Different belt grinder attachments

Britt_Askew

Britt_Askew

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Dec 9, 2010
Messages
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Looking at one awesome picture after another has got me dreaming about knives the way I dreamed about girls many many years ago. I have subscribed to Blade magazine and am going to the next NC guild meeting in a few weeks. I am really turned on by the forge and damascus and have started gathering things to build a forge and power hammer of my own. But I guess one of the first things I need to set up is a good belt grinder,I plan on building my own.
I have seen a time or two here somebody selling a grinder attachment here they say has just sit on the shelf and was never used much and was wondering what attachments you use most and which just sit and gather dust.

Meaning do you use your platen attachment for 60% and slack belt 20% and 8" contact wheel 10% of the time. Or are you happy with just a big contact wheel. Or just a platen. Is a small wheel your favorite ? Vertical and/or horizontal ?
I plan on building it using a 2 or 3 hp variable speed. Any advise is appreciated.
 
If you are going to do any flat grinds a flat platen is very useful. Wheel size depends on the size blades you want to make. The larger the blade the bigger the wheel. If I was to start over I would get a flat platen, 10" or larger wheel, then a small wheel with a couple sizes. Use a rubber idler wheel on the bottom of the platen so you have a 2" (or so) wheel also.

Wayne
 
Thanks Wayne.

I just had to buy a piece of graphite for my belt sander platen to sand stabilized scales. I messed a handful of spalted maple scales up a couple weeks ago because I wont expecting heat to be a problem. What is the best thing to use for a platen when sanding metal? I think I saw ceramic tile mentioned ?? If its ceramic tile is that the same tile you put in bathrooms?
 
Spalted said:
Thanks Wayne.

I just had to buy a piece of graphite for my belt sander platen to sand stabilized scales. I messed a handful of spalted maple scales up a couple weeks ago because I wont expecting heat to be a problem.

What is the best thing to use for a platen when sanding metal?
I think I saw ceramic tile mentioned ??
If its ceramic tile is that the same tile you put in bathrooms?
Click to expand...


http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/787233-Why-a-glass-platen/page1
 
FWIW, I build my own version of the "KMG flat plated" so that the flat platen can be easily removed for a slack belt. Work really well, and I can angle it 45 degrees in either direction if need be.

I've seen a lot of guys use or make rotation platens as well, which gives you 4 quick options if it's designed/built well: 8'' contact wheel, flat platen, slack belt, and smaller contact wheel.

Also, if you're going to build your own grinder, check out the NWGS designed by tracy mickley. (www.usaknifemaker.com)

I built one, and I love it. You can also get ceramic glass to line your platen with from the same website, as well as a multitude of other grinder parts.

Good luck!
 
I kept seeing people talking to Count but didnt see "Count" in anybodys signature. I finally caught on :rolleyes: lol Thanks for the link , also thanks for that big list of links for a beginner that you post in other threads they have been a big help to me.
 
I use different wheel attachments and don't use the flat platen much. I use the 8 and 10 inch wheels for profiling and hollow grinding. The small wheels like the 1/2 inch are nice for tight spots and finger grips. You will need a variable speed motor to utilize the small wheel attachments or the bearings in those small wheels will not last.
 
Even if you really favor convex/slack belt grinds like I do, you're going to need a flat platen regardless. Take it from someone who hasn't bothered putting a flat platen on his grinder, you're going to find a million occasions a day, even if you're not flat grinding bevels, where you need a flat surface to grind against.

It's a necessary tool. Something like the multi-platen setup of the GIB is good if you want alot of options in one tooling arm.


What part of NC you in?
 
Thanks for the input everybody. There was a listing on craigslist the other day where the guy had 6500 invested in his KMG he was trying to sell , had most every size option available but said "like new and not used very much" and that got me to wondering about this. Note this is in no way a jab at him- I cant afford that and if he can he is the one doing the right things. I just dont want to waste what little money I have :)

javand I am in Oxford which is kinda north of Raleigh near the VA state line.
 
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