Time to get serious! Seriously CHEAP!

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Get Sharp

Joined
Jan 12, 2015
Messages
15
So I have been sharpening now for a year and a half professionally using a work sharp, edge pro, and cotton buffing wheel attached to a dryer motor. My work sharp seized and thought this would be a great time to step up my game as it is just too slow to make money to support myself and family. What I would like to do is go door to door and be able to sharpen out of the back of my van. I was looking at some Dc to AC converters to be able to run anything I may need. (if any one has had any that worked great please say.) Now money is tight so I'm wondering is it feasible to do this with a harbor freight 1x32 and a harbor freight 3/4 hp 8 in bench grinder (mods necessarily? I know the platform is shit but what else?) , some array of belts and some paper and leather wheels. would you need any thing else door to door?
 
With the HF 1x30 I would run 80 and 120 grit Norton blaze belts. For the grinder I would use a fine scotch brite wheel and leather wheel to finish.
 
Wow those belts are great. Now as far as the Sharp machine seems like I should just build my own custom nwg. As i am going to build it into the back of my van on a track. Also seems like I would still need to make or buy a Platen and wouldn't i still need the bench grinder for paper wheels and should it have adjustable speed? Any suggestions for a motor?
 
I just ordered a Viel S-5-M 1x42 to replace my HF 1x30. I heard a lot of good things about them and the price is right. I have spoke to Viel numerous times over the phone and their customer service has been excellent.
I have plans for modifying their knife guide to create a sharpening jig. Also ordered a bunch of belts from Tru-Grit including a Surgi sharp leather belt.
 
I ordered the angle guide but I'm going to modify it so the spine rides on a ledge on the inside that I will add. This will keep the blade from wandering while in contact with the belt. I will also reverse the rotation of the belt.
When I'm all set up I will post some pics with my thoughts on the system.
 
Hi for a lot of years I sharpened out of the back of a van at restaurants.They would let me use a long extension cord for electric.Papers wheels are about as easy as it gets for speedy finishing. Motor speed from 1750 rpm to 3600 rpm works fine.This may help you till you get money up for generator or other system for power.If you need help with paper wheels I've been using them since 1984.Belt sander with blaze belts work really fast.Paper finishing wheels are reasonably priced and easy to maintained.I used a 10" wheels at 3600 rpm .You can sharpen 15 to 20 knives in about 30 minutes once you get it down.
 
FTR-14c said:
I ordered the angle guide but I'm going to modify it so the spine rides on a ledge on the inside that I will add. This will keep the blade from wandering while in contact with the belt. I will also reverse the rotation of the belt.
When I'm all set up I will post some pics with my thoughts on the system.
Click to expand...
Did you purchase the Viel? This post has been a while, so if you did you got some experience with it. Would like to hear about it if so.
 
Get Sharp said:
I was looking at some Dc to AC converters to be able to run anything I may need. (if any one has had any that worked great please say.
Click to expand...

It was about ten years ago that I bought a Harbor Freight converter to put in my van so I could run things like soldering irons and a small drill motor. I bought a converter substantially larger than the capacity of a drill motor. Sorry, but I don't recall the specs. It was fine for slow stuff, but if I drilled fast or put any load on a drill, then the converter would choke. Sorry I can't tell you WHAT to get, just beware of going too small.
 
Might be more than you're willing to spend, but the Multitool 2x48 adapter for 8" bench grinder is a nice setup. It leaves the other side free for paper wheel, etc (I have a sisal wheel for deburring.
 
I've had good luck with some belts from Amazon. The Red Label Abrasives, https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B06W55VZYF/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 with my HF belt sander. I just wanted a cheap belt sander for sharpening, light woodworking, basic stuff and it's working pretty well. Not sure how long it would last with as frequent of use as you're looking at though.

Get an inverter that can handle more than you're going to have. And make sure it has good cooling. Don't block the fans.
You might want to look at upgrading your battery to one with a larger reserve, and a dual use would be a good idea. Ones that can handle a deeper discharge without damage than a standard starting battery. Or you could invest in a separate deep cycle battery, battery box, and some sort of charger that draws power from your vehicle's alternator.
You don't want to kill your van's battery, or shorten it's lifespan.
 
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