slack belt technique

rfrink

rfrink

Joined
Aug 1, 2000
Messages
863
I recently had a very nice senior gentleman over to the shop who wanted to test drive a grinder. He was only interested in a slackbelt attachment as he was a "pipe maker"(tobacco), and used the belt sander/grinder for shaping pipes.

I found his sanding technique very interesting..... using a slack belt attachment, he ran the sander slow and pinched the belt between his finger and the work piece....He had a finger behind the belt that he used to squeeze the belt into the work. In a few minutes, he turned a simply block of wood into a traditional looking tobacco pipe.

His skill and wisdom was incredible...as well as his craftmanship. In the end, he didn't buy a grinder from me but certainly left me with the pleasure of meeting him and watching him work.....priceless!

I don't recommend the technique...(due to the hazard of getting your finger caught between the lower roller and the belt).....but I felt like sharing it with my experience.

Take care,
Rob
 
What! You're not going to start selling the PMG (Pipe Makers Grinder) now? Sounds like a neat experience, thanks for sharing. :)
 
Did he wear a glove on the push hand? Very interesting story and method of work.
 
No gloves. He used both hands swithing the work piece from hand to hand and switching the fingers behind the belt from hand to hand also. So if he had the workpiece in his righthand, then his fingers on his left hand were behind the belt. Both hands were constantly moving as they were nearly cupped together. The belt was about 120 grit and the belt speed was slow....maybe 500-700 sfpm..

Rob
 
I never even considered that technique, and find it truly interesting. You were visited by one knowledgable artist. Thanks for sharing!
 
It sounds like a variation on an old wood working tecnique for sanding large panels. The panel rested on a movable table and a large slack belt (10 feet or so between rollers) was suspended over the work. A block of wood with a handle was used, kinda like an steam iron, to push the sandpaper onto the panel. An experenced cabentmaker could touch sand a large panel dead flat. The invention of wide belt/drum sanders made the skill obsolete.

Never would of thought if it for making a pipe or a knife handle.
 
Rob,
Thanks for sharing. Great story and it's always nice to learn a new way to use a machine.
Regards,
Greg
 
rob, i shape my handles by slack belt and do the finish work to 400 600 grit with that very same technic of placing my first two fingers behind the belt and my thunb pushing the work into the belt with my fingers behind. Hermes superflex belts work great for this. i rub some grafphite on my fingers to cool them down. i love it, and my fingers have only go around the contact wheel a couple of times :D
 
Hmmm, it strikes me that you could make a slack belt grinding arrangement that would have a built in tether that your fingers slipped into that would keep them from getting sucked into the contact wheel but still allow them to move freely for 5 or 6 inches. Maybe I'll take the platen off my KMG and give it a try one day when I'm feeling especially alert and after I get that variable speed motor.
 
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