Got to be a better (Cheaper) way....

Robert Hankins

Robert Hankins

Joined
May 19, 2003
Messages
1,848
Read cheaper way than getting a surface grinder.
Anybody out there have an idea on how to build one of these things without plunking down $1K+

Was in D'Holders shop a while back and he had a setup done with a 2X72 grinder he used to flatten the pieces for his stacked handle material.

Can figure out the grinder part just not how to make either the grinder or the magnetic chuck move up and down in minute increments.
Not counting that everthing has to be perfectly even + square!

Ideas???
 
If you have a metal shop or access to one, you're pretty much made in the shade. Read: Drill press, welder, metal-cutting bandsaw, lathe.

You can put together square stock and make your own wheels pretty easily with all of this if you take your time (measure twice, cut once). Then get a contact wheel and a motor, and you're made in the shade.

The key to making up the slack that's left over is to put one of the contact wheels on a spring.

http://home.earthlink.net/~foxeye1/beltgrind.html

GREAT link, explains a lot. If I had the stuff, I'd make my own in a second!


Hope that helps...I've been doing a lot of research lately...

_z
 
This is one of those tools that is much better to just go buy.

Unless you are a machinist, you'll be damn lucky to get something with any kind of precsion when you're done... and that's what a surface grinder is for.

As knifemakers, we like to think we can make anything... but sometimes you're just better off to pony up.

I DID build the arm and tracking system to convert my surface grinder to run 2X72 belts. But that was the easy end of it.

-Nick-
 
Here is one I built you of my old Kalamazoo grinder.
16-Home_Surface_Grind.jpg
 
You might want to do a google on Laminate bow building a few compisite bow builders I know found plans that way to build a surface sander to get accurate layers for laminating bows out of various materials. Since trying to do so with a plainer would just shatter the wood once it got too thin. The one builder I know can take the raised letttering off a buisness card with his set up so I amaging they can be accurate.

Abe
 
Why would you want to take the raised letters off a business card?

Sorry it was much funnier to me.
 
I would tend to agree with Nick on this. Master Williams and I have discussed this in great depth, and I've tried over several months to come up with a cheap, but effective design but to no avail. Most of you who know me, know I'm pretty good with gadgets, so this hurts me to say: I think we are better off getting a used surface grinder and making it do what we want.

I did a lot of research into methods of controlling the table and means of setting the belt in motion, i.e. motor setup. I also wanted to make it cost-effective, because my intent was to produce them to sell to fellow knifemakers and others interested in flattening materials. The total cost of parts involved in making a surface grinder with a fair amount of precision put it up around $900.

So this is why I say that Nick hit the nail on the head. Just buy a good used SG, and adapt it (or not) for using a belt. You would want a machine that takes up little room. The brands out there with a small footprint are Boyer-Schultz 612, Harig 612, and Chevalier. Less commonly you will find small machines from Rockwell, Bridgeport, and Brown & Sharp.

Many times, with a little diligence you can find one of these machines complete with a mag chuck for $500. The only problem you may encounter is that you will most-likely need to either purchase a phase-converter, or put a new single-phase motor on the machine. If all the equipment in your shop is single-phase, and you don't already own a converter, I recommend the new motor especially if your grinder is 20+ years old. You'll save a lot of money running a fresh motor instead of an old tired one.
 
You can find used ones on Ebay but they are always on the other side of the country:D
Harbor Freight has them for around $950
 
Blinker said:
You can find used ones on Ebay but they are always on the other side of the country:D
Harbor Freight has them for around $950
Click to expand...

True, but then you still have to spring for a mag chuck. that's at least another $200 or so.
 
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