All About Pocket Knives

The economy is upside down, my bride has issued the dictum that all spending, except for necessaries, shall stop, and the business barometer is bleak.

Sounds like a great time to finally go ahead and get a belt sander.

I've done some horse trading, and come up with a couple of hundred dollars in unencumbered cash.

Here's the question:

If you had one shot at obtaining a stationary belt sander specifically for knife work, and had two hundred somolians with which to make it happen, what approach would you take?

Approach 1: Buy the newest, shiniest thing on the shelf at Lowe's. (Immediate gratification, about $150)

Approach 2: Shop long and hard for a quality used one on the secondary market, which may or may not produce results. (Delayed gratification, price and availability unknown)

Approach 3: Get some plans and build one. (Economical, takes more time, don't have the requisite pile of used electrical motors and pulleys about)

Approach 4: Get the Chinese $45 unit from Harbor Freight. (Quick gratification, maybe not such good quality)

Approach 5: Some other method as identified by the AAPK readers. (Waiting with baited breath)

Suggestions/experiences heartily solicited. ??

for $200 you aren't going to get a nice 2x72" so go with a 1x42" delta or the like for about $100 and use the rest either for belts of different grits or a buffer

muskrat man wrote:for $200 you aren't going to get a nice 2x72" so go with a 1x42" delta or the like for about $100 and use the rest either for belts of different grits or a buffer

Found a Delta SA180 1 x 42 at Home Depot for $99. That may just be the ticket!

Thanks for the help.

I have a Delta from Lowe's. Paid about $99 three years ago.
It has held up well, I just am not confident enough to grind blades on it.

Dale

orvet wrote:I have a Delta from Lowe's. Paid about $99 three years ago.
It has held up well, I just am not confident enough to grind blades on it.
Dale

Bought a new Delta SA180 over the weekend. The local hardware store had one in stock, and it was $115 plus tax.

Got it assembled, set the belt tracking, and it runs like a charm. It turns wood into dust in no time flat. Now all I've got to do is put a finer belt on it and get some experience using it.

One interesting thing. The local hardware store only carries 80 grit 1 x 42 belts, and 80 grit 8" discs. The big box hardware store has a similar sander in stock, with the saem size belt and disc, but only carries 1 x 30 belts and 7" discs, nothing that will fit the house brand 1 x 42 and 8" disc sander.

I've bought a lot of belts from this ebayer , she's fast and friendly . If she doesn't have what you need ,contact her through "ask seller a question. She most likely will get them for you.

http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQfrp ... FSQ3aMESOI

For cheap belts, I've ordered from Industrial Abrasives Co. They're AO, and they don't last like the name-brands, but they are cheap. If you're gonna do mostly handle work to start, they'll last real well. They have grits as high as 600 available.

https://commerce.riverweb.com:8003/index.html

Take Care,
JR