Making a Belt Grinder

bpiatt

bpiatt

Joined
Jun 17, 2010
Messages
644
Hey everyone!

I have been wanting to get into Stock Removal knife making for a long time. I have spent countless hours reading all of the wonderful information you consistently post on a daily basis. I am currently working on getting the equipment I need to make knives at an affordable price. So far I have a band saw I got for free and have a 40 dollar HF 1x30 Belt grinder. I am lucky enough to have a local metal supplier and I do not plan on doing my own heat treating.

I can not afford a nice KMG belt grinder or even a Coote so I am looking to make my own. I know many of you have done this and I am looking to you for help. Do any of you have design plans or something I could use to base my design off of? I never never made anything like this before. What type of motor should I use? I would like it to use 2"x72" belts as they are most common locally. Is it neccessary to have adjustable RPM? If not what should my RPM be set at?

Also, I am having trouble finding fine belts for the 1"x30" belt grinder. The finest I can find is 120 grit. I have found fine belts from www.theedgemasters.com but they want 8 dollars a piece plus shipping which seems pretty expensive. Anyone know where they can be found for a better price?

Thank you for your time!

-Ben
 
There are a few I can suggest, first if you to have the ability to cut it out there is the eerf grinder plans here http://wilmontgrinders.com/EERFGrinder.aspx
And then if you can't cut it out yourself there is the Grinder in a Box kits being sold here http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=720299

Then there is the No Weld Grinder plans here http://www.usaknifemaker.com/plans-for-the-no-weld-grinder-sander-nearly-50-pages-p-723.html

The end cost will depend on how you set them up, wheels motors step pulley drive or direct drive with VFD.
I went with the Grinder in a Box and am building it up with direct drive and a VFD. When all is said and done I will have about $1200, but I get to build it as I have the money, should be a 4-6 month project for me.

As for belts for your 30X1 try lee valley tools that is where I get mine from, there are other suppliers I just can't think of them off hand
 
bpiatt said:
Hey everyone!

I know many of you have done this and I am looking to you for help. Do any of you have design plans or something I could use to base my design off of?

What type of motor should I use?

Is it necessary to have adjustable RPM? If not what should my RPM be set at?
Click to expand...

The plans linked to above are the ones I would have linked to.

Yes you need adjustable speed.
I can't think of any one thing that has helped me more.

You have 2 options to get there.

If you have a direct drive grinder
Bader, EERF,
use a aVFD and 3 phase motor.
Use a 220v 3 phase, TEFC, 56C frame, 3400rpm
I say 1 hp minimum, other people like more power.

If you have a pulley and belt drive
KMG, NWG
use stepped pulleys
110 or 220 v single phase motor, TEFC, any frame with a baseplate, 1700 rpm

The difference in RPM on the step pulley is because the pulleys not only have slow down steps, they have speed up steps, they will work out to the same belt speed.

You can save some $ by using step pulleys, if you have to buy everything.
If you can round up motors or some things for free, that may be even cheaper, but the control of a twisty knob is nice to have.
 
I get my belts from trugrit - great guys to deal with, excellent prices, fast shipping and even have things like scotchbrite belts and leather belts which come in handy. Good luck. I have wanted to build a grinder for a while now, just haven't had the funds to put one together!
 
Thank you all very much for the much needed information. I am going to attempt this project here: http://www.dfoggknives.com/PDF/GrinderPlans.pdf

I think I actually have an old 1.5hp single speed motor at work that isnt being used. I am sure my boss would let me have it. I plan to use pulleys so I am able to vary my speed. This is going to be a fun project. I am going to take pictures each step of the way and show you guys the progress im making. I plan to start next weekend if things arent too busy.

Thanks again everyone!
 
Here's a new set of plans. Starting with Dan's files, I merged them, added some touches seen on Polar Bear Forge, and a platen, toolrest, and other tweaks. I just finished them 5 minutes ago. My local laser cutter charges per piece layed out, so I put them all in one piece that can be cut from a 12"x42" piece of plate. One setup charge rather than 15 setups.
 

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for belts for the 1"x30" try supergrit, trugrit and lee valley. much cheaper than $8 each and at least up to 600 grit.
 
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