Hoping to order my first 2x72

josh81

josh81

Joined
Jan 11, 2016
Messages
435
So I think I've saved enough pennies from selling a few knives to order a grinder. All I know is I can't upgrade from this 1x30 fast enough. I'm leaning towards the Oregon blade maker. I'm still on a pretty strict budget and it is in my price range. I also like the idea of buying local. I've done a search on here and read all I can. Just looking for any advice out there. Thinking about a harbor freight motor just to get me going unless that's an absolute horrible idea? Any advice or tricks on setup, motor, belts,etc. Anything I should know, look for, or do differently? I may not be grinding for awhile as I don't think a lot of belts will be in my budget right away but I'd like to get it ordered and setup. Thanks for any help!

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Keep in mind, my research has been based upon 115v/15a/1ph electric in my garage, if you have 220/1ph your results will differ.

If you check out the 'Bay or your local flea markets and craigslist, you can likely find a 1 or 1.5hp motor for cheap.
Pulleys and pillow blocks will likely run you near $200 when bought new, induce some power loss as well as being not as smooth as a direct drive.

If you are getting a vfd (many would suggest it), you have at least three main options.
You can find a NEMA 1 insulated one for $150 ish if you shop around, but you will want a NEMA 4 case ($50 +/-) to house it, the can also be found on the 'bay.

If want a NEMA 4 rated vfd, you will likely be spending $280 (kbac-24d, 1hp) or $360 (kbac-27d, 1.5hp).

The kbac-27d will act as a phase converter allowing for the usage of a 230v/3ph motor when supplied with 115v/15a electric and up to 2hp when fed with 220v.
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Congrats on your purchase, I was about dead set on one of these, but I got to talking with Jose from Pheer and managed to get a 427 with a 1.5hp/kbac-27d in my price range.

Please keep in mind when shopping from OBM, the only difference between the higher priced yellow (with Al wheels) and the black grinder (aside from looks/tension arm) is added machining to make it easier to ship internationally, and due to the extra machining, it costs more.

Edit to add:
-Due to budget constraints, scour your local metal recycling centers and scrap yards for a drill press with a cooked motor for a set of pulleys, just make sure the shaft diameters match.

-Shop around (especially craigslist and the flea markets) and ASK everyone you see with machine parts about used but good condition motors in your voltage/hp range.

-Check you local paper (wanted ads, selling machinery) or call around and see if anyone knows of any machine shops that are closing up shop and take a swing by their place, don't call, see how personable the proprietor is and see if you can purchase old parts, or anything he may have to help.

Again, Congrats and keep us informed!
 
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Wow thanks for all the info! I have 220 single phase and 110 available. Not sure which way I want to go. If a vfd is out of my budget for now is a 3 speed drive pulley a viable option?

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The pulleys can be found pretty cheap , I just bought 2 of the 3/4 shaft steps for $21.39 each and they are great. Also pillow blocks in 3/4" for $8.99 each. A total of 4 bearings and 2 pulleys for less than $90.00 I can give you links I'm not sure if I can post them here as they are not forum vendors. If I can please comment so and I'll post them, if not I can PM them to you if you're interested.
 
Oh well, I guess in order to PM I have to be a paying member. Is it forum "legal" to give you my email address on here?
 
I honestly don't know. Pretty sure I can post mine since I'm a paying member. joshopel at hotmail.com. thanks!

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So just to make sure I'm understanding correctly. The motor is basically stand alone. So it could be setup with a 2 1/4" drive wheel to be direct drive or with a v belt to another shaft so you could use a variable speed pulley?

