lathe...finding supplies was a pain when u are on a budget....lining everything up welding bolting...another topic....over herr aka europe parts are not thst easy to comeby... so what I would do n tecommend now...buy a grinder...get it overwith n concentrate on knifemaking. ...it might be a shitload of money but it will be worth it....another advice.... try to test or at least watch a shitload of videos n pics...adk questions...before u buy one...n know what u wanna do n how to do it first...so best start with something cheaper to know how u like everything setup...otherwise u might end up with a big paperweight...also find out...if the grindermaker also makes knives how he does it...freehand jig workrest supported... u can always tell by how things are setup later...could go on and on....*ha* thx for another great video mike...keep them coming take care
+Fred L When I was looking into buying or making a grinder, I looked long and hard at every possible option since money was an issue. I calculated how much it would cost just in materials to make one myself and it just wasn't worth it. I have a welder and some tools but like you said, it would turn into a big project. I was going to get a cheaper grinder...no variable speed, accessories or contact wheel. It was actually my fiance who convinced me to just buy what I need now and we'll figure out how to pay for it. I'm so glad she convinced me or I would be looking to buy another grinder now anyway. I feel bad for you European makers, you guys pay a lot of money to get your supplies and machines. More than we do here in the states. I tell new guys all the time now to just buy the best grinder you can. If you can't afford it now, save up. If you want it bad enough you will find a way to get it.
+EKIM1428 good advice for the new makers....u got an awesome fiance...yeah over here it gets pricey rather quick...was much more fun when the Euro was strong....can remember times when 1Euro =$1.40 THAT was great ....
He doesn't have one I found him on eBay. DDrests I think his name is or something like that. Get on eBay and search for the nder tool rests. His pictures always has a greenish background. Fantastic guy to deal with.
+Joseph Rector I've never worked with one but I hear they are great machines as well. You'll be blown away the first time you grind on any one of them compared to a 1x30. Even the single speed 2x72 models are a great improvement over the little ones.
+Joseph Rector EKIM1428 is right man even though I'm still in the 1x42's but my rikon is far superior in weight(50 lb's or so) wit ha bigger motor I was blown away using that than the 1x30 harbor freight one.I had 2 bad HF belt sanders of the 1x30's with tracking and that tension spring and lots of plastic parts.Before the rikon I went back to angle grinding/sanding and filing for a while.
Baders are good machines; very robust. We have a line of them at the shop I work at. The only issue is that the machines themselves are expensive, and spare parts can be too.
Hey I'm new at this game lol, how is the change over in the way you grind, from 1x30 to 2x72 .? I use a jig at the moment I've only done one free hand blade thanks fro your help
p.s u rounded the wheels edges or flatened them out?...which reminds me...wanted to ask about your platen...are the edges rounded? n how does it hold up so far? still the platen the grinder came with?...asking because i keep using heattreated 63hrc platens n Jose told me he uses regular steel on his grinders....so was wondering how that holds up .... any wear so far or need to surface grind it? THX
+Fred L I squared up the contact wheel and took a slight chamfer off the shoulder. I did the same with the platten..Just a light chamfer to knock off the sharp corners. The platten came surface ground and has held up pretty good. I did surface grind it once when I get my surface grinder but I haven't noticed any significant difference in performance since doing so. I figure I could always add a glass platten if it was an issue but haven't needed to.
+EKIM1428 thx for the reply...was asking because a couple guys i know round the edge of their platen...put a radius on ....for a nicer ricasso.... have tried but never really worked for me...maybe not the right setup for my kmg style grinder...they mostly grind on a horizontal platen n different grinder setup ....
+EKIM1428 a setup many use over here can be checked out at...www.gobec.at .... click on KURSE top right...n then check out the pictures....knifemaking classes are a big thing over here
Get a bigger shop! You need one of these in your life. Not specifically this machine. I made my own, but glad I did, I saved over £800. Mine flips 90° on its side and with the different sized arms can take up to 50mm x 3000mm belts, which is great for finding great value on different belts online. Everyone that limits themselves to 50mm x 1830mm aka 2" × 72" is a fool. Building one yourself allows you to make it as robust as you like. For example, mine could take a direct nuclear strike!.......well, not quite, but it is quite a beast. And if you are paying top dollar like the guy in this video the arms should be solid aluminium. My arms are 40mm x 40mm solid aluminium and the side plates are 20mm thick. It's a super well balanced beast. My motor is 1.75hp dc, I got it from a treadmill, it's monstrously powerful. I did buy the wheels from a professional belt sander company, I wanted good solid wheels, not the skateboard wheel crap. My choice. Seriously though, make your own, better value than buying on and if you can weld, you will have a wonderful machine.
