Belt Sander

S

swilliamf

Joined
Sep 9, 2008
Messages
248
Lets say I have around $200 to spend on a belt sander (this is a little movable). I want one that will be good for someone to make knives as a hobby. As i have no experience w/ belt sanders what would you recommend?
 
Harbor Freight has an 1 x 30 belt sander and 5'' disk sander combo for less that 80.00. Delta has the one like it for around 120.00. I have made a many of knife on mine.
 
gazz98 said:
Did a search on "belt sander" for ya.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/search.php?searchid=4097106

Looks like the Grizz, Cootes, and KMG are out of your price range.

http://www.knifekits.com/vcom/product_info.php?cPath=49_115_207&products_id=309&osCsid=e0c873b02b7178dc522bd91dc9565c3c

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00921513000P?sid=BVReview

Check out Delta belt sanders and I've seen people take about Harbor Freight's website for buying toys.
Good luck.
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thanks. :thumbup:
 
With a little more you can build a 2x72 KMG style yourself if you have a little DIY experience. Just grab No weld grinder plans from USAKnifemaker.com. You may spend 400 or more but it is possible to buy most of the parts first and start to build, then when you have a little more money buy the remaining parts... I wouldn't buy a cheap small grinder, it would discourage you as a beginner...
 
Not to mention the 72" belts are so much more common and less expensive, last longer, etc. What you would save on belts would recover the slightly higher cost of building the better grinder.
 
If you have the ability and patience to buy parts one at a time you can build a 2x72 grinder. I have been using a 4x36 sander to make my knives from the start, just got my 2x72 built, and now I wonder how I got along without it. It took me 7 months to get the parts for it, and it was well worth it. My current project involves 5/16 stock and my grinder removes metal a lot faster than the 4x36, and belts last longer. The folks that have built a NWG have had no complaints.

2hp 3 phase 3600rpm motor $120
2hp TECO VFD motor control $140
Steel for assembly free to $100
Sunray 6" drive wheel w keyway and setscrew $64.56 before shipping.
Idler wheels from beaumontmetalworks or ask somebody in here if they could turn em for you for a price.

Just as an example check out this site for belts. Look at the extensive selection for 2x72 compared to any of the other sizes.
http://www.trugrit.com/belts4.htm
 
I've been using a homemade 2x60 belt sander with a 6" wheel. The motor is from an old washing machine, IIRC, and is set up with a dead-man foot switch. I've made almost a dozen knives on it so far. My problem is I have to stop getting attached to the knived I make and sell a few.
 
Take a look at the Craftsman 2x42 also. It's crazy fast, so you'll need to go easy and finish by hand with a file, but it gets the job done.
 
okzj said:
Take a look at the Craftsman 2x42 also. It's crazy fast, so you'll need to go easy and finish by hand with a file, but it gets the job done.
Click to expand...

I just got one but it's still in the box... is there any way to slow it down without damaging the motor? I know ZERO about electric motors and stuff :(


Rupestris said:
I'm not a steel snob as much as a steel slut.
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James_Terrio said:
I just got one but it's still in the box... is there any way to slow it down without damaging the motor? I know ZERO about electric motors and stuff :(
Click to expand...

None. Zero.

Grind horizontal with it, standing in front of the tensioner wheel. Use your dominant hand to move the knife, support and pressure with nondominant hand. That's about the only way I have been able to get a good grind with it. For me, if you don't do it this way, it is so fast you really bugger up your grind lines when trying to make adjustments with your nondominant hand. I think with a slower grinder it would be a lot easier. Especially with higher grits.

Grinding tips with it SUCKS HARD. I ruin as many as I get right.

The platen sucks. Get a piece of 1080 or something similar and JB Weld it to the platen.
 
for 130 bucks the sears 2 x42 with the 6 inch disc is the best bang for the money i bought a 1x20 it works but i go through belts like ass wipe.I am looking at bigger and better toys already. gorrila makes a 2 x72 for 400bucks im looking at one landed in canada for 600 canadian not bad as the motor alone here for 1hp is 200 bucks
2hp 3phase is 400 bucks here.
 
Not much middle ground on that 2x42, is there, boys :D Well, mine's paid for, so I'm gonna beat my head against it till one of 'em wears out.

I could swing a Grizzly if I really wanted to, but it just seems like another stop-over on the way to the real deal...
 
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