Show us your Belt Grinders or Sanders

[exmaxima1]

There is a growing use of belt grinders and sanders in lieu of the older grinding wheels. In addition, there is a DIY community of shop-made versions. Some are restorations or upgrades of vintage machines, while others are made from adapters or even from scratch.

They deserve their own thread. Show us what you got.

I'll start with an old Foley 1-inch belt sander that I recently renovated. It was a filthy mess that i bought from an estate with no motor, but it had a base and table so it was worth restoring. I ended up replacing the arbor assembly as the shaft was too short and I could not disassemble it. I made it from pillow block bearings and a scrap ground shaft. I also replaced the upper idler wheel bearings, as well as fabricating a new 2-inch rear idler wheel. Made a new drive wheel from Delrin while I was at it, and thought I was just about finished...

I put it together and found that this was a 1x44 machine, NOT the usual 1x42. So I opted to chop the upright tower to accommodate 1x42 belts, and now it works great. I only had a 1750 rev motor on hand, so I added a multi-speed pulley to bring it up to contemporary belt speeds as well as having the option of slower speeds for knife sharpening/sanding/polishing.

This is a handy vintage machine very much like the old Delta/Rockwells. I think the table and motor mount is better on the Foley, but everything else is pretty much identical. Excellent choice for any home shop.

 

[exmaxima1]

And to make it a "thread", here's a pic of my Kalamazoo 2x48 grinder. It originally had a 1/2hp motor, but I added a fresh 1hp as that was a factory option. Note the rear dust collection port added by the original owner---very nice!

 

[drivesitfar]

Ex: I like the thread title and i'm looking for either one of these already set up or one like McBrownie exchanged with one of his wheels on his 3/4 HP Craftsman block grinder.

thanks for starting this topic and wondering why you put it in this section instead of General tool section with the other grinder thread? if it doesn't get much activity here maybe have a moderator move it over so you don't have to re do it. or maybe it might get more activity here. in any case i'm on board to watch and learn.

here's one that's been on my radar to find a nice used one because with a couple kids still living at home a new BurrKing isn't in the budget (yet).

 

[Alchymist]

My restore for wood working:

 

[road]

This is my Veil Co. sharpener.

I got this off Kijiji for $45. I added the bigger 1/2 hp motor and switch, made some new pulleys. Swapped out the bronze oil light bushings with press fit roller bearings . Repaired the table . Added a flex light.

1" x 42" belts are $12. for 10.

Love this thing.

 

[exmaxima1]

thanks for starting this topic and wondering why you put it in this section instead of General tool section with the other grinder thread? if it doesn't get much activity here maybe have a moderator move it over so you don't have to re do it. or maybe it might get more activity here. in any case i'm on board to watch and learn.

I honestly have no clue what I was doing---I just started a thread and hit the keyboard. If you know how to move it, by all means "make it so".

 

[exmaxima1]

This is my Veil Co. sharpener.

I got this off Kijiji for $45. I added the bigger 1/2 hp motor and switch, made some new pulleys. Swapped out the bronze oil light bushings with press fit roller bearings . Repaired the table . Added a flex light.

1" x 42" belts are $12. for 10.

Love this thing.

With all the things you had to add or replace, your deal sounds nearly identical to my Foley!
I see how the Veil uses a telescoping arm for tension, but how do you adjust the tracking?

 

[drivesitfar]

EX: you did great it looks like because other members of the forum are seeing it and making posts. if that changes and slows down i'll help you contact one of the forum's moderators to move it over to the tool section. I rarely used to come over to this side of the forum because the anvils, cool stuff and great garages are here that take way to many Benjamins to own all that i'd like to buy. self control is moving into my body slowly so i'm visiting more often now.

Road: awesome little grinder and if it works as well as it looks i'd like one.

Alchy: nice restoration and what brand and does it have a motor under it with a belt turning the wheels?

 

[road]

With all the things you had to add or replace, your deal sounds nearly identical to my Foley!
I see how the Veil uses a telescoping arm for tension, but how do you adjust the tracking?

Belt tracking is done by the 2 set screws on the top of the main tube / pulley supports.

It tracks perfectly. I have only tossed 1 belt - it ripped.

I didn't spend anything more than $8 for bearings & my time.
Most of it was made from scrap bin materials.
Like most of us here If I can make it better I try.. and try to learn as I go.

I'm not sure of my units belt speed but I do like the idea of a stepped pulley for more options.

tks

 

[Alchymist]

Alchy: nice restoration and what brand and does it have a motor under it with a belt turning the wheels?

