Thread: 1/3 price belt grinder

Hey fellas,

you know, I don't have a bunch to contribute around here being new and all, but I did think that a lot of you making razors or working on them might like to have a belt sander. Now I know this ia a bit more than some of you will want to spend, but when you price out a commercially available belt grinder you'll see this is quite a savings.

I want to state for the record, I have no relationship with this guy, I just needed a belt grinder (my uncle, who is the big supplier of my shop equipment being a great guy and having been divorced with nowhere to store his massive amount of tools and machines said that we HAD to have a belt grinder in the shop, and of course his cusotm built 103" by 2" grinder made for two guys to work off of at one time was TOO MASSIVE for the shop I had to investigate)

I came up with this place.

Coote Belt Grinder - Eastern Medicine


I bought a motor off of ebay for 99 bucks, a baldor that just happens to turn at about 2800 rpms, the speed for this grinder setup (I got the 2x72 with 6" drive by the way).

I use a vibration dampening direct connection from motor to grinder, no pulleys or belts, which is another option and I have pics somehwere of how to set that up. but simple is to do it my way.

I got an old semi-truck brake drum from local truck brake repair place, they usually give them away. then visited the scrap yards, got some 4" square tube, had some 1" plate around, welded up a stand. then got some 3/8" plate and cut out a top plate that I mounted the grinder to. then I made another plate for the motor to sit on, I attached this with 4 5/8" bolts that combined with slots allow me to adjust for height/level/and all other alignment. she works like a champ. beauty, it's a standard belt size. compair this to a burr king at 1500 bucks at that size. investment of 500-550 is not too bad.

if any of you are interested I can post pics of mine. I just wanted to try to contribute.

now, if somebody could just tell me how to use mine to make blades!

Red

Originally Posted by Big Red

if any of you are interested I can post pics of mine. I just wanted to try to contribute.

We LOVE pics!

Originally Posted by Big Red

now, if somebody could just tell me how to use mine to make blades!

I think you are in the right place! Loads to read and experts to ask!

Great post! Thanks!

Originally Posted by Big Red

now, if somebody could just tell me how to use mine to make blades!

Red

First, get this big piece of steel.

Please post pics, It sounds like you have come up with a nice deal.

When I was shopping around I saw this model. Looks good and all, but I read this: " Each machine size is suited for that contact wheel diameter only and is not readily adaptable to other sizes. Within limits, a machine can be converted, but does not lend itself to a full function of features if done so."

That was what put me off of it. One size contact wheel and that's it basically. If you add a variable speed motor, then you are looking at over $1000 anyway. But the ease of use and ease of adjustments including changing wheels as well as the amount of accessories for the other grinders made me steer away from this. I just wanted those options. I've heard good things about this as long as you are ok with the lack of features.

when deciding how to make mine I just did direct drive because I don't need variable speeds, had I wanted that though I would have used step pulleys which would have given me great adjustment. I never thought about needing to change the contact wheel though, what would the advantage be to that?

I'll tell you what though, it sure does make life great when making brackets, fitting parts and doing general fab. cleans up edges and corners real nice, lets me do radiused ends instead of leaving them flat. too cool.

I'll try and get pics up later, lucky I am on here right now, if my wife catches me......its my littleg irls birthday and I'm supposed to be workign on getting the house ready for the bbq. :O

Red