Just got mah new Grinder!

[bwitty]

Well I finally got my first grinder this morning! Craftsman 2x42 with a 6" disc on other side. Also orderd new belts from supergrit. Now I just need to get a workbench/table created and I'm gona begin my adevnture in knifemaking. Just gotta put it together on my lunch hour

 

[Crayola]

Congratulations! I have that at home, but with an 8" disk.

Here's one modification I recommend. Go to one of the knifemaker supply places and get a sheet of rubberized cork. They come in like 8.5x11" sizes, and are something liek 3/32" thick. contact cement that to the aluminum disk, and trim off the excess with a utility knife when it is all dry. Also from the knife supply places, buy some disk adhesive, sometimes also called feathering adhesive. You then put some adhesive on the cork surface, and press on a piece of wet/dry sandpaper of whatever grit you want. trim of the excess (save that for hand sanding handles!). To change paper, all you need to do is warm up the adhesive a touch with a propane torch ( 2-3 seconds worth of "painting" the paper will do), or a heat gun. Peel off the old paper, presson a new sheet, trim, and go to town!

Adhesive disks are too expensive to use. With the above set-up, you can run with high grits, and step up between grits all you want. Since the adhesive disks cost a few bucks each, you don't want to be peeling off a 60 grit disk to put on a 120 grit dis, then 220, 400, 600, etc. You se ho the cost could add up! Some rubberized cork and feathering adhesive quickly pays for itself. I use my disk for getting flat surfaces super flat. I'll be polishing soem titanium today on the disk grinder actually! It does a fast job of getting titanium real shiny

 

[Eric T. Maier]

I've been looking at the 2 x 42 with a 6" disk Craftsman grinders too. It's on sale right now for $119.00.

Eric

 

[Alan Folts]

Be carefull when buying a belt grinder that is built for wood. The 2x42's are direct drive if I remember right, like a bench grinder motor with belt on one side and disk on the other. Those are okay. I bought a Craftsman 4x36 once with a side disk just for flattening things out. The bad point to them is the belt is driven off of a cogged belt, not a v belt, so when you stop the belt, the metal pulley on the motor strips all the coggs off the belt. Price of grinder $100, price of belt $20, taking it back to sears, Priceless.

Alan Folts

 

[MeDoctor]

Price of grinder $100, price of belt $20, taking it back to sears, Priceless.

Alan Folts

ROTFL!

My wife bought me one of their 4x36 machines for Christmas -- clearance priced at $79. I'll keep your comment in mind if it shows an inordinate appetite for drive belts...

Shalom,
Mark