Ratman151 Posted December 18, 2015 Share Posted December 18, 2015 Where in South Africa would i be able to get a belt grinder, ive been through the whole town, and no one can help me get one, i dont want to use a bench grinder to give my blades a finish. Luc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theimi Posted December 19, 2015 Share Posted December 19, 2015 Hmmm, as I remember right you said money is scarce...(I know, money is always scarce) Maybe you should specify what you are looking for, what you wanna do with it, new, used and so on. - For new ones Builders Warehouse if affordable, I'm sure there are some tool companies in youre area. I know there is a guy (a knifemaker) in SA who also sells tools, he sells fine knifemakers belt grinders, but they are not cheap. I don't remember right now who it was but I may find out if you want -used ones: ask the precision machining companies (milling/drilling/lathe work), I often had luck with them when I searched used tools, gumtree is also good for used tools. Sometimes you will find something at the scrapyards (not so often, but who knows?) If you have access to a workshop and you have some basic metalworking skills - I would built one myself if needed. It's only an e motor, some bearings and two rollers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratman151 Posted December 20, 2015 Author Share Posted December 20, 2015 15 hours ago, theimi said: Hmmm, as I remember right you said money is scarce...(I know, money is always scarce) Maybe you should specify what you are looking for, what you wanna do with it, new, used and so on. - For new ones Builders Warehouse if affordable, I'm sure there are some tool companies in youre area. I know there is a guy (a knifemaker) in SA who also sells tools, he sells fine knifemakers belt grinders, but they are not cheap. I don't remember right now who it was but I may find out if you want -used ones: ask the precision machining companies (milling/drilling/lathe work), I often had luck with them when I searched used tools, gumtree is also good for used tools. Sometimes you will find something at the scrapyards (not so often, but who knows?) If you have access to a workshop and you have some basic metalworking skills - I would built one myself if needed. It's only an e motor, some bearings and two rollers Hey, ive been at the scrapyard, they keep any tools they find, even broken sledgehammer heads, saw 3 anvils there but they wernt for sale. At the moment i just want to use it for bladesmithing, would really appreciate it if you could find out. Im gonna search gumtree now, here isnt a builders warehouse, but just a vermeulens and small tool shops, (i live in Kimberely, Northen Cape). Greetings Luc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the iron dwarf Posted December 20, 2015 Share Posted December 20, 2015 is that the only scrapyard? if they dont want your money find one that does Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted December 20, 2015 Share Posted December 20, 2015 Or find the scrap before they get there hands on it. South Africa is a major steel producing nation. Drops from construction and manufacturing can be had for a pint or two, as can automotive stearing, drivetrain and suspension components, heavy equipment share many of the same components just made from larger stock. Railroad scrap, agricultural scrap... lots of steel out there just takes leg work and imagination Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratman151 Posted December 20, 2015 Author Share Posted December 20, 2015 On 19/12/2015 at 9:58 PM, theimi said: 4 hours ago, Charles R. Stevens said: Or find the scrap before they get there hands on it. South Africa is a major steel producing nation. Drops from construction and manufacturing can be had for a pint or two, as can automotive stearing, drivetrain and suspension components, heavy equipment share many of the same components just made from larger stock. Railroad scrap, agricultural scrap... lots of steel out there just takes leg work and imagination Hey Yeah me and my friend who blacksmiths with me went to the only scrapyard for a whole day to search, we found a railroad spike (very rare) some rebar, leafsprings ext but i wonder if we could use pickaxes to make like......a big axe? Greetings Luc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted December 20, 2015 Share Posted December 20, 2015 Picks, matocs and pick axes are usually good steel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratman151 Posted December 21, 2015 Author Share Posted December 21, 2015 7 hours ago, Charles R. Stevens said: Picks, matocs and pick axes are usually good steel What can i use to make a eye for an axe, i saw some jackhammer heads, but i dont know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 Are you talking about a mandril/drift or a slitter/punch? An axle from a large truck or tractor is a good price of steel for forging a mandril/drift for forming the eye. If you are using the slot and drift, as opposed to the wrap and welt method, a peice of leaf spring from said truck makes a serviceable slitter/slot punch If I may, if your still struggling with what salvage steel to use for tools, and what tools you need and how to forge them you may not be ready to forge an axe, at least not an eyed axe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theimi Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 On 12/20/2015 at 1:55 PM, Ratman151 said: Hey, ive been at the scrapyard, they keep any tools they find, even broken sledgehammer heads, saw 3 anvils there but they wernt for sale. At the moment i just want to use it for bladesmithing, would really appreciate it if you could find out. Im gonna search gumtree now, here isnt a builders warehouse, but just a vermeulens and small tool shops, (i live in Kimberely, Northen Cape). Greetings Luc Hi there, I don't remember who it was, it's so long ago. Anyway, there are just a few (but they are really expensive) knife machine tools supply kmts.co.za herbst knife making academy herbst.co.za What you else can do, type into google "knife makers grinder site:co.za", there are sometimes a few at junkmail or you try directly: "knife makers grinder site:junkmail.co.za" Really, the best in SA is to make it yourself. No friend who may help? Unfortunately I'm not around the corner from you... good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratman151 Posted December 23, 2015 Author Share Posted December 23, 2015 44 minutes ago, theimi said: Hi there, I don't remember who it was, it's so long ago. Anyway, there are just a few (but they are really expensive) knife machine tools supply kmts.co.za herbst knife making academy herbst.co.za What you else can do, type into google "knife makers grinder site:co.za", there are sometimes a few at junkmail or you try directly: "knife makers grinder site:junkmail.co.za" Really, the best in SA is to make it yourself. No friend who may help? Unfortunately I'm not around the corner from you... good luck Thanks man I will certainly try and make one, ill post pictures in about a month if you wanna see. Greetings Luc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratman151 Posted December 24, 2015 Author Share Posted December 24, 2015 But just say i build my own belt grinder, how much power would the end product pull? