Recommend a good belt sander?

H

Happy Face

Joined
Jul 4, 2010
Messages
49
All the "preferred" or even "cheap" (Don't know how some people can say that with a straight face) belt sanders are well over $500.

I've heard about, say, these mastercraft sanders:
0553559_1


And I've also heard about how much they totally suck.
Is anyone here using a sub-$200, preferably under $150 range sander and having good results?
I'm thinking about getting this grinder. Anyone have experience with it?
Link
 
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What are you wanting to do with it? The type you have shown is going to be tough to grind knives with and possibly very irritating for you.

Now, if you are looking for a belt sander like the picture for other reasons (scales, etc...) I would recommend Craigslist for one. Here in the DFW area I see them all the time for 100 -200.

If you are looking for a belt GRINDER for knife making I would suggest Kalamazoo, or Grizzly for an affordable 2" x XX (XX = belt length) grinder.

Edit: Forgot to mention, you will NOT find a QUALITY belt grinder in the price range you are looking at...

Charlie
 
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well, i use a ryobi just about identical to that. i think it was under 120 or out the door.

good results is relative to my abilities, and of course there are limitations to such a grinder in doing things like plunge lines, but if you have other used for one anyway, it'll get you by.

always get the best you can afford, to the extent that it meets your needs.
 
See, I posted about another model, but someone showed me a post containing the same machine telling me what a failure it was, so I don't know what to do.
 
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some machines are just cheap, barely work and will always be that way. others are cheap, inconsistent and will sometimes be fine and other times be junk.

the common factor here is cheap, so if you can't do better than cheap, you have to spin the wheel or wait til you've got a bigger budget.
 
Happy Face,

TELL us what you want to do... THEN we can advise on sanders/grinders...

Do you want to grind blades or are you looking for a sander that can work scales and such?

IMO, the SANDER you have posted will not be a good choice as a first GRINDER for knives... Grinder = metal work... Sander = wood

Charlie
 
I have a Grizzly that I use for metal, and one of the harbor freight which is just like the one you showed for small changes to wood. I can reach out and stop the belt with my bare hand any time I want. It can barely sand my fingernails, but it is good for some polishing and flattening of wood.

The Grizzly knife-makers belt grinder, with a couple of specific and easy modifications, is a really good knife grinder (for the price, most especially). It is about the most economical way to get an industrial style grinder.

It is far from "the best" those would be kmg, bader, or maybe the new rotating thing that is both horizontal and vertical (and about 4k) that Travis W. makes... don't know.
I hope some day to get a Bader or kmg or clone... but I can't pay for it with what I make selling my stuff yet (even though my stuff is coming along ok, I don't earn enough to save the amount over what I pay for other supplies just yet... getting there...).

hope this helps,

kevin
 
Go look at the grinder in a box thread. If you have a bit of a shop already, such as a drill press and some hand taps, that's a pretty good way to go for a cheap, DIY versatilely designed grinder. You could probably squeak in under $600 to get one and set it up with a motor and contact wheel/platen if you hunt around for stuff.
 
Nobody mentioned the craftsman 2x42 yet. Around $140 dollars. Decent belt selection at trugrit and supergrit. Lightning fast. Crappy factory platen. Underpowered. Definitely your best bet. I've made about 105 knives on mine so far. It has limitations for sure, but it's cheap.
 
You've made 105 knives, or 105 sharpened files?

I'm pretty sure sharpening an actual blank of steel on that would be much different from sharpening a file...
 
I use the craftsman 2x42 with a tempered glass sheet glued on the platen. It works, it's not perfect but it works. I use a Hitachi similar to the one in the OP for some work, but it's a pain in the butt for the bevels so it mostly gets used for some rough profiling and handle work.
 
Happy Face said:
You've made 105 knives, or 105 sharpened files?

I'm pretty sure sharpening an actual blank of steel on that would be much different from sharpening a file...
Click to expand...

Donnies-Camera-083-e1287239139684.jpg

show-leftovers-001-e1288052256361.jpg


Wise guy, eh? These all came off my craftsman. In the first picture is a blade forged from a leaf spring, one from 440C bar stock, and one from D2 bar stock. Second picture is 1080. The machine has its limitations, and they're likely visible in the knives I've posted, but you're the one asking about a cheap grinder. I outlined its limitations, and it is what it is. No need to be snooty about it.
 
Wow, I think those are some great looking knives!!:thumbup: Nice work, especially considering the machine you ground them on. Your handles are beautiful.

jkf96a said:
Donnies-Camera-083-e1287239139684.jpg

show-leftovers-001-e1288052256361.jpg


Wise guy, eh? These all came off my craftsman. In the first picture is a blade forged from a leaf spring, one from 440C bar stock, and one from D2 bar stock. Second picture is 1080. The machine has its limitations, and they're likely visible in the knives I've posted, but you're the one asking about a cheap grinder. I outlined its limitations, and it is what it is. No need to be snooty about it.
Click to expand...
 
I have a homebuilt belt grinder with about $1500 in parts. For me good tools are needed for speed and to keep me from wearing out my hands. You should buy the very best tools you can afford. Remember if you buy a cheap grinder you have a cheap grinder. My first grinder is a BurrKing that costs me $1200. I cashed in my life insurance just to buy it. After 15 years it works like new and is worth more than I paid for it.
All that said, the little grinder you posted has a 6 disc on it. I bought one exactly like it and only use the disc. The 4" belt is awkward to use IMO but the disc and adjustable table is extremely accurate and if it blew up today I'd go get another one.
 
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jkf96a said:
Wise guy, eh? These all came off my craftsman. In the first picture is a blade forged from a leaf spring, one from 440C bar stock, and one from D2 bar stock. Second picture is 1080. The machine has its limitations, and they're likely visible in the knives I've posted, but you're the one asking about a cheap grinder. I outlined its limitations, and it is what it is. No need to be snooty about it.
Click to expand...
I'm not being snooty. You seem to be offended though. All I said was sharpening a file is probably different from sharpening a knife out of a cutout stock. And therefore, I wanted to know if was good.
 
Go with a Craftsman 2X42. Its really the only choice in your price range unless you can put together a homemade one for cheaper.

Pros:
Decent selection of belts on trugrit.com or supergrit.com
Cheap (around $120)

Cons:
Runs crazy fast (3500 rpm)
Underpowered

But you can still make some very nice knives, Jonnymac44 is living proof!
 
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Alright, thanks to all of you, especially an apology to jkf96a, I didn't mean to insult you. It wasn't my intention at all, I guess I just assumed my post wasn't mean.
 
Sorry I took offense. I just spent a weekend at a knife show next to a guy who was talking about how he wants a Weurtz grinder to go with his two Bader III's, so I'm a little too defensive about my cheap grinder.
 
In my own personal opinion get Wayne Goddards book "The $50 Knife Shop" it has alot of ways to get started cheaply if you know what your doing. Go to a scrap yard get a used electric motor. (A sealed motor will last longer) Order the contact wheels, IT'S A VERY BAD IDEA TO MAKE THEM. Look up plans on ebay or on yahoo on how to build a homeade belt grinder. If not you can get the book for $13.99 from Books A Million or another book store, i.e. You can make one for around 300 bucks or spend $3,000 on a good custom built one that will last a good while. I'd make one to start off with unless you've got 3 grand sitting in the bank with no use.
 
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