Belt sanding (finally!)

namaarie

namaarie

Joined
Aug 23, 2004
Messages
1,499
Well, I finally got my belt sander. Nothing elaborate. Just a cheap harbor freight 1x30". I then got the belts recommended in Dan's website.

I just want to say thank you to all of you who turned me onto this method of sharpening. I'm simply stunned. Knives that I've never gotten really sharp before are now convexed razors! :eek: My Khuk, which wasn't very factory sharp, is now just scary! I'm absolutely thrilled. :D

Thanks for all the great advice. This place rocks!

Nam
 
There really is nothing that compares is there? And it's so handy for other things like lawnmower blades, shaping wood, etc. Congrats!

Yep, making a knife is the next step. How about a little blade made from a file? After shaping, you can temper it in the oven so it won't be too hard and brittle, and glue a little wooden handle on it. Maybe a replacement karda?

Enjoy,

Steve
 
Sounds good to me. I've always wanted to make knives. Maybe if I have time (and money) I'll make myself a little forge and try to find some truck springs. Maybe...


Nam
 
1" belts are the best for sharpening they let you get to places that a larger belt just won't, congrats on you purchase :D :eek: :D
 
Congrats, nam!

Sometimes I wonder how I ever managed without my lil' belt sander. I use it on a daily basis now.
 
Are we talking about something like this Here

Also, might sound stupid, but which way is the belt running? I'm thinking it would be safer and easier (to sharpen blades) if it was running up and away from the base.

thanks
b
 
Bamboo said:
Are we talking about something like this Here

Also, might sound stupid, but which way is the belt running? I'm thinking it would be safer and easier (to sharpen blades) if it was running up and away from the base.

thanks
b
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Bamboo, that is EXACTLY what is sitting in my basement right now. Cheap, and works just fine. I have a combat knife I've never gotten terribly sharp, but after this, I literally shaved with it last night. :D (OK, only one cheek, but still!)

Unfortunately, the belt moves from top to base. I wish this were not the case, but it is. As far as I know, there's no way to change it. Also, I had to remove the plastic spark guard for some pieces to get sharpened correctly.

But $30 for a ton of RAZOR sharp knives with convex edges?!? Who can complain about that?

Nam
 
Top to bottom *only* for me...

If anything ever *were* to snag, I want it flying down toward my toes (I have 10 of them), NOT toward my face, eyes, throat, etc.

Trust me...unless you have a *very* specialized need (and the matching skills)...down and way is the choice to make!

.
 
Thanks guys. It does seem like a great investment for $30, and I'm sure it is the kind of thing you get good at regardless of which way it spins.
 
cognitivefun said:
where do you find instructions? I haven't unpacked mine yet. And are you using a respirator?
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Sorry I didn't see this. I used it a bunch today, including reshaping the handle of my 18" WWII. Boy, do I wish I had a respirator or partical mask or something. I'm blowing wood, steel, and brass dust out my nose now. This is largely because I removed the spark guard for better sharpening. I'd definately recommend one. Instructions should be in the box. Not too elaborate, though. I'd personally recommend (for sharpening) that one ditch the sanding table that you have to put on. This is really one of the only assemblies required.

Hope this helps.

Nam
 
cliff355 said:
I got something similar made by Sears and the belt moves the same way. That works o.k., but I noticed some sanders have a feature where the belt can be run horizontally. This one doesn't have that feature, so I rigged it up to a mount and clamped it horizontally on the bench. At this point I discovered that the crafty folks at Sears put in a feature which shuts the machine off if it is tipped over sideways, so that mount was a big waste of time.

The second this thing burns out I will be off to get a sander with an adjustable-angle belt - but it shows no sign of giving up the ghost.
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If its from Sears, you can be sure that it will die shortly after the warranty is expired :mad:
 
From the photo, it looks like you can remove the table for slack-belt grinding, like you're talking about. I have been wondering if a router-type speed control would work on this motor without loosing torque. That, in my opinion, would make this into a really useful machine.HF tech folks would know.
For safety sake, the belt should run downward, as Nasty points out, and the blade should always be worked edge down. Grinding edge-up, I once caught the edge of an almost finished blade on the belt and it flung the blade down and it cut me bad enough for an ER trip. I heard the blade hit the floor, and when I looked down, I remember thinking, "... what the hell is all that red stuff doing on the floor." :eek:
Also keep in mind that sanding dust from some wood and horn can be irritating. Some tropical woods (rosewood, for one) can be toxic. Also, I have a previous post about the fire danger of using the same dust collection system for wood and steel.
Good luck with the new machine :D
 
I worked in a woodshop for a couple of years, and we had an old industrial Sears Craftsman belt sander, made before mankind was walking upright.

Anyway, the thing was perpetually about to die, but just never did .... We had a box of scrap parts lying around that occassional would get swapped out. I remember looking at it one day, and asking it, "why won't you die?" Then we could get a new shiny one! But it just kept on being a belt sander, could have cared less about me.

Now that I don't have access to it anymore, I miss it. Very useful tool. And whomever paid the nickel for it back in 1017 BC certainly got a return on their investment. :D
 
namaarie said:
...I'm blowing wood, steel, and brass dust out my nose now.
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Although glittery mucous is fun and entertaining for your family and friends, it's probably not very healthy.
:(
 
namaarie said:
I'm blowing wood, steel, and brass dust out my nose now.

Methinks that you could make miniature kuks out of your new found bio-laha. Nose-dough biltongs per se. :D :barf:

When I smithed I was a fool and did not where a respirator. I would get sore throats from the sulphuric acid that the green coal spews before it cokes, and neverendingblackboogers. Please, protect yourselves!
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Glad it's working out like it's supposed to, Nam.

This is a great thread. "bio-laha" - hee, hee.

OK, what would be the advantage of a 1x42 belt sander instead? When I buy one, I want a good one... Delta vs. Harbor Freight? I've already got more than $30 in diamond hones & other gadgets.

When I get one, I might mount it on a rollable bench and grind outside.

I hate metal dust & splinters. :mad:


Ad Astra :footinmou
 
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