4x36 to 2x72 pics & instructions

rocketmann

rocketmann

Joined
Dec 24, 2005
Messages
1,254
Ok here it is, this is the easiest and cheapest way that I have found to get a 2x72 from a 4x36 ryobi grinder. Everything is 3x3 angle iron and can be put together using bolts.Be sure to use a level & a square when building this. the wheels are 2x8in aluminum casters with a poly wheel & 3/4in bearings. get them at http://castercity.com dont forget to wrap 5 wraps of electrical tape around the center of the wheels ..I dont know how to put the words next to the pics so I will just put it down 1st and you can look at the pic's. 1st I took off the work rest and plastic shrouds that were on the grinder.I then mounted a 7&1/4 in angle using the 2 threaded holes in the front of the grinder.I then attached a 11&3/4in angle as a support to hold the upright in place. the small pipe and bottom peice of angle are only to keep the weight off of the 2 little bolts that hold everything to the grinder and can be replaced with a pile of bricks. Next I attached the 22in upright using 2 bolts oversize the holes so that you can adjust the angle of the upright for belt tension. I then mounted the bottom wheel using a 3/4 x 6 bolt washers and 2 nuts. it goes like this bolt+washer+wheel+washer(or two for correct spacing)+nut then thru the angle then last nut. Tighten this to the angle . then using a 72 in loop of string find were to mount the last wheel and do it. You are done!! It will take some adjusting to get the tracking straight but with some thin shims (cut from a razor blade or thin sheet metal)It isn't that hard.. Good luck...Louis:cool:
 
Another idea is to use a real 8in contact wheel from grizzly or any other supplier at the bottom (for hollow grinding or profiling) because the caster dosen't work that great for that kind of work..
 
Outstanding information rocketmann, thank you so much.

Oh, and yes that is the exact same Ryobi grinder I have too. How cool!
 
Rocketmann the step by step instructions are awesome!:thumbup: its great to have someone come up with something simple but so very effective! does the ryobi have a tracking adjustment on the non-drive wheel? i have a craftsman that im going to convert now!
once again thanks for giving hope to a broke bastard!:D
 
Ya know what smokes me?

I've been thinking on this for a while too, but I haven't done anything because everything I came up with was 1) a big pain in the butt and 2) completely destructive to what is otherwise a fairly decent woodworking tool.

Your design is such a nice simple, completely workable plan. I'm a putz sometimes. Good show man.

Jon
 
Mike the tracking is on the non drive (top) wheel of the ryobi. You have to get everything adjusted perfectly so it will track well..I held everything together with C-clamps and kept adjusting things untill it worked.
 
Rocketmann,

Thanks for all the information. This is definitely a great idea and I plan to put it to use with my craftsman 4x36.

Thanks again,
Willie
 
Willie, nice web site, I can't belive that you are doing that kind of work with just a 4x36.
 
Rocketmann,

Thanks. Right now I am buying blades and using a 1x42 sander. I got the 4x36 for Xmas to start making my own blades but haven't had the time to tinker with it yet because of some orders I have had to get out. Hopefully next month I can get to it. Just not enough time in the day between my real job, my hobby and my fiancee.

Willie
 
Bump! This is an old, OLD thread, but when I searched google, it came up. However, the pics are long gone. Anyone have any info on this project?
 
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