I'm not a knife maker, but I have have one of these which I've used to reshape and re-profile many an axe head, machete, lawn mower, and bush hog blade. It's removed a bunch of metal over five years or so that I've abused it, and it's never faltered. It's refreshing to see a professional of Walter's caliber reviewing equipment like this.

As a beginner I had one. the best thing about it was since it forced you to go slow it was hard to make a mistake that couldn't be fixed.

This video is a prime example of what a master craftsman is capable of doing. Shows how important expertise is. His knowledge trumps all limitations the tool might have. It was a pleasure watching this video sir. Thank you

I have the $85 version with the 5" disc. For my VERY limited use, it is perfect and didn't break the very limited hobby budget. Thanks for an honest review that doesn't just trash-talk the tool because it costs so little.

Mine is the older HF brand/model. I’ve made some really nice knives with it. As a beginning/hobbyist knife maker, I think it’s amazing! Plus, at this price point, it’s not going to totally kill your budget if you have to replace it. I’ve had mine for 3 years and still going strong! I can also get the ceramic belts for it, too. Just take your time using it, be patient and enjoy the process.

Having watched too many knife-related videos, this is one of the most sensible, considered and candid. Kudos,

I originally bought this belt sander to use for tool restoration. It has also been a very useful tool for making knives and grinding bevels on my woodworking tools. I recently bought a leather 1x30 belt, so now I use it to strop my various blades. It might be light duty, but it's been a super useful tool.

I had purchased one of these machines for my automotive shop a few years back. I certainly was not expecting much at all for all the reasons you mentioned, but I was also not looking for a machine to handle heavy use. Like you, I also tossed the cheap belt and bought good ones. I have to admit, I was extremely surprised at how well it works. For the money, it is well worth buying one. Awesome stuff as always man. Love your work!

WHAT A GREAT REVIEW. I started somewhere, like everyone does. You pointed out a damn good way to jump in, even if garage sales couldn't get you where you wanted to be, and you didn't have the cash to go all in up front [and had to upgrade a bit here and there, as you could afford it]. SIDE NOTE: I'm a woodworker, miner steel player wither, plastic worker, copper plater and so on. I lucked out and scored a delta 1x42 for ten bucks at a garage sale about twenty years ago. Since then, I've added a four wheel grinder I picked up off craigslist [for a couple hundred] (it was a 3,600 RPM thing off a 240 volt motor, but I swapped the original motor for a sewing machine motor and controller (3/4 horse), installed a couple CBN, diamond and stone wheels on it and was off and running. I added a Air Handler buffer to the mix for one hundred (little 1/4 horse with a solid squirrel cage in the cabinet to collect debris All nothing, (air handler aside) compared to your grinders (which my son invested in too). The point of all this is, I'm impressed with this jumping off point.

I love that you still do testing on this type of thing for the benefit of those getting into the hobby. I would have dismissed it out of hand - I could buy two files with that money!

I've had one of these belt sanders for about a decade, and I agree with the assessments made in this video. One thing I should note is that last year the on/off switch on mine failed, but it was easily replaced with a generic rocker switch from Amazon (that fit perfectly) for about $5. These days, mine is relegated almost exclusively to smaller wood working projects.

I used one of these for about 15 years or so before the motor went out. It worked great for me. I liked that it was a little slower, it made me take my time and get things exactly they way I wanted them. It worked great for reprofiling and repairing blades that people would bring me to fix. I also liked that it was small and took up very little room. Many times I took it to work with me to use . It may be cheap but it did everything I needed it to do.

Thanks for a very reasonable review of this tool. I will probably never get into knife making from scratch, but I have other hobbies where this could be useful such as building amateur rockets or making metal brackets for various things.

Walter you are right on the money. I have had one of these for years. It does great service for light duty stuff, as you said. I made a drop point knife from miter a saw blade and it did a great job. Thanks for another great video.

Thank you for the demonstration and review!

Nice and honest review. I’m sure some crafters will appreciate this tool for starting out. I know I will. Thanks!

