Kalamazoo belt sander

R

RoMo

Joined
Oct 12, 2007
Messages
97
I have had my sander for maybe six months. When I ordered it, I also ordered some different size grit belts. There was a belt that came with my sander that I have never used, simply because I couldn't see a grit size anywhere on the belt.
Does anyone know what size belt is shipped with the sander?
Thanks for your help.

Romo
 
Mine came with a 50, although some people's have come with an 80, I've heard. I don't bother myself too much with the numbered grit, they wear down fast anyway. I just kind of thumb my way through the belts until I find the one that feels about like the cut I want to make. I've only had to use my 50 once so far, although I use a 120 all the time, and an 80 fairly frequently.
 
I was thinking about buying a Kalamazoo, heard nothing but good thinks about them. Would you guys buy something else now that you have owned the Kalamazoo for a while?

Sorry for getting off topic.
 
Nope, I'd buy it again in a heartbeat. It works absolutely tremendously, the only thing I'd consider upgrading to might be a Bader or something else like that in the $2K range. Incidentally, ENCO is having a 20% off sale right now...
 
Thanks Komitadjie, I will check out ENCO right now. The 2K range grinder is a non-starter for me :).
 
Yup, that's why I ended up with the Kalamazoo. Some day I'd love a Bader BIII, but the 10X price difference sets it a tad out of my range at the moment. :D
 
Great belt grinder and have used it for years. Tracking is so easy. Also have 25 micron belts and leather for that final finish.
 
I have no idea how they get that tracking to run so smoothly, but it's good enough that I mostly just ignore mine. If the belt's *mostly* on both wheels, it jumps right to centre as soon as you turn the power on. Even my SurgiSharp belts track well. If it's not QUITE perfect, just give the top guard a thump with your palm in the direction you want the belt to track, and it obligingly goes right about where you want it.
 
I love mine. Lots of steel dust on the garage floor.
 
Have you tried grinding a blade yet, Charlie? That's on my to-do list, I think it'll do the job just fine if I take my time and get a big, ugly belt.
 
I've been grinding quite a few lately...

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I am buying one from enco come payday. Hopefully, I can catch the $219 special but if I can't so be it, I'm still buying one. I will also buy the belts you guys wrote about in the above posts.
 
You WON'T be disappointed, I'd buy mine again in a heartbeat.

For a decent set of inexpensive belts, I'd head over to EconAbrasives. Grab a couple belts each in 180, 320, 400, and one in 15u. Also grab a couple of their SurgiSharp leather belts, and a pound block each of "Extra Fine" green compound, and "Ultra Fine" white compound. By the time it comes off of that combination, that thing will be so viciously sharp that it's hard to believe. :D
 
i second the above. I don't even own any sharpening stones anymore.
 
Hey, what size did you guys get, the 1" belt or 2" belt?

Been thinking about getting one, but I'm not sure which one I should go with. The 1" is obviously more affordable, but that seems like a pretty thin belt to try and grind out a knife with???

edit: Been looking around a little more and hopped over to the Enco syte, are you guys using the $2,800.00 belt sanders???
That's a bit more than I was hoping to spend, so I'm hoping to hear some good things about their more affordable models. :)
 
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If your primary intent is to grind knives, then even the 2" is a bit under-par, it only has a half-horse motor. Most of the knife-making grinders (Baldor, Burr King) have a 1.5 or a 2hp motor, running a 72" belt. For sharpening, the 1" is really, REALLY hard to beat. As in, I don't know if anyone makes something that beats it in belt grinders. Maybe a really nice Burr King...
 
Komitadjie said:
If your primary intent is to grind knives, then even the 2" is a bit under-par, it only has a half-horse motor. Most of the knife-making grinders (Baldor, Burr King) have a 1.5 or a 2hp motor, running a 72" belt. For sharpening, the 1" is really, REALLY hard to beat. As in, I don't know if anyone makes something that beats it in belt grinders. Maybe a really nice Burr King...
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'd love to have a nice Burr king! ...just not ready to pay that much just yet. :(

So, should I assume that most of the guys on this thread are using the 1" x 42" Kalamazoo? ...and mostly just for sharpening?
 
It's the one I have, and the one I've seen most frequently spoken of. That's not to say that you CAN'T grind a blade on it, just that it's probably not the machine you should be going for if that's your primary intent. :)
 
Komitadjie said:
Mine came with a 50, although some people's have come with an 80, I've heard. I don't bother myself too much with the numbered grit, they wear down fast anyway. I just kind of thumb my way through the belts until I find the one that feels about like the cut I want to make. I've only had to use my 50 once so far, although I use a 120 all the time, and an 80 fairly frequently.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I knew it was a course grit, but didn't know exactly how course.
I also use the 1 X 42. I feel that this is the one that most are using.

Romo
 
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Well, there is just about every grit you could ever want made in it, and they last a fair bit longer than the 30" ones, given the additional half the surface area that they offer.
 
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