Thanks for the input.
It's going to be more than I really wanted to invest but the wheels (pun intended) are already in motion. I have the steel for a baseplate and I have a source for some square tubing WAY, WAY below market
.
I can weld so that's not a problem.
I have feelers out for used motors but no luck so far. I've been eyeing a 2 horse Grizzly online. They are far less expensive than any other new motor I've seen, and I've not heard any negative.
I'm also working on a MDF contact wheel (14") as per another thread here on the 'fire.
All that being said, I'm not willing at this point to double or triple my cost for a VFD. I'll start with a pair of 3-step pulleys and a wooden wheel, then upgrade if need be.
If one had to pay market prices for steel and didn't do their own welding, then pay full price for contact wheels
, I agree that it would be counter-productive to try to build a grinder.
No matter which option you choose, it takes a BUNCH of knives at $.50 profit (or loss) to justify!!