I bought one just for sharpening, when the edge needs some re-profiling. I have many decades of practice on stones, but the time saved here is enormous. Just always remember that what can do a good job fast, can ruin a knife just as fast, be sure you can hold your angle every pass. I saw a vid a while back of a professional sharpening shop, and they had a whole wall full of these. It was more practical to have a machine for each grit than it was to change the belts.

Thanks for a good detailed review! For sanding smooth the edges of circuit boards that I manufacture from time to time, I use a homemade small belt grinder on semi-permanent loan from a friend. It uses 1" x 42" belts driven by a wooden [!] 6" OD pulley on the shaft of a commonplace 1750 RPM 1/4 HP motor. Works at least as well as the Central Machinery machine in your review, but it is heavy and somewhat clumsy to adjust. It is good to know that there is a quick, easy & cheap alternative if my friend needs his machine back...

Watching your videos and some others I appreciate the time and professionalism of your videos. To dip my toe In The Biz I used the earlier model of the Harbor Freight grinder. I made probably 20 knives with that grinder which I also got a taste in buying quality belts for future reference. As soon as I was over being a novice, I was able to fabricate a 2x72 Grinder from a dc motor and control board off a free treadmill. There's many videos on how to make it out there on KZfaq, and it gave me forward and reverse and variable speed which is invaluable for grinding a quality knife. After I went through two motors from getting metal dust into the windings I still couldn't afford a $3,000 grinder so I bought the plans for my 2nd gen Revolution 2x72 grinder from Brian house out of Florida for 10 bucks. With the steel, the motor, and the controller I'm into it for about 800 bucks. But I will say that it is an industrial machine that will last me a lifetime, plenty of power, forward and reverse, variable speed, vertical and horizontal grinding. It's an excellent machine and would sell somewhere in the range of $3,000 assembled out the door. It took me a while to save up the scratch and lots of research before I decided to build the revolution, and I'm not dissatisfied I love that machine I use it everyday on anything I need to grind. It's a cheaper way to get an excellent 2x72 grinder and I would advise anyone with a little welding knowledge to do what I did. Get a hold of Brian house and get the plans or buy the bundle and you're in for a professional machine for a lot less than you would buying a prefabricated tool. Thank you Walter Sorrels, you are my number one man for knife making videos over the last five or six years I couldn't have done it without you thank you thank you thank you Walter. Keep up the good work my brother from the knife making community.

It´s the first time for me join your canal! i like the way you do it!

Nice! I picked one of these up when it was on clearance for wood, but I had no idea it was even useable for steel. Honestly I love that I don’t need to care for it. Worst case, it breaks and I now have a light duty induction motor

This information is what I needed. I just started woodworking and didn’t want to make a poor choice of belt sander. Thanks!

Good job Walter. More than you expected and more than I expected.

This is the kind of info that is great for people wanting to test the waters! Absolutely a good way to go at it! Thanks for sharing!

I have one of the green ones. It cost a little under $40. Once a year I gather all my knives and my daughters' knives and with a couple of higher grit belts, a 1x30 leather belt, and some polishing compound I bring everything to factory sharp or better. It works great!

Great info and I’ve been wondering this exact thing. Thanks for this.

Love to see what other affordable grinders you highlight. I would submit that most of us who have gotten into knife making and. The last 10 years started on a 1x30.

I have the Vonhaus 1x30, very similar to this but has a built in disc sander too. I'll upgrade to a 2x72 as soon as I can afford it but honestly, this little belt grinder has been amazing! I've made everything from little sgian dubhs through Bowie knives up to 1 handed swords using it and it's handled them all just fine, slowly, but fine. For a little under £100 I have no complaints.

Starting out, i purchased the equivalent of this machine from Princess Auto in Canada. It served me very well. You can definitely make knives with it. I still use it now, even though i built a 2x72 Grinder. It still comes in handy! I would recommend it to anyone starting out.

I'm brand new and I have this. This video made me realize I can do it with time. I also now know what belts to use. Thank you!

