My Homemade Equipment

[swampt]

Here's what i've made, nothing too fancy, gets the job done. My grinder is a 2x48 with a 7" wheel. I found the wheel at work covered with dust and gave them $20 for it. Lucky for me they didn't know what it was worth.

Alan

[john foxwell]

Alan,

I like 'em all. Simple, well thought out, and proof that you don't have to spend a fortune to have very usable equipment.

Cheers, John.

[Dragon cutlery]

what do you meen not spend a fortune theres at lest $100 in ball berrings there easly

:-)

nice stuff

grate find on the wheel

[swampt]

I have spent less than $100 on bearings and motors, just kept watching ebay, I got both my big motors for $10 each and found good sealed bearings for less than $2 each. I get alot of the material I use at work,at their cost, so it ends up being pretty cheap. I think I built every thing for about $250.

Alan

[BigD]

Thats great Alan , I love your buffer , I'm fixin to build me one similar. Its a great feeling to use a tool or machine that you built , dont you think?

[fitzo]

How do you tension belts on the grinder?

nicely done......

[swampt]

Mike

The idler wheel works like a cam, I turn it to tighten the belt, so far no problems with it.
I can make the belt as tight or loose as i want, depending on what I'm doing.

Dwane

I like to build my own stuff so it's the way i wanted it to be.

Thanks
Alan

[fitzo]

So, the big wingnut is the tensioner? Is the long hex bolt the tracking?

Like I said before, "nicely done"!

[swampt]

Mike

The wing nut works like a set screw on the cam. yes, the hex bolt controls tracking.

Thanks
Alan

[cavetech]

This was a very timely post for me, Alan. I've just obtained a jackshaft, buffing wheels, pullys and motor. Your pictures give me ideas for assembly.

[fitzo]

Thanks, Alan!

Piece of friendly advice if all those buffs aren't uncovered just for the foto. Either take them off when not in use and store in ziplocks, or at least keep a plastic bag or something over them. One tiny piece of grinder grit on one and a polish job is ruined. Even the dust from a coarser buff can contaminate them and they're hard to recover. I personally go the ziplock route after learning the hard way.

[hammerdownnow]

Very good tip Mike!

[swampt]

Mike

Thanks for the tip, you're right. that could mess up alot of hand work in a hurry.

Thanks Again

Alan

[nate d.]

SWAMPT,

I"m must congratulate on your equipment. my belt sanders with through three desing changes before i got a really good set up. Good job way to go. you will enjoy making knives no doubt with the equipment you have there.

[Andrew Garrett]

I see a paint brush! I have one on my bench too. Dusting the gear..