Link belts
- Thread starter GreenNV
- Start date
Yes at least in some cases. Long ago I had a Craftsman cast iron table saw that was OK except that it vibrated. I installed a linked belt (that I got at agarage sale for a dollar or so) and all the vibration stopped. Smooth as could be. So the single time I used one, it was great.
There was not enough left to use for anything else.
There was not enough left to use for anything else.
Garage Coffee Roaster
Well-known member
Definitely!
I picked up the green link belts that harbor freight carries-
http://www.harborfreight.com/vibration-free-link-belt-43771.html
for my Atlas 12x36 metal lathe and it removed a lot of vibration. It made for a much cleaner cut and a lot less chatter.
Bonus was that these were made in the USA. That may have changed in the two years.
The belt links can be combined, so excess can be used for other machines.
Jim
I picked up the green link belts that harbor freight carries-
http://www.harborfreight.com/vibration-free-link-belt-43771.html
for my Atlas 12x36 metal lathe and it removed a lot of vibration. It made for a much cleaner cut and a lot less chatter.
Bonus was that these were made in the USA. That may have changed in the two years.
The belt links can be combined, so excess can be used for other machines.
Jim
Still US made I bought one a couple of months ago
I got belts for two separate machines and some to spare. I like them because I don't have to try and find custom belts for out of production/ custom setup tools.
You might have to take a couple of links out after a few hours of runtime, but that's not a big deal with some pliers.
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I use the PowerLink belts, for the above solution of having one belt that can be adjusted on-site to a unique size. They work good.
http://www.fennerdrives.com/powertwist-plus/
http://www.fennerdrives.com/powertwist-plus/
I'm personally not a fan of link belt. Never had a problem with GOOD QUALITY, properly sized V belts. But to each their own. I remember when the link belt craze hit a few years ago. I will admit they do have their very specific situation where they come in handy, but if you can use a standard V belt, I'd go with that.
flippin
Well-known member
First thing I replace on most of my shop tools. Link Belts are the ****!! They reduce vibration which of course allows a tool to stay "true" longer. Furthermore Link Belts have virtually no stretch (throughout their lifespan) which vastly improves performance. I haven't had one fail in almost 20 years.
hofferwood
Well-known member
Yes--------and they don't take a "SET" (oblong whumpty-whump)
I'm personally not a fan of link belt. Never had a problem with GOOD QUALITY, properly sized V belts. But to each their own. I remember when the link belt craze hit a few years ago. I will admit they do have their very specific situation where they come in handy, but if you can use a standard V belt, I'd go with that.
What brand do you use? The typical v-belts I can get locally for decent price are junk and don't last. I'm thinking they're outsourced.
I use USA gates. A few different lines depending on the minimum pulley wrap. I've never had a problem with them. If I don't plan on using a specific machine for a week or two (ex jointer or TS) I will just pull the belt off and let it free hand so it doesn't get a set.
john9
Member
Tried my first link belt earlier this year, bought the Powertwist brand and while it was quite a bit more expensive than even a top quality v-belt, I'm glad I got it.
Had a bad vibration in a newly acquired jointer/planer that was caused by the conventional v-belt which had taken a set. That jointer seems a lot more sensitive to belt irregularities than my table saw.
I don't use my wood shop tools very often, and the link belt's construction won't allow it to ever take a "set" in the same way a continuous belt could when it's not run for a long time. That alone was enough to make it worth it to me. It made my machine run very smooth, and I'm optimistic it will stay that way better than a v-belt could for my usage.
Had a bad vibration in a newly acquired jointer/planer that was caused by the conventional v-belt which had taken a set. That jointer seems a lot more sensitive to belt irregularities than my table saw.
I don't use my wood shop tools very often, and the link belt's construction won't allow it to ever take a "set" in the same way a continuous belt could when it's not run for a long time. That alone was enough to make it worth it to me. It made my machine run very smooth, and I'm optimistic it will stay that way better than a v-belt could for my usage.
Doug Arthurs
Well-known member
Tried one on my bridgeport and had no problems at all seemed quieter.
turbowoodworker
Well-known member
They made a world of difference on my delta contractor's saw; quieter and smoother.
djjsr
Well-known member
A few decades ago, I used a link belt in a design for a piece of industrial equipment simply to make it easier to change the belt without dismantling the equipment. It worked fine but I seem to remember that the horsepower rating was lower than a regular V belt of the same size.
I don't think the drive on a bandsaw is anywhere near the horsepower limit of the belt, so it's probably not an issue in this case.
I don't think the drive on a bandsaw is anywhere near the horsepower limit of the belt, so it's probably not an issue in this case.
Milton Shaw
Well-known member
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- Feb 11, 2011
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On a bandsaw you can get vibration from the tires on the wheels taking a set from being left with the blade tight. I would think that would more likely be the vibration than from the v-belt. There are bandsaw's that have a quick release on the blade tension just for this reason. Wish that mine had a quick release as I usually forget to let the tension off and end up with lumpy tires.
justanengineer
Well-known member
+1. Gates is good, but IMHO the best is Goodyear. Compared to **** V-belts, sure, a linked belt might improve things a bit but compared to a good V-belt links arent worth bothering.
Thanks for the input.
I purchased the link belt for my band saw and there was a substantial reduction in the vibration. One of the primary reasons was the belts had been stretched between the pulleys for a number of years without use. A mentioned, this causes an “out of round” or memory effect that added to the vibration. For machines that get frequent use, the use of good quality v belts may be sufficient.
I believe the pluses of the link belt, i.e., longevity, flexibility, ease of length change, reduced vibration, and no memory effect, justifies their cost on some machines. With the 25% discount at HF, the belt was reasonable at $20.
I purchased the link belt for my band saw and there was a substantial reduction in the vibration. One of the primary reasons was the belts had been stretched between the pulleys for a number of years without use. A mentioned, this causes an “out of round” or memory effect that added to the vibration. For machines that get frequent use, the use of good quality v belts may be sufficient.
I believe the pluses of the link belt, i.e., longevity, flexibility, ease of length change, reduced vibration, and no memory effect, justifies their cost on some machines. With the 25% discount at HF, the belt was reasonable at $20.