Very excited! Like everyone else I wanted a 2x72 grinder as soon as I discovered knifemaking but also like pretty much everyone they were much too spendy for a hobby I hadn't even really tried yet. So like many of you I bought the little 1x30 and have to this point done all my knife work on that. It's served me well and I've made some half decent knives on it. But it's time to play with the big boys! I have acquired most of the parts and tonight I was at my buddy's shop and we cut the steel for the frame for my new grinder. Big thanks to Dancom for being so generous in putting out the designs he uses but also for the great tutorials filled with good bits of info. I'll be following his plan here: http://dcknives.blogspot.ca/p/2-x-72-belt-grinder.html I'll be using stepped sheaves so will have to tweak the design slightly to accomodate the different position of the motor and to place the pillow blocks for the shaft but all in all it's basically the same. No pics just yet as all I have at the moment is a pile of steel bits, a motor, some wheels and pillow blocks but it will come together pretty fast from here I think. Will post more as I get closer to being done
sounds like a fun project, I often thing it would be fun to build one. Don't need it but on the other hand it would be a fun project
Should be... I figure all in I'm going to spend less than $500 on it so it saves me at least $1000 over buying the KMG one, and they're a lot more reasonably priced than most. Next up.. belts! I'm not used to having multiple options at each grit Just not sure what to buy and how many since i'm used to working in 1x30.
My personal belt choices on steel are 36 VSM ceramic, 60 VSM ceramic, 50 or 60 zirc for bevels, 120 VSM ceramic, and Trizact gators in approximate grits of 120, 220, 400 and 500. I also use AO in 36, 120, 220 and 400 because they are cheaper for handles and seem to plug less. I recently added an 800 grit cork belt and it has been worth its weight in gold for high satin belt polishes.
Ugh.... Over 2 months since we cut the steel and I haven't touched it since. I need to get my ass in gear. Have everything but the bolts now. Got Stepped sheaves from knifemaker.ca and wheels on ebay from oregon blade maker. Decided to spend a little more so I wouldn't wear stuff out in the short term.
Progress! Finally got into my buddy's shop last night and did some welding. He tacked it together and I welded it up. Literally my first time ever welding anything. Some of them are ugly, but apparently they're ok and will hold Working on the pillar to hold the tracking wheel. He had an old ball bearing laying around that we used for the top ball. Cleaning up the top bit, also because sparks are cool. She's ugly, but she's mine! Will clean it up more and paint obviously, but have a bunch more fabrication work to do first. But it's starting to look like a grinder!
Arc on! I see you got the welded seams on the inside of the HSS. Good work. I'd recommend adding the lock down nuts before tacking it the base, but that can be done after too, it's just more awkward. I got some wheels from Marinus at Oregon Blade Maker as well. They look pretty good. I hear he is working on some contact wheels now. Dan
Working out ok so far. I didn't drill holes or tack on the nuts yet as I hadn't picked up the hardware. Should be OK to do after, It sits pretty well on it's side. I picked up the wheels from Oregon Blade maker too, splurged and went for the Aluminum ones so they should last a good long time. Contact wheels would be cool! Better finish my grinder and save some pennies!
Took a while, but I'm done! Platen and idler wheels took a while to fit, that arc was a lot of fun to cut out of 1/4" plate. I had an issue with the square tube I bought, got the wrong wall thickness which made it necessary to be... creative. Excuse the super shitty welds, I'm an IT guy not a welder heh. But in the end? I have a grinder!
Good work! Now the fun part begins..Ah not really, I was referring to taking it all apart and painting it. Dan
That's boss dude. I'm happy for you. And don't sweat the welds as long as they hold. I'm an IT guy too, my welds were no better. We made the same grinder too. Only you have way more detail. How did you cut that arc in the steel anyway? Remember when choosing colours for it, I've go mustard yellow and ketchup red already. Don't steal my hotdog stand theme. (ugh... i don't know what i was thinking with that... hurts the eyes every time i look at it..)
Lol. I'll probably go black and green when I get around to paint. As for the stupid arc..... Drilled out several holes, then filing. SO. MUCH. FILING. Broke several dremel bits as well trying to speed up the process as well as a round file that I put in my drill too. heh. It took as long to get that hole cut out as it did to do the rest of the build after it. Next time I'll just suck it up and pay for a waterjet cut part. Even at minumum wage it would have been cheaper to pay for the super expensive local waterjet place to do it