I definitely look forward to the following videos on this track. My hand me down 4x36 slips so bad and I don’t want to break the bank on a new one.

I’ve been thinking about buying one of these grinders for a while… great info… answered exactly the questions I’ve been rolling over in my head.

That's what I started with, then moved up to a 2x72 when my skills improved and my pocketbook got larger. I still use mine, but only with a leather belt for final stropping, which it does perfectly.

Thank you for posting the tests that you do with keeping in mind those of that are just getting started or are home hobbiests that don't have the space or the funds for the professional/ production equipment.

Just so you know I love your videos!! You one amazing man!👍

Thanks for the Honest Review Mr. Walter!

I’ve had mine for about 10 years and it’s still going. The capacitor just blew on it but I was able to bypass it and it still works!! As a serious hobbyist from making knives and blacksmithing it’s an extremely useful tool.

I picked up one of these to do some of the finer finishing/polishing work on my amateur experiments in customizing stock blades, with my old 4X36 handling the bigger removal jobs (relatively speaking). It's held up better than I thought it would, but then I'm usually using very fine belts at low pressure. Also functions as an oversized Worksharp for edge touch-ups with 600-1000 grit belts. Really glad I found your channel!

Thanks so much for doing this video. I am exactly the person you're talking about and you have given me the confidence to go purchase that cheap belt sander I had been looking at. It's actually lots better than the one you tested but it's not an expensive one.

My wife loves this sander it is perfect for her craft projects thanks for sharing your information about this little cheap sander 👍

My first 5 knives were made on a Black and Decker PowerFile, which I screwed to a piece of 1 x2 that could be held in my bench vice. Did a wonderful job, as well as being still used for it’s intended purpose. A true multi-tool.

did my first 20 blades on a 1x42 delta grinder, finally afforded a Wilmont 2X72. I use that grinder for a lot of other fabrication work now, one of my favorite shop tools.

I bought one several years ago for mid thirties and I have no idea what it will do for knifemakers but I would not be without one for a small drill bit sharpener. I use it for very small to 1/2" bits and it gives me great control. Not to thrilled with the channels in the table but I have to say this has been a performer. I always get a better grade of belt but with that it is something I would not be without. I use it every day and it has been without any problems.

Looking forward to this series. Not just money but space is a premium for the hobbyist who’s wife won’t let them park a Bridgeport in the garage… 😢

I really enjoyed this kind of content. Thanks a million.

I have four 1x30 belt grinders, only one is Central Machinery and I use it with a stropping belt. The other three grinders are more notable name brands. With a few minor modifications my 1x30s work great with the correct/proper belt selection. Thank you for this video.

very well put. it's great way to see if knife making is for you.

I’ve made 150 or knives with mine! Still using it! It’s probably 8 years old! Enjoy your video s. 🤠🇺🇸👍

I’ve had one of these for years… I also have 5 other grinders that are highly expensive, and I use this in conjunction with(not instead)of my others. That way I’ve been able to make really good use of it. It’s really good for tight spaces!

I've had this one for a number of years and it works just fine for what I use it for. Sharpening drill bits.

Great review! Love to see one on the grizzly grinder as well!

Exactly how I started many years ago. Then on to a 1 x 42 and finally to a 2 x 72. I would tell a beginner to go for it, but be ready to spend some serious money down the line. Thanks for good video.

I bought one of these from Harbor Freight almost two years ago and it's still going strong. I only own two machines I use as grinders to profile and flatten my blades; the 1x30 and a 4x36 adjustable belt sanding station from Bauer. Now that you can get much more aggressive abrasive belts for these machines, I think they're great if you're starting out or just strapped for cash. I still like to file my bevels in by using draw filing at my bench, but these two machines significantly drop the time it takes me to get a blade ready for heat treatment and they also help me process my handle materials quickly as I work with a lot of bone, antler, and horn that I repurpose from the stuff sold as dog treats. I think they're great compared to the alternative of doing everything purely by hand.

