World this belt grinder be completely useless?

T

TroyO

Joined
Mar 20, 2001
Messages
71
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/taf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=51977

I am thinking it might work for starters, at least. I will be doing a lot of the stock removal with files, moving to the grinder for final shaping and such.

Is it a waste of time, considering it will be at least 6 months before I can get a "real" belt grinder? (I live in an Apt. and this will probably stretch the limits as it is. I am getting a house W/Garage when my lease runs out.)

 
Hi Troy
Welcome to the forums!

You will get lots of opinions here- and all of them are valid. Amazing how many ways there are to get a good knife made
smile.gif


I have a sander like this from Delta. The motors on these are just too small [in my opinion] to do any useful work.

The style is good and you could go on using this type of sander for many years after you get a knife grinder, but get one with a real motor on it. The motor on mine shifts power from the motor to the belt with what looks amazingly like a heavy rubber band. About 1/3 the size of a Kirby Vaccum cleaner drive belt. You can very nearly stop the sander with only your hand. Absolutely worthless in my shop.

There are lots of these around and many of the makers here start with this kind of sander- they just buy it with a real motor.

Again, welcome and good luck- you are about to enter another dimension...

Dave Evans
Tenino, WA
 
I have one as well and use it regularly for sanding handle stock flat to get a good fit on tangs. The disc is also handy if you are doing liner locks to get the correct angle on the back of the blade.

For grinding blades it is not very useful at all because the tracking is minimal. Short belts like this wear out quickly as well.

------------------
george
www.tichbourneknives.com
sales@tichbourneknives.com


 
Actually MB both are sanders but machines suitable for knife grinding are usually more powerful and the work area is more open to allow grinding at several different angles and positions. The sander shown is designed to do one job and it does it well but is not flexible enough for knifemaking.

------------------
george
www.tichbourneknives.com
sales@tichbourneknives.com


 
ExMB, I don't think there is a "definition" per-se. The one I listed is actually a sander, but I figure if I can drop a 4"X36" metal grade sanding belt on it, it becomes a grinder. :-)

I haven't found anyone who sells something with a "real motor" in a 4"X36" tho. I chose the one I listed because it has a 1/3HP motor, and it's SFPM is 2000 as opposed to 4000 like most of them... the thinking being that half the speed at the same HP=Twice the torque. (So maybe it won't be easily stopped by hand?)
 
MB, sound like you have the desire and you gotta hate it when that happens. I think we all started off with too little power and too much desire. Harbor Freight is a good source for a lot of stuff. For the most part, you will find their equipment under powered. Rest assured, no matter what you get to start, you will upgrade. Welcome to the site, the more the marrier! Terry
 
TroyO. I don't have the machine you listed, but Harbor Freight is where I started. I started with the 1"x30" belt sander with the 5" disc. Though it may be underpowered and only a 1" wide belt, it got me started(including my first 2 knife shows), has lasted about 3 yrs. now(still going strong), and only cost about $50-$60 bucks. I've just moved up to a Grizzly, but I wouldn't give that machine for anything. It still has uses other than blade grinding.
Hope this helps.

J.
 
Blind Dog,
Desire I have in abundance, time and money I am a little short on.

So basically the difference is the hp of the motor, a "sander" can grind steel with the proper belt and a "grinder" can sand wood with the proper belt, right?

Right now I am having a great time putting togather one of Mr. Ralph's 605 kits. Some time this spring I am hoping to drill/cut out some basic blade shapes in O1. I then plan on attempting to put an edge on these blades with a 1/2 hp, 6" wheel grinder that I already have. If these first attempts will actually cut something (after I attempt to heat treat them) I'll be thrilled, and possibly inspired enough to spend the money for a better (belt) grinder. If on will shave hair, and is at least half the size I started out with I will be beside myself.

BTW If this is a bad way to start doing this, please, let me know.

Thanks Guys, and Gals
 
The only difference between a sander and a grinder is the application. Hence.....

A sander is used on wood.
A grinder is used on metal.

They may in fact be the same machine. Now are you thoroughly confused?
 
Thats what I suspected, thank you for the conformation.

BTW C.L. I can't wait to use a sander, not a grinder, on one of your upcoming kits!
 
Sears sells a 2 x 42 grinder with a 9 inch disk attatched feo $189.00 it has a 1hp motor and is more suitable for knife grinding then the model you are looking at. The problem with the grinder you are looking at is its way under powered.

Ive been using my craftsman for 4 years and its been a great machine. I made some minor mods to make it more versatile.

If you go with the craftsman you can get ceramic belts for it and a wide variety of other suff for it from supergrit.


Arthur D. Washburn
ADW Custom Knives
www.adwcustomknives.com
 
Troy, you will get opinions here from much more talented knife makers than myself ....But...I have one and made more then 75 knives and swords with it before I built a bigger and better grinder. I still use it quite often. The motor is small but if you take your time and let the belt do the work, it will do the job.
 
Troy,

Craftsman also builds a grinder / sander like the delta with the 6 inch disc but it has twice the hp at 2/3 HP. I think it would be much better for knifemaking.

The sears version will be put on sale a lot for $99.00 to $109.


------------------
Tony Huffman
thuffman@texinet.net
Sporting Clays & Shotguns ... my other bad habit!
 
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