Holy hogger batman

A C Richards

A C Richards

Joined
Apr 14, 2006
Messages
3,816
Well I finally did it. After almost 20 years making knives with only a disc grinder die grinders and files, 2 months ago I decided to make a belt grinder. I found a set of plans for a KMG clone and began putting it together. I purchased all the wheels from Beaumont Metal Works. Made a few attachments, wheels 2", 4", and 10". Platen assembly and finally a small wheel attachment. First I put it all together and used a 2hp 3ph 1750rpm motor on my VFD. I am running a 5" pulley on the motor and a 2.5" on the drive shaft with a 6" drive wheel. This should give me about 6000 sfpm if my calculations are correct.

Well first I tried it out and it suffered greatly in the power area:jerkit:. I figured I was losing 1/3 of the HP due to the VFD. Well I decided to put a rotary on it. So I ordered a 10hp rotary and controller. Ran all the wire and hooked it up. I saw a very small amount of improvement but I could still stall it out on the wheels and esp on the platen. That really sucked, I spent all my upgrade $$ and could not afford to upgrade the VFD to put a 5hp on it. In reviewing some of the other builds I came up with a relatively easy fix. I went on ebay and found a new 5hp 3ph 1750 rpm motor for $150 delivered:D:D. I could not pass up this deal. Even if I could not use it right away I knew I needed to pick this up. Today I spent modifying my grinder to a dual HP machine. The 2hp is mounted on the top so I mounted the 5hp underneath. I burned a slot through the top to accommodate the belt. I made a hinged shelf to set the motor on and attached all the important points. Wired it all up with a drum switch directly to the rotary and presto. I have a 5hp Machine.

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:I can now hog with very heavy pressure, in fact I cannot stall it or even slow it down. If i need to do handle work or slow things down for the SWG I take off the 5hp belt and put on the 2hp belt and run it off the VFD. This is so slick I will probably not upgrade my VFD until this one burns out. I am so psyched I can hardly wait to do some real grinding on it. Tomorrow I will clean up the shop and get to work again. I will shoot a couple of pics and post them also. Happy Grinding
:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
 
A belt can only cut so fast. I find no reason to lay into the grinder hard enough to even slow it down. Both of mine are 1 HP models.
 
Hi Chuck!

Great idea! We had another customer with the same problem...2 hp just wasn't nearly enough power for them...but they also wanted variable speed for delicate work.

So, they devised a 2 motor system....a heavy hogging motor and a variable speed motor. They mounted everything on a sliding plate with a screw adjuster. See pics:

werth4.jpg


werth3.jpg


werth2.jpg


werth1.jpg


They say: "Great minds think alike" :):)

-Rob
 
Congratulations- I eagerly await the day that I can have a real grinder. I just used my last belt on my little sander so am down to hand tools for the next long while- enjoy making sparks and dust!
 
Here are some shots of the grinder.

First is a shot of the over all unit with the 5hp belt attached.

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Next is a close up of the 5hp with the belt on,

DSC05768.preview.JPG


Now a shot of the 2hp with belt on,

DSC05770.preview.JPG


and finally a shot of the 5hp without the belt. You can see the hinged shelf with a piece of angle iron holding it up.

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I have still not had a chance to really put it through it's paces. I did a bit of fab work today making a rack for the attachments and it really hogs off the steel. I can see and feel a huge difference in the amount a material removed by the 5hp over the 2hp. It really speeds up the process. That is exactly what I was trying for. I am very happy with this machine so far..

Thanks for stopping in.
 
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becareful of that monster :)

i must jsut be a finesse grinder as most the time i see little need for more then 2hp (tho i dont forge much and have to hog flat blanks)
 
Removing scale is exactly why I needed the extra power. 36 grit belts and what I call moderate pressure remove scale like a dream. I have had a couple pretty serious slips on the disc. Ground a knuckle to the bone that took almost a full year to heal the belt should be safer as the direction of cut is all the same. I do not know why but the 2hp was easily stalled even with a 2x4. That was not acceptable.
 
Chuck, Just now gettin a Grinder!??? :)

2hp sucks for large blade work. I need to rig up a 5hp!

Nice lookin grinder! Congrats, man!
 
BTW what size is your big wheel (just noticed that thats robs big wheel )
i would liek to get somethign in the 24 inch range (yours looks 14 inch )and a custom wheel will be big $$$$
 
That one is only 10". I would like to get the 14 and then the rotating platen. The pics Rob posted look like a 14". A 24 sounds very interesting.

Don, Yup been doing it all with a 9 inch disc. When the larger blades started getting so popular I realized it was taking waaay too long to grind them out. Now to just get back to work and see how this baby really cooks.
 
A C Richards said:
Here are some shots of the grinder....<snipped>.....


I have still not had a chance to really put it through it's paces. I did a bit of fab work today making a rack for the attachments and it really hogs off the steel. I can see and feel a huge difference in the amount a material removed by the 5hp over the 2hp. It really speeds up the process. That is exactly what I was trying for. I am very happy with this machine so far..

Thanks for stopping in.
Click to expand...


I LOVE IT!! :thumbup::thumbup:

-Rob
 
First day actually doing some serious grinding. This thing really removes the steel. Was able to forge 4 and grind 6. I was grinding a little during the re-heat and I could get an amazing amount done in that short time. Ground 2 of my choppers and it took less than 1/2 the time. There is going to be a pretty serious learning curve going from disc to a belt. I find myself roughing in the blade on the belt and then cleaning it all up on the disc. They both have their own strong points. The one thing I know for sure is there is plenty of power on the belt. Now I need to save up for the rotary platen.
 
Chuck,

YOu are in very, very good company. Don Fogg, Burt Foster, and many others use the belt/disc combo to very good effect.

That thing is sweeeeet!
 
A C Richards said:
Not yet. I have not found a good apply. I had 4 dozen zircon and ao on the shelf for.a.couple.of years waiting for me to put.this thing together. Now I am ready to move into the blaze.
Click to expand...

:D:D
ooo i think you ll like them as i have found that even on my 2hp they can make steel jsut slide off a blade
 
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