I have owned and operated one of these small sanders for over 20 years now, for small deburring and small drill bits or lathe tools. I degreed my plate for ease of use, and find this exactly as per cost and need. Cheap and capable of good performance with Zirconia belts on small objects, when not in any hurry. For my main used of all intentions is my Burr-King 4" x 60". I also have the larger Harbor Freight Belt sander with the side wheel, and find it acceptable for larger, soft material objects, but easy to stop and very Endemic for power. For a serious user or knife maker' Buy Nice, or By Twice.

I like the honest review. I've bought a couple of tools from harbor freight just to try out and so far most have been pretty good. They are basic simple tools great for beginners on a budget.

Thanks Walter,i was looking for something other than my worksharp and with a little more power. It’ll definitely fit my needs reshaping tsuka and saya and maybe even sharpening katana.

This is great information. I want one of those for hobby woodworking use, I'm happy to learn that it would actually grind knife bevels.

I have one I bought way back when I was in highschool for getting into knives. It was a good better-than-nothing start. It let me make quite a few small, beginner projects.

Love to see fair reviews of inexpensive products.

I started knife making with a 1x30, like many other have. I made several knives that all turned out good. The disadvantages I saw were with the narrow platen and the amount of time it took to grind compared to a 2x72. If your on the fence about not being able to make a 1x30 work for you don't. Take your time and you'll be fine.

Really good honest video, Thankyou! I use files and a wheel grinder with various wheels. Its what I can afford. I also use a hand drill with different wheel attachments like sanding discs and polishing disc's. Takes me alot longer but ive made some nice stuff. I plan on buying one of these now thanks to your review and the comments. I have found if I take my time and use some ingenuity anything I put my mind too is very doable. Thanks for your Chanel you always give me good ideas.

Thank you for sharing this.

Thanks for sharing!

I've had a green Harbor Freight version for over a decade and it is still rolling along. I'm not a knife maker, but I built boats and use this tool for all kinds of detail work on wood, fiberglass and metal. I've altered mine to include vibration reducing base and a quick way to remove the cover forr belt changes. I use the dust port and improved the guide table by drilling multiple holes in the surface t allow air flow. This thing works.

Walter, excellent video. I don't fabricate the blades, but I buy the blanks and assemble the scales and finish the knife, then make the sheaths. This would be a very good sander for finishing, I think. Thanks.

Thanks for the video

Thank you, Mr. Sorrells, nice video, great info...you have a new subbie.

I've only made about a dozen knives or so with a similar 1/3hp Harbor Freight belt sander. I struggle with clean lines but just realized the work table in your video is different than mine (my blade will slip down the slot on mine; yours steps back, allowing the knife to ride all the way). I've made a lot of adjustments to my sander (glass platen, cutting the extending knob for adjusting the table, removing covers for a quicker belt change, etc.) and I've experimented with different jigs. I've yet to make a knife with super clean lines. I now wonder if the table would solve many of my issues. Thanks for the videos.

Awesome vid. Thanks

Yep, got one of these. The belt doesn't run quite straight, but I've still been able to get some good practice on bevels and it's remarkably quick to grind away 1084

Walter, can provide a link to the belts you ended up using? Also, I'm looking forward to what the next step from this would be. Thanks!

One of my son gave me this belt sander and it work great I like it very much. I think my son is a great little machine. I restore old Daisy, baby, guns and music constantly. Thank you, Harbor freight.

I have 2 mounted back to back on a 12 x 24 " board. C clamp holds it down, 2 different grits, loosen the clamp and spin the rig around and go again. Belt sets are $10 for 30 (!) on Temu. Warning: stopping the motor with excessive loads will burn out the pully/bearings, THEY ARE NOT AVAILABLE. I got one of these sanders for $20 because the pully was seized. Matched a bearing and "poured" a new plastic puller around it, bit of sanding and it's now workable. Thanks for the vid.

I’ve had mine for about 10 years, still working and has been very useful. Totally worth the cost. I’m just a hobbyist though l don’t have huge demands on it.

