About the process:
- I discovered that if one were to first glue the strip into a loop that is 2" or so inches shorter than then circumference of the ring, it simplifies the things greatly
- cut the ends of the strip @ 45 degree angle to max the area of contact. I used protractor and a utility blade knife. Make sure cuts are nice and vertical.
DONT attempt to cut the rubber in one cut, do it in half a dozen of cutting motions with slight pressure. have a sharp
blade
I clamped the ends onto a piece of ply, making sure the joint is aligned and then used some cyanoacrylate. Then I clamped another piece of wood on top of the joint area and let it sit like that for couple of hrs. The idea is to have loop as close to perfect as possible, with pressure applied as it cures.
- after gluing the strip like that, I tried to stretch the loop with me hands and the joint was extremely strong. I could not break it when applying significant amt of force
- I mounted the wheel (flat belt pulley) onto the grinder, w/o rubber on it yet, mounted the belt and ran it , while touching exposed area of the wheel with a piece of Scotch brite.
- remove the wheel, clean with MEK or alike. Put the wheel down onto a flat surface
- stretch the rubber loop onto it, making sure it is nice and even and edge of the wheel and edge of the rubber loop align.
Since the wheel rest on flat surface, you just push the rubber loop down till edge the rubber touches the base surface
- then I used contact cement (HD yellowish variety) and got the glue in between the rim and the rubber by flapping the rubber away from the rim and spreading the glue in the resulting gap. Paid special attn to the joint area.
- taped the whole thing with some masking tape to apply nice and even pressure to rubber so glue cures nice and even
- a day later the masking tape was removed and viola - there you have it !
