Couple questions on grinders

A

Any Cal.

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Hi all. I am wanting to start using a grinder to make knives. I have only made a couple, so know next to nothing about some of the tools.
I just bought a nice old 4x36 belt/disk sander w/ a 1/2hp motor. My question is if I can grind bevels w/ this configured as is. If I cannot, where will the problems crop up and what will it prevent me from doing?
Because of the design, it would be very easy to convert to a 72" belt. It could also be made into a 48" or so. Is one size more desireable than the others, and for what reasons.
Because I have never used a grinder like this, I also wonder about the kind of time that it will take to grind bevels. With proper belts, can I hog off material, or is it like trying to use a small chainsaw to cut down a big tree?
Will a narrower belt allow the motor to run at higher RPM due to reduced cutting area and friction?
I am sorry for all the questions, but I appreciate any input.:) Thanks in advance for all your time and trouble.
 
i myself use a 2x42 craftsman and i can make bevels on it easily. thats all i can say about them because im not the expert here. ill let the other guys here answer those questions.
 
The longer belts will last longer , but you can definitely use it as is with some mods. you will have to get something as wide as your belt to attatch to the platen so that you can make your plunge cuts. I would try a 4 inch wide piece of steel maybe 1/4 inch thick attached to the platen. that's what i did my first 6 months or so. but you need good belts. they last a lot longer and can be found cheap at jantz supply.
 
I used a 4x36 for a while. It worked fine, but not great. Mine was only 1/3hp though. The disc sander is great for profiling if you dont have a bandsaw. You should be able to take a decent amount of material off. You are limited with the 1/2hp though.

Alex
 
You can certainly start with this unit. You will soon find that 1/2HP is not much when you try hogging off steel. 1HP is really the minimum and 1.5 or 2 is better. As far as adapting and modifying this unit, I wouldn't do much. Get started making knives with the necessary mods ,such as a platten.Get a coffee can, and start saving for a 2X72 grinder like a KMG, Bader, or other dedicated knife grinder. The price you pay is reflected in the quality, rigidity, and durability of the unit. You will burn out a lot of cheaper units before you even start to put any wear on a KMG. You can buy cheaper (and lower quality) units, but you probably can't buy a better machine. Another thing to consider in picking a unit is the accessories and adapters available.Kmg and Bader have many different arms, wheels, jigs, etc.....even tilting bases to allow edge grinding.
Stacy
 
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