1. I've used the same HF belt sander for better than 7 years. Mine has the 5 1/2 in. disk on the side. I paid under $40.00 for it on sale. 1.5. As an aside, I recommend the 4.5 in. disc grinder for cutting stock out. It's light duty as well (at under $20.00 on sale) but great for the hobbiest. 2. The HF abrasives kind'a suck. The belts are usable but not fo long. I'd recomend getting them elsewhere. 3. I tend to do my "grinding" by hand mostly as I enjoy the work. My HF belt sander is used mainly to "cut" the first 1/4 in. of the bevel at the edge to the centerline. As I said, I enjoy the work. 4. Thankyou Mr. Sorrells for your multiple series on knife making. They've been educational as well as inspirational.

Nice video Walter ,I like your channel and watch everything you post. But on this on the litter 1x30 belt sander it works fairly good for the buck and at 65 years old and a retired toolmaker/ welder , I really don’t think investing a large sum of cash to build 20 or so knives as a hobby. It’s not a money maker if your trying to make a living at making knives. The knives I’m making are for family and friends to have after I’m gone, everyone that get one will know that it was made just for them , maybe they can pass it to their family when they are not able to use it anymore. I use mine to rough the bevels , then I finish them up with a filing jig and do the profiles and rough shape the scales . You have a fantastic tool shop but I don’t have the space or time left to try to compete with the pros . Keep up the great videos and content. I look forward to seeing another video soon . I made one knife back in 1994 using a wire EDM machine , did the entire blade on that machine and I still have it pretty cool . Later

I don't really make knives yet, but do forge tools like chisels and scrapers, as well as sharpening axes, knives, etc that I already have. I picked up a fairly cheap king canada 1x42 disc/belt sander, that has quickly become one of my most used power tools. I replaced the cheap platen with a small piece of 1/4" angle iron, and took the side cover off, but otherwise run it as-is. Well worth every penny, even if I do end up buying, or more likely building, a 2x42 or 2x72 down the road. Another thing worth mentioning about these little grinders, esp this one, is just that. They are SMALL, meaning you can have one in almost any workspace, and tuck it away on a shelf when not needed. Perfect for hobby or occasional use, where space might be more of an issue than cost.

I too use mine for handle shaping and even rough sharpening with the super strop kit and a angle guide.

Great stuff Walt.

Glad to see your wearing the respirator. As a metal worker, I noticed after grinding metal outside in the sunlight, the sun's rays showed just how many very small metal flakes were floating around me. You don't want this in your lungs. I also use a respirator and also have a huge workspace exhaust fan. Safety first.

Thanks Walter.

I went with a Rikon 1x30 with a 5" disc... $140 from my local Woodcraft store. I have used it to make a couple knives with very good success but mostly use it with a homemade jig for regrinding plane irons and chisels as needed. The table on the Rikon has very nice fine adjusting screws for pitch adjustment which works brilliantly for chisel grinds. So yeah I agree with you that a 1x30 isn't the same as a 2x72 but it'll get the job done.

I have a 1x42 with an 8 inch disk grinder I setup for wet grinding for knife sharpening with silicon oxide belts. But it was my only grinder when I started.

I have the older (green) version. It's seen lots of use in my small shop, where I do a lot of one-off stuff. Have not used it for knife making, but it has saved my bacon a few times over the years. I seem to recall paying around $40 for mine back then. Agree on the included belts: They don't last very long. Get some better quality ones. It's one of those tools that would get replaced if it ever dies.

I have one that I've used fairly extensively. I removed the table and the platen. I use it exclusively as a slack belt for cleaning up convex grinds and putting the final bevel on hollow grinds.

I had this very tool as a beginner; I had no real issues with it. I have since upgraded but this tool is good for just starting

I have a similar product that also has a sanding wheel that I purchased from Harbor Freight. I am happy with it. It does the job.

