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09-10-2012, 06:03 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Ferris Tx
Posts: 5
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Best belt sander
Just out of curiosity what would be the best belt sander you would recommend and why. I picked up this one recently http://www.harborfreight.com/1-inch-...nder-2485.html
It works pretty well for some of the tinkering I have been doing. But I wanted to see what other people use and why.
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09-10-2012, 07:52 PM
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Founding Member / Moderator
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Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Wauconda, WA
Posts: 9,840
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Well, obviously, if they can, other people use a 2x72". That's pretty standard among knife makers. Of course, those are mostly expensive so when we first start out we waste a great deal of money on every other sander imaginable. Most of us keep a 1x42" (I have one) or some kind of 3" or 4" wood sander (I have a 6x48") for odd little jobs. Really, if it has a sanding belt on it somebody has one in their shop. But, I'd guess that, except for the 2x72" we all eventually get, the next most popular and actually useful size could be the 1x42"...
Last edited by Ray Rogers; 09-11-2012 at 08:32 AM.
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09-11-2012, 08:05 PM
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Master
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Cebu, Philippines (or Michigan, USA)
Posts: 909
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Having used 4x36, 6x48, 1x42, etc I agree with Ray that 2x72 is the best choice. Wider variety of belts available, economically priced belts.
If I were to use only 2 sizes a 2x72 would be my first choice, following by a 1" for small work.
KMG grinder tends to get consistently good reviews, but there are other good ones out there as well such as the TW90. Personally I use one I made myself.
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09-15-2012, 08:54 PM
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Enthusiast
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Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Cincinnati Ohio
Posts: 58
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I have been using the HF 1x30 for several months now and It works... Not great, but it works. And it makes me crazy at times. You will figure little ways to modify it to fit your needs. If its all you can afford now, like I said... It works. I am trying to work my way up to the grizzly 2x72, (5-600) then eventually the kmg.
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09-15-2012, 10:29 PM
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Hall of Famer
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Lexington,NC
Posts: 2,414
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2 X 72 Is the way to go. But I still have the 2 X 48 , Kalamazoo I started with and use it often. There are allot of good grinders made. I use a Bader BIII . Best money I ever spent.
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09-15-2012, 11:18 PM
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Enthusiast
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: hesperia , ca
Posts: 37
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I started with a craftsmen 2x42 and it worked , but soon I could see the huge advantage of some sort of variable speed. Upgraded to a Kmg using step pulleys , it is rock solid and I have to say I am in love, I can only imagine it gets even better with a vfd.
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09-16-2012, 03:48 PM
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Steel Addict
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Utah
Posts: 142
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Like most people I started with the HF 1X30 to save money... Soon I found it to make knife making more of a chore than the fun hobby I wanted.
If it is the only thing you can afford get an 1X42 (im not suggesting the 1X30 HF I HAD)
Personally, I found owning a 2X72 not only more productive but also it made the who process FUN and not a chore.
Because funds were tight I chose to make a KMG clone, this allowed me to buy pieces as the money became available.
To answer your question on "what is the best belt sander and why?"
IMO it is the KMG from Beaumont, search this board and and any other knife board, I would be surprised if you could find even one complaint about Beaumont's grinder or customer service. If i had the $$ I would place an order for one today.
Brett
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