Who removes their sander platen from their 1x42 Kalamazoo?

[straightShot]

The first thing that I did when I received my Kalamazoo 1x42" belt sander was to remove the platen that came with it. At the time, I thought that it would give me more room, make it easier to see the blade angle and contact point, and make it easier two swap between multiple belts and my strops. It has worked fine for me to date. Looking back, I wonder if it would have been any better if I had left it on. I probably should have tried it both ways.

Has anyone left their platen intact on their sander? If you have tried both leaving it on and removing it, does it give you more options when sharpening and doing other things if it's left on? I still have the metal pieces laying on a shelf and was wondering if there was a benefit to reattaching them to my sharpener.

 

[Noctis3880]

I upgraded mine. There was a member of a different knife forum that would do a simple modification to it at a small fee that made it easier to use without blocking your hand.

 

[kn4wd]

I have the viel 1x42, and 2 2x72 a kmg and bader, the platens are on all them unless I do a hollow grind. I added ceramic glass to make it flatter. I do mostly flat grinds because its my preference, most who have my knives like the flat over the hollow grinds. the slack belt gives more to convex grinds.

 

[stevep]

i am new to the kalamazoo but i did leave mine on. when i press the blade up against it to sharpen it feels like i am going to tear up the belt but it never does. i like the slack belt better. the platen does get in the way the way it is. i am thinking of cutting it down a bit in size. the sander has given me hours of fun on my old knives and swords.

 

[straightShot]

I upgraded mine. There was a member of a different knife forum that would do a simple modification to it at a small fee that made it easier to use without blocking your hand.

What does the modification look like?

 

[pjwoolw]

Here is a pic of mine. Its taller than the standard offering.

 

[straightShot]

Here is a pic of mine. Its taller than the standard offering.

View attachment 602921

Nice.

 

[Charlie Mike]

I left mine on. Came in handy for hogging.

 

[lukus]

I have a 1x42 with the platen removed that I use just for handle shaping. The narrower belts and slack grinding make roundy curves in the handles easier. I don't really like convex grinds on knives (hatchets and axes sure, but not for knives), so a platen on the grinder is for grinding blades and flats.