easy mod on the craftsman 2x42?

ScottRoush

ScottRoush

Joined
Jan 10, 2010
Messages
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First.... I AM going to upgrade to a 2x72 grinder this year... but I would like to continue using the craftsman after I upgrade for hogging and handles. But I'm sick of the unavailability of 2x42 belts. I was just told by Trugrit there is a 3 week backorder of scotchbrite belts!

So.... Can anybody point me to some plans for adding a wheel to make it to 72"? I saw something on knifeforums, but the links were dead.

Thanks!
 
Some people malign supergrit, but it's where i get my 2x42 belts from.

If you have the 2 wheel version 2x42 then you can add an idler wheel behind or contact wheel in front, mounted to your bench on pillow blocks and a shaft, to make it 2x72. I don't know if any plans more detailed than a sketch of the grinder with a big wheel behind ever existed, and it's not very complicated really.

If you have the 3 wheel version you'll have to cut the cast casing to add the wheel. I am currently considering doing this to mine. I already added a larger motor.

http://sites.google.com/site/alexnharvey/home/knifemaking/craftsman-2x42-grinder

This page has some cool mods of a grizzly that may give you some ideas too.
http://www.stoneandsteel.net/equip_grinder.html
 
Here's one I did, so it HAD to be easy....
A buddy of mine traded me his 2 x 42 Craftsman for a case of Miller light, I replaced the motor with a 1/2 hp, 1725. I'm not a knife maker but even for my tinkering projects, the slower speed is a dream.
Anyway....I cut the housing at the bottom of the platen bracket, so now I have the tracking wheel assembly disengaged from the drive wheel.....the black tower is drilled to accept the housing at both a 42" and 48" position......taller tower=72"...but, tinkerers don't need no stinkin 72" belts.

Supergrit has treated me right...they have all the 1 x 42/48" I need, including "surface conditioner" belts, AKA ScotchBrite. And Tinkerers Anonymous endorses 1" for handle and leather work.;)

Grindermod.jpg
 
Thanks guys... what are the thoughts on whether the Craftsman can handle a 72" belt? I saw a reference somewhere else that suggested it's better to a 48" unless you put a bigger motor on.. which I do not want to do. I would really like to put a contact wheel out front... Where do you get parts like the contact wheel? Is this a knife supply house item or hardware store item?? I will check...
 
Nice job. Looks like you're only a set of holes away from 72" belts if you ever needed.

Mossanimal. You would probably get the contact wheel form grizzly (the g9242 10") and put it on pillow blocks or a wheel from usaknifemaker.com or from beaumontmetalworks.

Questions are whether you have enough tension from the tensioning system for the longer belt and enough drive from the motor.

I think the motor is underpowered on the craftsman. The extra power was more of a priority than longer belts for me.

If you intend to build or buy a real 2x72 soon I would just buy some belts from supergrit to keep you moving til then.
 
Thanks... Well... the real issue is using it after I get a 2x72... I wanna keep using it so I was thinking with a different belt I'd have less of an issue getting em. But maybe the logic is screwed up... I dunno.
 
another thing... I'm still pretty new at this, but at what point do you start needing more power? When you are working on larger, thicker blades? So far... the Craftsman seems overpowered for me....
 
There's a difference between speed and torque/power. At 3450 RPM and probably around 1/2hp, it's too fast and yet not powerful enough.

When I upgraded to a more powerful motor I also got one that was half the speed. Much easier to work with. Even better would be variable speed, either by step pulleys or a variable frequency drive.
 
This thread has some live links to pictures of modified grinders.

Edit: Sorry, that's probably the one with the broken links. A few of the pictures on the first page seem to work, however. They appear to be projections rather than actual projects, of course.
 
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