Belt Sander - Which belts to get?

[YYCHM]

I have one of these https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop/tools/sharpening/44884-sander-grinder?item=68Z7501 with a 1725 RPM motor on it. I use it to knock off corners and sharp edges when machining steel and aluminum. No knife sharpening. It's time for some new belts. What kind and what grit should I get? LV's belts are too pricy.

Thanks,

Craig

 

[DPittman]

I run a 1x42 sander also, I didn't think the Lee Valley price was so bad? They are zirconium which is much better and more expensive. I do think remember what I paid for my last ones. I'll try to look it up and where I bought them and let you know. I just put on a new 80 grit and I was sanding edges of sheet metal and that is a bit too coarse. When it is partially worn out is about right. I like to keep coarse and fine on hand.

 

[DavidR8]

Get yourself over to KMS. My local store has a huge selection of 1x42 belts.

 

[PeterT]

LV carried good quality belts last time I bought which was years ago. Can't recall the name but I remember they were German brand.

https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop/tools/sharpening/sheets-and-belts/101892-blue-zirconia-sharpening-belts

I'm still using up my KBC purchases, possibly a bit cheaper but quality varies IMO. My experience has been maybe 1/2 the life of the good ones all things equal. But might work out to similar cost per time. For metal I think you want the blue & possibly green? As David says, KM stocks too. I think Klingspor is a good name.

Klingspor 1" x 42" Aluminum Oxide Sanding Belt - 60 Grit

This abrasive cloth is ideal for a range of metal and woodworking applications. It features a stable cloth backing that holds up to heavy-duty work and provides particularly long service life. Features an excellent price/performance ratio. Features

www.kmstools.com

The knifemaking crowd have some kick butt belts but I think they are even more $$ & not as easy to find locally. But maybe some of our guys that have some supplier names.

 

[chip4charlie]

I run a sharpening business in Vancouver. The Viel machine (made in Quebec) sold by Lee Valley and others (i.e. Elite Tools) is a mainstay of many commercial sharpeners. A popular upgrade, which I just did, is modifying it with a VFD motor intended for a pen lathe from PSI Industries.

LV belt prices are actually decent. They're about 10 percent more than others, but free shipping if order is over $30. I (and most sharpeners) use the blue Zirconia belts, which are made by Klingspor of Germany. While regular brown aluminum oxide belts are $2 each versus $4.40 for the blue Zirconia, the Zirconia belts last 2 to 3 times longer - so they're actually cheaper in the long run.

For deburring 120 is about right. I also use 120 for sharpening garden pruners and shears. 40 and 80 for sharpening straight lawnmower blades. 80 for reprofiling knife edges.

 

[chip4charlie]

This is the scissors attachment. Also works great for gardening shears. Elite Tools sells it, or buy direct from Vieltools.com. I don’t recommend the Planer Blade Attachment that LV also sells - there is too much play. For sharpening planer blades I use my Tormek.

 

[PeterT]

That's cool. If you have a picture of scissors/shears mounted in the fixture I would like to see. Been thinking of doing something for my Delta 1x42 but the arm would probably have to be mounted to bench because the platen is kind of small.

 

[chip4charlie]

It’s in the picture above your post?

 

[PeterT]

I mean with the scissors mounted in the fixture

 

[chip4charlie]

Scissors jig with scissors attached. Note angle adjustment scale in second picture.

 

[PeterT]

perfect thanks

 

[YYCHM]

LV belt prices are actually decent. They're about 10 percent more than others, but free shipping if order is over $30. I (and most sharpeners) use the blue Zirconia belts, which are made by Klingspor of Germany. While regular brown aluminum oxide belts are $2 each versus $4.40 for the blue Zirconia, the Zirconia belts last 2 to 3 times longer - so they're actually cheaper in the long run.

For deburring 120 is about right. I also use 120 for sharpening garden pruners and shears. 40 and 80 for sharpening straight lawnmower blades. 80 for reprofiling knife edges.

Actually you are right, after looking through Amazon's offerings LV isn't bad at all.

