Belt Grinders
One of the most essential tools in a knifemaker’s arsenal: the belt grinder! The belt grinder really is the centre of the bladesmiths shop! They come in a variety of sizes and prices with the 2×72″ being the general standard but there are smaller sizes for the budget conscious.
The 2×48 inch version is great for anyone starting out. It’s compact so great for small shops and they keep a good resale value for when you want to upgrade to something bigger.
It’s basically a powerful belt sander on steroids. It is the workhorse that allows you to transform raw or rough forged steel into the beautiful, functional edged tools and knives. You can use it for everything from rapidly removing material to refining the grinds on a blade and creating perfect bevels. It’s a satisfying process watching the blade shape emerge, and with experience, it’s incredibly precise.
Below is the belt grinder I have. Solid bit of kit. Variable speed controller and tilt for horizontal work and a range of attachments for hollow grinds, small radius grinding and surface grinding too. Rapid Tools and Consumables have awesome support and have been really on the ball.
What makes the belt grinder so amazing is its versatility. With different grits of belts, you can move from rough shaping to achieving a mirror polish. You’ll likely find yourself swapping through a range of grits, from coarse ones that take material away quickly, to super-fine ones that refine the surface and get it ready for the final touches. It’s also not just about the blade itself; you can use it to shape handles, make bolsters, and carefully profile all sorts of parts including tools and axes. It’s a crucial tool for every stage of the process of making blades and really brings your vision as the maker, to life. Scotchbrite finishing belts are also available for cool satin finish.
If you have a tilting belt-grinder, you get even more options when grinding out blades. You can also add a surface-grinding attachment which helps true up the flat surfaces on blades or handles, and some adjustable versions allow you to add a distal taper to your tangs.
Variable speed controllers also had a lot more options and allow you to grind at slower speeds.
The general advice is not to go lower than 1HP. Mine is the tilting 2×72″ with a 2.2HP motor so has plenty of beef to it.