Trent B.
Works great! bought another because we found it so handy.
Chase H.
This grinder is leagues above the grinder I built. Its precision machining allows me to give my knives a mirror finish. The rubber wheels ensure minimum belt bump. The platen itself is very well machine and I notice it produced very little heat on my belts. The quality of each part can only be described as perfection. I'm a engineer and can say I 'm always impressed when I get something machined with such precision and perfect finish as this.
My platen arm was a bit hard to tighten and can caused the platen to rotate when I was grinding, causing the belt to pinch between the platen and tool rest, which snapped the belt. But after I really cranked the bolt down it seemed tight enough.
Really my only gripe is my discount code messed up on check out. Alec Steele Co agreed to refund me the portion that didn't get discounted (Much appreciated Alecsteeleco!) however I haven't received it. (Could be the third party vendor "Shop"'s fault). Either way, even if I didn't get the discounted price. The grinder is WELL worth the money (although Id be a little bummed).
One other thing to note. Now that I have this amazing grinder, many of the accessories I want are out of stock (this may be a typical seasonal stocking occurrence,) none the less I'm concerned I wont be able to get the other important attachments in the future.
For any smith looking to step up their game on fit and finish, and get a quality grinder that allows for flexibility and variability in use, this is a no brain purchase.
Kyle B.
All assembled and ready to be bolted down and start grinding! I’m very excited to start using this grinder. Set-up was not difficult and the team at Alec Steele Co was always very helpful with any questions I had. I can’t wait to put this workhorse to the test!
Allison S.
This grinder is awesome. The attachments are fantastic to go from the platen to a 10” wheel. I now have this grinder for strictly doing my hallow grinds and blade shaping. You won’t regret buying this. Best grinder on the market in my opinion. Easy to use and put together. The vfd is great for when your blade is already heat treated and tempered. Couldn’t imagine my shop without it now. If you’re thinking about getting this grinder just rip off the bandaid and do it like I did. Mike from @stubermetalandknifeworks
Daniel L.
Fit and finish is great, easy to assemble. Also much less expensive than many other grinders of similar specs.
DEAN R.
This is the grinder I wished for 20 years ago! Very smooth, unbelievably quiet, versatile. Purchased on the recommendation of a local student knife maker, who did the research. Well designed and constructed, also easily extensible. Highly recommended!
Benjamin G.
The grinder is great and assembly isn’t bad at all. I do wish the pivot that the platen screws to was keyed in somehow instead of just relying on the pressure of a single bolt to keep from spinning. If it loosens the belt could contact the tool rest and break.
Elizabeth G.
We gave this to our son for Christmas, and he is very impressed so far. It's so well made and easy to use. He is so pleased!
Robert K.
This is a BEAUTIFUL piece of machinery! (Please ignore my temporary spot for it )
I have just finally converted my electrical for 240V. When I turned it on, it brought a huge smile to my face.
This grinder is well worth the price! The packaging was in exquisite condition (even after being delivered by FEDex). This thing will eat through steel if you want it to. The motor is an absolute unit! I'm extremely happy with this purchase and I would recommend it to ANYONE who wants a 2 x 72 grinder.
The customer service was also top-notch. I had a little issue with FEDex tracking. These guys got back to me within an hour (everytime) and solved any problems I had.
Thank you Alec Steele Co. & 84 Engineering, for making this bad ass addition to my shop!
Pablo G.
Hello,
Excellent machine. Very easy to assemble, I use it all the time in my workshop. 10/10 !!!
Franklin M.
Buying this grinder has boosted my bladesmithing abilities beyond my expectations. The versatility of this machine makes transitioning between contact wheels so easy. I can’t think of a single thing I would do differently. Best $2000 I’ve ever spent!
Bryan T.
This grinder is everything I had hoped for. An extremely good value for satisfying all needs for knife making. Thank you Alec and team for supplying great products like this.
Craig L.
Love it, what more can I say
Cody N.
The Steele 2x72 is a fantastic grinder! The motor has more than enough power to get through whatever you need and the VFD allows for all the adjustment you could want. It was well worth the wait and you cant beat the price for what you get. Set up wasn't too difficult, the assembly video is more helpful than the .pdf instructions. Its a 220v motor so make sure so don't have only 110 in your shop.
Jeremy P.
the quality after the parts is second to none. it eats steel.
Luke S.
Easy to setup and works great. Didn’t read the description and ordered a 5” wheel now I have an extra.
Brad W.
After 3 years of a 4x36 from Harbor Freight, I started researching 2x72's. I've watched Alec Steele's videos for several years and when I saw he was going to be selling a 2x72, I knew that was the one I wanted. It was my Christmas present to myself. I couldn't be more happy with it. I have ground out several knives in time it would take to grind 1 on the 4x36. The 2 hp motor is a beast!! I got the small wheel attachment and have both sets of wheels for that. The adjustable tool rest is also a must! For the money, you can't go wrong with this machine. I highly recommend it.
Wayne W.
A decent grinder has really elevated my blade making. Before my Steele grinder my knives were pretty sub par. After, I've actually sold some of my work. The Steele grinder is very high quality.
Gary B.
This is a high quality grinder at an excellent price. I replaced my homemade 72” grinder and couldn’t be happier. I checked out other grinders before buying this one and the price couldn’t be beat for a complete 220v with controller. Very happy with the product and customer service when I needed and extra 3” wheel due to my own fault.
Tom
I am primarily a woodworker but, have wanted to do more metal work so, I got the Steele grinder and it has outshined my most optimistic expectations. Can not imagine not having it in the shop.
Garth G.
I use this everyday
Steven J.
Fairly easy kit to put together and runs like a champ!!
Cody D.
First belt grinder I have ever owned and I would say it is worth the price! I did some shopping around. I wanted a more robust chassis than some that are cheaper than this one. I also wanted a VFD for sure, that is the best part of the Steele grinders for sure! It's amazing how versatile it is when you have so much control on such a powerful motor! I have never NEEDED to use 100% of the motor's power, but it's got plenty of chooch to bite steel like it's the cookie monster. The video that goes over assembly is excellent. I liked assembling it too so I could learn how this thing works before I got it fired up.
There's a couple minor things that I did to mine like mounting it to a stand that's bolted to the concrete to help with vibrations, making a mount for the VFD, and modifying the tool rest to give a bit more space so I can really let the belt hang over either side if I want.
David S.
The 2x72 grinder was an upgrade for me. It is so much more flexible having the variable speed controller and the ability to change the primary attachment from platen to slack belt by just rotating it. When I initially purchased it, I added the 5 inch wheel and the Surface Grinder attachment.
Here I am almost a year later and I have added the small wheels and the 8 inch wheel to my collection of accessories. The grinder has grown with me as my experience has increased and allowed me to have so much more control grinding different angles.
I do recommend the tilting stand as it allows you to see what you are doing without bending in several directions.
