Would a 3x120" porter cable belt grinder be good for knife making?

G

GaryPogueCustomKnife

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Oct 8, 2013
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188
I found a beauty on craigslist for $400 dollars. I am wondering if it would be suitable for knifemaking or if i could even find the right belts for it. It is a porter cable B6 and appears to be in decent shape. I intend to replace the motor also. Should i just buy a 2x72 or is this just as good?

Thanks,
Gary
 
Normally I find tryppyr to be pretty much on the money but not necessarily this time. I did a little investigating (okay okay I was curious, nosy even) and if this is the machine you're talking about:

http://www.semiww.org/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=13499

At $400 its'a pretty good deal (actually a helluva good deal) for that much cast iron. You can use the 1 hp 3 phase to start with (once you get a suitable VFD if you don't buy his, that is) and with a bit of work shorten the shaft on it and run just about any size belt you want. So for a few hundos more you can have a 2-3hp 3 phase with a good VFD that will hod metal off. Belts shouldn't be a problem.

The downside to this one (you knew there was a catch right?) is that finding, and fitting. accessories could be very tricky, so things like hollow grinding, or a small wheel setup might be beyond your skill and wallet to set up. Moving it will take a couple of strong men too I bet.

Good luck with this one.................

Corey "synthesist" Gimbel
 
synthesist said:
Normally I find tryppyr to be pretty much on the money but not necessarily this time. I did a little investigating (okay okay I was curious, nosy even) and if this is the machine you're talking about:

http://www.semiww.org/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=13499

At $400 its'a pretty good deal (actually a helluva good deal) for that much cast iron. You can use the 1 hp 3 phase to start with (once you get a suitable VFD if you don't buy his, that is) and with a bit of work shorten the shaft on it and run just about any size belt you want. So for a few hundos more you can have a 2-3hp 3 phase with a good VFD that will hod metal off. Belts shouldn't be a problem.

The downside to this one (you knew there was a catch right?) is that finding, and fitting. accessories could be very tricky, so things like hollow grinding, or a small wheel setup might be beyond your skill and wallet to set up. Moving it will take a couple of strong men too I bet.

Good luck with this one.................

Corey "synthesist" Gimbel
Click to expand...

That is the exact machine listed on Craigslist, it has the same pictures as the on on Craigslist to!
 
Given the money it would take to make this usable, and then given the limited availability of belts, I assess this as an interesting piece of iron, but not a functional equivalent to a proper 2 x 72... especially if he's going to replace the motor anyway.
 
I agree that by the time he ads a new motor and VFD he could be edging into the $$$ range of some of the low end 2" x 72" machines. It's not a "perfect" solution by any means, but it would beat the hell out of a Craftsman 2" x 42". I know that with some judicious shopping you can get great deals on motors and VFDs because I've bought some myself here at BF on the Exchange.

As far as belts go, on Trugrit's homepage they say " We have access to companies that can get any size or special order belts", at Phoenix Abrasives they say "All lengths available!", so I think he can get belts with "relative" ease but not necessarily at the price, or the selection, we have on the 2" x 72" belts. I did say he could run 2" x 72" belts on that machine by shortening/sliding the top wheel down the shaft to accommodate the shorter belt.

If it was me I'd try to figure a way to buy a decent used 2" x 72" for the convenience of accessorizing it. If my good ol' Bader II wasn't modded so well I'd be looking at a TW90 or Uber grinder myself. I also have an old Kalamazoo that occasionally gets into action.

Corey "synthesist" Gimbel
 
Yeah, that's about how I see it too. Belts may be available... at a price. What they show on the web site (3 x 118) stops at 400 grit. Mind you, there's not much need to go beyond that with the grinder (at least not the way I work), but some would see that as an issue.

Anyway, it interesting, I'll say that.
 
A cheap (non-enclosed) VFD is going to run you at least $100 to $150. A TEFC VFD will probably be twice that for 1HP.

Another thing to consider is that you're going to need to fab an assembly for a flat platen if you plan on grinding knives. Right now it appears to be a slack belt only machine. If you do go that route, I'd probably try to size things down to 2x120 if possible. 3" is a little too wide for knife making, IMO.

I'd be sure to look up the exact prices/availability for the belts too. You'll likely find that while they may last a little longer (per belt) than 2x72 belts, they're going to be more limited for grits and types, and probably cost more in the long run as well.

You're probably looking at $600 or more by the time you get this running, not to mention belt costs. You could definitely build a decent NWGS for that kind of money, and still have a machine that you can upgrade/expand in the future.

Personally, I'd save my money.
 
knife to a gunfight said:
A cheap (non-enclosed) VFD is going to run you at least $100 to $150. A TEFC VFD will probably be twice that for 1HP.

Another thing to consider is that you're going to need to fab an assembly for a flat platen if you plan on grinding knives. Right now it appears to be a slack belt only machine. If you do go that route, I'd probably try to size things down to 2x120 if possible. 3" is a little too wide for knife making, IMO.

I'd be sure to look up the exact prices/availability for the belts too. You'll likely find that while they may last a little longer (per belt) than 2x72 belts, they're going to be more limited for grits and types, and probably cost more in the long run as well.

You're probably looking at $600 or more by the time you get this running, not to mention belt costs. You could definitely build a decent NWGS for that kind of money, and still have a machine that you can upgrade/expand in the future.

Personally, I'd save my money.
Click to expand...
It has a platen, but your right. I should just get a more versatile 2x72.
 
Looking at the pics, I'd buy that


But not at $400


You could just buy belts made for that custom length

or

If you shorten that pipe, or adjust it down, you can easily reduce the belt length to a standard 2x72 belt.



1Hp is not ideal, but does work.


I'd:

keep that motor and put on a cheap vfd- build an enclosure

shorten or adjust downwards that pipe to fit a std 72" belt

put on a flat platen and glass liner.


but

you still have no

small wheel
contact wheel

However, there looks to be lots of tension adjustment and you may be able to add them.




Keep all that in mind and don't go above $200
After all it is a much better unit than a craftsman 2x42 would be at that price.
 
12345678910 said:
If you shorten that pipe, or adjust it down, you can easily reduce the belt length to a standard 2x72 belt.
Click to expand...

After removing 4ft or so of belt, I'm not sure there'd be much left to grind on, judging from the pictures. I could be mistaken...
 
Pass on that machine. The table will hinder you from getting up close while grinding. You are going to have to fabricate a good platen and lower the top wheel down to use 2x72 belts.

You will have to spend a lot of time and some $$ to get it to work the way you need it too.
 
3x136 or any larger belt size, with above a 2 horse motor is superior to 2x72. belts cost more but last longer.
 
I definitely agree on price and most of what everyone else has said on both sides but would encourage you to think outside the box a bit more in regard to usability and take the count's post to heart. If you can fab and have access to any free or cheap scrap I think you could utilize the longer belts and add options to that machine similar to my ongoing grinder mods by bolting a tool arm receiver to the table and moving your platen etc out front . http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...G-style-tool-arm-and-holder-to-a-square-wheel
You could do small wheel and other add ons like this even http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1159000-Tightening-small-wheel-radius-on-old-Bader
Chris
 
That is a glass sander used in the window glass and mirror industry. While it could be made into a knife grinder, it isn't one. I would pass on it at $400 for sure. At $100 it would be worthwhile if you are handle at building and re-building shop equipment.

As far as belts go, That is a standard size. Klingspor and most belt makers will make any belt they sell in any size you want. Need a 2.185X52.7" belt...no problem.
 
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