How I set up my Carothers C-Plate and Radius Platen/Chiller

Oh sure you do not use a "work rest" but you build that contraption LOL

Just kidding that is awesome
 
Hey Larry, check your PM’s. Sent you one a couple days ago. :)


LARRYZ10 said:
Thank you Matthew. I wrote all down and will put it in my grinder and equipment file. It looks like this third wheel setup really tracks well on your grinder. Thanks for sharing your video. Larry
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Great set up Matthew, thank you sir!
I have been using a felt backed platen to get a better satin finish with high grit belts but I bet this will work better!
 
Had a chance to put this setup to use yesterday, and figured I should report back. I reground a LONG blade I’m working on, applying a very shallow hollow grind with this rig on an existing flat grind. The experience was quite unique. Even with a very shallow hollow, you can still feel the hollow, yet it still feels like flatgrinding, too. The belt has almost entirely ceased squealing, and I think in an hour or so of working on it, I only had to give it a spritz or two of silicone to quiet it entirely.

All the grinding I did was low speed, probably in the arena of 800sfpm or so. I only used grit as low as 120 to make initial geometry changes, and then it was progressively finer grits, to perhaps 400. I likely should have chosen a better test candidate than CPM-4v, as even annealed it presents challenges beyond 220 grit, but that just happens to be what I’m working on, so I ran what I brung, as the adage goes. Nonetheless, I can see this setup making simpler steels much easier to bring to a fine finish.

I ran the platen chiller with ice in the reservoir bucket. I think that’s very important, as the setup definitely generates heat, and a lot of it. Tracking was perfect, and in fact had no trouble drifting the belt to clean up plunges, etc.

Totally satisfied with how this is working, and it will change how I work on a lot of my designs. Hope this input might help others...
 
Has anyone else used the belt yet on any other configuration? I’m ordering one and some wheels, I’d just love to see some pictures if anyone has any results.

I’m psyched to finally have a rotary style platen with Nathan’s precision parts.

Also had anyone tried to rotate their platen beyond the two bolt configuration to try the slack belt on the top two wheels? I think I’d like to use it, but I don’t want to drill into Nathan’s c plate to have two bolts on the tool arm. Does that make sense what I’m saying?
 
Anyone have a good source for the "L" brackets to attach the platen to the C arm? I'd prefer not to shell out $36 plus shipping to get them from Beaumont. I can get some angle iron and fab them myself but just curious if someone has gotten them elsewhere.
 
Josh, I don't think that would work because the quarter round cut out isn't long enough around to accommodate full rotation...

This is how I set mine up... quick platen change configuration. For the 3 wheel set up w/ the rubber belt I will have to remove the quick release handle and put in a simple bolt but other than that it's super nice. Tracks perfect, forward and reverse. I'm using this on my Wilmont TAG and just had to make a new tool arm from aluminum to fit but it's perfect now!

i-5pWhjzQ-X2.jpg
 
razor-edge-knives said:
Josh, I don't think that would work because the quarter round cut out isn't long enough around to accommodate full rotation...
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That’s what I meant by drilling Nathan’s c plate. Not using the 1/4 round slot but making another one beneath it.
I’ll get a picture.54CFA6B8-D0F4-4E5C-90B6-6E976F6C11F2.jpeg
 
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Josh Rider said:
That’s what I meant by drilling Nathan’s c plate. Not using the 1/4 round slot but making another one beneath it.
I’ll get a picture.
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Ohhh I understand now. If you have the hole placed appropriately I wouldn't personally have any inhibitions about that... Only thing is make sure nothing else will get in the way of the full rotation downwards, for me the bolts on the side of the grinder would get in the way.
 
I just made mine from angle, like you suggested. Hysterically, shitty hot-rolled angle stock maintains a better 90° angle than any of the holes drill by Beaumont. :confused:


Robert Erickson said:
Anyone have a good source for the "L" brackets to attach the platen to the C arm? I'd prefer not to shell out $36 plus shipping to get them from Beaumont. I can get some angle iron and fab them myself but just curious if someone has gotten them elsewhere.
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I like that setup you have on your platen Josh, I take it that’s for taking the platen off and putting it back on quickly?
That’s nice.
 
Matthew Gregory said:
I just made mine from angle, like you suggested. Hysterically, shitty hot-rolled angle stock maintains a better 90° angle than any of the holes drill by Beaumont. :confused:
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Thanks Matthew, I wondered how much I'd have to grind the angle iron to get 90 deg. Sounds like not much.
 
Josh Rider said:
I like that setup you have on your platen Josh, I take it that’s for taking the platen off and putting it back on quickly?
That’s nice.
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Thanks man. Yeah it allows for quick changes of the platen, of which I basically have 4. 3 will be set up w/ the platen chiller - regular flat platen, 36" radius platen, and end radius platen. Then I have 1 other one that is 1" wide pyro ceram. And also I can have a quick removal for contour grinding w/ no platen.
 
Robert Erickson said:
Anyone have a good source for the "L" brackets to attach the platen to the C arm? I'd prefer not to shell out $36 plus shipping to get them from Beaumont. I can get some angle iron and fab them myself but just curious if someone has gotten them elsewhere.
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I get mine from Chaz at Knifegrinderparts.com they are tapped and zinc coated. $19 a pair.
 
Josh Rider said:
That’s what I meant by drilling Nathan’s c plate. Not using the 1/4 round slot but making another one beneath it.
I’ll get a picture.View attachment 866595
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I have run just the single pivot bolt on my platens for years. Never been and issue and you get full rotation.
Might not work for everyone, but it works for me.

That narrow section of belt is perfect for sharpening.
 
BenR.T. said:
I have run just the single pivot bolt on my platens for years. Never been and issue and you get full rotation.
Might not work for everyone, but it works for me.

That narrow section of belt is perfect for sharpening.
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That’s good to know. I’d prefer to not machine anything that came from Nathan’s shop. I’m so used to running Beaumont stuff, I get kind of amazed when I see a piece of steel machined so nicely.
 
Well this thread definitely saved me like 3 grand VS the Moen platen. Definitely going to look into this.
Will all of this fit a Northridge Tool grinder?
Just curious.
 
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