Cheap 2x72 belt grinder WIP

[hummertech]

Not done yet but...

Had the motor and plywood. Shelf brackets, hinges, skateboard wheels cost me about $40. Still gotta make a tool rest and odds and ends but happy so far.

 

[StuNY]

Very interesting approach! How are you going to maintain belt tension? Is the hinge going to handle tracking and tension? Think the shelf brackets may see a little flex and interfere with tracking?
Good luck, like the ingenuity of it all!

 

[Ken H>]

You might could use a hinged plate to mount motor, then a spring to hold tension on belt? Just release spring to change belts, then tension again. Neat thinking.

Ken H>

 

[hummertech]

Motor is mouted on a piece of plywood which is hinged to the rest of the frame. The weight of the motor tensions the belt. The 3rd wheel is mounted on a hinge to handle tracking.

 

[Kevin McGovern]

Is your platen wood? You may want to use a piece of angle.

 

[hummertech]

Is your platen wood? You may want to use a piece of angle.

Yeah, the wooden one was just to test. Steel platen is on the list of things to do. I have a 8" contact wheel to mount still. The flat platen and contact wheel will have the same mounting hole.