Cheap Grinders Are a Joke! (Right?????)

Every beginning knife maker's biggest challenge is finding an affordable belt grinder. Are budget 2X72 belt grinders for real? Or are they just a rip-off? In this video, blade smith Walter Sorrells reviews a 2X82 inch variable speed belt grinder from the on-line tool store Vevor that sells in the neighborhood of a thousand dollars. Find out here if this is a solution...or a scam!

Want to save a few bucks on the grinder found in this video? Here are discount codes:
Code: VVMH5%OFF (5% off on all VEVOR products)

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[ReignForever]

You could cut an in and out vent, filter them, and install an intake and exhaust fan in that transformer box. Itd cost like 10$

[dalemacdonald]

I've been running one of these for about 6 months. I'm in Nova Scotia, Canada. It was around $1000 delivered to my door. Of course it's not as good as the big name grinders but it's around 1/4 the price and it's 1000 times better than a 1x30 or 4x36 which is what I started with. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to up their game without paying $4000-$5000 for a 2x72.

[aussiebrd]

Just watched this Walter and thanks for doing this review, it came about due to a question asked in a knife making group in Australia and someone posted you video, an honest review and looks like a fairly sturdy machine but just question, Why did you mount the VFD on the bench in almost direct line of fire of all the sparks and metal debris and not on a post back near the motor, once turned on and speed set you really shouldn't need to touch it again to turn off, and again thanks for a frank and honest review, as I have never come across you before will certainly be watching more.

[EthosAtheos]

To be fair to Vevor, 1500w is 2.011 HP, they aren't just saying it.
"All the hardware is metric.." Yeah it should be; we should abandon the inch standard. At this point the only SAE tools I own are for a quarter inch impact driver and gunsmithing.

I'm not a fan of the single tube belt grinders. I prefer one that has 2 tool holders. I also prefer a split hole for tightening on the shaft over the giant set screw. I also prefer one that can lay on it's side. But at sub 1000$ with a motor for someone starting out. Seems like a good value to me. Everything else is 2 or 3 times the money.

[jayztools]

Thank You for the review!! I have been waiting for something like this

[GunnyArtG]

Interesting. How much more would you need to spend to get what you would consider to be a step up from this machine? It seems to me that tools equipped like this one usually are 2 1/2 times the money.

[timshackleford]

Thanks for the review Walter. I bought this grinder earlier this year and I'm relieved to hear you're opinion that it isn't absolute trash.

I enclosed my vfd in an ammo box and I also added an earth grounding wire.

I've only really used the flat platen so far and the graphite pad is showing some dents. I think I'll replace it with a ceramic glass platen on the near future.

With the small radius attachment, the angle of the belt seems to limit the ability to plunge into tight corners. I see some other grinders have a contact wheel above the belt that essentially makes it run horizontally before curving around the radius. Any idea whether something similar could be modified for this grinder?

[Thebrssbrgd]

TORUS CNC best, and most reasonably priced grinder in the industry! I sold my brodbeck to buy another one

[chrisleischow]

i know this was a while ago ... but could you please link to the sealed box you got for the VFD .. as i cant find one with correct measurements ... thanks in advance

[Rsama]

Well living in Europe I have no issue with metric, 220V, 2x82 / 50x2000 mm belts.
Will I buy it? No. I built my own grinder. Actually I built 2. I used my first one for about 9 years despite all my design errors. My new built, I brutally honest, is my copy of Brian Fellhoelters Ubergrinder. Is it perfect? No but having built it myself I know it in and out and know how to fix issues. The cost? About 460€ so way cheaper than anything else.

[-o-The-Duke-o-]

Just buy the Oregon, USA Made Pheer for a couple hundred more.

[anthonyrice]

1000 dollars isn't budget friendly there Walt lol

[ilikewaffles]

"Cheap" and $1000 is crazy to me for a grinder

[Hike_hunt_slay]

Hey Walter, has your You Tube account been hacked. I got a notification from you that I won a prize. Wasn't aware there was a give away.