Belt Sander & grinder?

Nuke_Spook

Nuke_Spook

Joined
Oct 23, 2003
Messages
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I am starting to look at some basic tools for knife tinkering. As far as belt sanders go is a 1" bench sander the best bet for shaping knife handles and polishing? Any good not overly expensive models I should consider? Next on my list is a grinder. Any suggestions or information on either is appreciated.

Thanks,
 
Harbor Freight has an inexpensive 1X30 Belt sander and BF member richard j offers a great set of sharpening wheels for a grinder.

Practice on cheapies first!
 
i strongly recommend the harbor frieght 1x30 (with belts from leevalley:
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=48040&cat=1,43072)

my grinder came with the platen holes drilled a little crooked, but a few minutes with some good modding gear will fix that...i have just been using with with the platen crooked.

and get some good belts...because a grinder is a bit like archery...the best bow in the world is useless without any arrows.
 
The little 1 X 30 belt sanders are fine for sharpening, but for handle and blade work I recommend the Grizzly 2 X 72 knifemaker's grinder.
Bill
 
The only sander I could find at Lee Valley came without a motor. Is that the one you are refering to? I did find a 1" belt with a 5" disk sander at Harbor Freight that looked interesting. Is Central Machines a decent brand? From your response I take it that a 1" belt is what I should be looking at, correct?

Thanks,
 
I got the HF 1" belt + disk sander combo. It works fine for hobby knifemaking.

Definitely need to get the right sanding belts from Lee Valley.
 
Nuke_Spook said:
The only sander I could find at Lee Valley came without a motor. Is that the one you are refering to? I did find a 1" belt with a 5" disk sander at Harbor Freight that looked interesting. Is Central Machines a decent brand? From your response I take it that a 1" belt is what I should be looking at, correct?

Thanks,
Click to expand...
Get the grinder from Harbor Freight (everything they sell is generic Chinese manufacture, so ignore whatever the label is, they all come out of the same factory(s)), and the belts from Lee Valley.
 
Don't mean to hijack the thread, but is there any way to regulate the speed on the HF belt sander??
 
Not unless you're really lucky and your 91 year old Dad is a retired EE. I have a box on my bench he built years ago that will let me drive single phase motors to speeds that will measure in RPH (revolutions per hour) without damaging the device's motor. I can get any rotational single phase motor to turn as slow as one rpm. But I really don't see how this would help. If you're worried about heat, keep a bucket of water close by, and don't let the steel become warm to the touch.
 
Unfortunately, I don't believe so. However, when it comes to grinders and other Serious Equipment (although the HF grinder barely falls under the latter category), I always defer and suggest that the person go ask in the Knifemaker's Forum, as they've tried just about every trick in the book (after having written a good bit of it, too.)

EDIT: or what SPX said, which amounts to about the same thing, it seems.
 
You could try this, but I would test it out on a garage-sale grinder first, just to see if it will burn the motor up.

I'd also test it outside using a heavy extension cord...that way, if it flames, you won't burn down the house and you don't have to get near it to unplug it!
 
SPX --

Thanks for the advice and the link. I like the long extension cord idea. Flames and electical appliances usually spell trouble.

I'll read up on the variable speed control.
 
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