 

[chip4charlie]

And I like supportting Lee Valley whenever I can. Did you know they have a "pay slope" policy that the CEO can't be paid more than 10 times what the lowest paid person makes? And has profit sharing with the employees? https://www.theglobeandmail.com/new...pe-of-executives-and-workers/article15472738/

 

[DavidR8]

I run a sharpening business in Vancouver. The Viel machine (made in Quebec) sold by Lee Valley and others (i.e. Elite Tools) is a mainstay of many commercial sharpeners. A popular upgrade, which I just did, is modifying it with a VFD motor intended for a pen lathe from PSI Industries.

LV belt prices are actually decent. They're about 10 percent more than others, but free shipping if order is over $30. I (and most sharpeners) use the blue Zirconia belts, which are made by Klingspor of Germany. While regular brown aluminum oxide belts are $2 each versus $4.40 for the blue Zirconia, the Zirconia belts last 2 to 3 times longer - so they're actually cheaper in the long run.

For deburring 120 is about right. I also use 120 for sharpening garden pruners and shears. 40 and 80 for sharpening straight lawnmower blades. 80 for reprofiling knife edges.

Is this the motor kit from PSI?

Variable Speed Midi Lathe Conversion Kit with 3/4HP Motor: for Turncrafter , Jet and Delta Lathes

Convert your Multi Speed Turncrafter,Jet,or Delta Midi Lathe to a Variable Speed Workhorse. With this variable speed kit you can experience infinite and instantaneous speed control with a simple the turn of a knob. Easy to set-up. Click here to see if this fits your lathe Kit

www.pennstateind.com

 

[deleted_user]

I buy belts

Actually you are right, after looking through Amazon's offerings LV isn't bad at all.

They just announced the closure of my local Lee Valley, so you can colour me a little bitter... however I have found their belt prices reasonable, frankly the ones you mention are a premium product

 

[deleted_user]

Is this the motor kit from PSI?

Variable Speed Midi Lathe Conversion Kit with 3/4HP Motor: for Turncrafter , Jet and Delta Lathes

Convert your Multi Speed Turncrafter,Jet,or Delta Midi Lathe to a Variable Speed Workhorse. With this variable speed kit you can experience infinite and instantaneous speed control with a simple the turn of a knob. Easy to set-up. Click here to see if this fits your lathe Kit

www.pennstateind.com

I'm halfway there, I have a spare VS motor for my general wood lathe. But a 2x72 would make the need redundant

 

[deleted_user]

I buy belts


They just announced the closure of my local Lee Valley, so you can colour me a little bitter... however I have found their belt prices reasonable, frankly the ones you mention are a premium product

I hope that the lee valley closure does not cascade into a woodchuckers closure, they shared a symbiotic relationship and clientele

 

[DavidR8]

I'm halfway there, I have a spare VS motor for my general wood lathe. But a 2x72 would make the need redundant

I have a 2x42 belt/disc unit that is*ok* but not amazing. I use it almost exclusively to grind HSS tools for the lathe and sharpening tungsten for TIG.
I'd happily go to a 1x42 to get a more solid build.

 

[chip4charlie]

Is this the motor kit from PSI?

Variable Speed Midi Lathe Conversion Kit with 3/4HP Motor: for Turncrafter , Jet and Delta Lathes

Convert your Multi Speed Turncrafter,Jet,or Delta Midi Lathe to a Variable Speed Workhorse. With this variable speed kit you can experience infinite and instantaneous speed control with a simple the turn of a knob. Easy to set-up. Click here to see if this fits your lathe Kit

www.pennstateind.com

Yes, that's the one. Unfortunately they don't ship that product to Canada. Had to bribe someone to ship it to me from the US...

Here's the build thread on the BESSEX forum:

Viel Conversion, Final Version

BESS stands for the Brubacher Edge Sharpness Scale, which is the amount of force in grams to cut the sharpness test media on the BESS Sharpness Meter. I use a BESS meter for quality control. For example, I sharpened the Shun knive in the picture to BESS reading of 80. That means it's about twice as sharp as from the factory (140-210). Most Henckels and Wusthof kitchen knives new are about BESS 300.

 

[deleted_user]

Yes, that's the one. Unfortunately they don't ship that product to Canada. Had to bribe someone to ship it to me from the US...

Here's the build thread on the BESSEX forum:

Viel Conversion, Final Version

BESS stands for the Brubacher Sharpness Scale, which is the amount of force in grams to cut the sharpness test media on the BESS Sharpness Meter. I use a BESS meter for quality control.

use a transshipping firm.