Why 2" x 72" ?

P

Protactical

Joined
Aug 24, 2003
Messages
717
Having just spent a frustrating 3 days trying to find a walk-in source for 2x72 belts in a city of 3+ million, I can't help wonder why we rely on this size. A local ABS master smith, whose also a reduction guy, warned me to buy 2x48, well in the end, you want the same "everyone" else is using at the upper end. But any belts are easier to find than these. 2x48 and 2x60, even 2x108.

Did the first guy to market grinders to Knife guys figure you couldn't patent them, but figured specifying the oddest belt size would be the next best thing. Same goes for finding the machines.
 
I kinda see it the other way around.

I'm waiting on Rob to get one of these http://www.beaumontmetalworks.com/em-page1.html
finished. It is 2x48. He mentioned an extention to make it 2x72. I did some research and all the good belts that I use are not available in 2x48. For me, it's worth waiting on 2x72 machine since all the other grinders I have use that length.
BurrKing, Bador, KMG, Hardcore, SquareWheel all have 2x72 and all the knife suppliers have a huge variety of those belts.
I agree, locally none are available, but, they don't stock S30V either:)
I know your pain
 
Knifemakers use 2"X 72" belt grinders because more grits are available in that size than any other. They also last much longer than 2"X 48" belts.

Sometimes it is wiser to get better belts, even when they cost more up front.
Some belts, like those by 3M outlast the cheapies 20 to 1, so you save $$ in the long run.

These subjects have all been covered here, numerous times. Use the search feature and you will find a wealth of information.

The links below all supply 2"X 72" belts.




http://www.trugrit.com/

http://www.texasknife.com/store/s-pages/TKS_MainframeStore.htm?TKS_Machines1.htm~smain

http://www.supergrit.com/default.html

http://www.barbkat.com/

http://www.geocities.com/discount_abrasives/index.html

http://www.knifeandgun.com/

http://216.218.203.171/index.html

http://www.cancom.net/~hnilica/material.html

:)
 
I think it is unlikely 3M makes anything in 2x72, they don't also make in 2x48. Though it may be no easier to get. We can certainly get fairly decent blue belts localy, in small sizes, right up to micron sharpening belts, and it would be an advantage to have that access if there isn't any disadvanatge to the 2x48, or whatever. I just assume it runs cooler, or unloads more completely in one circuit on a 2x72. On the current batch of grinders with platens that have small wheels at either ends, you couldn't get that format on a real small belt. But when Burr was King, grinders seemed to have the platen between the two wheels, which works right down to 1x32 (1x36?).

Actualy, 3M belts are available localy in those small sizes. 2x72s aren't even available country wide, except for from people who don't answer their email for weeks on end. I'm in Canada, so things are tighter.

Steel just doesn't get my goat in the same way. A few steels are widely available, I guess by the time I move to the stainless', I will be pretty tied to my supplier. I have this new grinder, for obvious reasons it doesn't come with a belt, and I'm siting here waiting probably a week or more to get just the emails/phones answered to get the belts ordered. If I was short steel, I could just grab a file aneal it and get going.

Anyway it's no biggie, I just thought someone might know.
 
Originally posted by Protactical
I think it is unlikely 3M makes anything in 2x72, they don't also make in 2x48. Though it may be no easier to get. We can certainly get fairly decent blue belts localy, in small sizes, right up to micron sharpening belts, and it would be an advantage to have that access if there isn't any disadvanatge to the 2x48, or whatever. I just assume it runs cooler, or unloads more completely in one circuit on a 2x72. On the current batch of grinders with platens that have small wheels at either ends, you couldn't get that format on a real small belt. But when Burr was King, grinders seemed to have the platen between the two wheels, which works right down to 1x32 (1x36?).

Actualy, 3M belts are available localy in those small sizes. 2x72s aren't even available country wide, except for from people who don't answer their email for weeks on end. I'm in Canada, so things are tighter.

Steel just doesn't get my goat in the same way. A few steels are widely available, I guess by the time I move to the stainless', I will be pretty tied to my supplier. I have this new grinder, for obvious reasons it doesn't come with a belt, and I'm siting here waiting probably a week or more to get just the emails/phones answered to get the belts ordered. If I was short steel, I could just grab a file aneal it and get going.

Anyway it's no biggie, I just thought someone might know.
Click to expand...
3M and norton make the most professinal grade ceramic belts in 2x72. you can live with a 2x48 but in the long run its cheaper to get top name belts in 2x72. there must be some suppliers up there. hey george tichborne! can you help this guy out?
 
Originally posted by Protactical
I think it is unlikely 3M makes anything in 2x72, they don't also make in 2x48.
Click to expand...

I use the 3M 2X72 micron's all the time :confused: short belts just
don't last long and I'd have to order them anyway..
 
Thanks very much, I have used that supplier, but it sure isn't something I can quickly access.

I'm just setting up my KMG1 with 10" wheel, and it seems like it might take a 2x60 belt. I'll ask Rob. It would be cool in certain ways, like will-call purchases, and maybe I can separate say belts used to grind wood of something.

Thanks for all the help.
 
Kit, you're going to love that grinder. I am glad to hear he has an extension to make it 2 X 72. I usually split my belts for it (1 X 48) but do use the full 2 inch for certain things like grinding scales to make them thicker at the center part of handle. I am planning to call Rob sometime about a couple things such as whether we can get a harder rubber on the wheel platens and something such as a rubber boot on the drive wheel to help keep it from slipping while dogging the belt. I really like my edge grinder and never want to have to do without it.

Roger
 
I have tried the bargain belt thing before. I even found some 2X72 belts locally believe it or not. Many of them had a bump at the splice so high it rivaled a speed bump.

I like getting belts from the "known" suppliers for a number reasons.

First and foremost, they are usually fresh. The belts from the local industial supply houses may have been sitting on the shelf for a year or two.

They carry the grits I use.

They know what I want as far as types such as ceramic, AO, Trizact or Norax, etc. By the way, find an industrial supply house that carries Klingspor J Flex or 3M micron, it ain't gonna happen.

You can order a good supply of belts from any of the suppliers that Mike Hull mentioned. Thats what most knifemakers do. You can order directly from the abrasive distributor but expect to order more than one belt and also order often.

Craig
 
I live in a city of 175,000 and have no problem finding 2x72" belts from a walk in source. Check your yellow pages for Industrial Supply companies. A couple of the ones where I live carry these belts since they have such a wide application range (they apparently use them alot in some of the oil fields nearby).

In the long run I think it is better ordering the belts. You can get exactly the quality and material you want (I personally like a heavy belt that stays flat and dosen't give as much).
 
In my case it has nothing to do with avoiding better quality belts, they just aren't going to arrive any time soon, I want to fire this puppy up, I have some knives I have been making On a 1x42, with the motor turning in the wrong directon, so any belt on this new 1.5 hp variable speed KMG, should be an improvement.:rolleyes:

Rob says it's fine to put 2x60 on her. Now I just have to remember where I came across those in my travels.

As mentioned I already went to every industrial supply and abrasives retailer in the yellow pages. Maybe nuclear and auto are too sophisticated to drag much handwork supply into the local stores.
 
Protactical, do yourself a favor and call Pop at Pop's Knife Supplies. He will help you figure out what you need to start out with and will get them out to you straight-away. Trust me on this one. Give him a call and you will be happy.

RL
 
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