Well folks, i just finished building a 2 x 72 grinder, and what a leaning experience that was. I had no stock of scavanged parts other than scrap angle iron and 2x2 tubing for structure, so i had to buy parts. I used a 2 HP harbor freight 10" bench grinder for the power source; made a laminated wood 10" wheel to fit that as the drive wheel; used flange mount porous bronze bearings in a pivoted rear stanchion with one bearing sliding on a fine thread screw for tracking. I a made a major blunder in not thinking far enough ahead, and ended up having to buy a contact whell, so that just about doubled the cost. The arbor on the grinder was 20MM and the bearings and arbor stock(drill rod)for the rear was 1/2". If I had bought 20MM bearings and arbor i could have turned the rear wheel in place on the grinder to true it up.As it was I tried and tried to drive the rear glued up wheel with belts, etc on the rear arbor to true it up. Finally gave it up after many wasted hours and ordered a contact wheel with a 1/2'arbor bore from Texas knifemakers Supply. Total was still aprox $300.00 Does it work? Yes. Tracking is wacky, but it is definitly usable and i have ground three blades on it in a fraction of the time i had been spending wielding files. This set up is horizontal and I have been working on the rear wheel with the belt running away from me. Since i had planned to use a 10" wheel on the rear(idler) as well a front(driver) the stanchion/bearing tower gets in the way as the contact wheel i bought is smaller. I believe that it is workable to build your own 2 x 72 IF you have the necessary tooling, and hopefully a welder and a band saw. all I had was a hacksaw, cold chisel and small bench drill press. Lots of 3/8 x 24 cap screws involved! I am not sure I would do it again Happy grinder building!
