Disc sander VS horizontal belt sanding question

L

LCoop

Joined
May 5, 2007
Messages
589
I've searched a good great bit here and only come up with very old threads that don't really answer my question. Lets say I have a great 2 by 72 VS belt grinder. Based on your recent views after years of using, which would you prefer as the most useful. Being able to tilt your belt sander horizontal or a spend money towards a VS disc sander. I know IT would be great if I had the money to do both but more concerned which you think would be most beneficial IF you could do only one or the other? For back ground I'm only a hobbyist that only makes non folding knives for NOW! Thanks for any opinions
 
Good question. I'm in the same boat. I don't have the horizontal flip option, but wonder just how useful it would be. I guess if I wanted to have the spine perfectly perpendicular to the blade, it would be nice, but I can eyeball that so close that it's not a problem. Now, on the other hand, I think having a disk would be really useful in getting flats flat and being able to do it with a sheet of paper which is much cheaper than a belt. I think it would really reduce the amount of hand sanding I have to do. I look forward to what others with more experience have to say.
 
I use my disc every day. I have a second grinder that tilts horizontal "that I just had to have" and now I sometimes don't want to tilt it and put on the tool arm to do the edge on a blade. It is easier to grab the small wheel arm on which I keep a 2 inch small wheel and eyeball the edge cleanup on my main grinder. My opinion is you definitely want a variable speed disc grinder with a reverse switch...and then save your pennies for a tilting work rest like the Beaumont Metal work rest and then you can make the spine of blades perpendicular and smooth and do the finger hole and underside with small wheels holding your blade vertical. The tilting grinder is a luxury and very useful but I would have the other tools first. Just my opinion again. Larry
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A horizontal isn't useful JUST for making grind lines parallel with the spine. It's also useful for contouring, swedges, profiling, etc...

I typically like to finish the final profiles on a horizontal, as I know they steel will be square, and instead of a bunch of "micro facets" from the flat of my platen, I get a smoother curve, more consistent finger notches, etc....

That all said, I would enjoy a dedicated disc sander too, but for now I feel that I can get by without one, and get as much (or more) use out of a tilting grinder.
 
All great responses. I know I can use the VS drive from my new to me 2" by. I just wonder if I'm better ahead to use the money to drive a disk sander or spend the money to flip my yet to be VS belt grinder to horizontal.
 
I can't say enough HOW much I've learned here reading through the archives. I know that the folks that "know" the most don't post enough because the folks that know the least keep posting. I know just enough to read thru the lines to determine who I need to listen to. I've learned almost every thing I've learned about knife building here and I can't say thank you enough to the folks who have taken the time to respond to stupid AND irrelevant questions. With that SAID I appreciate the respond's so far as it's coming from people I trust! Keep it coming! Thanks!
 
A horizontal belt grinder is very handy. That being said and I have numerous vertical belt, horizontal belt, and VS disc
grinders, I would hands down take a VS reversing disc before the horizontal grinder. If I count the amount of times during
a day I flip the switchs on either there would be no comparison.
Ken.
 
I haven't built a horizontal grinder yet, but I don't know how I ever did without my VS reversible disk.
 
I am like Ken, the disc get used much more that the horizontal grinder, variable speed and reversible.
 
Ok I'm sold my next investment will be in a VS disc sander. Remember I'm a newbie here, my plan is to clean up flat grinds. WHY is reversible so recommended? Is the consensus for a 1 or 2 degree angle disc, is one better to easily change grits? Lots more questions I'd like to use the knowledge of the folks here to help me bypass the normal learning expensive phase of spending money on TUTION with books that I never use! lol
 
Building a tilt table for your 2x72 is much cheaper than buying a new vs disc sander. I've built 2 of them for my KMG (thread on it) and it cost under $80. Before I got my surface Grinder I just tilted my grinder and used masking tape as handles to get my parts flat (not ideal but works).

I have a cheap disc sander and it's just not for me. I'm not ragging on it as a lot of makers love it, it just doesn't work for me. I hate taking off the sand paper and it seems to wear really fast vs my belts.

If I had a choice I would get a surface grinder before a disc sander.
 
LCoop said:
Ok I'm sold my next investment will be in a VS disc sander. Remember I'm a newbie here, my plan is to clean up flat grinds. WHY is reversible so recommended? Is the consensus for a 1 or 2 degree angle disc, is one better to easily change grits? Lots more questions I'd like to use the knowledge of the folks here to help me bypass the normal learning expensive phase of spending money on TUTION with books that I never use! lol
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The reverse means you can work the blade edge first on both sides.

A 1 degree is enough to angle the blade up for just half or the disc.

I still true up scales on it as well.

All discs are a pain to change grits, no way around it. ;)
 
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