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theimi Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 On 12/24/2015 at 5:12 PM, Ratman151 said: But just say i build my own belt grinder, how much power would the end product pull? I'm not sure what you're talking about... amps? I have no idea how to calculate the necessary motor power, I would say a 0.5kW, maybe 0.75kW motor is more than enough for your work, but maybe somebody may help you there better. As you want to build it yourself I would look what motor I can snap up cheap and give it a try. It should not be difficult to build it that way that you can change the motor quickly if you want more or less power and use the actual motor for another project (you cannot have enough e-motors in your shop ) If you need the amps: P=U*I -> I=P/U (0.5kW) I = 500/230 = 2.2A Of course it pulls that power only as long as you press your workpiece against the belt that the motor nearly stalls, less pressing power - less motor power - less current/amps Hope that helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 Their is a disconnect between electrical KW Input and electrical motor KW output, no such thing as a one hundred efficient motor. If it's a 1/2 KW output you need a minimum of 1 KW Input (or what is recommended by code) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratman151 Posted January 7, 2016 Author Share Posted January 7, 2016 16 hours ago, theimi said: I'm not sure what you're talking about... amps? I have no idea how to calculate the necessary motor power, I would say a 0.5kW, maybe 0.75kW motor is more than enough for your work, but maybe somebody may help you there better. As you want to build it yourself I would look what motor I can snap up cheap and give it a try. It should not be difficult to build it that way that you can change the motor quickly if you want more or less power and use the actual motor for another project (you cannot have enough e-motors in your shop ) If you need the amps: P=U*I -> I=P/U (0.5kW) I = 500/230 = 2.2A Of course it pulls that power only as long as you press your workpiece against the belt that the motor nearly stalls, less pressing power - less motor power - less current/amps Hope that helps It does thank you Luc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theimi Posted January 8, 2016 Share Posted January 8, 2016 On 6.1.2016 at 10:25 PM, Charles R. Stevens said: Their is a disconnect between electrical KW Input and electrical motor KW output, no such thing as a one hundred efficient motor. If it's a 1/2 KW output you need a minimum of 1 KW Input (or what is recommended by code) jaaa, but I think that's not so important when building a belt grinder for home shop use. And as far as I know I think you are wrong. Electrical motors are really efficient machines with efficiencies of >80% for smaller motors (1kW) up to >90% for high power motors (100kW) So if you want 0.5kW output you need 0.625kW input Useful for calculations http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/electrical-motor-efficiency-d_655.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted January 8, 2016 Share Posted January 8, 2016 Might want to check that. Electric moters have a heck of an initial draw, as well as when loaded. Free running is one thing. The best thing that can happen is you pop the breaker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theimi Posted January 8, 2016 Share Posted January 8, 2016 4 hours ago, Charles R. Stevens said: Might want to check that. Electric moters have a heck of an initial draw, as well as when loaded. Free running is one thing. The best thing that can happen is you pop the breaker. Initial draw, yes. But that's only initial E motors are highly efficient. But anyway, not important for a home shop grinder, will never pop the breaker. I pop sometimes (not often) the breaker when starting a 3kW (one phase) motor for my hydraulic press. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted January 8, 2016 Share Posted January 8, 2016 Breakers and fuses are intended to prevent the wiring from getting hot and starting a fire, if your popping the breaker you either have a bad breaker, worn bushings in the motor, expensive load stalling the motor or you need a heavier circuit. Don't just pop in a heaver breaker without verifying that the wire over that length is of suficent size. Sinply looking at the manufactures plate will most often tell you voltage and aperage ratings. We still use horse power to rate the work load the motor needs, but metrics use KW for both the rated work load and the amount of electricity to run it, they are not the same. Amps times volts devided by 1000 gives your KW often you find only voltage and wattage, so you have to devide. Even at 80% effecency a one KW motor will require 1.2 KW. Most are in the 30-50% range (single phase) multi-phase are more effecent. This is why electric cars are using 3 phase motors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the bear Posted February 20, 2016 Share Posted February 20, 2016 hello Guys, I had the same problem some years ago so I upped and built my own grinder.The most expensive items were the two polyurethane covered aluminium wheels over which the belt runs which i had to buy from a specialist supplier.The power source came form a single phase 2200 watt Wolf electric lawnmower which was a quarter century old and retired at the time, and is now past 35 and still going strong. The rest of the stuff was pure scrapyard steel and the construction was undertaken with normal home tools and my forge of course.Just for the record I am not an engineer or a technician but been smithing for some decades and I am good at copying and improvising.The whole thing probably cost me about 10% of a custom made machine which is actually what you need if you want to get into the serious stuff.I can do anything any other machine can do and have ground sword blades, axes and even blacksmiths cross peen sledges on it.The platen is 500 mm long and the belts are 2.4 meters total length. If you would like more info or a look at it I live in the Joh'burg vicinity so you are welcome to contact me at 0824902620 by all means. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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