Thread: My new tool

For the last few months I've been spending the money I've been earning on restorations and honing on parts for a 2x72" belt grinder.

My father-in-law, a heavy equipment mechanic and metalworker, did the actual construction. I found plans and bought parts.

He finished it two weeks ago, and I've been playing with it quite a bit since then. I couldn't be happier.

It's basically a clone of the KMG/Bader style grinders. It has three speeds, which I can access with a simple step-down pulley arrangement. The grinder has a flat platen attachment, a couple of work rests and several contact wheels. I'm working on filling out my compliment of wheels now.

Many projects will be emerging from my newly retooled shop over the weeks and months to come.

Thanks for looking,
Josh

P.S. That's me honing a little 4/8 Thiers Issard limited edition razor. The bevel was a little off, so I took it to the grinder with my 36-grit ceramic belt. A couple hundred laps straightened things right out.
Josh

+1 Cool! Nice setup!

Wow.... very nice! Uber nice even!

If only I were young again <sigh> "Mom... Dad.... everyone has one, even Josh!"

Oh well, back to saving my nickels...


Regards

Christian

Lookin good! I am in the process of building mine also from a set of plans.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWA:IT&ih=015

Where did you get your set of plans?

I bought those initially and planned to use them, but then I realized that my father-in-law was a good machinist. Those plans are very good, though.

I have another set that we relied on more heavily. It's a PDF, but I forget where I got it from. PM me with an e-mail address if you're interested.

I got the wheels and pulleys from www.usaknifemakers.com. Tracy, the owner, is the author of Randy's plans and is a fantastic guy to deal with. I get all my belts from him.

Josh

Originally Posted by JoshEarl

The bevel was a little off, so I took it to the grinder with my 36-grit ceramic belt. A couple hundred laps straightened things right out.
Josh

What was that, like 3 seconds? Seriously, though, what HP motor do you have on that setup?

I only have a 1 horsepower, which is considered the minimum. I find that I can slow the belt a bit if I'm using the platen attachment to flat grind. But I have to use a big hunk of steel and really lean into it. For what I'll be doing, I think the 1 hp will be plenty. Mainly I'll be making razors and small knives. I am working on a 14" bowie-style knife, and that one is a bear to grind.

Josh

Yea.
I have a Dremel.

Same thing basically, right?



OK, let us know when you start taking custom razor, and restoration orders!

(I'm jealous now )

Great set up!

C utz

One of my summer jobs when I when I was a college student was working in a foundry. I did grinding. If I had the room for one of those! The belt was 4" wide and the about 9 feet long. Now that one could grind! It also grinds hide too well. I still have scares. And if a belt ever broke!

This little setup Josh has is soooo cute!

Wow, that's a nifty set-up, Josh. I'd like to hear about how you tempered the steel and quenched it...I'll bet that was fun!

Also, I'd like to hear more about the making of the Bowie knife, when you have time.