Forgot the Wilmont lb1000 :p its what I use 2hp digital readout variable speed oh and that tw90 surface grinder is great I have am Australian made version life is so much easier... Thanks for the video made remember copper bolsters on kitchen knives I reckon you would do it justice :p - nyatiblades
+James M I was thinking about the lb1000 but it doesn't come with variable speed out of the box. However, it is 100% upgrade-able. Its almost like buying a tag 101 in bits and pieces. You're right it certainly deserves an honorable mention.
+EKIM1428 here in Australia there is a company who sells them with the 2hp 3 phase motor then uses the digital vfd to converted it to standard single phase 240v it's a beast of a machine I'll show you the surface grinder in action soon :p cheers
That's even better! I didn't know there was a distributor out there for those. That definitely makes it a great option. Its pretty much a more affordable tag 101 at that point. That surface grinder attachment goes for $1600 usd here. For that price I can get two of the huge machines I have in the shop. But you can't beat the space savings! I always wanted to try one out.
+EKIM1428 we have an Australian engines/fabricator who makes them here and they sell for around 1300 aus so about what 900ish 1000ish us pretty good value same as the tw90 surface grinder but aussie made ;) yeh I love my lb1000 I got the extreme tilt from the same guy it's bloody brilliant. Get that copper bolsters going haha im dying here im about to attempt one on a customers knife. I'm on insta nyatiblades you messaged me the other day on there take care brother.
That's a really good price. I wish it were that affordable here. I'm going to eventually convert my surface grinder to run belts but its a pricey conversion. Well more than what I paid for the machine. The bolster on a fixed blade will be a while before I can get to it but a bolster on a folder is doable. Only problem is its a completely different process and I'm not well versed in either of them yet although I'm pretty sure I can figure it out.
Raymond Blacklock I know this is four months old but I thought I'd answer anyway. It has to be single phase if he's running off household 110 volt a/c.
Raymond Blacklock it's a three phase motor, that's a kbac 27 vfd he's got hooked up to the motor for speed control, it takes single phase 120v and turns it into 3 phase . That's the only way to adjust speed without using step pulleys
I agree. I bought a Pheer a couple of years ago and it's been great. Value wise, can't beat it. I also agree that the worktable is less than stellar. However, I found some scrap at a local junkyard and cut myself a bigger table and welded it to some square and it works a pip. Good tip on the metal small wheels...I've had that issue with the ones from Jose and I'll try some metal. Also, customer service with Jose is unmatched. I had to call him several times during set up and sent him video and he spent all the time I needed to get me up and running. Awesome.
hell of a machine, well worth the money I'm sure. certainly glad I decided to make my own though, barely a fraction of the price but the same can be said about looks and quality. videos like this are the only reason I've got one and was able to customize. great review, thank you for your time
Do you have any advice for someone new into knife making and has no knowledge about the subject? I would love to build my own if I could.
I have a Pheer 454, a Wilmont TAG 101, a Beaumont KMG, and I'm preparing to buy a 4th which will stay in horizontal position for profiling, but can always be set back up to do regular work, Much smarter than just a horizontal. Been using the first two for 3 years, the Pheer for 1.5 years. I also have that DD work rest total POS, not worth the money, at all!
Here's my take:
KMG is bullet proof but dumb, heavy, and slow, yet fairly reliable and tough as nails. Bearings have had to be replaced twice and Beaumont people got defensive on the phone when I pointed it out, not cool. However Beaumont has a huge markup on their motors and VFDs which pisses me off and because of that I won't buy another machine from them ever again.
WIlmont:
By far the best grinder in our shop. well designed , well constructed, powerful, supported and made by Chris Williams who is an awesome guy. He will do what ever it takes to make you happy and is very knowledgeable. Hi machines are not cheap but the machine is worth every penny. If I had a negative comment it would be that the tool rest is made of mild Steel and not Stainless or Aluminum. I grind with a cool spray and so i have to clean the rusted build up from time to time. It also has a nice set of accessories.
