Using a Edge Belt/Spindle Sander?

R

raddaradda

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Mar 10, 2020
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The workshop I normally use [live in an apartment, nowhere to run sander] has an Edge Belt and Spindle Sander instead of a normal vertical/horizontal belt sander I see being used. It has this model that uses 4"x32" belts. I plan on doing most of my bevel grinding with a jig and well likely be doing the blade profiling on this machine too. Same goes for most of the handle shaping. For finishing, I'll be doing everything by hand using micromesh pads.

Do you think using the edge belt sort of like a vertical belt sander is feasible?
 
What you have is often called a horizontal belt sander. It will work fine for knifemaking as long as it has a platen.
 
Just put a piece of aluminum sheet at the end to stop the sparks. Even better would be to shape it as a "U" and have a vacuum draw down the sparks and shavings. You would want some sort of a spark trap, of course.
 
I have one of those and I am not sure how well it would work. It is an oscillating sander and I cannot imagine how one could hold the blade steady enough to get a decent bevel. Maybe with a jig, I don't know. I think you would be far better off with a sander that does not oscillate.
 
The edge sander you showed in your link likely won't work, at least not with a jig. If you ground all of your knives without plunge lines where the bevel just ran off of the blade's heal it might work, but it would probably be a bit dangerous doing the side where to belt would be spinning into the blade's tip. In order to grind the bevels so that you have plunge lines you would need to hold the tang straight up and the tip pointing towards the table.

That's not to say it's impossible, but it's certainly not even close to the tool for the job when it comes to grinding bevels, let alone for grinding with a jig. It should be OK for grinding in the profiles though.

If you can use that in your Apt or workshop then you would probably be OK with one of these as well: https://www.amazon.com/Palmgren-Belt-bench-finishing-machine/dp/B0006577HI


~Paul
My Youtube Channel
... (Some older vids of some of the older knives I made)
 
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