Gerhard 25 Posted February 7 Hi I did try: https://www.google.com.na/search?q=belt+grinder+plans+https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bladesmithsforum.com&oq=b&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j69i59j69i60j69i59j69i61j69i60.3205j0j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 I'm not very excited by the prospect, it's going to steal half the year as well as halve the pathetic number of blades I make in a year......but I have to. I had plans from British Blade Forums, but I suspect the photos were links, so the documents are pretty much useless, same as many(all?) of the build threads....thank you photobucket? I would really appreciate plans that are known to work, and I would prefer a platten. Before anybody suggests it, my money is worth nothing in your countries and shipping would be expensive. I have money saved, but I cannot afford any of the manufacturers in South Africa (neighbouring country) due to an effective 30.5% tax....the tax eats what I had for belts and courier costs plus 5% I simply don't have. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
T Deck 0 Posted February 7 There are 5 videos that give dimensions for each stage. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gerhard 25 Posted February 7 Thanks, will have a look, this site has fascinating ideas but I have nowhere near the skills to build anything from an idea. I have a drill press, angle grinder and DC welder to try and do this, and my welding sucks. Another big obstacle is I don't have scrap, will need to buy the steel in anything from 2m to 6m lengths. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brian Dougherty 295 Posted February 7 (edited) You might try searching for "no weld grinder plans" It's been a long time since I was thinking of going that route, but I seem to remember there was an entire sub-culture of people sharing plans for bolt-together home built grinders. You could always adapt those plans to welding one up if you would rather go that route. What little I know about Namibia I learned on Top Gear or Grand Tour, so I am not going to be of much help otherwise. Best of luck! Edited February 7 by Brian Dougherty Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JJ Simon 118 Posted February 7 https://wilmont.sharepoint.com/Pages/EERFGrinder.aspx this is what you need. All the blue prints and parts. Good luck, 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Charles du Preez 176 Posted February 7 The disclaimer at the top says the site will soon not be available. Du-du-duuum. Best get downloading soon, Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JJ Simon 118 Posted February 8 Yeah. There is a permalink somewhere too. But yeah get it. Maybe an admin could pin it here? Would help the knifemaking world a lot Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gerhard 25 Posted February 8 Thanks, I got the plans. The fact that they Autocad drawing might be a bonus, there are at least 2 laser cutters operating in town so that could save a lot of time....if I can afford them. Still no motor & VFD quote, contacted the guy yesterday to ask that he adds 2kW and 3kW motors as options......actually to find out if he's still alive. I realised yesterday this whole rigmarole is causing me huge stress, exactly what I don't need. Anyway, working till 1pm, packing the car and heading out to the desert and good friends where this journey started in earnest for me......reset and recharge. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gerhard 25 Posted February 8 18 hours ago, Brian Dougherty said: What little I know about Namibia I learned on Top Gear or Grand Tour, so I am not going to be of much help otherwise. Best of luck! Firstly I'm a big fan, but no, they are not exactly Encyclopedia Namibia I find even their BS entertaining, but let's just say you don't sleep on the beach in a hole you dug under your beach buggy.....that will be a very cold and unpleasant evening. BTW, the camping store they visited is where I buy just about everything except food, the shop assistant is one of the owners and a very good friend of mine. And don't worry......at least you got the country's name right. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brian Dougherty 295 Posted February 8 4 hours ago, Gerhard said: BTW, the camping store they visited is where I buy just about everything except food, the shop assistant is one of the owners and a very good friend of mine. Now that is pretty cool! I enjoy their shenanigans in a modern 3-stooges sort of way. Good luck with the grinder build! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Joël Mercier 134 Posted February 8 Thank you JJ for the plans. I put them on my Google drive for the future. I'll make them available here in case the website shuts down. onepiece.zip Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alan Longmire 913 Posted February 8 I'll just put them here on the forum as well. in all three configs, plus the assembly photo, so there! The drawings in one .zip file: drawings1a.zip Individually: part1.DXF Part2.DXF Part3.DXF Part4.DXF Part5.DXF Part7.DXF Part8.DXF part9.DXF baseplate.DXF NOTE: There is no part 6. don't ask for it! and finally, the drawing of all parts on a single sheet of steel: onepiece.zip 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JJ Simon 118 Posted February 12 Should be noted that from a laser cutting perspective they will not do a good job cutting the holes. Cutting a hole smaller than the thickness of the material is apparently no beuno with a laser. Just learned this this week. So perhaps they can laser mark each hole and have them drilled