Matt,
My progression in grinding went like this:
1. Homemade grinding wheel(old washing machine moter) and files.
2. Standard double wheeled grinder and files.
3. 1" x 30" belt grinder with 5 " disc grinder($75.00 several years ago).
4. Currently use a 2" x 42" Sears belt grinder w 8" disk sander($200.00 four years ago.).
Once I decided I was going to mainly flat grind blades, then there really was no serious need for a $2000.00 Bader or Wilton Square Wheels or such with all sorts of wheel/atachments. Not that I wouldn't like one of the big 2" x 72" machines like that, but I can get by well enough without one. The Sears works ok, the biggest problem being really accurate tracking of the belt. I found out by building up the center of the drive wheel with masking tape so I had a "crown" helped that matter considerably. The sears Has A 1 HP moter(maybe its' a 1 1/4) and runs at around 3450 FpM. That's a good speed for grinding and the motor has enough power/torgue so I can really push the steel if I have to. The little 1" X 30" worked fine compared to using grinding wheels and files; hell it was like a major advancement in technology, and I ground a lot of blades with it. Problems were mainly the lack of power: mine and I think the one you're looking at only have 1/3 HP motors. Means they stall out easily. Still, like I said, it worked for me. I personally like 2" belts to work with. One thing to think about is the length of the blades you intend to grind. If you use a 1" belt and grind a 4" blade, then you need to move the blade four belt widths. The more blade you grind without having to move the steel the easier it is. Again, I didn't really have problems with using a 1"belt, its just that using a 2" one made the job easier and faster. Some makers,especially those who flatgrind large bowie type blades like to use 4" or even 6" flat grinders. Some makers have a variety of grinders to suit the type/length blade they are grinding. The longest blade I ever ground on the 1" grinder was around 4 1/2"; the longest I've ground on the 2" x 42" is 6 inches. Average time it took me on the 1" grinder to flatgrind a 4" blade to 120 grit was around 2 hours; with the 2" in can do the same blade in 1/2 hour.
When it comes to belt availability, I've given up on local sources, but then I live kinda in the sticks. For grinding steel, the various types of zirconia, Silicon Carbide and cork back belts are an absolute requirement. Regular Aluminum Oxide (AO) belts don't last for crap against either stainless or carbon steels. I use belts with grits ranging from 40-700 grit and have to ordr them from a company. If you look in a knifesupply catalog, you'll see belts offered for 1 x 30, 1 x 42, 2 x 48 and 2 x72 inch grinders. The most complete belt types are offered in the 2 x 48 and 2 x 72 inch belts, since these two lengths are most commonly used by makers. How you'd go about finding steel working belts locally is going to be something of a challenge for you, I imagine; although they might be available in your area.
As far as help making knives go, there's a number of books/videos and sites around that can help. I learned on my own, grinding old files and old bayonets. Took me around 10 months before I was REALLY satisfied; enough to offer something for sale. I eventually bought Davie Boye's book "How to Make Knives" and found it to be helpful, although by then I'd started developing my own system. A look at a knife supply catalog will show you any number of books and videos which would be extremely helpful; most will likely get you building a better knife quicker than I did. I just get stubborn about certain things. The one place on the internet that I find extremely helpful for knifemaking information is at
www.ckdforums.com. You can find all sorts of great information there, there are some nationally known makers who post there regularly. They also have an excellant tutorial section(how to's) which I've found very valuable. I'm sure there are many others, I've in fact used others, but sort of stick to CKD anymore. The biggest thing in learning is to have the confidence in yourself that you CAN make a better blade than most factory's can do, and to also not get discouraged. Mistakes are how you learn, depressing as that route gets at times.
