I need a belt sander

T

thegeek574

Joined
Sep 3, 2010
Messages
2,460
OK, I know there are several threads on this particular topic right now, but mine is a little different. I need something for under 150. I know that kind of limits my options, and so i need a bit of help. I had been planning on getting the harbor freight 1x30, but i think i will find enough ways to use this that buying a more expensive one will be worth it. I then started looking at the craftsman 4x36, and i like it, but then i came across this
http://www.leevalley.com/us/wood/page.aspx?p=44884&cat=,43072
has anyone ever used it? i would be putting this into it:
http://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?item=10-2550&catname=electric
has anyone ever used it? the belts are plentiful, and so that is not a huge problem.

what other suggestions do you guys have? I want something serviceable that will last me for a little while. I do not make many knives, and this is only going to run a few knives a year.

thanks,
Steven
 
With a 150 buck budget I would get the Sears 2 X 42 and a ceramic platen liner.
Stan
 
I think i understand the concept of the ceramic platen liner, but where would i get one, how would i mount it and which size should i get?
 
thegeek574 said:
I think i understand the concept of the ceramic platen liner, but where would i get one, how would i mount it and which size should i get?
Click to expand...

good info here

http://www.usaknifemaker.com/ceramic-glass-liner-for-flat-platen-2x9x-0192-p-1181.html

You can buy it locally from a glass shop
fireplace glass, oven door glass, bbq "pyroceram"
pyro=fire

Tracy misspells it on purpose as "Pyraceram"



The motor
p10-2550C.jpg


is open framed.
you can see wire through the slots

when enough metal dust gets inside, the motor smokes and stops.

you can find them as furnace motors on kijiji, craigs list whatever
almost free 5 or 10 $ and I wouldn't buy a new one if you are likely to smoke it anyway
 
Last edited:
OK. *hangs head in shame* I admit. I'm clueless. But that is what i have you people for.

ok, so screw the motor, I am really liking the craftsman idea. cheaper, too.
 
I tried using a 1X30 and it isn't worth the effort, with your budget go with the craftsman 2X42.
 
thegeek574 said:
OK. *hangs head in shame* I admit. I'm clueless. But that is what i have you people for.

ok, so screw the motor, I am really liking the craftsman idea. cheaper, too.
Click to expand...


Don't sweat it,
I know what I know, because I tried every other option first & spent a lot of time & $ getting there.


I'm here to try to learn all the other things I dont know without doing it all the hard way too.
 
Also the motor u showed doesn't fit into the max dimensions giving on the lee valley page. Go with the craftsmen the others recommended.
 
I agree with Stan. Get the Craftsman. I've had mine for just about a year now and for the money, I don't think I couldve done much better. I also find the disc grinder to be very handy, pretty much two pieces of equipment in one package.
 
I disagree about the 1x30. It is a great machine for what it is, and you can get leather hone/strop belts for it to use it as a permanent polisher after you get a 2x42.

Actually, I'd recommended getting a 1x30 now while they're on sale and a 2x42 Craftsman as well.
 
I'm using the hf 1x30 and its a joke..... I've had it for a long time and used it for knife sharpening which it does a fair job.. You can make it work for knives, I am.. I've used it to profile and grind my edge.. it is what it is, and its only $36..

I'm also in the market for something better then what I have which would be anything, I've been thinking maybe the 2x42 wont be much better, not like night and day anyhow..

I've been giving serious thought to building my own with a 1hp + motor.. instead of throwing another $150 in the wind..

good luck
 
I have been using the Crasftsman 2x42 for about 4 months now. Have made multiple knives and it does a very good job in profiling, blade grinding and sharpening. I made one alteration so far. I did not like the belt table. It is big and has grooves about every 1/4 inch. I kept having the spine of the knife slip into a groove and throw off my grind angle. So I wleded up a smaller one out of 1/4 x 2 x 3 inch mild steel. Works great. The platten can be removed and you can do convex grinds. Also you can remove the table and untighten a bolt and lay the belt face down / horizontal to do knife scales or to remeove scale from your blade. You can also use the bottom drive wheel to make concave or rounded piece grinds. I have not tried this yet. I bought all the belts I use from Tru Grit as they carry this size belt from 40 grit to 400 grit in 2" width and 600 to 1000 grit plus leather belts in a 1" width x 42 for polishing. I too someday will buy/build a 2x72 grinder with 10" wheel for doing hollow grinds. But in the mean time this machine does a decent job for the money. I am not affiliated with Craftsman or Tru Grit and not endorsing them. I am sure there are other 2x42 manufacturers and belt makers. This is just what I purchased. Oh and you may need to square up the platten with the belts as mine was a little off. I removed it and with a hammer and a few whacks and it is behaving much better. May add a ceramic platen liner at a later date.
 
+1 for the 2x4 craftsman and a glass platen from Tracy. That's what I run. It's not ideal, but it's good enough I'm not bothering with an upgrade until I can swing a KMG or do a GIB type build.
I took the table off completely, right from the start. It's sitting on a shelf with the protective gunk still on it. :) I too buy my belts from TruGrit and have found that the 36grit zircs, 60 and 120 grit ceramics, 120 309J's and whatever grits you like in the gators are my staples. I use the ?500? grit j-flex belt now and then but haven't been going for the high finish route lately so I haven't needed to go that fine.

90% of my grinding is the 36 zircs, 60 and 120 grit ceramics and then put a finish on with the gators. I only use the j-flex for tuning plunges and shaping handles really. Does anyone know a source for Norton Blaze belts in 2x42? You guys talk them up so much I really want to give them a try. The regular ceramics from Klingspor are pretty good but I don't mind paying a bit more for longer life and cooler grinding.
 
Now, on to something else. what is you guy's sources for belts? I am not going to be doing multiple knives every week, but i do think that i need something that is meant for metal. what are your recommendations?
 
thegeek574 said:
Now, on to something else. what is you guy's sources for belts? I am not going to be doing multiple knives every week, but i do think that i need something that is meant for metal. what are your recommendations?
Click to expand...

Get some information from THIS SITE. Scroll down to Group #6.

I've bought belts from Supergrit.

NOT aluminum oxide, I've used them on knives because I didn't know any better, but they're for wood. Zirconia, ceramic, or silicon carbide (SC) are for metal.

I think you can get by with just some of the lower grit belts since you don't plan on making many knives. Maybe three different grits from 36-60, an 80 up to 120. The rest of the finishing will be by hand sanding with the finer grits.

Good luck.
- Paul Meske, Wisconsin
 
I just picked up a Craftsman 4x36 at a yard sale for $25. It works great, seems hardly used, and came with a bunch of paper. So far I am very happy with it, although my dad has a 2X72 and mine just can't compete with that. At any rate, you might hit up some yard sales. I'm inexperienced, but just in case it might help you here's my complaints with the machine:
-The belts don't line up with the edge of the platen, and the edges are slightly rounded anyway.
-I wish it had a variable speed. I don't know if I can add a VFD, but I plan to look into it.
-NO USABLE SLACK BELT!!

Also, mine is a 2/3 hp. Most of them that I have seen are 1/3hp. I could be wrong, but 1/3hp seems like it would be underpowered.
 
I will look at yard sales, but i think i would have to get pretty lucky. I would rather get the new unit and know who to blame any problems on.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top