Ultimate belt sander for sharpening?

I looked at that before buying the Delta. If I'd wanted to march up the ladder that is the one I'd have stopped at. But it's 200 bucks while the Delta is a hundred. I got another belt sander with the money I saved, a 4 by 36 variable speed. So for the same 200, I have two belt sanders. For my limited non industrial uses, I think I made good choices. But of course, wonderful tools are always admired, and the made in America Kalamazoo's are pretty darn neat.


munk
 
That would be a nice little rig but by the time a person bought all the extras for it they could buy a full sized 2" X 72" Grizzly. Of course with the Grizz you would need the skills that the attachments make up for.
Then again that small wheel would be helpful in some areas unlike the Grizz's large one's.
The Kal would also be useful if a person doesn't have much room.
Advantages to both, just have to weigh options.;) :D
 
Yvsa said:
That would be a nice little rig but by the time a person bought all the extras for it they could buy a full sized 2" X 72" Grizzly.
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I was thinking the same thing. My friend has the grizzly and it is a fine machine for the price. With a 2x72 you can sharpen plus it has the power to use it for a lot of other things.

One sometimes overlooked advantage of a 2x72 belt grinder is the huge selection of belts for it. You can get anything from 36 grit metal hogging super ceramic belts to ultra-extra fine 3000 grit belts, and of course, specialty belts like the always useful "Scotch-brite" belt.
 
I'll have to agree that it is a start and good for sharpening and handle shaping but if you're thinking of doing any knife making you'll be looking at a 2"X72" unit with variable speed pretty quickly. I sure am :eek:
 
I remember buying my Delta 1x42 - thought I had way overspent. :rolleyes:

The Kalamazoo looked nice (still does), but like munk, I was sold on the Delta's low price.


That said...

Earlier today I was over at Tom Krein's place working on his $2600+ Dozier grinder...........*sigh* :(

Profiled a dozen or so knives this afternoon. Hearty lil' grinder. :D



I still have my Delta, over course - for sharpening. My KMG is on the fritz...a new drive should be here by Friday. :rolleyes: Such is life...




Oh, and I still recommend this one for true beginners:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=2485

02485.gif
 
It's good to see that the Harbor Freight gets the nod for beginners. I'm begging my wife for this one just about everyday. I've got a Harbor Freight right down in Norfolk so no shipping.

While we're on the subjuct where's a good place for the 1"x30" belts?


- D
 
From what I saw about the Harbor Frieght is that it's small enough and slow enough that a beginner isn't to apt to mess up a knife with it.

But with that said I still recommend going to a flea market or swap meet and picking up some $0.25 knives to practice on.

The area most folks have a problem with when sharpening is the point. You have to raise the handle of the knife to follow the point just like you do on a whetstone or you will end up with a sharpened blunt point.
A sharpened blunt point will slice but it won't pick a splinter out of your finger.:rolleyes: :p ;) :D
 
If a speed control will work on it without loosing torque I think a 1 X 42 is very handy. I use my old Rockwell all the time. I've got it geared down real slow. You have to use a slow grinder to appreciate what I mean. Much greater control, safer, quieter....
 
Sorry to resurrect this old thread, but I am completely confused on the purpose of these so called small wheel attachments for these grinders. Other grinders I have seen in BLADE mention wheels from 6 up to 14" in diameter. What is the purpose of these wheels? Why the different sizes?

Thanks for any info,

Norm

P.S. Ok I see the purpose of the _horizontal_ small wheel, but guess I am asking about different grinders I have seen where they mention different wheels. Does that regulate speed somehow?

For sharpening khuks and polishing handles and blades, am I better off with a 1X42 or should I just save up and cut to the chase and get the 2X72? I guess for grinding out blades the bigger one would work better, and I may do some of that eventually, but for now my concern is that a 2" would not be too wide to get into the inside curve of the knife down by the cho for sharpening. I would want a selection of lower and higher grit belts, a scotch brite belt and a leather belt as well.

Thanks.
 
I am glad you brought this thread back, I always enjoy reading and learning from the pros here
 
Svashtar said:
Sorry to resurrect this old thread, but I am completely confused on the purpose of these so called small wheel attachments for these grinders. Other grinders I have seen in BLADE mention wheels from 6 up to 14" in diameter. What is the purpose of these wheels? Why the different sizes?

Thanks for any info,

Norm

P.S. Ok I see the purpose of the _horizontal_ small wheel, but guess I am asking about different grinders I have seen where they mention different wheels. Does that regulate speed somehow?

For sharpening khuks and polishing handles and blades, am I better off with a 1X42 or should I just save up and cut to the chase and get the 2X72? I guess for grinding out blades the bigger one would work better, and I may do some of that eventually, but for now my concern is that a 2" would not be too wide to get into the inside curve of the knife down by the cho for sharpening. I would want a selection of lower and higher grit belts, a scotch brite belt and a leather belt as well.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

The small wheel on my 1X42 is used in a horizonal position and is great for edge work and if you need to get into a smaller radius. On the larger grinders where the small wheel works in a vertical position the different sized wheels allow for different concave radius not somthing you would be using for sharpening.

As for the size the 1X42 works great for khuks because of the blade shape.
 
frogfish said:
The small wheel on my 1X42 is used in a horizonal position and is great for edge work and if you need to get into a smaller radius. On the larger grinders where the small wheel works in a vertical position the different sized wheels allow for different concave radius not somthing you would be using for sharpening.

As for the size the 1X42 works great for khuks because of the blade shape.
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Yup, nailed it.:thumbup: :D
Only I would've said hollow grind.;)
Only if the drive belt diameter wheel is changed does it mean the speed will be changed.
 
Vampire Hunter D said:
While we're on the subjuct where's a good place for the 1"x30" belts?
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Lee Valley stocks the necessary ones, I believe - at least, 20 micron, 15 micron, and 9 micron, which covers 90% of my needs. I don't know if they have the leather belts in that size though. (I want to say that they do.)
 
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