Harbor Freight 1x30 sander

[Reverand]

I may be late to the party, but I just discovered "Curry Custom Cutlery" on YouTube, and I am learning a lot from his videos.
I am still using a Harbor Freight 1x30 belt sander, and I love his tips on tuning these up for better performance.
I will probably not upgrade the motor or rollers. I would prefer to spend that money in building a 2x72 someday. But I do plan on tuning mine up just as he shows in this first video:

https://youtu.be/IjZWfEzJjA4

[dlr110]

Thank you Reverand for posting that video. That just happens to be the same brand of sander that I have except I also have the disc sander on the end....

[edge213]

I may be late to the party, but I just discovered "Curry Custom Cutlery" on YouTube, and I am learning a lot from his videos.
I am still using a Harbor Freight 1x30 belt sander, and I love his tips on tuning these up for better performance.
I will probably not upgrade the motor or rollers. I would prefer to spend that money in building a 2x72 someday. But I do plan on tuning mine up just as he shows in this first video:

https://youtu.be/IjZWfEzJjA4

Great video.
Looks like I have a project ahead.

[pauldarden]

I may be late to the party, but I just discovered "Curry Custom Cutlery" on YouTube, and I am learning a lot from his videos.
I am still using a Harbor Freight 1x30 belt sander, and I love his tips on tuning these up for better performance.
I will probably not upgrade the motor or rollers. I would prefer to spend that money in building a 2x72 someday. But I do plan on tuning mine up just as he shows in this first video:

https://youtu.be/IjZWfEzJjA4

It all sounds logical about the tensioner however with mine loosened to slide freely, the tensioner bounces back and forth against the spring causing bad vibrations in the whole unit causing it to move around on the table despite the rubber feet. I'm sure this is caused by the main drive wheel being out of round and causing the rapid pulsing/ vibrations in the tensioner wheel. The only way to stop the horrible vibration was to tighten the tensioner bolt. Then the grinder runs smoothly but it is more difficult to change belts.

[BIGHEAD]

I have one of these units but I only use it to turn pins down.

[Reverand]

I would like to build a 2x72 sander. Hopefully that is a project that I can make time to do someday.
Since this original post I have purchased a 1x42 Craftsman from Jimbo, aka "Oledadsknives". It was his father's belt sander, and it works great. It has a lot more horsepower than the little Harbor Freight!
I find it helpful to have more than one belt sander - one for coarse grit belts and one for fine. It is faster than swapping out belts multiple times.

[BIGHEAD]

Reverand I have a 2x72 grizzly belt grinder that you can swap the belts on in 10 seconds. I keep 5 different grit. Flex belts hanging right behind it and swap grits as needed.
https://www.grizzly.com/products/grizzl ... ffer/g1015
On sale now.

[ashwinearl]

Hi,
There is a new 2x42 with VFD and tilting option that Grizzly just put out for $400. This is probably the most incredible thing out there for a beginning knifemaker. The VFD is essential to helping you in learning to grind. the original Grizzly 2x72 would run full bore which made learning to grind tough. this one also has tilting to horizontal. this is great to work on spines.

Several seasoned makers have obtained one and seem happy. there is a thread on bladeforums where they've already started modding it.

biggest downside is 2x42 is not a popular size. 2x72 also uses has longer life.