Dumb platen question

Fletch Helical

Fletch Helical

Joined
Sep 29, 2009
Messages
1,614
So tonight I finally got my 2x42 completely set up. The ceramic glass platen appears to be holding up thus far, I bolted it down and leveled the face and the side of the platen. There is however one thing I noticed since the bottom wheel of the grinder is bigger than the top it's also made so the belt will ride on a bit of an angle going from the top to bottom wheel. So with my platen level I have the belt sitting about 1/16" away from the platen while the bottom part of the platen has the belt sitting 1/4" away from it.

So my question is: Is there any difference when it comes to use if the face of the platen is angled so the belt sits the same distance off of it as opposed to it being perfectly level? Or does it not matter one way or the other?
 
Thats the way I have it. I have the belt gliding evenly on top and the bottom of the platen. I just use a triangle to square up the toolrest to the belt/platen.
 
So by having it kicked on and angle like that, it has no influence on anything that gets done on it? I was trying to think of anything that might cause a problem when grinding on it but I think I'm over thinking it. I was wondering if it would make putting bevels or plunge lines in trickier if it's angled and in theory I don't see how it can, but I wanted to ask. Since I've been racking my brain about it.
 
If you use a bubble jig it may throw off the angles a bit but you could compensate somehow for that. I am not a very mechanically inclined person, I am more now than when I started. The thing is to practice and to fiure outhow much pressure to apply to the grinder. I usually buy some 50, 120, 220, 400, 600 grit belts. The 220 and the 400 grits are the 3m trizac structured belts. They give a clean even machine finish. I then use the 600 grit belt then go to hand sanding. If you have any questions just let me know.
 
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You really wan the belt to ride on the platen. Otherwise, when you grind it will create a convex curve in the steel. I set mine up so the belt hits both the top and bottom of the platen, making the belt as flat as possible. The ceramic will take the heat. After 2 years, the platen shows no wear at all.
Chip Kunkle
 
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