Motor for belt grinder

A quick question for those who have built a belt grinder, 2 x 72.

Would a Dayton, 2 hp, 1725 rpm 115/230v motor be suitable with step pulley's?

I ran across one at a rummage sale that is currently powering an old table saw.

Yes, it will work just fine.

I have not built a 2x72 grinder, but I think the motor will work fine.

Charlie

That should be plenty. Mine are Leeson 2HP - 208-230/460V - 1725 and I yet have to see it stall.

Thank you for the input, I am going to stop back today.

A 1 hp would be more than adequate for grinding razors and knives.

I agree with Randy on almost everything - he taught me everything I know about honing. Having said that, I respectfully disagree that 1hp is enough for grinding razors. My first motor was a 2hp DC, and I could slow it down during heavy grinding. My current motor is a variable speed AC 3hp, and it works great. I think a 2hp with a 3 or 4 step pulley set up for speed control would be just fine. Just my opinion.

I have ground the vast majority of the razors that I have made with a ¼ HP motor. The grinder that I use most has 1” belts and the widest razors that I grind are about 1” wide, so my biggest area of contact is about 1” square inch. I have also ground razors on a grinders that use 2” belts with a ½ HP motors that also worked fine for my grinding style. I have also used other grinders with 2” belts with larger motors.

My conclusions are,

¼ HP per square inch of contact = OK
½ HP per square inch of contact = good
1 HP or greater per square in of contact = more than good

Charlie

I have a 1HP 3 phase motor on my 2x72" grinder, and I can't even slow it down. I use pulleys, no VFD, so that may change things.