Dream contact wheel

JTknives

JTknives

Joined
Jun 11, 2006
Messages
8,651
if you could have any size contact wheel made for you what size would you want. I all redy have a 2" and a 8" wheel. Im thinking some thing around 20"-22" so i can get a almost flat hallow grind.
 
A friend of mine in Anchorage had a Burr Buster grinder with an 18" wheel, talk about shallow hollow grinds. My 14" wheel on my Bader does a good job for grinding shallow HG's.
 
I'd have to go with a 6" wheel.i really need to get one.i mainly use my 2" and 8" wheels for bevel's,but i'm thinking a 6" would suit me even better!
 
I don't have a photo handy of them in use, But in the old days the knife grinders at Sheffield (and other places) lay down on a padded bench and ground on wheels from 48" to 72". The wheels were water driven ( usually), and had a constant water stream on them,too. As many as twenty grinders laid down in a row on the production line.

If I could have ANY wheel, it would be a 72". That would make the belt somewhere around 300".
Stacy
 
Funny that you mention that Stacy, I was talking with a fellow that in his best attempt to re-create the same grinds used by the cutler's guild in Sheffield england had a machine shop machine him a platen with a 72" diameter curve which he then mounted instead of his flat platen so that the belt was pulled tight around the curve. I guess that would be one way to do it without having a 6 foot diameter wheel to lay into.
 
I have to say I would like a wheel that would fit a 72 inch belt, with just enough slack to go around a drive wheel and a tension wheel, but be as big as possible. Or a selection of 6 foot diameter stone wheels in 60 80 120 220 400 600 800 1200 2000 4000 8000 10000, that would just about do it :D .
 
I looked into an 18" Wheel from CRC a couple years back.....$1000!
There is a well known maker from AL named Alex Daniels (fine gent!) who makes accurate repros of historic Bowies. He has used radiused platens for years to reproduce the Sheffield wheels, and I believe turned Bruce Evans on to them.
If anyone remembers, there was a segment on the documentary, "Knives, Axes and Swords" that showed the sit-down belt grinders used for Victorinox Swiss-Army knives. They had a wheel diameter that looked at least 36". That would be a very cool machine to have. I've never found out what it is.
 
Sam Salvati said:
I have to say I would like a wheel that would fit a 72 inch belt, with just enough slack to go around a drive wheel and a tension wheel, but be as big as possible. Or a selection of 6 foot diameter stone wheels in 60 80 120 220 400 600 800 1200 2000 4000 8000 10000, that would just about do it :D .
Click to expand...

you could do a 20" wheel and stick it on the motors shaft. then all you would need is a tracking/tension wheel. then use a vfd to control speed. full speed on a 1750 rpm motor with a 20" would be 9159 SFPM :D .
 
Justin.Mercier said:
Funny that you mention that Stacy, I was talking with a fellow that in his best attempt to re-create the same grinds used by the cutler's guild in Sheffield england had a machine shop machine him a platen with a 72" diameter curve which he then mounted instead of his flat platen so that the belt was pulled tight around the curve. I guess that would be one way to do it without having a 6 foot diameter wheel to lay into.
Click to expand...

Actually, I made a platen like you describe though I haven't used it yet. The face is a 2.5' radius, which would make it a 60" wheel. I just need to find the angle iron to mount it to my tool arm. Mine is built up of Micarta and faced with a sheet of stainless steel. I've no idea if it will work. My intent is to use it for a couple of traditional bowies with a very shallow and tall hollow grind. I can get a pic if anyone's interested.

Other than that I like the idea of a 20" wheel, and JT if you make one consider making two! ;) I don't know the largest wheel a BIII will take, anyone else know?
 
I've worked on a big wheel grinder design a couple times. But, there were several logistical issues. Mainly, shipping and storing a machine with a 48" dia wheel. The other problem is making sure the big wheel runs true. The diameter would be easy...but the side to side wobble would be a nightmare. I have fits with little 14" wheels by comparison.

On the other hand, it would be a very simply machine...just a big wheel and a tracking/tension wheel.
 
aktoklat said:
A friend of mine in Anchorage had a Burr Buster grinder with an 18" wheel, talk about shallow hollow grinds. My 14" wheel on my Bader does a good job for grinding shallow HG's.
Click to expand...

That's what I use on my Bader 3. The 8, 10, and 14. Works great. ----------:thumbup:
 
Justin.Mercier said:
Funny that you mention that Stacy, I was talking with a fellow that in his best attempt to re-create the same grinds used by the cutler's guild in Sheffield england had a machine shop machine him a platen with a 72" diameter curve which he then mounted instead of his flat platen so that the belt was pulled tight around the curve. I guess that would be one way to do it without having a 6 foot diameter wheel to lay into.
Click to expand...

Justin, I have platen material bent to a 72" curve made by Gary (Wolf). If you want piece let me know.:D
 
JTknives said:
you could do a 20" wheel and stick it on the motors shaft. then all you would need is a tracking/tension wheel. then use a vfd to control speed. full speed on a 1750 rpm motor with a 20" would be 9159 SFPM :D .
Click to expand...



took the Grohmann factory tour and i saw they had many stations with bigwheel belt grinders... they looked like 24" or more...

their set up was simple... motor to jackshaft with pillow blocks ....going to the big wheel...... mounted on a steel stand... .... then the grinding belt went accross the room to a seperate backstand idler wheel/ tensioner ...that was bolted to the ground.....
the idler looked somethin like this
http://www.truex-inc.com/410.htm

simple set up but where to get those large wheels...? or even the 20 foot long 2 inch grinding belts...


Greg
 
i'm going to be making some 72" platens at work if any on has a need for one. thay will be made from 3/4" thick A2 and will have 2 taped blind bolt holes on the back so it can be mounted. it will onley have a 180 thou drop on each side relative to the 36" radius i will be milling on its face. thay will be heat treated to about as hard as i can get it to prevent whear.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top