Surface grinder belt conversion question

[killthelights]

I have an old Delta Toolmaker i want to convert to run belts. Would this be a good option for the grinding wheel?

 

[Busto]

The Conversions I've seen use a 2" wide wheel to take advantage of 2" wide belts most use on belt grinders. 1.25" wide wheel means you will have to split belts.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

He can order belts in 1" and 1.25" to run on that wheel. There is considerable advantage to running a narrower belt or wheel on a surface grinder. I don't recall ever seeing a 2" surface grinder wheel. Most are less than 1"
However, I agree that most knifemaker folks use 2" so they can buy the same size belt as their grinders use..

 

[Busto]

He can order belts in 1" and 1.25" to run on that wheel. There is considerable advantage to running a narrower belt or wheel on a surface grinder. I don't recall ever seeing a 2" surface grinder wheel. Most are less than 1"
However, I agree that most knifemaker folks use 2" so they can buy the same size belt as their grinders use..

The conversions I've seen have been 2". I still run stones on the shop surface grinder, but we're doing more precision machining work than just knives.

 

[killthelights]

He can order belts in 1" and 1.25" to run on that wheel. There is considerable advantage to running a narrower belt or wheel on a surface grinder. I don't recall ever seeing a 2" surface grinder wheel. Most are less than 1"
However, I agree that most knifemaker folks use 2" so they can buy the same size belt as their grinders use..

Right. I plan on just splitting 2" belts

The conversions I've seen have been 2". I still run stones on the shop surface grinder, but we're doing more precision machining work than just knives.

I don't need that much precision, the ease and convenience of belts outway stones. That aside is this a wheel that would work well for that purpose? Or should I get a scalloped wheel from Contact Rubber Corp?

 

[Drew Riley]

Will your wheel hub fit a 1.25" thick wheel? You may have to thin down the center on a lathe in order to get it to fit. I believe their wheels are only rated up to 800 RPM as well. Their website instructs you to call if you have higher RPM requirements.

When I did my conversion years ago, I had a wheel made by CRC with a 1/2" web. It was also serrated, though I wonder if I wouldn't get a slightly better finish with a smooth.

 

[killthelights]

Will your wheel hub fit a 1.25" thick wheel? You may have to thin down the center on a lathe in order to get it to fit. I believe their wheels are only rated up to 800 RPM as well. Their website instructs you to call if you have higher RPM requirements.

When I did my conversion years ago, I had a wheel made by CRC with a 1/2" web. It was also serrated, though I wonder if I wouldn't get a slightly better fin

Yeah the hub will support it no problem but i did forget about the RPM issue. Better go with CRC and the serrated custom wheel. Thanks!

 

[Nathan the Machinist]

For this application, ideally the wheel is wider than the belt. A solid metal wheel works.

 

[killthelights]

For this application, ideally the wheel is wider than the belt. A solid metal wheel works.

Yes sir. I plan on running 1" belts so I ordered a 1 1/4" wheel that's 95a duro. For what I'm using it for it should be precise enough. Don't know why I didn't think of using a metal wheel. Probably would have been cheaper, though.