I received my 2 X 10 X 72 Coote Monday a week ago. I have piddled about putting the drive train together and though the base for the motor and grinder is not how I want it to be it is enough to do some testing. (For those unaware, the Coote does not come with a motor).
The Coote came in a nice Navy gray and well finished. I like that because of my experience at Newport News Shipbuilding during the Reagon years. Navy gray is very easy to look at, especially for me.
I tested my Coote setup a little this evening by putting a rather large hunk of unknown steel type to her. I wanted primarily to see if, under load, my DC motor would bogg down, my DC drive would over current, and if the Coote would continue to track. I applied the steel cautiously at first and with more confidence really shoved it in a few times. All did just fine. There was no noticable change in tracking while applying the steel to the flat platen. No speed difference was noticed while loading the grinder with the work piece. There was a small shift in tracking while moving the work piece on and across the tool rest but the belt returned to home immediately upon removing the work piece. That I thought understandable and was expected. I did notice grinding on the hard flat platen seemed to cause a lot of chatter. Some of that is probably because I do not yet know what speed to run the motor at, but I think when I attach the graphite stip that Pop (Pop's Knife Supply) sent me - to the flat platen it will cushon the chatter somewhat. Although I have only tried one belt, the sample 120 grit belt that came with the grinder, removing and installing the belt is very easy and very quick. For now, except for letting the system free run for an extended period to check for over heating (successful), I have not ground that much with her yet.
Testing like I have is not at all like actually grinding a blade. Only then will I know how well she really performs. For now, I am pleased very much with the Coote. One thing is there is no way I see built into the machine for tightening of worn belts. Rhino advised me of this before I bought the Coote and also said that Norman Coote has, upon Rhino's recommendation to him, a modification or option for that. I do however believe that situation can be resolved in-house if needed, and it may well be.
In passing: I thank L6 for advising me to build my own 2 X 72 (I am building part of it), Rhino for recommending the Coote ( http://www.cootebeltgrinder.com/ ) over equal to price and less expensive models, Itrade for directing me to a good source for a DC motor ( http://www.sciplus.com/category.cfm?subsection=18&category=174 ) and all those on this forum that advised me as to what size drive wheel to aquire (10 inch instead of 8 inch - for hollow grinding). I am very pleased with my choices that were based largely upon your recommendations.
Roger
The Coote came in a nice Navy gray and well finished. I like that because of my experience at Newport News Shipbuilding during the Reagon years. Navy gray is very easy to look at, especially for me.
I tested my Coote setup a little this evening by putting a rather large hunk of unknown steel type to her. I wanted primarily to see if, under load, my DC motor would bogg down, my DC drive would over current, and if the Coote would continue to track. I applied the steel cautiously at first and with more confidence really shoved it in a few times. All did just fine. There was no noticable change in tracking while applying the steel to the flat platen. No speed difference was noticed while loading the grinder with the work piece. There was a small shift in tracking while moving the work piece on and across the tool rest but the belt returned to home immediately upon removing the work piece. That I thought understandable and was expected. I did notice grinding on the hard flat platen seemed to cause a lot of chatter. Some of that is probably because I do not yet know what speed to run the motor at, but I think when I attach the graphite stip that Pop (Pop's Knife Supply) sent me - to the flat platen it will cushon the chatter somewhat. Although I have only tried one belt, the sample 120 grit belt that came with the grinder, removing and installing the belt is very easy and very quick. For now, except for letting the system free run for an extended period to check for over heating (successful), I have not ground that much with her yet.
Testing like I have is not at all like actually grinding a blade. Only then will I know how well she really performs. For now, I am pleased very much with the Coote. One thing is there is no way I see built into the machine for tightening of worn belts. Rhino advised me of this before I bought the Coote and also said that Norman Coote has, upon Rhino's recommendation to him, a modification or option for that. I do however believe that situation can be resolved in-house if needed, and it may well be.
In passing: I thank L6 for advising me to build my own 2 X 72 (I am building part of it), Rhino for recommending the Coote ( http://www.cootebeltgrinder.com/ ) over equal to price and less expensive models, Itrade for directing me to a good source for a DC motor ( http://www.sciplus.com/category.cfm?subsection=18&category=174 ) and all those on this forum that advised me as to what size drive wheel to aquire (10 inch instead of 8 inch - for hollow grinding). I am very pleased with my choices that were based largely upon your recommendations.
Roger
