looking for a drive wheel

[tmiller5087]

hi all i am a newbe to knife making and this forum. nice to meet you. if i had the money i too would buy a KMG. Since I don't thought i would make my own belt sander modeled kinda like the KMG. mine will tilt up from horizontal to vertical. I will be using 1/4 walled 2" square tubing to slide the 1 1/2" bar in. i sqrounged up all I need but the drive wheel. I need to go cheap, I saw one sander on the web that is home built called the unigrinder that uses phenolic casters for the idler and drive wheel. Anyone know where I can get a 2" wide wheel with a 3/4 bore and 3/16 keyway? or any 2" wide wheel with enough meat on the hub to bore out to 3/4" . Looking forward to meeting and learning from you all.
thanks alot
terry

[Dragon cutlery]

what diamiter do you need?

[Sweany]

Rob Frink sells the wheels too.

Drive wheel or contact wheel?

[Dragon cutlery]

so does http://www.sheffieldsupply.com/ and some others but i might have what he needs for a lot less depending on what size he needs

[tmiller5087]

Like I said I am knew to this forum thingy. I just wrote a reply but don't see it so if this comes up twice please forgive me. I have a 9" contact wheel and a 2" idler. i am planning on picking up a 1 to 1 1/2 hp motor at harbour freight. i am not sure what the rpms would be. If i was to buy one I would buy a 4" don't ask me why. perhaps you guys could advise me on the proper size. I am going to use stepper pullys also. I could probably use 3 to 6"? I have a set oh Mamoth ivory knife scales 1/8 thick by 1 1/8" by 3.5 inch. they are center cut and flat sanded to a even thickness. they are currently listed on ebay for 50.00 i would sell them to you guys for half that or trade for sumthin. if anyone is interested let me know. i think i should practice on a more common material before i use them,I know if I get them too hot they will craze, would hate to waste sumthin that rare. i have seen some of the high qaulity and beautiful knives you guys produce.I feel one of you could do them justice. there is no bark just pure creamy ivory no cracks. the certificate says they are 10,000 yrs old from russia.

[Dragon cutlery]

if you are using pullys you can use any diamiter you want as the speed can be controled with the pullys

[Dragon cutlery]

got any picks of that ivory?

and if you cant find some thing better i might have a 2.50 to 3 diamiter wheel that you can use as a drive but its eather a 1/2inch or 5/8 hole in it

[tmiller5087]

Yeah I do.......well you could go to ebay under custom knife or tell me how to post the pics on here if that is possible. we could trade for the wheels if you wanna.

[Sweany]

Bob Warner has a wheel speed chart on his site.

[tmiller5087]

thank you for the info sweany.....i knew KMG sells drive and idle wheels but i didn't wanna spend the money, but I been thinking i know they will track very well and that would be a lot less hassle then trying to get a wheel made for a caster to track right.that in itself would be more then worth the 44.00. your advise got me thinking right and I thank you.

Terry