2" X 72" belt grinder

[Lightspeed Mike]

I was requested about a build thread for my belt grinder. Looking through my files, I see it was built in 2016. Times flies.

One cast off 1.5 HP motor from a pooched pressure washer.

A keyed hub from Princess auto and piece of 1/2" plate cut out and machined to accept hub, TIG welded together.

Cut a piece of very, very heavy wall tubing, machine to accept hub assembly.

Finish machining on lathe after welding the 2 together, check run out, .002". Acceptable

Basic drawing of completed grinder. Most pieces will be cut out of 1/2" mild steel.

 

[Lightspeed Mike]

Cut a few pieces on the CNC plasma table.

Take aluminum found at scrap yard, machine on lathe, press in some princess auto bearings and we have 2 front wheels.

Pull out some 1.125" bar stock, machine in lathe for wheel mounts.

 

[Lightspeed Mike]

Had to order a part. I needed a tracking wheel, they have a slight crown to them to keep the belt centered. I had found a caster wheel that had a perfect and crown but when I got it. It was to heavy and the bearing wasn't up to par. To keep things moving I just ordered one from EBay. It came with the pivot mount to make life just a little easier for me.

While I was waiting I started piecing it together with a few tack welds. I used a piece of seamless tubing for the outside slide tube. It's a left over piece from a trailer hitch I built. I drilled and welded a nut to hold in place. I like to put them in the corners, that way it wedges them right into the opposite corner and nothing moves.

Mounted up my tension arm with the tracking wheel. Gave it a test run, smooth as butter.

Pull apart, weld up, reassemble, install base.

 

[Lightspeed Mike]

A friend of mine said it was worthy of powder coating, so he offered to do it for me.

I know, should have painted the motor too.

 

[140mower]

Very nice! If only there weren't 41 other projects ahead of building one for myself........ I am collecting the bits and pieces needed, but time seems to be the biggest missing component.

 

[PeterT]

Great pictures thanks for showing. I always wondered about the pulley wheel axles & other details. Your version looks very robust.

I've seen some pics where people mount a replaceable surface plate of some ideal material to resist wear on the belt contact plate. I would not have thought friction on the backside would add up to metal removal over the years but it kind of makes sense. Some older wood working belt sander machines I saw had like a 3mm trough worn through cast iron.

 

[Doggggboy]

Great pictures thanks for showing. I always wondered about the pulley wheel axles & other details. Your version looks very robust.

I've seen some pics where people mount a replaceable surface plate of some ideal material to resist wear on the belt contact plate. I would not have thought friction on the backside would add up to metal removal over the years but it kind of makes sense. Some older wood working belt sander machines I saw had like a 3mm trough worn through cast iron.
View attachment 54474

Ceramic glass or tempered glass is a common wear surface for the platen. Regular plate glass will work also but is really easy to crack and break.
Mount it with double sided tape and you're good.

 

[Tom Kitta]

Looks good, do you miss the swivel side to side? Mine has all but that feature complete now. I am building the stand.

It is heavy. I think the whole thing is like 100 kg