Recommendation? Belt Storage

[HWooldridge]

I have seen a lot of pictures of shops where the owner has a plethora of belts hanging on dowels or hooks; I assume for easy access and belt changes. Some of these look to be climate controlled to a degree (or at least insulated) so maybe humidity isn't a big factor but my shop has a dirt floor and readily allows ambient air to pass through. Of course, my high mass tools (mill, lathe, power hammer) all collect condensation when the conditions are favorable and I have never been able to hang up belts without having them curl or distort from humidity changes. On occasion, I have also had belts come apart at the glue joint.

Is there a cure for this aside from either building a cabinet or putting them back into a cardboard box to minimize the effects of moisture? I typically keep my unused belts in our house and only take them to the shop when I plan to use one but there might be a better way that I'm not seeing.

Thx, Hollis

 

[kuraki]

Hang them with a weight inside the bottom loop. A chunk of round stock, piece of pipe, etc.

 

[tiguy7]

Put them in a plastic storage bin with a tight lid. Add a desiccant if necessary.

 

[joedhiggins]

I would definately use a rechargable dessicant in some sort of enclosure for the best solution, otherwise, a plastic bag sould work.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Best belt rack I ever saw was made with 4" PVC pipe. The top was 12" sections of the PVC mounted to the back board, and there were hinged pieces on the bottom that held the belts straight. You just lifted the lower piece a bit and slid off a belt. They were 10' to 12" apart center to center. I guess there were 8-10 of these on the 4X8 foot backing board.

 

[LARRYZ10]

I live in So. California where humidity is not a problem but temperatures from 105 to 112 can last for a solid month. Belt storage space is limited for me so my first rack was the back of my chair and the second rack was a clothes hanging rack that fit over a door. Then my wife brought home an old wooden hat and coat stand with four hooks on it. I bought four more hooks and mounted then halfway up the rack to get eight places to hang belts . I doubled up some belts like 400 and 500 grit and 1200, 1500, and 2000 grits belts but got a ton of belts in little space. I will post some photos here if I can find them. Larry P.S. I'm not suggesting that this is ideal but rather necessary for my space. I have two grinders, one with a surface grinder attachment, three disc grinders, a buffer, a 4x36 bench sander, two 1x30 bench sanders, band saw, drill press, 3 Dremels hooked up, and a vise. I share this half garage with my wife's Toyota. Property here sells by the sq. ft. and only the very rich throw around words like "acres". LL

 

[LCKT707]

Wow if you don't mind me asking which belts came apart on you? I've used some of the cheapest zirc x ao budget belts I can find and never had one break even under extreme grinding! The
PVC pipe idea another user mentioned is probably the best system I've seen. I'd use one if I wasn't so stuck for space in my shop. For now I made my own brass hooks out of scrap metals to hand along my wall to the right side of my KMG grinder. I then use big 4" cardboard rolls to sit over the hook, then the belts rest on the cardboard roll, as this ensures the belts wont bend so tightly when hanging under weight.

I like the belt holding chair LARRYZ10 used lol

 

[HWooldridge]

Wow if you don't mind me asking which belts came apart on you? I've used some of the cheapest zirc x ao budget belts I can find and never had one break even under extreme grinding! The
PVC pipe idea another user mentioned is probably the best system I've seen. I'd use one if I wasn't so stuck for space in my shop. For now I made my own brass hooks out of scrap metals to hand along my wall to the right side of my KMG grinder. I then use big 4" cardboard rolls to sit over the hook, then the belts rest on the cardboard roll, as this ensures the belts wont bend so tightly when hanging under weight.

I like the belt holding chair LARRYZ10 used lol

Thanks for all of the responses. I have a lot of PVC lying around so that sounds like a good idea.

The belts that broke were all from Texas Knifemakers - I think they were AO Hermes. They very likely got damp in the shop so I figured it was my fault - not the belts. IIRC, three came apart on me - that was probably 5-6 years ago.

 

[LCKT707]

Thanks for all of the responses. I have a lot of PVC lying around so that sounds like a good idea.

The belts that broke were all from Texas Knifemakers - I think they were AO Hermes. They very likely got damp in the shop so I figured it was my fault - not the belts. IIRC, three came apart on me - that was probably 5-6 years ago.

Man! It must really be getting damp in there! I've had good luck with the AO Hermes and wet grinding. Only belts I have issues with + water are Trizact lol

 

[HWooldridge]

Man! It must really be getting damp in there! I've had good luck with the AO Hermes and wet grinding. Only belts I have issues with + water are Trizact lol

My shop is a 24x36, metal pole barn - four walls and a door but dirt floor, no insulation and plenty drafty. Cool damp weather comes along and most everything gets moist. Not as bad as Houston (LOL) but can still get damn humid...

 

[LCKT707]

My shop is a 24x36, metal pole barn - four walls and a door but dirt floor, no insulation and plenty drafty. Cool damp weather comes along and most everything gets moist. Not as bad as Houston (LOL) but can still get damn humid...

My old shop was similar and when it rained I'd need to cover certain equipment in trashbags incase of roof leaks LOL! Now I have insulation and no leaks, but smaller space under a staircase. One day we will have real shops hahaha

 

[Rhinoknives1]

I live in So. California where humidity is not a problem but temperatures from 105 to 112 can last for a solid month. Belt storage space is limited for me so my first rack was the back of my chair and the second rack was a clothes hanging rack that fit over a door. Then my wife brought home an old wooden hat and coat stand with four hooks on it. I bought four more hooks and mounted then halfway up the rack to get eight places to hang belts . I doubled up some belts like 400 and 500 grit and 1200, 1500, and 2000 grits belts but got a ton of belts in little space. I will post some photos here if I can find them. Larry P.S. I'm not suggesting that this is ideal but rather necessary for my space. I have two grinders, one with a surface grinder attachment, three disc grinders, a buffer, a 4x36 bench sander, two 1x30 bench sanders, band saw, drill press, 3 Dremels hooked up, and a vise. I share this half garage with my wife's Toyota. Property here sells by the sq. ft. and only the very rich throw around words like "acres". LL

Larry, Love that middle picture of your Belt X Mas Tree! We need a knife maker holiday to celebrate!. Well I’m in S Cal but living by the Ocean makes it damp in my shop——————/- To the OP, sealable box bins work for belt storage as mention and PVC pipe cut to short rounds and hung help kept the belts from curling! Bet of luck to you!!