Belt sanders - 4" range

K

KC8QVO

Joined
Apr 7, 2011
Messages
162
I've been looking around at some belt sanders. There seems to be a lot of talk about 1x30 machines on here, specifically the Harbor Freight version. I've used much larger sanders in the past. I think the ones we had in school were 6" wide stand-alone units (never sanded steel, just wood on them). The last one I got to see in action with blades was a home-made unit in the 4-6" range. A wider belt seems like the way to go for grinding blades, whereas I don't see the smaller 1" belts dong anything more than sharpening.

Woodcraft has a 4x36 bench top combo belt/disk for $140, Rikon http://www.woodcraft.com/product/2083575/35727/rikon-4-x-36-belt-and-disc-sander-model-50112.aspx. Would this be a decent unit to start with? What about the speed? I don't see any that are variable speed but something tells me that would be ideal. Does anyone have experience with the larger fixed speed belt sanders that they can share? If I made a sander it would probably cost me a lot more than the Rikon to make by the time I was done with the steel for the frame, rollers, motor, pulleys/belt if I did belt drive, etc.
 
4 X 36 sanders are for woodworking. They won't work well on steel for quite a few reasons.
The Craftsman 2X 48 grinder is about the minimum for knife making. A 2 X 72 grinder is preferred.
 
The 1x30 HF unit is good for convex sharpening not knife making. In 1x30 and 1x42 you can get a wide array of belts and strops. I used to used the HF unit and it was ok for a starter unit. Results were acceptable and I learned a lot. I now use a 1x42 kalamazoo belt grinder and I love it. For around $80 all in for the HF unit and belts you can go wrong.
 
I'd go to the knifemaker forum and ask them what beginer grinder they would suggest. I've made a few knives on the 1.30 HF grinder but that was just for myself. I have now a 1x42 Viel and it is by far a better grinder. To start making knives your going to want a wide range of belts made for removing steel. Yes there is a difference in belts for wood and steel.
 
Maybe its a 2 X 48. That's not it, but it would probably work. I use a Hardcore 2 X 72 and a Grizzly 2 X 72.
 
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