How're you hangin?

gunfixrjoe

gunfixrjoe

Joined
Aug 11, 2011
Messages
2,564
Just looking for suggestions on how you store/hang your belts... Pictures would be valuable. Trying get the shop in order........ Thank you in advance
 
I think the best hanging method I've seen is using sections of 3" or 4" PVC pipe. I'm not doing that myself, in my old shop I used large rubber coated screw in hooks and they worked ok but the larger diameter of the PVC I think would be better on the belts.

Now that I have a new shop and I wasn't able to get power to it in time before winter I've been contemplating how I will organize my stuff. I've thought of the large flat drawers draftsman use for blueprints. Something like that may work better and not take up so much space like hanging. I've bought belts directly from suppliers at shows and they always roll them up and store them in boxes. I just don't want my new shop to have shit hanging everywhere!

-Clint
 
BeltRack2.jpg
 
I've never had any issues. I have at least 4 times as many belts on that rack now, and it's starting to show a bit of strain.
 
Large framing nails pounded into the wall. :P


I, like everyone else, saw all these elaborate setups using 6" diameter PVC pipe and such when I first got started, and thought it was some big deal to keep the belts from getting screwed up. Eventually, because I'm pretty lazy, I ended up hanging them on nails, and have NEVER had an issue.

Personally I believe it's one of those things, like perfect belt tracking (this is an extension obviously, I assume people believe their belts track badly because of this or that), that people fixate on, convinced that it's affecting the results of their grinding. If you can grind well, it *does not matter* if a belt has minor wobble, however regardless, I've seen zero evidence myself that how you hang a belt, affects it's tracking at all. If I ever have a 3m or norton, etc, belt that *jumps* all over the platen, half an inch of wobble or more, I simply return it to pops for a replacement, that's just a QC issue. 1/8" or so wobble doesn't affect anything, it's repeatable and consistently wobbling to X location, as long as your grinder isn't screwed up.

In fairness, I don't buy junk quality cheap belts ever. So maybe it's different with the cheapo special belts.


Humidity however does affect J-weight/flex belts, and can be really annoying when they get all curled up. Only way I've found to fix this is to store them stretched, or rolled up.

Really fine grit J-weight belts are prone to contamination anyway (some piece of stray grit from other belts, causing some stray course scratches), so I store my 800's and 1200's rolled up like they come from the suppliers, in a drawer anyway, like my loose buffs for fine compounds.
 
I've just been cutting up the thick cardboard tubes that our steel comes in, into about 8" lengths and then setting them over a 16d nail in the stud. Then I just put a piece of tape on the inside over the nail to stick it to the carboard to keep it from moving. Not all that elegant, but they've been holding up for years ;)


~Paul
My Youtube Channel
... (It's been a few years since my last upload)
 
Coincidentally, I happen to have a bunch of leftover mortar tubes from my July 4th fireworks show that look exactly like that, albiet made of a plastic. That seems a perfect solution....... thanks HSC
 
HSC /// said:
these pipes with flange were given to me by a neighbor so I made use of them

IpZ2EmP.jpg


KoqmVoC.jpg
Click to expand...
These pipe thingys will work...I have a few large hooks like you put a bike up on the wall with but the important part is I use the 3-4” cardboard round slices that are 2” wide so the belts are supported. ———————-empty packing tape or blue blade tape rolls etc All will work! Go to a carpet store and dumpster dive for those cardboard rolls and Alice em up on the bandsaw!?
 
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