Home Made Belt Grinder????

Ive seen the unigrinder and it looks good.I fact the guy lives 10 miles from me. I don't know how much you will save unless you have access to cheap or free steel. The maker actualy asked if my old boss would produce a ready to make kit but he turned it down due to the cost. If you have the time a materials readily availble go for it.

Chuck
 
Dude wants 50 bucks for the plans, who knows how much for the steel, bolts knobs etc...A motor is gonna cost you a couple hundred, contact wheels and pulleys arent cheap at all.... plus by building one yourself you have the risk of everything not running so smooth or true.

In my opinion, by the time you pay for all the materials to build your own, you could probably get a base model KMG or a Coote or something with a motor.

Building your own may be the best thing if you're mechanically inclined, and feel that the KMG or other grinder doesnt have something about it that suits your needs.

(impossible as far as the KMG)
 
I built my own grinder (a KMG copy) and I'm very happy with it. It took quite a bit of time, and a bit of $$, but still worked out cheaper than a KMG of similar functionality. I documented the whole thing over at Don Fogg's forum so folks could learn from my (numerous) mistakes. All told I have a complete variable speed KMG-style grinder that probably cost me between $700-800 including the whole variable speed setup and a bunch of tools I didn't have. You CAN build something similar for a lot less money if you can weld well and don't mind scrounging a bit. For example, a broken treadmill would have given me a nice variable speed DC motor, but I bought a new motor and VFD (that was over half the cost of the machine!).

Would I do it again? I learned too much from it to say no. Would I change a few things? Sure I would! Will I build another? Maybe once I get my new shop running and get the milling machine functional (it would make things prettier and would have saved some hand filing...)

Good luck in whichever option you choose, but I want to see pics if you build one! :)

-d
 
deker's grinder is nice and works well
that said i dont think im going to build mine i dont realy have time for that
for me it's a KMG and get the motor and controler from other places to try to save a buck
butch
 
butcher_block said:
deker's grinder is nice and works well
Click to expand...

Did I mention I added a small-wheel attachment that takes Bader small wheels? :) It's ugly, but it works. I gotta get pics of the finished setup to post...

-d
 
deker said:
Did I mention I added a small-wheel attachment that takes Bader small wheels? :) It's ugly, but it works. I gotta get pics of the finished setup to post...

-d
Click to expand...
i hate you:D






so when i got some more cash you going to show me how to wire everything up
 
butcher_block said:
i hate you:D
Click to expand...

Hate the game...don't hate the playa' ;)

butcher_block said:
so when i got some more cash you going to show me how to wire everything up
Click to expand...

Sure. As long as you buy the same VFD I did. I'll try to help with other stuff, but no guarantees...

-d
 
Thanks everyone….

I do have a source of cheep steel and cheep motors.

Time, I would mark up to a learning experience.

I also have access to a machinist and machine shop I -I'm sure I’ll need it.

Seems that I should be able to build one for…. Half? Hopefully.

I’ll start digging through all this info…. thanks every one

Any one else with more...? the more the better...

Any one in Salt Lake City who would be willing to give pointers?

Ken
 
Having access to a lathe will help a great deal as you can turn your own driving and tracking wheels, this is what I did for my HMG. You can also
true up contact wheels, assuming you have enough SOB.

I used 1/2" ID bearing in all of my tracking and contact wheels, these
go for $6.95 5-pair on Ebay, sealed.
 
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