MEMBER ITEMS FOR SALE
Custom Knives | Other Knives | General Items
-------------------------------------------
New Posts | New PhotosAll Photos



Go Back   The Knife Network Forums : Knife Making Discussions > Custom Knife Discussion Boards > Knife Making Discussions > The Newbies Arena

The Newbies Arena Are you new to knife making? Here is all the help you will need.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 04-18-2017, 12:10 AM
KevBooth KevBooth is offline
Enthusiast
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Northern Utah
Posts: 79
Suggestions on contact wheel?

I'm debating getting a contact wheel, to try a hollow grind for the KITH. What suggestions would you guys give to a first timer? What size? Serrated or non??

Just for information sake. Step pulley, home built machine. 2hp 1765 motor. Interchangeable tool arms.

Thanks
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 04-18-2017, 07:23 AM
WBE WBE is offline
Skilled
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 484
A 10" smooth wheel. You can use a 8" wheel if a narrow blade, but even then, 10" is better. IMHO.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 04-18-2017, 08:45 AM
Ray Rogers's Avatar
Ray Rogers Ray Rogers is offline
Founding Member / Moderator
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Wauconda, WA
Posts: 9,840
As WBE said, 8 or 10". I use the 10" serrated for most knives. For small blades (folder blades) I use a 5" plain wheel I made from a heavy cart wheel ...


__________________

Your question may already have been answered - try the Search button first!






Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 04-18-2017, 06:14 PM
KevBooth KevBooth is offline
Enthusiast
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Northern Utah
Posts: 79


Has anyone ever used a wheel like this? The wheel is pretty hard. I think it would work if the bearings got a bit of an upgrade? Any input?
Thanks.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 04-18-2017, 08:41 PM
Ray Rogers's Avatar
Ray Rogers Ray Rogers is offline
Founding Member / Moderator
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Wauconda, WA
Posts: 9,840
That looks very much like my 5" wheel. That is pretty hard and it doesn't run perfectly true but you can make do with it if you need to but I'd upgrade to a real contact wheel when you can....


__________________

Your question may already have been answered - try the Search button first!






Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 04-18-2017, 10:11 PM
KevBooth KevBooth is offline
Enthusiast
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Northern Utah
Posts: 79
The store has the exact same thing in 5" and 6" too. I could get all three, new axles and new bearings for half the price of a "real" contact wheel.
I am very new at this, but I'm been making stuff long enough to know the value of a quality tool. My problem currently is I don't have the knowledge base, having never used a nice grinder with good wheels to know the difference.
I tried golf once. I didn't see spending thousands on good clubs when I wasn't good enough to get all the performance out of a $100 set. Am I correct in thinking along these lines? Or am I comparing apples to oranges?
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 04-19-2017, 06:48 AM
Crex's Avatar
Crex Crex is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Acworth, GA and/or Hanging Dog, NC
Posts: 3,583
Just watch your wheels carefully as they speed up (from the side of course), not all are conformed for higher speeds. Those shouldn't fly apart but if the vibration is too much can wreck your grinder and/or make for less than desirable grinding results. It's hard to beat a well built balanced machine.


__________________
Carl Rechsteiner, Bladesmith
Georgia Custom Knifemakers Guild, Charter Member
Knifemakers Guild, voting member
Registered Master Artist - GA Council for the Arts
C Rex Custom Knives

Blade Show Table 6-H
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 04-19-2017, 09:00 AM
Ray Rogers's Avatar
Ray Rogers Ray Rogers is offline
Founding Member / Moderator
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Wauconda, WA
Posts: 9,840
Your thinking is about right but CREX is correct too. I'd suggest you buy only one wheel, the 8" would do, and try that for a while. If the results are satisfactory then you're good to go for a while. If not, you have that to use while you save for a 'real' wheel. There's no practical difference in a 5" and 6" wheel and very little difference between those and 8". You need one large wheel like 8 or 10 and a small wheel like 1/2". That does it for our grinding needs 90% of the time ....


__________________

Your question may already have been answered - try the Search button first!






Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 04-21-2017, 03:02 PM
Andrew Garrett's Avatar
Andrew Garrett Andrew Garrett is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Nampa, Idaho
Posts: 3,584
I get mine here:
https://www.sunray-inc.com/custom-pa...-drive-wheels/

I have rubber and polyurethane wheels and have used them for years. I detect no difference.

My main wheel is a smooth 8" polyurethane idler wheel with a 7" aluminum core. That equals a half inch of poly all around.

