Recommendation? Belt sander build

[Matt_50]

Thanks for letting me join. I currently have a 4 inch Harbor Freight belt sander with the side disc sander. It works but its not ideal.

I've been looking up 2x72 setups and I want to make one. I'm trying to put together my list of parts.

I have an old table saw in storage I was thinking of stealing the motor out of. Do you guys have a recommendation on the wheel size I should put on it? I think I want to have variable speed too.

Is there anything I should do or not do that you all have learned from your setups?

Thank you,

Matt

 

[Randydb]

I made this one. List of parts and all is there. I was a bit under $600usd and that included having a vfd.
http://dcknives.blogspot.com/p/2-x-72-belt-grinder.html

 

[Matt_50]

I was on that website earlier. Lots of good information.

 

[scherf68]

I built the one listed as well, works perfect after shimming certain areas like directions state.

 

[Britt_Askew]

I think I want to have variable speed too.

If you want variable speed you will need a 3 phase motor and use a vfd. A TEFC 3 phase motor would be best.

 

[Hubert S.]

If you're open to getting a 3-phase motor and a VFD, consider the grinder plans by @bjansen available in this thread. They are well thought out and the grinder can be built with fairly minimal tools.

 

[Randydb]

I built the one listed as well, works perfect after shimming certain areas like directions state.

+1 Mine took a bit of shimming/adjusting to get it running straight because there is play in the insert that the tracking wheel is mounted on. Once I got that shimmed up and not able to move it has worked great.

I plan to build the one that Hubert S. gave you a link for next.

I would strongly suggest going variable speed. It great to be able adjust speed in seconds. I watched Craigs for a while and got a 3phase motor for under $100. I bought a second hand vfd for about the same amount. There are lots of Chinese VFD's on Ebay for about $100that guys are using and they work well. You just have to build an enclosure for them because they are sealed.