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Making a strip/belt sander

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MichaelBikel

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Joined
Apr 11, 2015
Messages
379
Location
CT
I have been getting into knife making, the other day I was looking at a belt sander I had lying around (free to me) and thought I could repurpose it for a strip sander.

Before I go diving in ant taking **** apart (usually before I do any reading) I was wondering if you guys think it would be possible, or if it would even be worth it.

Specifications

Rigid R2720
120 volts, 60 Hz, AC, 10.0 Amps
Belt size 3 x 21"
Sanding Surface 17.5 sq. inches
No Load Speed 800 - 1,500/min.
Weight 10.5 lbs
Manual- https://www.manualslib.com/manual/141058/Ridgid-R2720.html?page=12#manual

Looking at the unit itself and the manual, some areas look troublesome: timing belt/pulley, brush assembly, tracking components ect. If it doesn't make sense I could always sell it since I haven't used it in such a long time, but I don't quite know what I could get for it.

IMG_2870 by MichaelBikel, on Flickr IMG_2868 by MichaelBikel, on Flickr IMG_2871 by MichaelBikel, on Flickr IMG_2869 by MichaelBikel, on Flickr
 
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gungatim

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Jan 8, 2013
Messages
8,101
Location
west mich
There are a few free sets of plans on the net for making your own strip sander, they are really not difficult to make. check out the thread on the big green one the guy posted. you could easily make that instead of repurposing that little tool. they are pretty simple machines, really.

here's a couple pics from the plans I have, pm me and i'll send the files if you can't find them on your own. I was going to make the 2nd one until I ran into a nice older used one for $10 at a sale...
 

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Bottlecapdigger

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Dec 29, 2015
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543
Location
Ontario
Ever see the sanders that they use on the show " Forged in Fire " on the History channel. I would like to make one of those. BCD.
 
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MichaelBikel

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Apr 11, 2015
Messages
379
Location
CT
I opened it up late last night to see what I was dealing with. The drive train is basically held together by a bunch of plastic so I decided to just clean/grease it up and sell it. Maybe i'll get lucky at an estate sale and find an engine that I can use. I was hoping to get it done next to nothing but I guess this gives me time to do my homework on the design.

IMG_2882 by MichaelBikel, on Flickr
IMG_2886 by MichaelBikel, on Flickr
IMG_2888 by MichaelBikel, on Flickr
 
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MichaelBikel

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Joined
Apr 11, 2015
Messages
379
Location
CT
Just wondering what hp motor you guys would recommend for a strip sander. I'm thinking 1/3 or 1/2 hp. I'm also having a hell of a time tracking one down.
 
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alwaysFlOoReD

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Sep 24, 2013
Messages
2,375
Location
Airdrie, Alberta, Canada
I bought a repurposed treadmill that the guy made into a belt sander. I changed a few things like putting two belts on it, wood and metal, and enclosing the motor computer board to keep in the magic smoke while grinding metal. The motor will go from 0 rpm to fast enough to do some damage. It uses belts of approximately 63" so doesn't get hot.



Grinding an edge for my press brake;

 
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MichaelBikel

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Apr 11, 2015
Messages
379
Location
CT
I've got most of my drive train for the strip sander figured out but I have a question about drive belts. I got a motor at a tag sale and the sheave that came with it accepts a v belt, I also made my own pulleys from wood to accept this style belt. Now that I know I can basically make whatever type of pulley I want I was wondering what kind of belt I should purchase. I could go with V, V link, round, flat...and then there is also brand. I will have to start researching this but I always like to hear what people on the journal have to say.
 
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finn

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Mar 27, 2005
Messages
16,179
Location
The UP, God's country
I was looking for a flat pulley this morning to rebuild an old Craftsman strip sander. There is a company called Phoenix Pulley, or something like that out of Horicon Wisconsin that has a pretty extensive on line pulley catalog and reasonable prices compared to an other site I found in a five minute search.

Pulleys in the sizes I'm interested in are $7-8 compared to $14 and up on eBay or Amazon, and the catalog is relatively complete.
 
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MichaelBikel

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Joined
Apr 11, 2015
Messages
379
Location
CT
Picked up the motor with metal sheave for $10 at a tag sale (probably should have talked him down to 5...) Bought a new belt and got the 8mm rods out of a junked printer, crowned the wheels (with bearings from an old skateboard) on my oscillating sander and made a wooden drive wheel/pulley on the table saw. So far so good, the trick is going to be the tracking adjustment system. IMG_3175 by MichaelBikel, on Flickr
IMG_3177 by MichaelBikel, on Flickr
 
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