Michael Cochran Posted March 24, 2017 Share Posted March 24, 2017 I'm hoping that someone can give me some helpful advice here. I'm at a point in my belt grinder build where I need to fit my drive wheel and tension wheel but I need to make them first. I plan to cast them and them shape them as I've heard of people doing in the past. However I never saw mention of the tooling used to do it other than turning the drive wheel on the motor shaft itself. I don't want to try doing this and end up throwing a chisel into my foot, face, etc. and that's why I ask here knowing we have some experienced people. If there are any suggestions, or perhaps someone has done this themselves, please help me out. I am more at a loss then usual when trying something for the first time and don't want this to be the last thing I attempt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted March 25, 2017 Share Posted March 25, 2017 How are you planning to balance them? I would be inclined to buy wheels that are machined and balanced. Do you know anyone with a metal lathe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Cochran Posted March 25, 2017 Author Share Posted March 25, 2017 I don't know anyone with a metal lathe. The local machine shop I know about doesn't have one that I've seen while in there chatting about other stuff. Truth is I didn't think I'd have to balance it if it was cast evenly. Guess I'll need to figure something out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted March 25, 2017 Share Posted March 25, 2017 You don't have to be off much to get a lot of vibrations. I have yet to see a machine shop that does not have a lathe.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Cochran Posted March 25, 2017 Author Share Posted March 25, 2017 I saw several of the large enclosed cnc cabinets but didn't see a lathe. I haven't seen the whole shop so it might've been tucked away in a different area. I need to go talk to them about another project anyway so I might see what they'll charge me. Truth is my shop budget is maxed for a while and I may just have to keep waiting before I can finish this build if I can't do it myself. Im not discounting your suggestions, I do appreciate your input. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdriack Posted March 26, 2017 Share Posted March 26, 2017 For a tapered tracking wheel - and especially wheels with recessed bearings, I'd save your money (and probably a lot of time and frustration) and go straight to Ebay when you have enough saved up. Honestly, Ebay has some very reasonable prices and choices for wheels - aluminum or composites ( I also saw a new seller in Poland that makes solid white nylon wheels that look interesting). I've had some issues with some different wheels - and it's very frustrating - spend 20$ buy one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Cochran Posted March 26, 2017 Author Share Posted March 26, 2017 I have decided I will skip the headache of making my wheels. I looked at eBay several times and decided I'll get the set of four wheels from Oregon Blade Maker. I'll just put my bearings and other things I've collected for making the wheels away and save them for a future project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted March 26, 2017 Share Posted March 26, 2017 Good decision Michael. It'd be different if you were a machinist even if you had to enroll in a college extension course to have access to a lathe. They're not that touchy a project but you need to do it right or it's a waste of time. I gave it a lot of thought, I have a lathe and years of schooling but a set of wheels didn't cost much. We just installed and shimmed them to be in line. WAY too easy. I thought of other alternatives like buying replacement rubber caster wheels with sealed bearings but I didn't want to end up with a bunch of rubber caster wheels I couldn't use. Turning rubber on a lathe is a REAL trick, -100f isn't cold enough to make it very easy. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Cochran Posted March 26, 2017 Author Share Posted March 26, 2017 I was waiting for your input, Frosty. I knew if anyone here would be able to tell me how to do it, it would probably be you. I'm not going to regret the decision to buy them. It'll be better quality and most likely better performance in the end than if I done it myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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