homemade Belt Grinder

dekdek

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Aug 19, 2005
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181
Ive done some searches and seen some nice homemade belt grinders. I would just buy one but its a hassle to get it here and a uncommen tool. Just wondering if anyone on here has built their own grinder and could give some pointers. My main concern is just safty. It is easy to get alluminum here and I have access to a big lathe for making wheels of any size, The wheels ive seen pictures of have a rubber surface, is this to help keep the belt on. I was wondering if Hmpv or High molecular plastic the white plastic stuff you make cutting boards out of would make good wheels? Do you think there is any bennifit to making a hollow grinder or flat grinder if you made it yourself?
 
If you've got the ability to make your own shafts and wheels, then you will probably save a lot of money building your own grinder, as well as having the benefit of building it to suit your needs.
As far as the rubber faced wheels, it gives a much better feel while grinding than a steel or aluminum wheel. There are different types of rubber used, some are harder than others. The harder wheels can give a better finish, but can be more difficult to work with (cut more aggresively, more of a bump when the splice goes over etc. )

There is a lot of good information on this if you do a search on "contact wheel" in this forum and the archives.
You should also look for the threads where Rob got advice developing his KMG grinder, and should try to talk to Rob (rfrink here on the forums, his website is www.beaumontmetalworks.com ) . He can probably give you some good advice, and maybe fix you up with some parts for less money and less hassle than you'd expect :D
 
I suggest that you build your grinder and buy the contact wheel. I built my grinder and with some help from my father and his lathe we built the small rollers. When I get around to buying a contact wheel I will get it from www.beaumontmetalworks.com since I copyed his design.
 
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