Thanks, it's "WoodWizard". Drive is a v-pully behind the disc. Here's a before/after pic of the decal. Best I could do on the decal restore.

 

[Outlander]

Yet another piece of equipment to put on my list. My wallet hates all of you.

 

[road]

Thanks, it's "WoodWizard". Drive is a v-pully behind the disc. Here's a before/after pic of the decal. Best I could do on the decal restore.

Great job ! it looks like it's new .

 

[macgyver37]

Here is my sander, it is a Yates American S70 disc and oscillating spindle sander combo. I got it as a project, the previous owner dumped it over and broke the oss casting so the table is off of it there and in the other pic of the disc, I pulled that table so I could pick it up easier with my forklift. Disc is 30" diameter and 5/8" thick. It is in the 1750lb range. The last 2 pics are what is should look like together, these are from a guy I know that has one and I got the correct miter guage from.

I have the broken casting app halfway fixed, and the clutch mechanism fixed properly now, need to finish the gearbox casting and the trunnion and bolt it all back on. I have been using the disc sander side for awhile now, works awesome.

I also have a Powermatic #30 12" disc and 6x48 belt, a Porter Cable G4 belt grinder 4x52 and a couple 2x72 shop made ones in the works and a Duro 6x44.

 

[econolamb]

Here's mine, recently picked it up - it's a woodfast which is a south australian company. V belt driven by a little motor that lives in the cabinet. Works well but has an odd belt size (52.5") - the belt is 4" and the disc is 10". Set me back a whopping $130 Aus which is about $3.20 US at the moment.

I want to build/find a 2" belt setup for sharpening work.

 

[gtermini]

I got bitten by the belt grinder bug about 2 years ago. Being a total cheapass, I decided to build my own.

My first one was a 2x48 that used a castor wheel for the contact wheel. It is 1 1/2 HP and about 6000 sfpm. Total cost was under $50.

Before paint.

I decided to build another at work, but it's not quite done yet. It is a variation of a very common homemade one on the interwebs. It uses a commercial contact wheel ($125) and a 1/2HP face mount 3450 rpm motor. I need to work out some bugs ( the frame flexs too much) and build a backrest and table for it. Everything besides the wheel and bearings was scrounged or made from scratch. Ignore the drill dress vise, it was just on there to apply belt tension before I found a spring.

I'll reserve a few pics because I'll probably start a build thread on it when it's done.

I have a contact wheel and some other parts sitting on the bench to build a 3x79 in the near future.

Greyson

 

[The Cobbler]

^^^^^ Nice!!

 

[exmaxima1]

Here is my sander, it is a Yates American S70 disc and oscillating spindle sander combo. I got it as a project, the previous owner dumped it over and broke the oss casting so the table is off of it there and in the other pic of the disc, I pulled that table so I could pick it up easier with my forklift. Disc is 30" diameter and 5/8" thick. It is in the 1750lb range.

The thought of working near a 30" solid steel disc just makes my sphincter pucker.......

 

[gtermini]

The thought of working near a 30" solid steel disc just makes my sphincter pucker.......

How about a 36" grinding wheel...

Greyson

 

[RivennHewn]

Just put the finishing touches on this 1950 Rockwell Delta 6 x 48 sander.

New bearings, paint and a few missing parts.

I still need to find or fab a table for it, but it's a welcome addition to the shop.

 

[macgyver37]

I would love to have that 36" grinder, but would hope it came with new wheels because I'd never afford to replace them.

I am used the 30", no worries for me. I do have a great amount of respect for it though, I am not dumb. So far the sketchiest thing I have done on it was to grind a 3 degree taper on a LS exhaust manifold flange, held it up to the disc with my hands and floated it across, worked great but was very mindful of body placement.
One thing about it, it has a red light on it so you know when the power is on to it, once it is spooled up, you don't hear it run if there is anything at on going on in the background. Scariest time is when is is slowing down without the power on, I might have to put a yellow light on it for when it is turning but not 'on'. It is cool when it spools up, does a little bit of a turbine sound.
I would honestly be up for a bigger one if I find one.

 

[Steevo]

Here's mine.
12" disc and 8" belt.
Picked it up at a garage sale for $150 a few years ago.

It is rare for a day to go by that I don't use it for something, whether metal, plastic or wood.

Oh, and it came with a box full of new belts and discs in various grits, too.

 

[Mike.ASC]

I'd love to find one that size ^

 

[exmaxima1]

I decided to build another at work, but it's not quite done yet. It is a variation of a very common homemade one on the interwebs. It uses a commercial contact wheel ($125) and a 1/2HP face mount 3450 rpm motor. I need to work out some bugs ( the frame flexs too much) and build a backrest and table for it. Everything besides the wheel and bearings was scrounged or made from scratch. Ignore the drill dress vise, it was just on there to apply belt tension before I found a spring.

