Belt Sanders AND Bronze Blades

F

frank22

Joined
Jan 20, 2001
Messages
17
Two quick questions while I'm here goofing off at work.

Belt Sanders
I have made knives with the help of hand files and an upside down Ryobi clamped to my work bench. Not fabulous knives, but good enough to whet my appetite to do better work.
I'm ready to buy better tools but I'm not ready to pay $1000+ for a belt sander (heck $1000 is what I usually pay for the cars I drive!). I'm very happy with the little Harbor Freight band saw I've been using so has anyone had experience with any of the belt sanders they offer? Are there things I want/don't want in a belt sander?

Bronze Blades
Atlanta Cutlery used to sell bronze blade pocket knives years ago. I bought some for Christmas gifts but never kept one for myself. Now that can manage to make sort of half decent knives I'd like to make a Bronze
Age knife or dagger. Any suggestions on for
a project like this. It comes to mind that
bronze dust is potentially toxic. Yes? No?
 
I can only speak from what I've found works for me...but you can do very good work on a 4 X 36 inch belt sander. I've used one for years and just now have decided to build a real grinder. Harbor freight tools are OK but don't expect professional quality.
 
Beings as you're just getting started, there's no reason to shove a variable speed 2X72 down your throat (otherwise that's the best option) so...

Harbor Freight is a weird deal. Some of their tools just flat suck, and some are great. I bought a pair of 6" dial calipers for $15, and they read the same as my Starrett does.

I have a 6X48 Central Machinery (HF's key name) and it works pretty well. It was pretty expensive though. It was a gift, I wouldn't have bought it on my own.

I have seen their cheaper 6X48 and for $200 it would really help you out in making knives.

BUT, I would recommend you look into names like Coote, Speed-Cut, Kalamazoo, etc. before you buy anything...just to get a better feel at what's available.

Nick
 
all you need is a 1/2 or 3/4 horse motor that spins 3400 or so and a disc i think you can probably buy at knive supply shops and you`r on your way...i used to use a 6" disc now i grind all my blades on a 8" that set up might cost 75 to 100 canadian!

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i keep grinding and grinding and it is still too short!!
 
Delta makes a nice 4x36 belt sander with a 6" disc mounted on the side. Comes with a tilting worktable that can be mounted next to the disc or next to the belt when its in the vertical position. belt also works horizontally. 1/3 horsepower. I have one and like it pretty well. The belt speed is just right at 2200 sfpm. The only place it gives me any trouble is on plunges and a little adjusting and practicing wil fix that.I got mine at LOWES for about $100

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I may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer... but I've got the sharpest knife in the room.
 
As George said, be careful with bronze, but be sure that you're using bronze and not brass. Where bronze is an irritant, brass is outright toxic. Also, bronze-age mixes of bronze had much more copper than most that we have today, so if you get a period mix, be sure to do most of your work with files, as it will load up belts pretty quick.
I have a Craftsman 4x36 with a 6" disk, and I started with it. I still use the disk all the time. I use my Grizzly more, now that I have it. You'll hear a lot of complaints about Grizzly, but they're cheap ($295US), and mine works well, and even comes with the integrated buffing attachment. I was using a hand drill to do all my buffing before. The downside? Their QC stinks, and expect it to take at least 3 months to get to you. And buy your belts from someone else, theirs are expensive and very low quality.

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Oz

"Sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken!"
http://www.freespeech.org/oz/
 
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