Pheer:
The best valued grinder in my shop. works great, reliable, accepts KMG parts (unlike wilmont). However...my beef with Pheer is that some of his parts are total crap. The tracking wheel hinge mechanism is mild steel welded together out of square and looks like a farmer made it, the tightening knobs are plastic garbage on the tool rest and tool arm. The tracking swing arm is mild tube steel not solid steel or billet aluminum, lame. the spring on the tracking arm slips around not providing consistent tension. the tool rest he provided went straight into my waist pile. I never even used it, total garbage. The holes drilled into the chassis were drilled by hand and were completely not square so when I tighten the knobs (in either tool slot) the tool trest walks inward thus pulling itself into the belt. The very first time I used it I got hit in the face with a belt that ripped, sucked hard! However motor is good, VFD good, tracking is good, chassis build is good, you just need to know its a budget grinder and if you want it to operate like a bad ass you'll have to make some upgrades. Jose, the maker , is a nice guy and is also willing to make things the way you want.
Summary: you get what you pay for, except in the case of the wuertz, great build, great maker (Travis) but over priced and not compatible with KMG tool bars, he uses Bader compatible tool bars. Not enough value for the cost. But the
guy from Ekim is right, "they are all good".
If I had the money I'd buy another Wilmont chassis from Chris and buy the motor and VFD online from another supplier (save a little money), tool rest from Northridge tools (who also make an excellent grinder) and make an awesome custom built tool arm called the RAT $400.
A few other notables:
NorthridgeTool
Oregon Blademaker
Bader Grinders
Hardcore Grinders
Wuertz Machinery
Hope this helps.
zack worrell awesome insite !!
Do you think that the Northridge tool pro package is a good deal for what price they're selling it for?
Very nice discussion and review. So hard to find unbiased reviews (on anything). Two thumbs way up! Btw I have a Burr King 760 I got for $600 along with 75 belts. Couldn't pass that up. I'm an artist, not a knife maker, but whipping metal off at 8000 rpm is priceless. My 1hp 8" bench grinder sits forlorn and unused now. I wish I had a variable speed drive, but i can work around that, as I'm not working with heat treated stuff. I figure I could sell it and put the money towards a variable speed unit down the line. Thanks again!
Great video! I used my 1x30 for six months then bought the Beaumont KMG and I don't regret spending the cash for it. The quality of your product is 50% skill and 50% tools used to make it (in my opinion). Keep up the good work!!
+Dark Dragon Blades I completely agree with you! Even the best tools will only get you halfway there. There are guys out there grinding on the biggest pile of crap that completely put me to shame in the quality of the work they can achieve. I'd love to see what some of those guys can do with a quality grinder. Thanks for watching!
Wrong, there are guys out there who aren't as lucky as me and you and don't have a belt grinder etc etc. Look at the Japanese masters, doing there work by hammer and stones!
You, nor I could replicate what they do. So, when I say wrong I mean it's 100% skill. Without the skill, you can't use the tools to make fine knives and swords. The power tools just make the job quicker and easier in many respects.
@@EkimKnives That's just the point, they don't need one.
Yep, quality belt grinder worth every penny! From my experience. I started with 25mm (1" inch) belts for my home build belt grinder. Yes it working but two main reasons for change to 50mm belts are:
1) price - because two 25mm belts which do same work as one 50mm belt are more expensve than one 50mm
2) variety of belts - because in 50x200 (roughly same as 2x72 in USA) there is much more belts to choose from and even special belts for knife makers.
I got lucky and get older motor for free and cheap (but quality hitachi) VFD on flea market so with my own DIY build i spent up to 250 USD for similar machine you have but yes it did cost me lot of time....
So for everybody who considering buying belt grinder. Do not go cheap and buy quality 2x72 :)
I want a 2x72 but cash flow is the problem right now. Great video by the way, thanks for the info and opinions.
I appreciate your videos sir. I have the same grinder from José mine has the 16in and 8in wheels and you are right the small wheel attachment is the only way to go. I didn't know about the hard wheels not dishing out the soft handle material, thank u for that tip, also my 16in wheel has a bad hump on the right and I was afraid I would hurt something by taking a file to the backside while spinning. I will probably fix that today. please keep the videos coming sir.
Thanks for having good honest videos! I really appreciate all the videos you do they are VERY helpful.
Nice machine, I've got a KMG and love it, but not super crazy about the work rest, but then don't use it much. I also like how you've got it set for horizontal grinding.
Hi Mike
First of all, let me start by saying, "If money wasn't an option.............................................."
Another great, well presented, informative video
And one, for the most part, where u almost remained clean!
