Models for grinding HSS Lathe Tools

Mikey, I just discovered this thread and read through the whole thing. I want to thank you for your generosity in putting this together and providing on line instruction classes for us novices. This thread is extremely informative and easy to follow. Your pictorial sequence of how to grind tools is priceless and the information of how the lead angles affect the finish is great. I have hit and miss success with getting decent finishes (mostly miss) but I can now understand some of the issues I have been missing. I believe your tutorial will put me on the right path to producing better finishes.

Thanks again for all your effort and sharing your knowledge with us.

pm sent to Z2V to be in the Canadian loop for the sample tools.

I have one question if you don't mind. Do you think a 2" x 28" belt sander would suffice. The only 42" sander I can find anywhere near me is $775 and I'm not willing to spend that. There is a 1/2 hp 2" x 28" sander on sale at Busy Bee for $130 and I'm hoping the shorter belt would be ok or do you think it would heat up too much. I've been toying with the idea of building a 2" x 42" or even a 2" x 72" sander but would prefer to just get the 2" x 28" if it would be adequate. I have a 1" x 30" sander and use that for some sharpening tasks.
 
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HBilly1022 said:
Mikey, I just discovered this thread and read through the whole thing. I want to thank you for your generosity in putting this together and providing on line instruction classes for us novices. This thread is extremely informative and easy to follow. Your pictorial sequence of how to grind tools is priceless and the information of how the lead angles affect the finish is great. I have hit and miss success with getting decent finishes (mostly miss) but I can now understand some of the issues I have been missing. I believe your tutorial will put me on the right path to producing better finishes.

Thanks again for all your effort and sharing your knowledge with us.

pm sent to Z2V to be in the Canadian loop for the sample tools.

I have one question if you don't mind. Do you think a 2" x 28" belt sander would suffice. The only 42" sander I can find anywhere near me is $775 and I'm not willing to spend that. There is a 1/2 hp 2" x 28" sander on sale at Busy Bee for $130 and I'm hoping the shorter belt would be ok or do you think it would heat up too much. I've been toying with the idea of building a 2" x 42" or even a 2" x 72" sander but would prefer to just get the 2" x 28" if it would be adequate. I have a 1" x 30" sander and use that for some sharpening tasks.
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Thank you for your kind words, HBilly, and you're welcome. I'm sure Jeff can get a set of tools in your hands and I hope they help you. When you get them, share your efforts and results. If I can see what you're doing, I can help you fine tune things so they work as they should.

I think a 2x28 belt sander will work just fine. As long as you can access the right side of the platen, build a good tool rest and hopefully fit a ceramic glass platen in there then the thing will grind tools. You must be sure the entire right side of the platen is open - no housing or covers or anything that interferes with getting the tool bit right up on the right side of the platen.

Welcome to the thread, HBilly. If you have questions, ask them, please. I honestly tried to put it all in this thread but I may have missed something. No, I'm sure I missed something, so if you are not sure about something, ask. I guarantee you that some silent guy out there has the same question but won't ask it.

Mike
 
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HBilly
I have you on the list. I'll give you a PM when they ship to you with info on who to forward to.
Welcome aboard

Jeff
 
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HBilly1022 said:
Here is a link to the 2" belt sander I'm looking at. https://www.busybeetools.com/products/grinder-and-sander-8in-x-2in-combo-craftex-ct169n.html It doesnlt look like the right side is entirely open and the platen looks kind of wide which would likely interfere with grinding at the edges of the belt.
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It looks like there is a cover on the right side; that can come off so you can access the right side of the platen. However, the platen looks like just a flat plate that screws in place. If you can figure out how to get a reliable platen with a liner in there, it might work. Is this thing somewhere you can go look at it and maybe take better pics?
 
mikey said:
It looks like there is a cover on the right side; that can come off so you can access the right side of the platen. However, the platen looks like just a flat plate that screws in place. If you can figure out how to get a reliable platen with a liner in there, it might work. Is this thing somewhere you can go look at it and maybe take better pics?
Click to expand...

Busy Bee is about 5 to 6 hrs drive but there is a similar looking one at Princess Auto which is closer and I will take a close look at it on Monday when I go to the big City. Not sure 28" is a good size to get now. I read some comments on the Busy Bee site that the belts are very hard to find. I did some searching and only came up with 2 suppliers, Busy Bee and Princess Auto. Pretty limited selection too. Might have to consider using my 1" x 30" for now and building a 2" x 42" so I can get a better selection of belts. Great another project to put on the list, lol.
 
HBilly1022 said:
Busy Bee is about 5 to 6 hrs drive but there is a similar looking one at Princess Auto which is closer and I will take a close look at it on Monday when I go to the big City. Not sure 28" is a good size to get now. I read some comments on the Busy Bee site that the belts are very hard to find. I did some searching and only came up with 2 suppliers, Busy Bee and Princess Auto. Pretty limited selection too. Might have to consider using my 1" x 30" for now and building a 2" x 42" so I can get a better selection of belts. Great another project to put on the list, lol.
Click to expand...

Is there any way to make the platen on the 1x30 more solid so it cannot flex? Can you epoxy on a glass platen liner to it? If so, that may suffice for now.

Here you go:http://usaknifemaker.com/ceramic-glass-platen-liner-flat-platen-1-x5-x-0-192.html
 
mikey said:
Is there any way to make the platen on the 1x30 more solid so it cannot flex? Can you epoxy on a glass platen liner to it? If so, that may suffice for now.

Here you go:http://usaknifemaker.com/ceramic-glass-platen-liner-flat-platen-1-x5-x-0-192.html
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link Mike. I'll check to see if I can find a Canadian supplier (the border thing can be a hassle and expensive too .... that's another story).

As for stiffening the 1" x 30" platen, I'm sure there's a way if the will is strong enough. I also have 2 grinders and 6" x 48" sander that I can use. The 6" sander backing plate is solid steel (no flex) but I couldn't use it for the top rake. Probably use a grinder for that until I get a better setup.

John
 
Here's a manual for the Busy Bee 2x28" CT169N
https://www.busybeetools.com/content/product_manuals/CT169N.pdf

Page 12 of that manual shows this:
1508081122267.png

and this:
1508081162451.png

So it appears that even with that cover removed you will not have a piece of sanding belt with a support platten behind it but with access to the edge of the belt.

HBilly1022 said:
Not sure 28" is a good size to get now.
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Yeah, I think you're right.....I searched on the Lee Valley tools site (my "goto" site for sanding belts) and they have NONE that size.

-brino
 
HBilly1022 said:
Busy Bee is about 5 to 6 hrs drive but there is a similar looking one at Princess Auto which is closer and I will take a close look at it on Monday when I go to the big City. Not sure 28" is a good size to get now. I read some comments on the Busy Bee site that the belts are very hard to find. I did some searching and only came up with 2 suppliers, Busy Bee and Princess Auto. Pretty limited selection too. Might have to consider using my 1" x 30" for now and building a 2" x 42" so I can get a better selection of belts. Great another project to put on the list, lol.
Click to expand...
I would try "sandpaper.ca and see if there's a minimum order for 2"x 28" belt size, they might cut them to size for you as special order .

http://www.sandpaper.ca/product-category/sanding-belts
 
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