How many use a belt grinder?

NvilleDave · Post by **NvilleDave** » Wed Apr 06, 2005 10:31 pm

Seems like every pipe maker's page I visit shows them using a belt grinder of one sort or another. I've looked on Ebay and around the net for one--I've seen some really expensive ones and the cheaper ones don't look like they would last long. I'm on a budget so I can't spend too much. Grizzly has one for $413 shipped but they're back ordered until the end of May. http://www.grizzly.com/products/item.cf ... mber=G1015

Have any of you guys made your own? Care to share your design? Pictures maybe or a material list?

Have any of you guys bought one? Who made it and where'd you get it? Would you recommend it?

Thanks.
Dave

LexKY_Pipe · Post by **LexKY_Pipe** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 7:23 am

Delta tools sells a much cheaper version. Also Sears has several in their stores under $125.

See Tyler's article on belt sanders.

http://www.tylerlanepipes.com/modules.p ... elt_Sander

Post by **Tyler** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 8:51 am

Sheesh. I haven't looked at any of those articles since I wrote them over a year ago. What a terrible article! It is full of typo's and unclearly written. 8O

One of these days I'll improve those articles and finish them out. I also need to video a few processes that I haven't yet.

One of these days...

Tyler

LexKY_Pipe · Post by **LexKY_Pipe** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 9:07 am

Tyler

That's okay. The grammatical police ain't the pipe smokin' type !!!!

The articles are very helpful. I'm waiting to see your article on polishing.

I don't know why you don't have time--pipe maker, dad, husband, associate pastor--you could write between 2 and 3 a.m. !!!!

NvilleDave · Post by **NvilleDave** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 9:46 am

Yep, I've seen the combo disk/belt sanders... not really what I'm looking for. Here's a shot of Matzhold using something more along the lines of what I want.

http://www.matzhold-peter.at/workshop/schleifband.jpg

Do any of you guys own/use/make something like this?

Thanks,
Dave

Post by **Tyler** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 9:49 am

Dave,

I too would like a rig like you are describing. If I had the money I would probably buy one of those Baldor motors currently showing up on eBay, and make my own rig. You can find wheels for this application with a little digging. This would allow you to use nice, long belts, and easily control the tension.

Tyler

NvilleDave · Post by **NvilleDave** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 9:52 am

Tyler wrote:Dave,

I too would like a rig like you are describing. If I had the money I would probably buy one of those Baldor motors currently showing up on eBay, and make my own rig. You can find wheels for this application with a little digging. This would allow you to use nice, long belts, and easily control the tension.

Tyler

Exactly Tyler! A 1" X 72" belt with nothing about it but air--you could really do some shaping. If the speed could be controlled what a unit that would be. Looks like changing belts would be a snap--I can dream right? LOL!

Dave

bscofield · Post by **bscofield** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 10:05 am

I have a 1"x32" and it's great! I took all the plates off and backings and stuff. I don't have all the room in the world but compared to only having had a bench belt/disc sander (with a backing on the entire belt area) this is heaven! I have about an area 6" high x 6" (to the back where it hits more machine. And the disc sander has a velcro backing, which provides some padding that I don't have on my other disc sander.

Here's mine:

Post by **Tyler** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 10:30 am

Dave,

All of the 72" belts I have seen are 2", but that would be even better.

My problem with the smaller set-ups is not only working room, but tension. I want a belt that is almost floppy. I want it to assist in sanding, and do MINOR shape tweaking, NOT as a general shaping tool. That would still be a sanding disc for me.

Tyler

bscofield · Post by **bscofield** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 10:49 am

Tyler wrote:Dave,

All of the 72" belts I have seen are 2", but that would be even better.

My problem with the smaller set-ups is not only working room, but tension. I want a belt that is almost floppy. I want it to assist in sanding, and do MINOR shape tweaking, NOT as a general shaping tool. That would still be a sanding disc for me.

Tyler

Mine IS pretty tense. I don't know how many MINOR tweaks I can do with it. But for some "broad" shaping stuff I like it. Mainly to do the area in of the bowl around the shank. It's great for fitting in there. I need to get a leather glove to see how much I can do with using my fingers and conforming the belt...

bscofield · Post by **bscofield** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 11:19 am

Oh and NvilleDave, I just couldn't pass this up...

that picture you posted is COMPLETELY inappropriate!

LOL 8O

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 1:19 pm

ROFLMAO!! Ben, I completely missed that! Hillarious!

WBill · Post by **WBill** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 2:17 pm

I recently bought a small 1" belt sander from Harbor Freight for $24.99. It has a belt and nothing else, does a great job on stummels and stems. I would suggest going to their store to pick one up, it takes them over two weeks to ship one to you.

Bill

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/D ... umber=2485

alexanderfrese · Post by **alexanderfrese** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 2:28 pm

29.99? Unbelievable. It might be cheaper to get one of these and have it flown round half the globe than to buy – even a comparable crappy simple thing – around here.

Alex

NvilleDave · Post by **NvilleDave** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 2:51 pm

bscofield wrote:Oh and NvilleDave, I just couldn't pass this up...

that picture you posted is COMPLETELY inappropriate!

LOL 8O

Oh GREAT! Peter will remember me as the guy who single handedly embarrassed him on this board! I guess I can kiss an apprenticeship goodbye!

ROTFL!!! I didn't even notice that before I posted it!

NvilleDave · Post by **NvilleDave** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 2:59 pm

Tyler wrote:Dave,

All of the 72" belts I have seen are 2", but that would be even better.

My problem with the smaller set-ups is not only working room, but tension. I want a belt that is almost floppy. I want it to assist in sanding, and do MINOR shape tweaking, NOT as a general shaping tool. That would still be a sanding disc for me.

Tyler

Tyler... yep, yep, yep... we're in agreement here--shape tweaking. I would imagine this being used toward the end of the process. But I do remember seeing someone using a belt grinder to put the square shank on a bulldog.

"put the square shank on a bulldog"... I believe this is illegal in most states--I just wanted to beat Ben to the punch.

Dave

bscofield · Post by **bscofield** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 3:35 pm

I find that odd... I can see how it's good for it's flexibility and therefore it's ability to conform to shape, but the straight edge sounds different. I guess if get it to conform to something straight... I wonder what he used for backing.

Post by **KurtHuhn** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 10:32 pm

NvilleDave wrote:Have any of you guys made your own? Care to share your design? Pictures maybe or a material list?

Have any of you guys bought one? Who made it and where'd you get it? Would you recommend it?

I currently use a MultiTool on an 8" Jet bench grinder:
http://www.vansantent.com/multitool.htm

I'm also collecting parts to build myself a grinder/sander that uses 2"belts, goes *really* slow, and is a pretty slack belt so that I can back it with my hand - the belts will have to be very long.

I also use a disc after I've roughed in the shape on the belt grinder.

magruder · Post by **magruder** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 2:55 am

Folks, you may find these interesting:
http://www.kovalknives.com/grinders.htm

bscofield · Post by **bscofield** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 10:42 am

Can anyone comment on how difficult it is to use something like this when the belt is so loose? In other words, how hard is it to keep it on the wheels?

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How many use a belt grinder?

How many use a belt grinder?

Re: How many use a belt grinder?