And let me finish by saying, as I believe you may have mentioned yourself, " If money wasn't an option........."
Keep up the good work, fella
+TD Hughes LOL I noticed it while I was editing the video and said to myself "What a doofus! Oh well its staying....someone will get a chuckle out of me stumbling through the video" We sort the laundry here as follows...clean, dirty, and knife shop hahaha. Thanks for watching and the giggle this comment gave me!
nice prices not bad at all. Once some one gets established into the craft its always great to invest more and more to enhance grind looks and to reduce the time for multiple projects.I myself would like to grab one of the high end belt grinders but I'm also just going into my second year of the hobby and its been a blast and I love to do different kinds of knives because I consider it more of a art form.I currently run a 1x42 rikon and its been great(well since it was bought for me as a present,thank pops for that!)and it was a step up to another level itself in making grinds and shines.If I decide to go into a type of production of the same blades then I would prob invest in a bigger machine but I would have to make some hefty money with it because once I get a machine like that then that's the point of no return for me and I don't want to lose out on cash..i wanna make some cash! I do a lot of forging as well so my shop is half and half on the trade of metal working.I try to keep the ancient ways mixed into the modern stock removal ways.great video I'm glad I came across the review thanks.
Thanks for the info Mike. I'm setting up a shop and you make a lot of sense...A ton of money, but if you spend it once you can forget it... Thanks again and take care...Rod
+walleyefishin rod It really is and it will take some time to recoup that startup cost. I figure I have to sell another 30 blades to break even lol After that, it is all gravy aside from consumables.
@@EkimKnives yup try 60 blades when you factor in consumables, "good" belts are expensive. But, it's one of those things most of us try. The cheap Chinese belts, then you go to ceramics and trizact and my all time favourite (non woven) surface conditioning belts. They are soooo good.
If I could offer anyone any advice.....start with ceramic.....forget aluminium oxide dog shit! You can than me for not wasting your cash later boys and girls 😀
I got the Little Buddy from Wilmont, and it's great, but if I had it to do over again, I'd probably get the Pheer just for the variable speed motor.
You look good with the beard!! Thanks for all the videos. Hope you are doing well.
Great video. @15min, Does the motor ventilation get blocked by the wooden stop block. If run for a long time, will it heat up due to bad ventilation? Is the motor covering strong enough to support all that weight? Otherwise I like it.
Nice video, informative and worth the time to watch as are all your videos. Keep them coming.
Ordered mine a year ago. Sat in the box ever since, well I’m just unboxing. Very excited to get back to grinding on something other than a 1x30 or whatever it is. I bought the non variable speed motor. Can that be changed without buying a new motor? I bought the small wheel attachment but see they cannot be used at full speed.
great review, I have the KMG and my only issue is the tool rest so I will be looking up the DD work rest
+Rockin L Knives ,Jeremy Its the best rest I've used so far. Go for the extreme tilt its the most versatile
just ordered the dd extreme work rest and some small wheels, holder and arm.
Nice! That's a great addition to the shop!
BELLISSIMO VIDEO MOLTO INTERESSANTE COMPLIMENTI A EKIM PECCATO CHE SIA SOLO IN INGLESE
Thanks for the video. I have really been thinking about getting one of these. Appreciate it.
Awesome review!!!
