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Torus vs. Beaumont KMG-TX: An Honest Comparison

Beaumont KMG-TX or Torus Nova/Nebula? Direct drive versus belt drive, attachment ecosystems and a spec-by-spec look at where each wins and who fits which.

2 min readWritten by Rich LinvilleFree to read

Disclosure: we’re Torus CNC — one side of this comparison is ours. Beaumont’s specs and prices below were verified from their site and authorized retailers in July 2026, linked in Sources. And let’s start with respect: the KMG is the machine much of the modern 2×72 world grew up around. Comparing against Beaumont is comparing against the institution — so this page is really about what the institution costs, and who should pay it.

The Short Version

The KMG-TX is more machine, complete, for roughly $900–1,600 more. A KMG-TX runs $3,420–4,130 with its direct-drive motor and VFD included, pre-wired, made to order in Ohio. A complete Torus setup — Nebula or Nova plus our motor/VFD combo — lands at $2,690–2,890. Both arrive assembled with ratcheting tension and tilt. The question is whether direct drive, the Beaumont ecosystem, and the track record are worth the gap to you.

Spec by Spec

Beaumont KMG-TXTorus Nova / Nebula
Complete setup (October 2026)$3,420–4,130 (motor + VFD included)$2,690–2,890 (Nova or Nebula with a 1 HP or 2 HP motor/VFD package)
DriveDirect drive (2HP/3HP options)Belt-driven from paired motor/VFD
Belt tensionRatchetingStainless ratchet
TiltLever-release, vertical ↔ horizontal90° tilt
TrackingAxis Neutral system, steel tracking wheelDual-axis tracking
AvailabilityMade to order (lead time — inquire)Built, tested, ships
EcosystemThe deepest attachment catalog in the field, decades of itStandard 1.5″ arms — industry attachments fit

Where Beaumont Genuinely Wins

  • Direct drive. No belt between motor and drive wheel: quieter, zero transmission maintenance, and torque delivery pros swear by.
    Cast-iron electric motor bolted to a steel base with a plain metal wheel mounted directly on its shaft.
  • The ecosystem and track record. Every attachment ever made for the platform, decades of proof, and resale value that reflects it. A KMG outlives hobbies.
  • Buy-once-cry-once truth. If you’ll grind for twenty years, the amortized difference is a few dollars a month.

Where Torus Wins

  • Price for the feature set. Assembled + ratchet + tilt + dual-axis tracking at $2,690–2,890 vs. $3,420+ — that ~$900+ gap buys your heat-treat kiln, or a year of steel and belts.
  • No lead time. Made-to-order is a virtue with a wait attached; ours ships built and tested.
  • Standard arms. The 1.5″ tooling arm means the broader market’s attachments fit — you’re not locked to one catalog.
  • Feature parity where it counts. Ratcheting tension, serious tracking (dual-axis on ours, Axis Neutral on theirs), tilt, standard arms — the working feature set matches machine to machine. The $900+ gap buys direct drive, the deeper in-house catalog, and the badge — real things, but be sure they’re your things.

The Fair Verdict

Buy the KMG-TX if you’re buying your last grinder: professional volume, direct-drive preference, and the ecosystem matter more than the $900+ difference — it’s the institution for good reason. Buy Torus if you want 90% of that working experience — assembled, ratcheting, tilting, tracking — at roughly two-thirds of the price, especially while you’re still building out the rest of a shop (see what the whole craft costs and the full field comparison).

Knife blank, two walnut handle scales and abrasive sheets laid on a felt pad beside a bench vise.

Sources

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I machine the parts, hand-assemble, track and test Torus grinders in Sterling, Illinois. Most orders ship in seven to ten business days from time of order.

See the whole shop
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    Current dual-axis platform with a steel chassis, more mass and less vibration.

    These are the last Nebula chassis available until the next release. Once this run sells out, availability pauses until the next run is ready.

    Next release: 10 more chassis expected Nov 17–Nov 24 (3–4 weeks from Oct 27).

    Starts at$1,495View
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    Torus 2×72 Classic Aluminum Belt Grinder

    Prior-design aluminum chassis, 90-degree tilt and 1.5-inch tooling arms.

    Starts at$1,095View

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