I got one of these and I use it in my shop for a general grinder change out. The belts doesn't take long to change out a belt. It's small. It doesn't take up a lot of space. We can put it underneath a table someplace. Pull it out just when we need it and put it away. Takes up a lot less space than an actual bench grinder. And the abrasives the belt can be changed out for various different grits and I have a flat grind rather than a round grind when I'm having to shape. Whatever it is that I'm working with and I don't do knife working but somebody else uses it to sharpen knives. They're knives and they have a an attachment that you can pick up on Amazon that gives you an angle. You can either have it going upwards or downwards and make both of them and it works pretty good. He's real happy with it. I use it to do all kinds of stuff all the way up to polishing really fine. Grit all the way down to grinding stuff away and it works and it works great. It may not last 30 years but you know what for the amount of money. If it gives 2 years it works. I'm even considering picking up a second one, but that's how useful and handy. I have found it in my shop. Like I said when it's not a use just take it off the bench and put it on a shelf someplace and it's out of the way. You don't have to have something dedicated. You could move it wherever it is that you're wanting to work

Great vid man. It was internet and informative.

Thanks for the vid; I'm starting to be interested in some basic forging/knifemaking and am looking at tools. What would you think of the Harbor Freight Bauer 8 in bench grinder w/belt sander, as an alternate? I'm thinking that I could swap the grinder wheel for a polishing one, and the belt setup seems to look decently robust? its listed at about 170 bucks, and might be workable?

i have the Grizzly H6070 1x30 Sander I have been using this machine for 8 years, the motor does not stall when reprofiling a new edge or making a new tip, Been very happy with it so far, then I will finish my sharpening on assorted Japanese whetstones., as with any tool you must know its limitations. great video, Thanks, Greetings from The Cayman Islands.

I have one off these but I just extended the support strap behind the belt and it works great.

Mine's probably 10 years old at this point. Still runs great. I don't actually make knives, but lots of sharpening and reshaping/restoring. As well as other regular DIY around the house stuff. They tend to not be put together that well, so I had to grind out a little clearance for the idler arm to move properly and I trued the pulleys to make it run smooth as can be. First things that go are the side and top covers. Then grind the top to allow full access to the top pulley.

I use a Delta branded one from 20 years ago or so. Made in china I guess. looks similar but has the 5" disc which is what it use to grind bone bridge saddles for classical guitars. it has been great for that light use. a grinder this size would be the first bench top tool I would recommend for a beginning guitar maker or repair person. good review.

This dude is so cool! Gives me renewed hope for my love of this craft. One day I’ll get that 2x72….. yes, she will be mine

Hey Walter. Been watching for years and love your content. I am familiar with the Harbor Freight 1 x 30. The original was green and looked identicle to the new version that you have. The original was a 1/3 HP and if you look at the box the picture shows 1/3 hp but right next to it in the specification chart says 1/4 HP ( see your time stamp 2:07) Most of us leave the side cover off. I am hoping that along with all the upgrade tools coming to HF that maybe a Bauer or Hercules Version is comimng soon. There are plenty of variants on the net for a little more $ that are better.

I found an older version of this at a tag sale for $2. It works. Might be nice to perhaps have speed control but otherwise it does what I need it to do.

So.. I'm a hobbyist leatherworker.. Might look into seeing if they ship to Canada cause I can use this to sand my edges flush instead of measuring everything 4 times and then making micro cuts with a knife to clean up my edges... This looks very promising for that, and maybe I'll try a knife of my own too, and then make a sheath for it!

I learned how to grind on one of these and its still going strong. If you dont have a dedicated shop, these are a cheap and cheerful way to speed up your knife making, and you can run them on kitchen counter with a vacuum cleaner hose attached to the side to keep the mess minimal. I personally try and keep them religiously clean because metal filings have a bit of a habit of building up inside the cowling. If you are doing mixed wood and metal work then you risk a flammable build up developing inside. This aside, if you treat it well, it will treat you well.

Great review. I really want to see reviews of those 4x42 and others in the ~ $300 price range. thanks.