Belt Grinders-More Questions

[frank22]

After reading some of the postings I understand that variable speed is a good thing and that Central Machinery stuff is sometimes good and sometimes not so.
How about the following: Is there an advantage to a wide belt (like 4-6 inches)
over a narrower one? How about the length of the belt? Are there other things I want to
look for? Has anyone published plans for a
home made unit?
Thanks!

 

[Matt Shade]

The longer the belt the longer they last. They don't get as hot for on thing and there's more grinding surface on the belt.
Wide belts like a 4x36 or a 6x48 will work for flat grinding profiles that are straight or that curve out ( like a trailing point). They won't work for tight curves very well though. Inside curves like a hawkbill cant be done on them at all, unless its going to be about 4 feet long

Wide belts are probably easier to learn on because you can grind more of the blade with every pass. Your more likely to keep the depth of the grind even with 4" or 6" of the blade in contact with the belt.
Try a search of this forum or its archives on homemade grinders or just grinders in general. There have been several posts that would be helpful to you. Soem had plans posted in them also. One of our members recently started building grinders after getting some input from everyone here. He made a great looking machine and was asking a reasonable price. I can't think of who it was though

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I may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer... but I've got the sharpest knife in the room.

 

[Michael Bennett]

Try searching for the "aardvark grinder." Also, Popular Mechanics Encyclopedia series from the 1950s or 1960s has plans for a 2x42" or 2x48"

Mike