Hey Mike. Fan of your channel! Can i ask, how thick are the steelplates mounted on the sides of the pheer? Im building a grinder and wondering if 8mm if too much rather than 6mm. Thanks! :)
Thanks for sharing , great knowledge
cool grinder for sure! Id like one of each u mentioned n a few more.u can never have enough lol ...Anyways FINALLY someone mentioned the problem small rubberwheels can cause... i thought its just me because hardly anyone mentioned it before. i dig the metalwheels way more too BUT not when it comes to n Ansopattern or so...easier to make using rubberwheels...as u said better finish n all...one thought on the grinder bade...my selfmade one got a big one n it sucks...as u said. ..big mistake...one day i will cut it...another thought concerning selfmade grinders...no matter how handy u are IF u do not have the proper tools,machines....think long n hard if u really wanna make your own grinder...WHY well in the end with all thr attachments,wheels...i probably safed a few bucks but n here comes the big BUT it is not perfect not everything is square not everything is perfectly lined up and it took me a while n still sometimes does to set everything up ... so timewise i wsdted a lot on working on the grinder...ok its nice when u know it inside out know why n how everything works but we wanna make knives no grinders...sooooo..anyways im pretty sure in the end i didn't even safe much...ok a basic grinder weldef together from scrapmetal used motor...doesnt cost 100 bucks n it works but add time parts....n u don't safe that much...if we are talking pheer grinder money... i made my grinders without any heavy machinery, n its posdible but a pain...no surface grinder no mill no lathe...finding supplies was a pain when u are on a budget....lining everything up welding bolting...another topic....over herr aka europe parts are not thst easy to comeby... so what I would do n tecommend now...buy a grinder...get it overwith n concentrate on knifemaking. ...it might be a shitload of money but it will be worth it....another advice.... try to test or at least watch a shitload of videos n pics...adk questions...before u buy one...n know what u wanna do n how to do it first...so best start with something cheaper to know how u like everything setup...otherwise u might end up with a big paperweight...also find out...if the grindermaker also makes knives how he does it...freehand jig workrest supported... u can always tell by how things are setup later...could go on and on....*ha* thx for another great video mike...keep them coming take care
+Fred L When I was looking into buying or making a grinder, I looked long and hard at every possible option since money was an issue. I calculated how much it would cost just in materials to make one myself and it just wasn't worth it. I have a welder and some tools but like you said, it would turn into a big project. I was going to get a cheaper grinder...no variable speed, accessories or contact wheel. It was actually my fiance who convinced me to just buy what I need now and we'll figure out how to pay for it. I'm so glad she convinced me or I would be looking to buy another grinder now anyway. I feel bad for you European makers, you guys pay a lot of money to get your supplies and machines. More than we do here in the states. I tell new guys all the time now to just buy the best grinder you can. If you can't afford it now, save up. If you want it bad enough you will find a way to get it.
+EKIM1428 good advice for the new makers....u got an awesome fiance...yeah over here it gets pricey rather quick...was much more fun when the Euro was strong....can remember times when 1Euro =$1.40 THAT was great ....
Don of DD Rests makes some fine add ons. I have two of his products and another on the way.
+Bruce Prosser By far my favorite work rest and Don is awesome to deal with!
+Bruce Prosser whats his website
He doesn't have one I found him on eBay. DDrests I think his name is or something like that. Get on eBay and search for the nder tool rests. His pictures always has a greenish background. Fantastic guy to deal with.
Ciao col variatore di giri perdi coppia del motore?
Time for another video Mike? Been three weeks. I need my Ekim fix.
Do you make down loadable plans for any of your friction folding knives?
I've been grinding on a harbor freight 1x30 for the past 3 years and it's been great. It's not about money, it's about practice and experience
Thanks for the input..so I have some ideas when I upgrade from the HF 1x30. What about the Bader B3?
+Joseph Rector I've never worked with one but I hear they are great machines as well. You'll be blown away the first time you grind on any one of them compared to a 1x30. Even the single speed 2x72 models are a great improvement over the little ones.
+Joseph Rector EKIM1428 is right man even though I'm still in the 1x42's but my rikon is far superior in weight(50 lb's or so) wit ha bigger motor I was blown away using that than the 1x30 harbor freight one.I had 2 bad HF belt sanders of the 1x30's with tracking and that tension spring and lots of plastic parts.Before the rikon I went back to angle grinding/sanding and filing for a while.
Baders are good machines; very robust. We have a line of them at the shop I work at. The only issue is that the machines themselves are expensive, and spare parts can be too.
Hey I'm new at this game lol, how is the change over in the way you grind, from 1x30 to 2x72 .? I use a jig at the moment I've only done one free hand blade thanks fro your help
Such a great video thank you so much
I wonder how these would stack up against an Oregon blade maker grinder. they run $495 without the motor
Doesn't really look any better than the OBM. Too me anyways.
p.s u rounded the wheels edges or flatened them out?...which reminds me...wanted to ask about your platen...are the edges rounded? n how does it hold up so far? still the platen the grinder came with?...asking because i keep using heattreated 63hrc platens n Jose told me he uses regular steel on his grinders....so was wondering how that holds up .... any wear so far or need to surface grind it? THX
+Fred L I squared up the contact wheel and took a slight chamfer off the shoulder. I did the same with the platten..Just a light chamfer to knock off the sharp corners. The platten came surface ground and has held up pretty good. I did surface grind it once when I get my surface grinder but I haven't noticed any significant difference in performance since doing so. I figure I could always add a glass platten if it was an issue but haven't needed to.