Greyson

Awesome workmanship! I am totally impressed, especially with the welding.

That design looks to be a close cousin to the older Baldor belt grinders. Same general shape and tracking mechanism. The original uses casting, but more important are the ribs on the upright to eliminate flexing. I have one of those grinders with a VFD I installed and it is my favorite.

 

[exmaxima1]

Here's mine.
12" disc and 8" belt.
Picked it up at a garage sale for $150 a few years ago.

It is rare for a day to go by that I don't use it for something, whether metal, plastic or wood.

Great deal for that machine. I think that's a 6x48 belt, and possibly USA-made as well.

 

[exmaxima1]

How about a 36" grinding wheel...

Greyson

Any idea what RPM that thing runs at? That can't be OSHA approved anymore...

 

[BJ42LX]

Here's mine.

I bought this about a month ago but I've used it a dozen times already. It's one of those, "I should have bought this 20 years ago!" tools.

 

[drivesitfar]

BJ or Steevo: are your machines single phase or 3 phase? how hard are the belts and sanding disks to change? thanks

ALL: nice machines

 

[exmaxima1]

BJ or Steevo: are your machines single phase or 3 phase? how hard are the belts and sanding disks to change? thanks

Drive, I have owned several of the Delta/Rockwell machines (still have one) and the belts/discs are very easy to change. Just peel off the disc and install new one; belt change takes less than a minute.

I like the disc portion alot and use it for truing up sawcuts and beveling edges. The belt portion is not so friendly----you need to adjust the tracking very often, and the belt clacks on the seams. I only use it for scuffing parts prior to bonding (specifically, the top plates for speaker magnet structures), and really not much else in metal work---it really excels as a sander for woodworking. If you want to try a belt grinder, you should get a 2-inch version as your entry effort.

 

[drivesitfar]

Ex: thanks for the tutorial. i'm guessing these machines are single phase? i do have most of the woodworking tools such as table saw, 12 inch planer, 6 inch planer and a ton of hand tools, but all my sanders are small power or hand tools.

i'd love a big sander like that, but as with all decisions that involve another machine with a 2 foot square or bigger foot print is where the heck do i put it. I'm pretty jealous of the guys with the huge garages and shops, but i bet they all have needs for more space too. such is life, but i think i need one.

just wondering if a good belt grinder like the one you made with your bench grinder can do wood products and not just metal?

by the way it looks like this is a good spot for this thread so far and maybe put a link in your signature so when you post on the block and the vintage grinder threads the readers can see it and come to this thread. if you need any help putting the link in your signature just PM me or ask

 

[macgyver37]

Alot of those Delta/Rockwell and Powermatic disc/belt combo machines are single phase factory, mine is 3 phase but the motors can be swapped out easily if needed, they are a standard frame and size.

As to the 36" grinder, I do not know why OSHA would have a problem with it, it is guarded well and the table is adjustable to maintain the gap to the wheel.

 

[exmaxima1]

just wondering if a good belt grinder like the one you made with your bench grinder can do wood products and not just metal?

Most of my woodworking sanding needs utilized the 6x48 belt: flattening edges, sanding off plugs, etc. The disc handles smaller stuff, and you can control burning by moving to a slower radius of the disc. But in either case, the big flat plattens were useful for woodworking. I don't think you would satisfy those requirements with a smaller 2-inch bench mount sander/grinder, unless all your projects are very small, such as model making or wooden pens.

 

[drivesitfar]

Ex: it sounds like the belt sander on the Delta is not as useful as the bench grinder belt attachment? i have a nice aluminum disk sander that i just need to put a motor and belt on and you may have heard i own more than a couple grinders.

my spring and summer project this year is going to be a fence on the sides and back of my lot similar to the one in the picture. i built this Pergola a couple summers ago in my front yard out of cedar. so i'd guess you could say my wood projects are fairly big.

 

[Ainsley]

This is my Veil grinder I picked up from LV and added a 3/4Hp Leeson and some dust collection. I build my own knives and it has been a great starter piece.

That said, I'd love to eventually buy or build a 2x72" to do some serious grinding.

 

[BJ42LX]

BJ or Steevo: are your machines single phase or 3 phase? how hard are the belts and sanding disks to change? thanks

Mine is 1 phase and wired for 230v. The tag on the motor indicates it can be rewired for 115v. I don't recall the Hp or amperage. It's probably 1 or 1.5 hp.

