Worksharp BGA Vibrations

[AUS_Camper]

Hello forum members,

I have recently purchased the WSKO and Blade Grinding Attachment. WSKO on it's own is working really well, BGA attachment is going well(ish) too however I've noticed that I'm getting a bit of a vibration on the belt. It's subtle, but if I were to describe it, the blade against the belt feels like a car on a gravel road. The WSKO is really smooth, so the BAG feels a bit rough in comparison. I'm worried if there is a fault, it will break in use and throw my blade. I sharpen about waist height, and there's a lot of stuff I need around that area.

Is this normal? I've never used a powered belt sharpener before this.

Thanks very much for any advice.

 

[cbwx34]

Hello forum members,

I have recently purchased the WSKO and Blade Grinding Attachment. WSKO on it's own is working really well, BGA attachment is going well(ish) too however I've noticed that I'm getting a bit of a vibration on the belt. It's subtle, but if I were to describe it, the blade against the belt feels like a car on a gravel road. The WSKO is really smooth, so the BAG feels a bit rough in comparison. I'm worried if there is a fault, it will break in use and throw my blade. I sharpen about waist height, and there's a lot of stuff I need around that area.

Is this normal? I've never used a powered belt sharpener before this.

Thanks very much for any advice.

Can't tell if it's "normal"... from your description, it doesn't sound like a problem... but hard to tell. The only time I've noticed any "roughness" is if I place the blade directly on top of a roller, instead of in the correct position. (Or maybe it's just something you're not used to? Does it happen with every belt, or just the most coarse one?)

Only thing I can think of, is to try adjusting the tracking a bit, and see if things smooth out. Also make sure the tracking wheel assembly is tight (the lever on the opposite side). Having not experienced this personally, I don't know if there's another solution. (A short video might help diagnose, if you can make one).

WorkSharp has an excellent warranty/support... you might call them directly... I have before, and they put me right in contact with someone in the shop who could help.

p.s. Doubtful anything is going on that could "break and throw the blade at you"... you'd have to be sharpening into a turning belt for that to even remotely occur, and even then the chances are slim.

Hope this helps... having not experienced it, not exactly sure.

 

[AUS_Camper]

Thanks for the reply, yes that helps me a lot.

It's only happening when I get close the the roller. I watched a youtube tutorial that recommend sharpening really close as the belt is tightest there (for a shallow convex) but it is smooth in the middle of the two wheels. Just my inexperience showing, I guess. I've tightened up the tension, and using very light pressure right in the middle and it seems good with a shallow convex, no need to get close to the rollers.

I actually had the fine belt (standard belt) snap apart at the join after only 4 passes which threw my blade but it didn't go far as it was wedged between the belt and the guide at the time. So I was worried if there was a wobble it might put extra stress on the belts etc and cause another to snap. Having never used belts, I'm not sure how carefully you need to handle them. I've contacted worksharp re/ that belt and waiting to hear back.

 

[cbwx34]

Thanks for the reply, yes that helps me a lot.

It's only happening when I get close the the roller. I watched a youtube tutorial that recommend sharpening really close as the belt is tightest there (for a shallow convex) but it is smooth in the middle of the two wheels. Just my inexperience showing, I guess. I've tightened up the tension, and using very light pressure right in the middle and it seems good with a shallow convex, no need to get close to the rollers.

I actually had the fine belt (standard belt) snap apart at the join after only 4 passes which threw my blade but it didn't go far as it was wedged between the belt and the guide at the time. So I was worried if there was a wobble it might put extra stress on the belts etc and cause another to snap. Having never used belts, I'm not sure how carefully you need to handle them. I've contacted worksharp re/ that belt and waiting to hear back.

Yea... pretty sure that's normal... and shouldn't be an issue. Does sound and feel a bit rough though, like you said.

The belt coming apart and throwing the knife surprises me. I've had larger belts break... and didn't have it throw a knife, so didn't think it would... especially if the belt is turning away from the edge. Only way I know, is if a tip gets caught... it can potentially throw it, if the belt doesn't actually break (and I've only seen that in a video, with a large / heavy duty belt). I've even sharpened "edge leading" on a belt sander, and actually cut a belt before... scared the ____ outta me, but didn't do anything with the knife. So... don't know why... maybe someone else will chime in on that.

 

[AUS_Camper]

I think it was because I was still getting used to it (still am) and had a bit of an awkward grip as I raised the handle to do the tip. I'm used to hand strops with the knife sideways, not with the blade pointed down and lifting the handle up. It didn't take long to get used to it, but I'd been using it for about 10 minutes at that point. Very surprised the belt came apart. It didn't snap as such, it looks like the adhesive of the tape just failed at the join - a really clean separation of the belt from the red tape, rather than a "break". Other belts are fine and I've now run out of knives to sharpen. I'm now sharpening my mother's knives which are just... abhorrent.

On the point of the vibrations, I'm going to clamp the BGA down and see if that helps. I find it strange that it doesn't lock in place on the motor/trigger unit like the standard grinding attachment. I don't like how it just spins around freely. Maybe there is an intentional purpose for that design?

 

[cbwx34]

On the point of the vibrations, I'm going to clamp the BGA down and see if that helps. I find it strange that it doesn't lock in place on the motor/trigger unit like the standard grinding attachment. I don't like how it just spins around freely. Maybe there is an intentional purpose for that design?

I've wondered the same thing... why they don't lock together. Since I rarely take mine apart, I bolted the whole unit to a piece of wood.

Good idea clamping it... let me know if it helps.