2x42 grinder and Foredom foot throttle

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Rusty-Gunn

Joined
Jan 24, 2014
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Hello. I've done a few searches regarding 2x42 belt grinders and the concern is the belt speed. Seems to burn blade tips when grinding.
I am wondering if a Foredom rotory tool foot throttle to control the speed might help. Anyone ever do this? Is it even safe?
I note that the Jet 2x42 belt sperd is 3100 (4500 for the Craftsman). Although the price is about 400.00 would it be better?
Money is a conern unfortunely. Besides I am a newbie. I am making a knife using a 1x30 ssnder. Slow. Burns out plenty of belts. But its a start.
Thank you.
 
In for an answer I have my foredom rigged to a socket on a dimmer switch can't stand the foot pedal
 
Rusty-Gunn said:
Hello. I've done a few searches regarding 2x42 belt grinders and the concern is the belt speed. Seems to burn blade tips when grinding.
I am wondering if a Foredom rotory tool foot throttle to control the speed might help. Anyone ever do this? Is it even safe?
I note that the Jet 2x42 belt sperd is 3100 (4500 for the Craftsman). Although the price is about 400.00 would it be better?
Money is a conern unfortunely. Besides I am a newbie. I am making a knife using a 1x30 ssnder. Slow. Burns out plenty of belts. But its a start.
Thank you.
Click to expand...

No wont work
 
You will burn it up.

For a brushed rotary tool you can use a dimmer switch. Your Craftsman is a single phase motor. Running at less than intended voltage and current will smoke it in a hurry. Even bogging it down too much can smoke it...

And yes, the speed is fast but just use lighter pressure and mind your heat. Plenty of us have learned on a 2x42...
 
I always have my pointer finger on the blade in front of the plunge, middle finger in the center and ring finger at the tip, for me my ring finger is more sensitive, don't know why, maybe less callous, but I can feel the tip heat up just a little and if it is getting slightly uncomfortable I dip in water. Using a Craftsman 2x42
 
Otay... So a foot throttle will burn up the grinder motor. Thank you guys for this info.

Next question... Is the slower belt speed of 3100 considered slow enough?
Does anyone know if the Jet is considered better than the Craftsman?
Any other advice regarding lower cost grinders?

How would diamond wheel grinders do on hardened/tempeted steel (D2planer blades)?
Perhaps this might be another route to take?
 
I use a 2x42 Craftsman and don't burn tips, anymore at least. My very first few leaning blades I did burn tips because of bad technique for the speed. Call it a learning curve. As mentioned, use lighter pressure, faster passes and cool in water on each pass (or every other if you feel comfortable). When you move up to a pro grade grinder it will be cake to make the jump.
 
Otay... A 2x42 grinder ought yo do. Besides, I can use it for making handles, too.
I unsure if I should buy the Craftsman or Jet...
 
Rusty-Gunn said:
Otay... A 2x42 grinder ought yo do. Besides, I can use it for making handles, too.
I unsure if I should buy the Craftsman or Jet...
Click to expand...
For the difference in price I'd choose the craftsman. Jet May Be a little better quality, but boy do you pay for it.
 
Yes there is a big enough price difference. But is the slower speed of the Jet enough to satisfy this difference? The biggest gripe I read is the Craftsman is too fast. As stated above though, one can learn to deal with this faster, non-adjustable speed. So as newbie I'm torn between the two.
Any other advice?
 
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My opinion would be to go with the Craftsman and spend the other $300 on a band saw, drill press, belts or whatever else you might be needing. No matter if you get the Jet or the Craftsman, if you stick with it and get serious you'll be wanting to upgrade to 2x72. Making both machines obsolete.

Chris
 
Rusty-Gunn said:
Yes there is a big enough price difference. But is the slower speed of the Jet enough to satisfy this difference? The biggest gripe I read is the Craftsman is too fast. As stated above though, one can learn to deal with this faster, non-adjustable speed. So as newbie I'm torn between the two.
Any other advice?
Click to expand...
You can make the Craftsman adjustable with pulleys and driving it with another motor. Check out utube for how to do it..
 
Craftsman. Use the other $300 for belts. The speed isn't a big enough difference to offset the extra cost.
 
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