My 72 x 2 Belt Sander

**garage nut** · Mar 30, 2018, 10:22 AM

Started my 72 x 2 Belt sander. I am not going to make knives, but I think it can be usefull for all the notching I have to do. The better the fit the easier and stronger the weld. I TIG all my suspension linkages.

I did not use square tubing because the fit of one tube into the other is too loose, so I machined down some 50 x 50 x 5 angle iron to give me a nice snug fit for the 38 x 38 x 4 square tubing I use to slide into the other manufactured tube. I inserted some 0.5mm spacers before welding up the angles to form the tube.

A friend of mine suggested I add some hinges so it is easy to flip it 90 Deg so the belt will run horizontally.

**ncollar** · Mar 30, 2018, 09:17 PM

Garage nut
show us a little bit more, very interesting.
Nelson

**garage nut** · Mar 30, 2018, 11:43 PM

Unfortunately nothing in the design is my own, Copied basically 100% from a knife making site.

A lot is published on the wheels. I looked at AliExpress as well, sometimes I get stuff there for cheaper than what the material would cost me.

But I ended up with buying some 50Dia x 65 Ali for the rollers and 32 OD x 12 ID x 10 Wide bearings. Not going to bother turning shafts, just going to use capscrews with shanks long enough so the bearings will not sit on thread.

I also opted for an extra roller on the front plate. This will allow me to have both a back supported and unsupported section for immediate use. Remember I am not into knife making, so need to grind off burs and make rebates for welding. sharp edges on a solidly backed belt can rip it to shreds in no time.

**Robonthemoor** · Mar 31, 2018, 05:31 AM

Have you any drawing I’m thinking of making one & looking at a few different types. Will build it on my YouTube channel.
Regards Rob

**ncollar** · Mar 31, 2018, 07:32 AM

Rob
Here is a very nice one and there are drawings and a build thread. Check it out
https://www.hobby-machinist.com/thre...1/#post-536564

Here is another that might fit the bill:
https://www.hobby-machinist.com/thre...2/#post-419497

Good luck and happy building
Nelson

**garage nut** · Mar 31, 2018, 08:10 AM

This is where I got my design. Very simple and minimal machining.

**Jon** · Mar 31, 2018, 03:35 PM

Check out our comprehensive page on belt sander builds, including multiple links to plans: Homemade Belt Sander

**garage nut** · Mar 31, 2018, 11:17 PM

So I finished off the small rollers. You can see by the amount of thread protruding that I used bolts long enough so to ensure the bearings are sitting on the solid shank.

The next was the drive roller. Before I could machine it I had to decide what motor I was going to use. I have an old 1hp motor that has been lying in the shelf for years, but as I connected it to power to see if it is still running...I was reminded why it is on the shelf...It has a power leak from one of its windings...so I got a good old shock...back onto the shelf with a note on a piece of masking tape to have it rewired.

The next was an old central fugal water pump, but the motor was only 0.25Kw so too small.

Then I remembered a post I red where the guy used a lawnmower engine. I has an old (very tired chassis and grass box) electric mower but the motor is still good.

Upon inspection it turned out to be a 2.2Kw motor and it runs at 2880 RPM. A added bonus was that the method to attach the blade(bolt into the center of the axis) would be perfect for my 4' x 60mm wide drive pulley. I had no idea how I was going to tap a M8 through the 4' pulley (the conventional way to attach a pulley with a grub screw to a shaft). I think my tap is about 1.25' long.