Comments on: Grizzly Belt Grinder http://www.stoneandsteel.net/grizzly-belt-grinder/ Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:18:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Trez http://www.stoneandsteel.net/grizzly-belt-grinder/comment-page-1/#comment-104 Trez Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:18:57 +0000 http://stoneandsteel.net/newsite/?p=163#comment-104 I am looking at belt grinders first how do you like the grizzle over the the variable speed one. I am looking at belt grinders first how do you like the grizzle over the the variable speed one.

]]> By: Brome http://www.stoneandsteel.net/grizzly-belt-grinder/comment-page-1/#comment-97 Brome Wed, 16 Mar 2011 18:57:05 +0000 http://stoneandsteel.net/newsite/?p=163#comment-97 Actually you can’t exactly just switch out the motor for a variable speed one later because the drive shaft for the belt grinder runs through the motor to the drive wheel (the large lower one), and the vertical idler arm is bolted to the housing of the motor. You can switch the motor, but it will take some modifications to the new motor (like the shaft so it will fit the drive wheel and figuring out how to attach the idler arm to it, for example). Another approach would be to make a new drive shaft for the main drive wheel that is mounted on pillow blocks bolted to a framework that can also support the idler arm and then drive this shaft with a pulley and belt going to your variable speed motor. So it can be done, just might require a few more steps than a simple switch out. As far as improvements, I would start by checking the alignment of the drive wheel and the idler. May seem simple but if they are out of alignment, it will drive you nuts as the belt will wander all over the place. Run a long straight edge between the face of both wheels to see if they are aligned. As far as other improvements, those are only limited by your creativity, ambition and resources. A key one for me was to create a box around it to channel the dust created into my collector, as well as hold a water bath under the drive wheel to catch larger dust particles. Not a direct mod. to the machine, but makes a big safety difference for me. Lots of other ideas, but maybe that will give you a start. You can also see some of the other improvements I have pursued on my site. Actually you can’t exactly just switch out the motor for a variable speed one later because the drive shaft for the belt grinder runs through the motor to the drive wheel (the large lower one), and the vertical idler arm is bolted to the housing of the motor.

You can switch the motor, but it will take some modifications to the new motor (like the shaft so it will fit the drive wheel and figuring out how to attach the idler arm to it, for example). Another approach would be to make a new drive shaft for the main drive wheel that is mounted on pillow blocks bolted to a framework that can also support the idler arm and then drive this shaft with a pulley and belt going to your variable speed motor.

So it can be done, just might require a few more steps than a simple switch out.

As far as improvements, I would start by checking the alignment of the drive wheel and the idler. May seem simple but if they are out of alignment, it will drive you nuts as the belt will wander all over the place. Run a long straight edge between the face of both wheels to see if they are aligned.

As far as other improvements, those are only limited by your creativity, ambition and resources.

A key one for me was to create a box around it to channel the dust created into my collector, as well as hold a water bath under the drive wheel to catch larger dust particles. Not a direct mod. to the machine, but makes a big safety difference for me.

Lots of other ideas, but maybe that will give you a start. You can also see some of the other improvements I have pursued on my site.

]]> By: Mike http://www.stoneandsteel.net/grizzly-belt-grinder/comment-page-1/#comment-96 Mike Tue, 15 Mar 2011 22:33:53 +0000 http://stoneandsteel.net/newsite/?p=163#comment-96 I just bought a Grizzly knife grinder and have seen some great knives made on it. Later down the road can't I just switch the motor our with a VSM? I could only afford a Grizzly so what are the first things you would modify to improve this machine that wont break the bank? Thanks Mike I just bought a Grizzly knife grinder and have seen some great knives made on it. Later down the road can’t I just switch the motor our with a VSM? I could only afford a Grizzly so what are the first things you would modify to improve this machine that wont break the bank?

Thanks Mike

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