+EKIM1428 thx for the reply...was asking because a couple guys i know round the edge of their platen...put a radius on ....for a nicer ricasso.... have tried but never really worked for me...maybe not the right setup for my kmg style grinder...they mostly grind on a horizontal platen n different grinder setup ....
+EKIM1428 a setup many use over here can be checked out at...www.gobec.at .... click on KURSE top right...n then check out the pictures....knifemaking classes are a big thing over here
what are the dimensions. ..of the base? wonder if this will fit in a shelf in the shop
Get a bigger shop! You need one of these in your life. Not specifically this machine. I made my own, but glad I did, I saved over £800. Mine flips 90° on its side and with the different sized arms can take up to 50mm x 3000mm belts, which is great for finding great value on different belts online.
Everyone that limits themselves to 50mm x 1830mm aka 2" × 72" is a fool.
Building one yourself allows you to make it as robust as you like. For example, mine could take a direct nuclear strike!.......well, not quite, but it is quite a beast. And if you are paying top dollar like the guy in this video the arms should be solid aluminium. My arms are 40mm x 40mm solid aluminium and the side plates are 20mm thick. It's a super well balanced beast. My motor is 1.75hp dc, I got it from a treadmill, it's monstrously powerful. I did buy the wheels from a professional belt sander company, I wanted good solid wheels, not the skateboard wheel crap. My choice.
Seriously though, make your own, better value than buying on and if you can weld, you will have a wonderful machine.
Forgot the Wilmont lb1000 :p its what I use 2hp digital readout variable speed oh and that tw90 surface grinder is great I have am Australian made version life is so much easier... Thanks for the video made remember copper bolsters on kitchen knives I reckon you would do it justice :p - nyatiblades
+James M I was thinking about the lb1000 but it doesn't come with variable speed out of the box. However, it is 100% upgrade-able. Its almost like buying a tag 101 in bits and pieces. You're right it certainly deserves an honorable mention.
+EKIM1428 here in Australia there is a company who sells them with the 2hp 3 phase motor then uses the digital vfd to converted it to standard single phase 240v it's a beast of a machine I'll show you the surface grinder in action soon :p cheers
That's even better! I didn't know there was a distributor out there for those. That definitely makes it a great option. Its pretty much a more affordable tag 101 at that point. That surface grinder attachment goes for $1600 usd here. For that price I can get two of the huge machines I have in the shop. But you can't beat the space savings! I always wanted to try one out.
+EKIM1428 we have an Australian engines/fabricator who makes them here and they sell for around 1300 aus so about what 900ish 1000ish us pretty good value same as the tw90 surface grinder but aussie made ;) yeh I love my lb1000 I got the extreme tilt from the same guy it's bloody brilliant. Get that copper bolsters going haha im dying here im about to attempt one on a customers knife. I'm on insta nyatiblades you messaged me the other day on there take care brother.
That's a really good price. I wish it were that affordable here. I'm going to eventually convert my surface grinder to run belts but its a pricey conversion. Well more than what I paid for the machine. The bolster on a fixed blade will be a while before I can get to it but a bolster on a folder is doable. Only problem is its a completely different process and I'm not well versed in either of them yet although I'm pretty sure I can figure it out.
$1800???
I need to start building 2x72 belt sanders.
I can get it for 1200.00...... Did the prices drop?
Your local machine Shop could have fixed your tool rest
is your motor single phase or three phase?
Raymond Blacklock I know this is four months old but I thought I'd answer anyway. It has to be single phase if he's running off household 110 volt a/c.
Raymond Blacklock it's a three phase motor, that's a kbac 27 vfd he's got hooked up to the motor for speed control, it takes single phase 120v and turns it into 3 phase . That's the only way to adjust speed without using step pulleys
Thx ben you answered my question i looked everywhere for :-/ whether i need the kbac 24d or 27d! U da man thx again!!
ciaoo bellissimo prodotto complimenti.....
una domanda dove compri i nastri
cordiali saluti
I like my Pheer for the most part, but I'll never buy from him again because his customer service is horrendous. and his welds are a bit wonky.
I have a harbor freight 1x30 belt sander
Hi Mike,
love your videos, but please look in the lense when you talk to us ;)
Greatings from Germany
Pascal
good video
👍🏾
Oh wow, it finally click.
I THINK ITS WICKED!!
+SSR KNIVES AND GUNS! Yeah man awesome machines for sure. Definitely glad I picked one up! Thanks for watching!