Pros and cons of grinders greater than 72"

[CUTS LIKE A KRIS]

My 4x36" grinder recently bit the dust after using it since 2005, and while looking online I came across a 48" belt sander. I called the owner and he let me know it was 220v 4x48" with a 3HP motor. Unfortunately I don't have 220 in my garage, so that is out of the question. He told me he did have a variable sized belt sander with 3/4hp GE motor on it, running on 110v (thought it was 1720rpm). The only unknown is the length of the belt- he assumed it was around 10' on longest setting. He has a smaller 1/3hp disc grinder and power hacksaw (his grandfathers- really wanting to check this out)at a decent price, so I will probably check everything out.

I was just wondering what possible cons (and pros)there were to a longer belt on a 3/4hp motor (cost of belts/scarcity parts?....). He wasn't sure of the width, I'm assuming 4". Is there any reason to/advice on running 2" belts on a 4" frame, or on a longer belt is the extra width less of an issue. My other option is a 42" craftsman, I haven't seen any locally online, so I would be paying full new prices. Of course more info is needed, but anything I can be aware of ahead of time, or questions I need to ask will be more power to me.

Any advice is welcome, I have never used anything except my 4x36, and funds aren't enough to finish the no weld grinder frame I worked for, so I am looking for an intermediate step, and was thinking perhaps the 3/4hp motor could be scavenged for the no weld as well. Nothing will be a perfect setup, but I'm a hobbist getting back after 2 years of not making, and having my grinder die as I have projects on the table really did not make me happy. Luckily I don't have any orders upcoming until Feb and April, but the shop calls me.
Thanks
Kris

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Many folks run 2"X132" grinders. There are ones running belts as wide as 12" and as long as 240". My concern is that this one is running a 3/4HP motor. I suspect it is a glass edge grinder for a glass shop....and not any real use to you unless it is less than $100.

Pros - Cooler running and longer belt life. Usually run a good size motor on an industrial machine.
Cons - More expensive belts. Selection harder to find without going to places like Klingspor. Often very heavy.

 

[CUTS LIKE A KRIS]

Thank you for your reply Stacy. I meant to respond yesterday but the day got away from me. I picked up the belt sander, power hacksaw and 8" disc. The belt sander wasn't on a rigid metal frame, but was set up on an adjustable wood frame. For $70 it was cheaper than any motors I've found locally online (1 Hp rather than the 3/4 he listed it as). I tried out the disc last night on a padauk tabletop I'm making for my office at work and it wouldn't bog down even with heavy pressure. And the power hacksaw is just neat, I really like the old stuff.

Some quick pictures from this morning.

I hope I did decently with the new additions.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Well, at least it is new to you. For the money, the deal was OK, but it isn't going to do am lot in a knife shop, beyond sanding some wood on the disc.

I'll be straight about what you got:
The saw is an old beast. I haven't seen one of those in a while. Keep fingers and hands away from the stroke and drive parts.
The disc sander will work for wood, but the open frame is not a great match for metal dust. Blow it out regularly.
The belt sander is really jury-rig-homemade. About the only usable thing is the motor.

 

[CUTS LIKE A KRIS]

The motor is the main reason I got the belt rig, he did have it set up so I know it worked, and I didn't break the bank with it so I can look at other options right now. I had a feeling that the open motor on the disc may have been a bit problematic, but for the money it will be useful for me outside of knifemaking as well. And I will put nothing near the saw when it is running- my mom lost fingers and mangled the rest in a PTO/swather incident, and I don't want to be like her!!

Thanks for shooting straight with me, I appreciate it more than a 'good haul' type of response. This is for spare time and learning for my future knifemaking, and should suffice for now at least.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Lots of good useful stuff, and a good deal at $70......"good haul "

 

[Drew Riley]

Do you have any scrap yards or fab shops near where you live? I would think you'd be able to build a NWGS frame for less than 100 bucks easy.

 

[catcalls]

Is there any way to cover the moter in a sealed container as you would with an unprotected vfd?

 

[Drew Riley]

Is there any way to cover the moter in a sealed container as you would with an unprotected vfd?

Easiest thing to do is wrap a mesh filter around the openings with some rubber bands or duct tape and blow it off/change it every now an then. You could theoretically build an enclosure I suppose, but you'd have to have some built in way of maintaining air circulation to keep the motor cooled.