Sunray lets you order it the way you want it. Steel or aluminum core, you select durometer (hardness--I like 70A), drive or idler, hole size, bearings included or not, color of poly, tread pattern or smooth...
The wheel is custom and still costs less than the equivalent in rubber.

These is copied from a recent quote for a grinder project:

8.00" X 1.00" IDLER WHEEL / 7" ALUM CORE / 70A BLACK
POLYURETHANE TREAD / INCLUDES (2) 1621-2RS (.5" ID) PRECISION
BALL BEARINGS INSTALLED
$81.68 $81.68
1 2.00" X 1.00" DRIVE WHEEL / 1.5" ALUM CORE / 62A BLACK
POLYURETHANE (CROWNED TREAD) / .75" STRAIGHT BORE WITH
KEYWAY AND SETSCREW
$47.77 $47.77
1 2.00" X 1.00" IDLER WHEEL / 1.5" ALUM CORE / 70A BLACK
POLYURETHANE TREAD / INCLUDES (2) 1621-2RS (.5" ID) PRECISION
BALL BEARINGS INSTALLED
$35.67 $

USA Knifemaker's supply also deals in poly wheels.


__________________
Andy Garrett
https://www.facebook.com/GarrettKnives?ref=hl
Charter Member - Kansas Custom Knifemaker's Association
www.kansasknives.org

"Drawing your knife from its sheath and using it in the presence of others should be an event complete with oos, ahhs, and questions."
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 04-22-2017, 06:23 AM
Crex's Avatar
Crex Crex is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Acworth, GA and/or Hanging Dog, NC
Posts: 3,583
I couldn't remember the name of the company Andy, good you brought it up. I have two of their wheels in poly and they both perform as expected. Been so long I'd forgotten where I got them.


__________________
Carl Rechsteiner, Bladesmith
Georgia Custom Knifemakers Guild, Charter Member
Knifemakers Guild, voting member
Registered Master Artist - GA Council for the Arts
C Rex Custom Knives

Blade Show Table 6-H
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 04-22-2017, 08:42 AM
dtec1 dtec1 is offline
Guru
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: ny
Posts: 1,438
The link below is to the one I have its a 10in serrated POLY wheel, Poly wheels seem to be a lil cheaper than rubber. I have never had a rubber one to compare but I haven't had any serious problems with my poly wheel works great. I have the KMG grinder from Beaumont metal works ( http://www.beaumontmetalworks.com/shop/ ) and I have heard of a lot of guys saying the wheels that Beaumont metal works makes are some of the best. But again never had one so I cant compare. not positive but I THINK Beaumont only has smooth wheels not serrated

This is the one I have works great its 10in, but I bet they also have a 8in one if that is what you want take a look

http://usaknifemaker.com/knife-makin...el-70duro.html
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 04-22-2017, 01:04 PM
Andrew Garrett's Avatar
Andrew Garrett Andrew Garrett is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Nampa, Idaho
Posts: 3,584
I have six coated contact wheels ranging from 1/2" to 12". All but one are smooth, but the serrated wheel is a must for lower powered machines. I made many knives on little 5 Amp, variable speed Delta grinder with a Multitool II attachment. The 8" serrated wheel made the work much easier than a smooth one would have.


__________________
Andy Garrett
https://www.facebook.com/GarrettKnives?ref=hl
Charter Member - Kansas Custom Knifemaker's Association
www.kansasknives.org

"Drawing your knife from its sheath and using it in the presence of others should be an event complete with oos, ahhs, and questions."
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
arrow, bee, blade, blades, folder, grind, grinder, grinding, hollow grind, home, knife, knifemaker, knives, made, make, making, motor, ore, problem, serrated, small, store, supply, tool, wheels


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Used Square Wheel Contact Wheels and Drive Wheel polishguy General ::: Items and Bargains 3 05-05-2011 09:09 PM
Contact Wheel Doug Adams Knife Making Discussions 4 11-20-2010 04:55 PM
Grizzly 10" Contact Wheel Problem and Where To Get Good Contact Wheels GHNorfleet Tool Time 4 03-05-2005 07:35 PM
Which Contact Wheel bernie The Newbies Arena 3 10-03-2002 09:41 AM


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:50 AM.




KNIFENETWORK.COM
Copyright © 2000
? CKK Industries, Inc. ? All Rights Reserved
Powered by ...

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
The Knife Network : All Rights Reserved