2x42 modification

I had a 2x42 Craftsman and made many knives on it with a few upgrades, but never tried to convert to 2x72.

I'm certain you could, but typically they are 1/3hp and run way to fast.

If you decide to stick with the 2x42, I HIGHLY encourage upgrading the flat platen and adding a ceramic glass face to it. Good quality belts ( I used trugrit.com) and good grinding technique will be far more valuable than trying to convert to a 2x72.
 
look up ceramic glass on ebay, or hit up a local glass supply. This is the stuff they use for ovens or fireplace screens.
 
I have the 3/4hp Jet 2x42" and it has suited me so far.

The platen was horrible though - way too thin and flexy! I made a new one out of 3/8" hot roll and it is much more rigid and thus more predictable - it doesn't bend backwards when I'm trying to grind a bevel anymore lol

I haven't added glass to my platen yet but it is on my to do list along with a better work rest

I was planning on slowly turning it into a 2x72 also but for me the main drawback of the Jet is the lack of variable speed. I'll need a new motor and a VFD so I'll probably just ditch the 2x42 eventually.

Why add another $500+ to a $500 sander and have to work around the design? That's how I'm looking at it anyway. If I'm going to build a tooling arm setup... I'd rather just build a 2x72 in the first place, you know what I mean? The Jet's base and cast iron case doesn't lend itself to a nice smooth conversion IMHO - it'd mostly be a hack job and then you wind up with a 3/4hp motor that spins too fast
 
SxKcSYJ.jpg

4x36 with glass platen and rubber wheels. Pyroceram glass from ebay, custom size cut by vendor.
Belt tension and tracking are improved.
 
allenkey said:
I have the 3/4hp Jet 2x42" and it has suited me so far.

The platen was horrible though - way too thin and flexy! I made a new one out of 3/8" hot roll and it is much more rigid and thus more predictable - it doesn't bend backwards when I'm trying to grind a bevel anymore lol

I haven't added glass to my platen yet but it is on my to do list along with a better work rest

I was planning on slowly turning it into a 2x72 also but for me the main drawback of the Jet is the lack of variable speed. I'll need a new motor and a VFD so I'll probably just ditch the 2x42 eventually.

Why add another $500+ to a $500 sander and have to work around the design? That's how I'm looking at it anyway. If I'm going to build a tooling arm setup... I'd rather just build a 2x72 in the first place, you know what I mean? The Jet's base and cast iron case doesn't lend itself to a nice smooth conversion IMHO - it'd mostly be a hack job and then you wind up with a 3/4hp motor that spins too fast
Click to expand...

save the 2x42 for handle shaping, and build a 2x72.
 
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