Shop Made 2"x72" Belt Grinder

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rherrell

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Aug 22, 2006
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I decided to get in to knife making and after looking at all the options I decided it would be fun (and cheaper) to make my own.

I didn't think about pics until I was almost done so I'm sorry but no "in progress" photos.

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Those are the main parts before paint, here's the finished grinder...

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I got the plans online from Jer's Woodshop, he also has a You Tube channel where you can see him build it. The plans are only $20 if you're interested.
 

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rherrell

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2 hp Baldor motor. 240 volt, 3 phase, 1800 rpm. I have it hooked up to a Hitachi VFD which I can vary from 0-120 hz.. The wheel I have on the motor gives me approx. a 1-1 ratio so I can run it from 0-3600 rpm.
I used a thick piece of steel on a 36 grit belt and tried with all my might to stall it out and I couldn't so I'm real happy about that.
 

Curly

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I follow a group on FB (Home Built Belt Sanders) and dream of a day when I have time to make one, or get motivated. ;) Yours look nice and heavy. I have a 2hp Baldor from a large furnace fan but I think it is a 3600rpm. If you don't mind me asking, how much was the VFD?
 

leehljp

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Tunica, Mississippi,
I have been looking at different belts sizes and lengths to make one and choosing what size I wanted. I really would like to make one with 4 inch belts but can't find long belts in 4" size. I finally figured that it would have to be the 2 x 72.

THEN I SAW YOURS! WOW. Love the different iterations and configurations that yours morphs into! Versatile! Love it! Excellent!

I have the metal square tubing to build one, but now I have to go and re-configure how I will build it! I probably won't build it to go from horizontal to vertical but the other vertical configurations I can do. Thanks for posting this!
 

rherrell

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Pilot Mountain, NC
I follow a group on FB (Home Built Belt Sanders) and dream of a day when I have time to make one, or get motivated. ;) Yours look nice and heavy. I have a 2hp Baldor from a large furnace fan but I think it is a 3600rpm. If you don't mind me asking, how much was the VFD?
The VFD was about $300 and the remote faceplate was about $100. You can get cheaper VFDs but I bought that one because it's the same one I have on my metal lathe and I already know how to set it up.
 

rherrell

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Very nice one of my eventually build plans.

Does the plane tell you where to order the rollers from?
He doesn't say in the plans but here's a link to a first rate set...

You can get cheaper but you know what they say!:)
 

Curly

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One more question for the bonus round Rick.
You said you wanted to make knives. Are you doing metal removal knives or are you getting your "Forged in Fire" :rolleyes: on and hammering them out of hot metal?
 

rherrell

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Stock removal only. I couldn't do forging even if I wanted to, I'm disabled from a work accident 15 years ago. I need crutches to walk and stand so swinging a hammer is a bit much. :)
 

rherrell

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Wow, I forgot about this thread.

OK Frank, here you go...

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To be honest, knives are WAY harder to make than I thought, at least for me. People like Tom Wolf Creek Knives have my utmost respect for their craftsmanship.

I envisioned making boatloads of knives like we do pens but that never happened. Like I said, way too much work to turn them out like pens. Now I only make them for friends that ask me.

I also made all the sheaths, I never made anything from leather in my life so that was another "hobby" I had to learn from scratch. It's a good thing I have a lot of time on my hands!

As it turns out I like crafting leather more than making knives...go figure!
 
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