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Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2009 12:01:09 GMT
While looking a belt grinders on ebay I see they cost between $25.00 and $10,000. Is there a used model in the $200.00 range? I was hoping to find one at a yard sale, but no luck.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2009 15:36:27 GMT
We need more info to help you. How big a machine do you want, and what are you planning to use it for?
Many of us have the $35 1x30 table top model from Harbor Freight (item #02485) that we use for sharpening, polishing, and light shaping.
hope this helps, K
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Post by sparky on Oct 30, 2009 18:45:39 GMT
Many of us have the $35 1x30 table top model from Harbor Freight (item #02485) that we use for sharpening, polishing, and light shaping. hope this helps, K I'll second this!!! It is a worth while investment. I took a sword that was more like a bat and now it cuts. ;D |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 31, 2009 8:27:20 GMT
If you are not going to spring the big dollars for a KMG or a Bader, Harbor freight is a good choice. They have several different models of benchtop belt grinders, and a decent selection of belts in different grits. Unfortunately, their selection of belts is limited, and you will have to order what you want if trying to finish to say 600 grit. Check online for belt availability from knife making suppliers and industrial supply houses for belts to fit the size belt grinder you are looking at before you buy. If you feel like building a good grinder, look here- www.mickleyknives.com/html/no_weld_grinder.html These grinders are the bees knees and are inexpensive to build. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 1, 2009 14:00:03 GMT
Thanks! The Harbor Freight seems a good choice for me. I wanted it for sharpening and projects. My son and I have been collecting old worn out knives and machetes at sales. Then we practice making new handles and restore the blades.
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Post by Tom K. (ianflaer) on Nov 1, 2009 20:54:50 GMT
if you want it for sharpening look at the sharpening tutorials link in my signature not only do I have my tutorial videos there but I have links to Harbor Freight for the grinder and to a place where you can get all the different belts you need. take a look
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Post by Deleted on Nov 1, 2009 22:52:25 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 2, 2009 2:54:43 GMT
I have to second Lee Valley for belts and polishing compound for your leather strop.
Any Canadians looking, that's the place for belts.
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Post by sparky on Nov 2, 2009 22:40:22 GMT
I have a question then..........
It would seem as if everyone loves their 1"X30" Harbor Freight belt sander. My question is has anyone had a bad experience with this product? Don't get me wrong I love mine, I was just wondering.
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Post by Tom K. (ianflaer) on Nov 3, 2009 2:28:47 GMT
well you need to be careful with the tension knob as it can break easily leaving you with using a vice-grip to apply tension. yup I did this. my fly wheel is starting to get loose but I've put mine through a LOT of work.
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Post by YlliwCir on Nov 3, 2009 10:15:43 GMT
I love mine. I musta spent three times what it cost on stones and rods and such (not to mention the time using them) without getting anywhere near the results I get with this beltsander very quickly.
I might add that your vids and advice on use were a great help as well, Tom.
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Post by Matt993f.o.d on Nov 3, 2009 12:43:40 GMT
Grizzly industrial do a 500 dollar belt grinder that is specifically for shaping blades. I wish I could buy one, but I live in the Uk, and don't know if they'd ship one to me.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2009 12:44:02 GMT
I have a question then.......... It would seem as if everyone loves their 1"X30" Harbor Freight belt sander. My question is has anyone had a bad experience with this product? Don't get me wrong I love mine, I was just wondering. Mine had a problem out of the boz. The spring on the adjustment wheel wold not sit where t was supposed to and wold bend and dig into the side of the roller wheel. It was a simple fil. I just drilled a shallow pockt in the casting for the end of the spring to sit in. Voila! No problem. BTW: Harbor Freight sanding belts suck. Avoid them. |
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Post by Tom K. (ianflaer) on Nov 3, 2009 13:35:55 GMT
Lee valley belts are good though. not cheap but good.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2009 15:59:41 GMT
Tom is sure right about that. I spent more for the first set of belts than I did for the machine. Remember this is a Harbor Freight tool- they have no quality control- so many are great but some are total junk and many are somewhere in between. The switch on mine failed. The $1 part has been on backorder since September and is now scheduled to arrive in December.I'll believe that when I have the replacement switch in hand.
HTH, K
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Post by sparky on Nov 3, 2009 20:12:31 GMT
I might add that your vids and advice on use were a great help as well, Tom. Yes to this ^ Ric is soooo right on this, thanks Tom! |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2009 16:52:24 GMT
I got a 1 x 42 Craftsman from Sears last century. It has worked good for many years  |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2009 8:41:28 GMT
Is it possible to use the belt sander for all or most all of my sharpening needs? my arthritis won't let me do delicate work with my hands for very long so I picked up an Accusharp but I feel guilty every time I look at it. If I could do my sharpening with the Harbor Freight belt sander I think that would ease my guilt and let me raise my head among men once again. Which belts would I need to do it all with the belt sander? (assuming that's possible, I can handle it not looking as pretty as it might otherwise look) I know the video says which belts to use but it also assumes I'm doing some work by hand, I don't know if I can just skip those steps or what.
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Post by YlliwCir on Nov 12, 2009 11:16:29 GMT
I use my HF belt sander for all my sharpening needs. As to what belts you need, that depends on what kind of an edge the sword has to start with. If it is already sharp say like a VA practical, all you'd probably need is the leather belt and some of that green compound. To sharpen say a Windlass, I'd start with a lower grit like 300 or so and work my way up. You can't get the belts from Harbor Freight. However Lee Valley has a good selection. They got the compound for the leather belt too. Don't forget to watch Tom's instructional vids. They are in this thread, scroll down a bit. Oops, I see you say you already saw the vids, disregard that part. |
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Post by Tom K. (ianflaer) on Nov 12, 2009 13:38:25 GMT
Ric linked to it already but I thought I'd just cut n past the belt info here just in case you missed it. I too use the belt grinder for everything but the very tip (I do that now too actually but I don't reccomend it when you just are starting out) here's the info on belts: Use these belts: www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&cat=1,43072&p=48040 from the above page: you can do everything up to the leather belt with the belt series: D. Aluminum Oxide Grinding Belts the 500 and 1200 grits are all you really need unless you are sharpening blunt swords or removing heavy secondary bevels I also like the A. 15µ (Micron) Silicon Carbide Sharpening Belts as an in-between for the 500 and 1200 (the 500 grits are marked 20 micron and the 1200 are marked 9 micron putting the 15 micron between them in grit). at the bottom of that page is: E. Leather Honing Belts and a link labled "ACC" which brings you to the page that has the honing compound. here: www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=32984&cat=1,43072 |
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