Building a belt grinder.

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I bought a couple(over a thousand) 3x79 sanding belts at an auction for cheap(under $100)Anyway, I want to build a grinder for them to be used with.Just a simple 2 wheel machine, ~8" contact wheel. The drive wheel mounted direct to the motor. Put a flat platten on the top so I can flat grind something If I wanted to.Anyway, mcmaster has a contact wheel but it has no bearings in it, pn 46425A52, Im not sure if I can chuck this up in my little southbend and bore the hub for a bearing or not. For a drive wheel I thought about getting a piece of 6 or 8" pipe and welding a center in it  and weld a hub onto it. That I think I can do pretty easy if I can find a piece of pipe. Salvage place only has great big long pieces of steel pipe like i want, it had a 1/4-5/16" wall, they won't cut it.Does anyone know where I can get a differnt contact wheel that will work with bearings? Grizzly has one but they need over 2 months to get it.
Reply:Oh and ive got a motor, 1 1/2 horse. 3/4" shaft.
Reply:I was going to say McMaster but looks like you already tried. IMO, they carry the best variety of belt/disc sanders so I'm suprised you can't get more parts.John -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com
Reply:yeah I kinda thought the same...
Reply:Check out this site, this guy has all the stuff and does not charge enough for the quality product he puts out.http://beaumontmetalworks.com/price.html"If you live in Sacramento you have seen my work."
Reply:Great site Jonnie.  I'll have to bookmark that for future use as now I may consider making my own someday when I get more space.  I don't think you  could machine your own wheels for those prices, nevertheless buy the bearings..Last edited by Rick Moran; 01-31-2007 at 09:56 PM.Hobart 140 Handler w/ gasHyperTherm Powermax 380 Plasmaoxy/acetylene
Reply:when i worked at the bike shop we had one of the large 3 wheel belt sanders.not sure of belt lenght 140 or so i think and we had one aluminum contack wheel one rubber one a lots of the bigger ones. the hard ones were like 2-3 inch diam but the larger ones were just used sewn felt buffing wheels stacked side by side on an arbor with some bearings thrown in a homemade mount
Reply:Find a belt sander on e-bay or someplace else that takes that size belts..You have no idea what it would actually take to make one from scratch..Bearings and motors....belts..pulleys and drive wheels come to mind..Let alone the alignment factor....Do yourself a favor and "Forgetaboutit.." ...zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:This is all you need: http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg...mId=1611787039I would be very suprised if you could build one for less. Considering the prices for the rollers (though nice pieces) and such listed on that site, the rollers alone would total the cost of the above unit. Dayton motor, nice size belt and disc sander, you can't beat it. I have this unit and can't be more happy: http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg...mId=1613592007John -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com
Reply:Originally Posted by Jonnie FrazCheck out this site, this guy has all the stuff and does not charge enough for the quality product he puts out.http://beaumontmetalworks.com/price.html
Reply:Originally Posted by zapsterFind a belt sander on e-bay or someplace else that takes that size belts..You have no idea what it would actually take to make one from scratch..Bearings and motors....belts..pulleys and drive wheels come to mind..Let alone the alignment factor....Do yourself a favor and "Forgetaboutit.." ...zap!
Reply:Looks like a 10 pack of belts in that size is about $40. If you "10 pack" them on ebay for even around half you could pretty much buy whatever sander you want.Mike
Reply:look in your area for somebody that sells used buffing and polishing machines,check for idler arms.
Reply:well since zap said it was impossible, I got a piece of 7" 5/16" wall pipe. I think it used to be an oxygen cylinder. I cut off a piece with the plasma. Chucked it up in the lathe. Working on turning the ends somewhat flat now, the damn plasma hardened it some i think.
Reply:I built a 1" 3 wheeled belt sander/grinder. I used skateboard wheels. The bearings are super cheap and any bike / skate store sells them. The wheels were polyurathane and on clearance for $1..... one of the best tools I have built! I hinged the motor, using it's weight to tention the belt, to change a belt you just lift the motor and put on a new belt.Not a beginner, not a pro !
Reply:Sounds kinda' cool, post up a pic of that puppy PLANE!John -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com
Reply:Not wanting to contradict Zap, who is *almost invariably" right...BUT...You CAN build a perfectly functional belt sander - I've done and if I can, it's well within the ability of any competent mechanic / metalworker. That said, it IS NOT a machine capable of working all day in a trade environment. But for what I do it works fine and it cost me very little - as a hobbyist, and a cheapskate, my time isn't a problem, but my wallet is. If you're making your living with a belt grinder, Zap's suggestion probably bears serious consideration.
Reply:An old friend of mine used to say: $ I got more time than money $.  There is a sense of reward & achievment in building something from the ground up and there's no mystery as to how it works w/no manual to read!  Although, access to a mill & lathe come in handy.Last edited by Rick Moran; 02-02-2007 at 12:22 PM.Hobart 140 Handler w/ gasHyperTherm Powermax 380 Plasmaoxy/acetylene
Reply:Yah, So far I have very little into it. $78 for a life time supply of belts, $0 for the motor, came from a scrapped aircompressor at work,$15 for 4 bearings for the contact wheel, Only need 2 but the price was for 4. I don't think it will cost over $300 to do the whole thing.  Sure it may not be good for production but im not doing production.
Reply:Well, finally took a pic of mine, built by Grainger, acquired for free. If you look hard enough, you can find 'em cheap...or free. Jimmy - I called Grainger parts and I can get parts. Just an FYI if you see some parts off one of these that you may want to use. One resource for you, if you choose. Hope that helps... Attached ImagesJohn -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com
Reply:Originally Posted by jimmyedI will think about that. Ive built more complex things.