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Hey Josh,

Your 220 single phase is all you need for a vfd. You just need a vfd with a 220v single phase input and 3ph output. You can pick them up on ebay for $108 shipped from california. Warranty and everything.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2HP-1-5KW-V...783593?hash=item4aed000da9:g:WhYAAOSwukdXcPCk

Guys have all sorts of inventive enclosures for them. My favorite is the one in the toolbox on page 2 of the first thread. I think it is worth it to get a vfd if you can afford it. I have step pulleys on my drill press and lathe and there are still times I wish I had another speed. A bit of a pain to keep flipping the belt too. I really want a slower speed yet on my lathe that I can't get with pulleys.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1400882-Another-VFD-Question/page2
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1234634-New-Grinder-for-me

I picked up two used vfd's on ebay for $95 each shipped but there is no warranty on them.

I watched around craiglist a bit and picked up two 3ph motors for $50cdn total and another for $150cdn (What's that...like $50usd total? :D) ....I have all sorts of things I want to run a vfd on now.

I think at around $100-140 it is worth it to go with a vfd. But just my 2c worth.

Randy
 
I'm with Randy as well going with the VFD if you can afford it. I only have pulleys on mine because it is a treadmill motor and trying to convert the pulley on the motor was kinda out of the question and I wanted to increase the final RPM. Plus I got it for free and a motor and VFD are out of my price range for now. Eventually I want to go with a 3hp and VFD but can't afford them right now. Really the only reason I am able to build my grinder right now is because I got the motor for free and using the controls from the treadmill is my VFD...
 
pleasanthill said:
I'm with Randy as well going with the VFD if you can afford it. I only have pulleys on mine because it is a treadmill motor and trying to convert the pulley on the motor was kinda out of the question and I wanted to increase the final RPM. Plus I got it for free and a motor and VFD are out of my price range for now. Eventually I want to go with a 3hp and VFD but can't afford them right now. Really the only reason I am able to build my grinder right now is because I got the motor for free and using the controls from the treadmill is my VFD...
Click to expand...
I was kinda considering going this route as well. Did you run into any issues using the treadmill and controls?

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No not as of yet, I'm still in the process of building it though. The only issue I have read about is making sure to keep the metal dust out of it and even though it says 2.5hp it's really not 2.5hp. I plan on building a light weight enclosure with some sort of filter on it. I have some roll aluminum for exterior house trim. I have a piece 36" by like 8', and my brother has an aluminum siding brake I can use to bend it. I'll silicone the corners that have to get screwed/riveted together. thinking about adding a fan from a PC to assist in keeping it cool and drawing air.

I can also get magnets like these by the drum load, I've got about 100 lbs of them already.So I'm thinking about attaching some of them around the housing to catch some of the dust and help prevent it from getting to the motor as an added precautionary. They are roll magnets from toner cartridges for printers. Great for cleaning up shavings around the drill press. I usually lay one next to what ever I'm drilling and it catches a lot of shavings before they hit the ground. Keep a bucket near by and just wipe the shavings into the bucket. Saves a lot of cleanup.

 
OK so I'm starting to get a parts list together. Yellow blade maker grinder, blade maker drive wheel, vfd from the link posted, and 2 hp compressor duty motor from harbor freight. Anything I'm missing?

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I built my own grinder, but I'm using Oregon Blademakers Lightning pulleys, I really like everything I've purchased from them. I'm currently just running 115v on mine, because the belt drive pulley I made is 2 piece, a 1.5" diameter pulley mounted to the motor and a 3.5" diameter sleeve that goes over it, I just pop the sleeve off to slow it down. But when I build a second grinder, I'll definitely be looking to use a VFD.

Anyway, don't overlook www.surpluscenter.com as a source for parts. I got my motor from them, a 1hp compressor duty motor for $89. I've used parts from them on a lot of projects.
 
I buit my own grinder as well. I ordered a couple things from Oragon Blade Maker and all I can say about them is very positive. Great company to work with and great people. Good luck and post pics when your done!
 
josh81 said:
OK so I'm starting to get a parts list together. Yellow blade maker grinder, blade maker drive wheel, vfd from the link posted, and 2 hp compressor duty motor from harbor freight. Anything I'm missing?

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Click to expand...

If you're going to use a VFD, you will need a 3 phase motor. If I'm not mistaken, all the HF motors are singe phase.
 
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