I think, but I'm not sure, but I think I saw a 1 x 42 belt grinder at Sears the last time I was there. If you google on Kalamazoo grinders, you'll get all sorts of sites offering them. They come either with an approximately 1/3 horsepower motor or you supply your own; whichever. I have 3 grinders. A Delta 1 x 30 grinder with a 1/3 hp motor which I've used for years; it was my first grinder. It also has a 5 inch disc grinder attached. Handy for squaring off blocks of knife handle sized wood. Today it gets used on those areas of a knife handle that are too narrow for my 2 x 72 KMG grinder. It's also the one I use for sharpening. You can find them at Lowes or any other DIY place. Northern Freight lists a cheap one, but you want a certain amount of sturdiness and decent belt tracking. Mine is 12 years old and still going. My second grinder, it was my primary one for 7 years, is a Sears 2 x 42. I also use 1 x 42 belts on it. The newer versions have a strange platen, but a lot knife handle work is done with the slack area between the top of the platen and the top wheel; or with the platen completely removed, giving you what's called a slack belt. It has an 8 inch disc sander with it. I've replaced a couple of parts on it, but it also has ground several hundred blades and handles. My current one is the KMG 2 x 72 which doesn't enter into this discussion. For the life of me, I can't see any difference between the 1 x 30 and the 2 x 42 with one inch belts as far as handle shaping goes. The Sears has a 1 hp motor but sanding wood, micarta etc doesn't require a lot of power. I know makers who use either one; it seems to depend on their preference..or which one they happen to have on hand. I use either one, but actually prefer the 1 x30 because it runs slower and cooler. You can get a variable speed motor for the Kalamazoo, but that runs into money for the motor and the controller. I actually use my 2 x 72 for 99% of my work, but the smaller ones do come in handy for small curves etc. Enjoy the work.
