I'm a hobby knife maker. The ones I've finished have been given away as gifts, or used by me. I'm down the Rabbit hole as far as one can go with rifles, so I can't and won't justify buying a shure enough knife grinder, they are too damned expensive. But my shop has every welding process available, mill, lathe, drill press, and I'm willing to build what I need.

I just need the right plan. Help is appreciated.

I built my variable speed 2x72. I just looked at a lot of them online and sort of copied the KMG grinder. There are a lot of how to videos on You Tube that didn't exist back when I built mine.

Best way to start is to start with one of these.
https://www.polarbearforge.com/grinder_kit_order.html

I built mine from the no-weld pattern, but welded it. Started with step pulleys, went to VFD after that.

I don't know what you're grinding with now, but a full sized variable speed grinder will improve your quality and production rate. They are definitely expensive, but do tend to pay for themselves over time. You'll be able to make better knives, faster. That means increased prices and increased revenue, if you do it right.

i looked at a bunch of them, and built mine from scratch, no real plans

I agree with Jason. First of all you're going to spend a lot of time and money making one from scratch and there's a big possibility you're not going to be happy with it and all that time and money you spent on it you're better off saving some money and getting a quality grinder. I have three and wish I had the room for one more, and trust me bro, they will improve you're work and certainly speed your process.

https://usaknifemaker.com/plans-for-the-no-weld-grinder-sander-nearly-50-pages.html


I’ve been running a Wilton Square Wheel for about 14 years. It works great but can’t help but to think my process would be easier with a modern variable speed grinder. I don’t make enough knives to justify the expense but if I were just starting out I’d for sure opt for a variable.
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Thank you for the replies.

Variable speed is the plan. I can understand the time versus quality argument. However, the grinder will be built and used in a pretty well equipped shop. Forge, anvil, MIG, TIG, milling machine, engine lathe. I figure with enough time, I can make anything. This project will be given attention in steps. And hour here and there, and it will eventually get done. I want to make it, so that's why I am going to.

My knives are for me, and for gifts, so no figuring in increased revenue. I make knives as a change of pace from rifle and ammo work.

I made one like the video. I used a grinder that had brushes in the motor so I could use a router speed controller to control the speed of the belt. Mine also used 2x48 belts. Using the router controller you lose some of the power at the slow speeds. As long as I did not try to hog the metal off it worked okay. The bearings I used were skateboard bearings, back then a few dollars, the metal was from scrap pile. I already had the grinder and the router controller. Took me less than an afternoon to go to the skateboard place buy the bearings and put it all together.
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