Reply:Im not really on a deadline so i got all kinds of time. Yah there might be frustration but in the end i should have a decent grinder. Anyway,I a hub welded on a piece of 1/4" plate for the center, Got it turned roughly to size but I need to make a jig to hold it in the lathe so I can turn both sides.
Reply:I got the wheel done, Just a little more to turn on the inside yet, hopefully that will get it closer to ballanced. Its not bad now but I am going to try and get it perfect. I tapered it 4 degrees to the center of the wheel. Ill post a picture tomarrow.
Reply:Its ballanced pretty well now, with it plugged in it doesn't walk across the table any more than it did with just motor without the wheel. Attached Images
Reply:Looks great so far, how did you pin it to the shaft? Good work!John -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.comI used a hub that is ment to be welded in a sprocket, Welded it to the plate, then turned it round and welded it inside the pipe, then trued everything up.
Reply:Little progress. Attached Images
Reply:Looks nice man!   Quite a contact wheel. Where did you get it? Do you have pics of your tracking system? Keep us updated."If you live in Sacramento you have seen my work."
Reply:I like it!  I can really appreciate the satisfaction that comes with building your own tools.  However, while looking at your photo, it occured to me.....I would need to use MY belt sander to build such a sander.........hmmmmm..............
Reply:How do you adjust tracking and how much crown did you put on the drive pulley??  I regularly am putting crowning on commercial belt sander idlers for a welding instructor friend as well as having to do it to the one in my place of work when it started wandering.
Reply:I just beveled it 4.5-5 degrees toward the center. In the center there is a 3/8" wide strip that is flat on the wheel.Tracking adjustment is on the motor mount. just a bolt and a spring and big hinge. I finally got back to working on it again. damn ice storm. Im having trouble with it wandering, does the bevel need to come toward the center and basically make a point? No flat strip in the center?Last edited by jimmyed; 02-24-2007 at 01:27 PM.
Reply:Well, I just turned it again and made the bevels meet in the center.The belt doesn't really wander, just wont center. It rides off to one side of the wheel just fine, no wander at all. When I center it it wants to wander back toward the motor, won't center on the wheel. Not sure what to try now.
Reply:I think you have too much taper on the wheel, I taper mine 1 degree or less from center to edge. Actually I measure the difference in center diameter to outside diameter in thousnads. Your idler wheel is fixed so you must have "in/out" adjustment on the drive wheel and "right/left angle" adjustment also. In/out is adjusting the drive wheel so it is on the centerline of the idler wheel. Once it is set, it probably won't have to be adjusted again. The angle adjustment is making the centerline of the drive wheel line up on the idler wheel and will probably need to be adjusted each time a belt is changed so some kind of thumb screw adjuster would be best there. I think the angle adjustment is much easier to build into the idler wheel than the drive wheel.
Reply:I changed it to 2 degrees and it works like a charm now. Tracks fine with no wandering. I got it wired tonight, tomarrow I will work on the flat platten and the cover for the side of it.Ill get a picture in the morning
Reply:Originally Posted by zapsterSo have I my friend..But be reasonable..Time and aggrivation can eventually lead to   thats all.....zap!
Reply:I need to order a hinge and make the belt cover yet. Rest works fine. May build a catch can for the grinding dust.
Reply:not sure what happened to the pics. Attached Images
Reply:Nice rig.  What about a 90 face to hold material perpendicular (or make it adjustable so you can do any angel).  Just a thought to make a really cool sander even more versatile.Various GrindersVictor Journeyman torch200cf Acet. 250cf oxygenLincoln 175 plus/alpha2 gunLincoln v205t tigLincoln 350mpEsab 650 plasmaWhen you can get up in the morning, Its a good day.Live each day like its your last.
Reply:thats in the works probably. shouldn't be too big a deal to add on.
Reply:Originally Posted by jimmyednot sure what happened to the pics.
Reply:a 10 year old olympus d-450. I am looking to upgrade soon.
Reply:Originally Posted by jimmyeda 10 year old olympus d-450. I am looking to upgrade soon.
Reply:Metal?
Reply:There you go, looks like a nice belt sander, great job!John -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com
Reply:Nice job! I see you changed the design a little, you had mentioned that your belts were 3"x 79" in your first post, now 2"x 60".  I am building a grinder as well simular to a Burr King, I like your design."If you live in Sacramento you have seen my work."
Reply:Does anyone know where to find an 8" rubber contact wheel that is cheaper than $200 that McMaster Carr wants?Thanks
Reply:Years ago I made several rubber contact wheels by gluing inner tube rubber to a cast and machined aluminum wheel.  The wheel mounted on a regular 1/3 hp motor shaft.  I had expected the rubber to peel off but it stuck.  I used good quality contact cement and let it dry fully until tack free before rolling it on and trimming with a knife.  If you can find the right size scrap innertube you can roll it on like a sock. If you can find a rubberizing/vulcanizing shop nearby they can coat a bare pulley for you.  I worked in a shop that had very large belt sanders set on stands that sanded down weld beads on a circumference.  Eventually the rubber underneath would get damaged when a belt split and we would send it out to be recovered.
Reply:I got mine from CRC, It still uses a 3x79 belt. I will work on it some more this weekend. ive been dog tired this week. Working in a ****hole for the next few months. I got everything I need to finish it.http://www.contactwheels.com/http://www.contactrubber.com/
Reply:that is one nice belt sander goood job ChuckASME Pressure Vessel welder
Reply:Nice job on the grinder.The plans linked below are for a multi purpose belt grinder. http://www.dfoggknives.com/PDF/GrinderPlans.pdfBuild thread.http://forums.dfoggknives.com/index.php?showtopic=4436My Photos on Flickr