Belts are easy to change: remove two covers and un-tension. Re-tension, replace covers and adjust tracking. The first belt I changed I broke because I kept cranked the tension too high. "pop". Oops. Mine tracks very straight.

I haven't replaced a disc yet but it should be as ex says: remove, clean, re-stick. Getting it perfectly centered make take a minute of close scrutiny.

I like the disc portion alot and use it for truing up sawcuts and beveling edges. The belt portion is not so friendly----you need to adjust the tracking very often, and the belt clacks on the seams. I only use it for scuffing parts prior to bonding (specifically, the top plates for speaker magnet structures), and really not much else in metal work---it really excels as a sander for woodworking. If you want to try a belt grinder, you should get a 2-inch version as your entry effort.

I'm trimming out my kitchen remodel now. I find myself using the belt more than the disc. I do notice the seam when it goes buy the work but it hasn't been a problem for me. Also, only the belt has a (easily accessible) dust chute so I'm biased to it from a cleanliness perspective.

Both surfaces just EAT material which is great, but you do have to be careful.

As others have said there is a difference between the 6x48" units and the 2" units discussed here.

 

[gtermini]

Awesome workmanship! I am totally impressed, especially with the welding.

That design looks to be a close cousin to the older Baldor belt grinders. Same general shape and tracking mechanism. The original uses casting, but more important are the ribs on the upright to eliminate flexing. I have one of those grinders with a VFD I installed and it is my favorite.

Thanks for the compliment. I'm pretty sure it is a rip off of the Baldor. I'm going to weld a length of 2" angle with the vee down on the side opposite the belt. I think that will take care of the issue. Now that I have it together, I am not too big a fan of the tracking and tension arm arrangement. It it a bit of a bear to change belts on because you are fighting the spring sisde to side as well as the normal way.

Any idea what RPM that thing runs at? That can't be OSHA approved anymore...

It runs 15HP at 720 rpm. Takes about 5 minutes to come to a stop after you kill it ( which requires flipping the breaker because the mag sticks :

Greyson

 

[exmaxima1]

Mine is 1 phase and wired for 230v. The tag on the motor indicates it can be rewired for 115v. I don't recall the Hp or amperage. It's probably 1 or 1.5 hp.

Belts are easy to change: remove two covers and un-tension. Mine tracks very straight.

They are usually 1.5 hp, so 220v is a good idea due to the high amperage.

I find that every time I turn on the machine I have to check the tracking to make sure it isn't eating into the guard. I don't think I've ever seen a Delta 6x48 that didn't have a gouge in the top guard. Once readjusted it tracks well, but will drift a bit over time/temperature. There is very little crown in the 6x48 wheels so that is expected, whereas the smaller grinding machines tend to have adequate crown to make them nearly adjustment-free. I rarely touch my Baldor grinder when swapping grits, it just tracks perfectly.

 

[steel 35]

I have a Rockwell 12" disk with 6X48" belt its 1.5 HP.
With a 36 grit belt it is a site to behold. Everyone that sees it wants it but I will wear it out or take it with me. Will be following this thread as I really want to build a long 2" ; When I am done with three large projects that I haven't started yet.

 

[BJ42LX]

I find that every time I turn on the machine I have to check the tracking to make sure it isn't eating into the guard. I don't think I've ever seen a Delta 6x48 that didn't have a gouge in the top guard. Once readjusted it tracks well, but will drift a bit over time/temperature.

Mine is a very low miles unit and has no external evidence of belt migration. On the inside there is one mark where the belt made is presence known.

The first time I used this type of machine was 30 years ago in junior high. Ever since then I knew it would be a nice tool to have. I've been looking for one seriously for the past year. I looked a three machines before buying mine. The first three were either beat to death or needed repairs. They all were going for big $$. Thankfully I passed on them all and ended up with a sweet deal on a near perfect machine that looks to be from 2000 - 2003-ish.

Yeah, I'd like one of those 2" set-ups as well. As I said in my last post they really are different machines with different applications.

 

[RivennHewn]

Here's mine.

I bought this about a month ago but I've used it a dozen times already. It's one of those, "I should have bought this 20 years ago!" tools.

I hope that isn't a HF dollie. I had mine sitting on a HF dollie for about a week and it was bowing bad. Had nightmares of it falling over and hitting the concrete.

 

[Steevo]

Great deal for that machine. I think that's a 6x48 belt, and possibly USA-made as well.

You are correct sir. I don't know why I typed 8"

And yes, it is US made.

Mine runs on either 115 or 230v. I have it on 115, because of where it ended up in the shop. It was much easier to change the wiring in the tool than to run an additional 230v circuit for it.