by hand. All the holes appear to be .26 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alex Middleton 58 Posted February 12 Your laser cutting people aren't necessarily telling you the entire story. The heat concentration involved with cutting a hole smaller than the thickness of the material makes it very difficult to get a clean edge. Most shops shy away from putting themselves in a position where their edge quality may be questionable, a large part of their professional reputation rides on it. Depending on the hole size/material thickness ratio, a hole smaller than a material thickness is definitely possible. It just takes a skilled operator with a little bit of time to get it dialed in correctly. A lot of shops won't do this unless the money involved is worth it to them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JJ Simon 118 Posted February 12 Thanks for the clarification. The shop I'm using is quite good. And they were honest about the fact that they had had some trouble. I haven't heard the solution yet. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wayne Coe 28 Posted February 13 Check out the $45.00 dvd on the DVD page at www.WayneCoeArtistBlacksmith.com. It is quite simple to build and uses scrap steel that you probably already have or can source from a salvage yard. Let me know if I can help you. Wayne 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alex Middleton 58 Posted February 13 (edited) I haven't looked at the plans. On a .260" hole, if it's anything thicker than 3/8" or so, I can see it being a bit of trouble. If the hole is just a clearance for a bolt, just let them know that the edge quality doesn't matter. It may be a little rough, but who really cares? If it needs to locate the bolt, ask if they will put a pierce point, or etch a small (0.050" ish) circle, at the center of the hole. This should give you enough to locate a good center punch on, then you can drill the holes out from there. Edited February 13 by Alex Middleton Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alex Middleton 58 Posted February 13 One other thing to try would be to find someone in your area with a waterjet table. Waterjet doesn't necessarily have the same limitations with hole sizes as laser/plasma/oxyfuel does. I don't work with waterjets all that often so I can't vouch for their edge quality, but some of the newer ones are just as good, if not better, than most lasers. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Charles du Preez 176 Posted February 13 Gerhard, about that DVD Wayne mentioned and just out of curiosity. I’ve checked the exchange rate so I know that’s about 540 Namibian dollars. What is that in spending power? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gerhard 25 Posted February 14 8 hours ago, Charles du Preez said: Gerhard, about that DVD Wayne mentioned and just out of curiosity. I’ve checked the exchange rate so I know that’s about 540 Namibian dollars. What is that in spending power? About 2 bags of groceries......not much the way I eat On 2/8/2018 at 9:39 AM, Gerhard said: Still no motor & VFD quote, contacted the guy yesterday to ask that he adds 2kW and 3kW motors as options......actually to find out if he's still alive. Still in the same boat on this front......nothing. My gut tells me I can't really start anything without the motor. Bought some steel on Monday for the gas forge, and that was another rude awakening.....everything is sold in 6m lengths, so I have more than I need, have to pay for delivery, and it all costs more than I should be spending..... Don't know the cost yet, but that makes the laser cutting option very attractive. My buddy with the engineering shop recommended somebody and in the same breath mentioned we'll need to drill the holes, they wont do it. Just thinking now, they cut according to the autocad drawing........how do I accurately place the holes? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gerhard 25 Posted February 14 On 2/13/2018 at 2:52 AM, Wayne Coe said: Check out the $45.00 dvd on the DVD page at www.WayneCoeArtistBlacksmith.com. It is quite simple to build and uses scrap steel that you probably already have or can source from a salvage yard. Let me know if I can help you. Wayne Thanks Wayne, the complete and utter lack of scrap is a problem, and just so happens a buddy told me of a salvage yard where I can buy by the Kg....... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wayne Coe 28 Posted February 14 If you get the DVD and build Moe's Grinder you will need only some bar stock and angle iron. You can drill and tap all of the necessary holes. Let me know if I can help you. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gerhard 25 Posted February 20 I got quotes!!!! .......much higher than expected I need some advice, again..... The choice is between 1.5kW and 2.2kW. I've converted the prices to US$ with the hope that help determine which is best value.... 2.2Kw Motor - $498 VFD - $499 1.5kW Motor - $393 VFD - $433 Additionally there's about $170 worth of switches and enclosures. I have a slight stinging sensation where I don't want it, and considering what else has to be done & bought for this to work, I'm very doubtful. I would appreciate opinions on the prices and if 1.5kW is enough..... Thanks Gerhard Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alan Longmire 913 Posted February 20 1.5 Kw is a hair over 2 Hp, so it will work fine for many of us. That's twice the power of my grinder, but then I can stop mine if I lean on it hard enough. More power is always better, provided you have the wiring for it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
