• Happy Thanksgiving to all of you! I hope that you all have something to be grateful for this year and for many years to come

  • The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is available! Price is $250 ea (shipped within CONUS).
    Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/

  • America has reached 250 years, and I am grateful to be here, in the best country in the world. Thank every one of you who helps make this country a better place, those who have gone before and risked it all, and those who've paid the ultimate price to make the United States what we are today.

    Happy Birthday America! Let Freedom Ring for all time!

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.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top