Belt Sanders

[Ripantack]

I have noticed that everyone here recommends 1" or 2" belt sanders.

There are many 4"X36" sanders out there, most with a bonus disk sander for very reasonable prices. What's wrong with these?

I noticed on a woodworking forum that a plane blade maker who uses mostly hi-speed steel (M-2 and M-4) uses one of these for final shaping as well as sharpening all of his tools including plane blades, knives, chisels, etc. He simply tapped a couple of holes in the sander on each side of the belt and fitted a simple adjustable tool holder.

He uses the disk sander for final shaping of handles, etc.

Except for recurve knives, I don't understand the need for narrow sanding belts.

However, there must be some reason people want to use those narrow belts. By the way, metal working belts of ceramic and silicon carbide are readily available in the 4X36 size at discount prices through several sources including Supergrit.

Thanks for any comments. I am trying to decide between a nice 1X42 like the Lee Valley or Kalamazoo or going with a decent 4X36.

 

[Any Cal.]

The 4x36 doesn't let you work close to the belt like the 1" & 2" belt sanders do. The question comes up about once a month in the makers forums as well. I asked it at one point too.

The belts are also comparatively more expensive, have less selection, and a couple other things.

I do use one for working on knives, but they are really not optimal...not that that stops anybody who really wants to. They are fine for less complex handles, if, like me, that is what you've got. I did cut some relief in the platen so I could work right up to the belt with the ricasso in a couple of spots.

 

[andico99]

i used 4x36" belt sander with a ghetto mod ( a slack belt) to convex and reprofile all my blades. It will works but it is very tough when come to recurve. I wasn't sure about belt choice because i only used 60-120-240-400grit, they are the only belts available to me.

Any high carbon steel will eat the grits up fast. If i could ever get my hands on those 1X42", i would drop the 4X32 right away.

 

[THG]

The 4x36 doesn't let you work close to the belt like the 1" & 2" belt sanders do.

I'm not sure what you mean by that. The way I see it, it's almost like a sharpening stone that moves. You get flat area to work with just like you do on a whetstone.

I've been considering getting a 4x36 for quick rebeveling as well as attempting to flat grind some knives. Of course, I don't know enough about sanders, so that's why I've been holding off. The last belt sander I got was a 1x30 (harbor freight model), and it sucks ass, so I'm afraid to put money down on a sander again lol

 

[Any Cal.]

Look at the front of the KMG style grinder, where you would be working, at how much clearance there is around the belt.

Then look at the same area on a 4x36. You can see that you can't even work at the edge of the belt. On mine, I ground out a divot on each side of the platen, so I could work the edge of the belt up to the plunge line. With a normal machine, you can't really make any cuts deeper than the thickness of the belt.

You can see that you are much more limited when working with a sander designed for woodworking. As far as sharpening, it has worked fine, though it is pretty obvious when you mess up.

That being said, I have built knives with just a 4x36, so it can be done, it is just that there are better tools for the job. I think this was #3 or #4, the others were a scandi grind.

 

[Bill DeShivs]

4 X 36 sanders are woodworking tools. Metalworking is another ballgame. A good 2 X 72 grinder is a wonderful thing, and you can still grind wood on it.

 

[BryFry]

I know this has beem asked a million times, but please remind me again: Who makes the most affordable 2" x 72" belt grinder??

 

[ChapmanPreferred]

Grizzly is the lowest buy in that I am aware of right now, unless you build your own and already have the motor.

 

[Any Cal.]

The kit from Polar Bear Forge in the makers area seems like a nice way to go, though I don't own a 2x72, so can't offer anything from experience.