VIEL Belt Sander availability

RayseM

RayseM

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Feb 18, 2010
Messages
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Does anyone know if Viel is still manufacturing? Just taking a Covid 19 break.
Hard to find any current info. Maybe I'm just being a dance with the google all of a sudden.

Thanks for any info.
 
RayseM said:
Does anyone know if Viel is still manufacturing? Just taking a Covid 19 break.
Hard to find any current info. Maybe I'm just being a dance with the google all of a sudden.

Thanks for any info.
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Found this on a site that sells them...


Because of COVID-19 restrictions, Viel Tools is unable to ship these sharpeners to the USA.
 
Haven't tried it myself... but a number of Viel owners seem to be happy with the Penn State Industries variable speed motor (I think it's also on the SharpeningMadeEasy website).
 
oceanrider said:
Are Viel belt sanders good quality? Where are they made?
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Canada is where they are made. I get the impression they are decent belt grinders for hobbyist or for casual knife work, woodworking edge tool maintenance or maybe one level up from a hobbyist but not something a pro would likely want to operate. Here is an older link with more info - https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/the-ultimate-viel-1x42-thread.1291110/#post-15649228

Now you know as much as I do. Being a knife hobbyist but a professional woodworker it has some appeal to me as a fun tool that would make knife work easier.
 
RayseM said:
Canada is where they are made. I get the impression they are decent belt grinders for hobbyist or for casual knife work, woodworking edge tool maintenance or maybe one level up from a hobbyist but not something a pro would likely want to operate. Here is an older link with more info - https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/the-ultimate-viel-1x42-thread.1291110/#post-15649228

Now you know as much as I do. Being a knife hobbyist but a professional woodworker it has some appeal to me as a fun tool that would make knife work easier.
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Thanks for the link. I think I'm going seek out buying one. The price seems fair and I like that it has sharpening attachments for scissors.
 
I seem to recall that the Veil becomes kind of a DIY project if you want a variable speed motor. I believe Steve Bottorf of Sharpening Made Easy developed (co-developed?) a bracket for the Veil that allows you to mount the motor. It might also require you to remove the pulley from the motor... my memory is fuzzy on this.

This was one of the reasons that I selected the kalamazoo instead; it was good to go and just done. Plus changing the motor was supposed to not require any kind of special brackets or pulley changes.

Do your research; take a look at Steve's page on the Veil. He talks about a lot of details there. If he has them, and the brackets, he's probably the right place to buy them from.

Brian.
 
I've been happy with the Viel. It's not a high precision instrument, but it's an impressive little tool for the price. The scissor and chisel jigs work just fine.

I don't see the need for variable speed for standard grits. I've only ever noticed heating to be an issue with the ultra fine belts.
 
CasePeanut said:
There is a “sharpening with Viel” FB group that has a ton of info. Worth checking out if you are interested in the machine. Lots of good chatter about the motors and attachments
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Regretfully I've always had a distaste for FB and won't be posting there. But I just had a look and it looks like some good discussion.
 
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