Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Michael Squier on December 20, 2016 at 8:43

Allan, im no expert on this but I read a post on another site about speed controlers and our sander, i dont remember why but they said it wont work with this kind of motor. I would also like to slow it down some.
allanm said:

I hope not to wear my sander out any time soon ... :-)  But, with that said, and talking of "tools should be modified" mentioned elsewhere - has anyone added a speed control to a small belt sander like this? I was hoping that the $20 "router speed control" sold by Harbor Freight (or similar on amazon and other sites) would allow me to control the speed. It claims to work with any tool of 15 amps or less but made no difference to my sander.

So I'm not sure at this point if the sander just does not see the change from the control, or if the control I have is faulty. I want to take it back to HarborFreight and ask them to test, or give me another to try before I abandon that path. But I really would like to be able to slow my sander down sometimes.

Permalink Reply by allanm on December 20, 2016 at 8:55

Thanks for the feedback - even though I was hoping to hear that something would work to allow me to slow it down

Michael Squier said:

Allan, im no expert on this but I read a post on another site about speed controlers and our sander, i dont remember why but they said it wont work with this kind of motor. I would also like to slow it down some.
allanm said:

I hope not to wear my sander out any time soon ... :-)  But, with that said, and talking of "tools should be modified" mentioned elsewhere - has anyone added a speed control to a small belt sander like this? I was hoping that the $20 "router speed control" sold by Harbor Freight (or similar on amazon and other sites) would allow me to control the speed. It claims to work with any tool of 15 amps or less but made no difference to my sander.

So I'm not sure at this point if the sander just does not see the change from the control, or if the control I have is faulty. I want to take it back to HarborFreight and ask them to test, or give me another to try before I abandon that path. But I really would like to be able to slow my sander down sometimes.

In MemoriamPermalink Reply by D ale on December 20, 2016 at 10:08

Allanm

.

I just spent about an hour researching speed control for the basic 1" * 30" belt sander.

Note: I own Grizzly's now discontinued H3140 version.

Speed control (slowing it down a bit) would be nice.

.

I came to the same conclusion ...

.

It is NOT recommended.

allanm said:

I hope not to wear my sander out any time soon ... :-)  But, with that said, and talking of "tools should be modified" mentioned elsewhere - has anyone added a speed control to a small belt sander like this? I was hoping that the $20 "router speed control" sold by Harbor Freight (or similar on amazon and other sites) would allow me to control the speed. It claims to work with any tool of 15 amps or less but made no difference to my sander.

So I'm not sure at this point if the sander just does not see the change from the control, or if the control I have is faulty. I want to take it back to HarborFreight and ask them to test, or give me another to try before I abandon that path. But I really would like to be able to slow my sander down sometimes.

Permalink Reply by allanm on December 20, 2016 at 10:18

Thanks Dale, bummer I guess, but since we all seem to be coming to the same conclusion, well - I just have to accept it.

Maybe in future a different sander with speed control will be on my horizon but that's likely to be a while since what I have really does what I need. The slower speed control is just a nice to have for me right now.

In MemoriamPermalink Reply by D ale on December 20, 2016 at 10:51

Michael,

I get mine from Grizzly.

.. but ..

mainly because I order other schtuff from Grizzly.

i.e. I've had really good luck with Grizzly's tools.

.. and ..

I just tack these on when I get low & happen to be ordering other schtuff.

Their selection is far from wonderful .. 60~400 grit.

.. but ..

@ $1.oo a belt .. the price is OK.

I've experienced zero negative issues with Grizzly's 1*30 belts.

I always keep the worn ones around ..as.. viable replacements for 1k grit belts.

OK .. I'm also cheap.

.

The "platen backing" is indeed slippery. It allows one to more forcefully apply pressure to the platen backed belt while reducing heat build-up. I understand it also facilitates "smoother" operation.

Michael Squier said:

I have the same small belt sander from harbor frieght, where fo you get good belts for that size, the o es I have have a huge seam that is very noticable when sanding. And what is platen backing? Im guessing its slippery. 

KnifeMakerPermalink Reply by Chris Sievert on December 20, 2016 at 15:54

For me the most used is the most useful and like Jan it's a Micromark Flexshaft machine. Used for every knife I make...

Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on December 20, 2016 at 17:21

Chris,

When Donnie told me he wanted that one I thought...hmmm, just a glorified Dremel tool.  Tells you how much I know LOL.

The foot pedal and the ability to control the speed is extremely handy but the flexibility it the key to that one.  That it works with a chuck and can get into tighter/smaller spaces is a huge plus.  Nope not just another dremel, however the dremel accessories work with it.

Permalink Reply by allanm on December 21, 2016 at 9:10

Still learning every day and expect to until the day I croak ... I had never heard of the Micromark flexshaft so I went to Mr Google to see what it was. It looks good. I bought a Dremel 4000 kit which includes their flex shaft but I can see the Micromark one has benefits with a foot control and all.

KnifeMakerPermalink Reply by Carl Rechsteiner on December 24, 2016 at 6:41

Those will only work with certain motors and are made for the type used in hand tools not the base mount motor like on your grinder.

I think the most important tools in your shop are your mind - eyes - hands, Tools are just an extension of these. We can get by with a lot simpler stuff if we think it out. Don't get me wrong I love tools old and new as anyone visiting my shop will see. But, I still revert back to many of my old handtools to do much of my work: forge, anvil, hammers, files and hand drills & saws. Learned to do most of my work "unplugged" from Dad and Granddad and I really like the way it feels. Might surprise you how fast and accurate you can be if you focus and let the ol' noggin make the call.

Come watch me some time and see if it ain't so.

Permalink Reply by allanm on December 24, 2016 at 19:50

Funny you say that Carl, just tonight I was thinking about this discussion when my wife said one of the knives was not very sharp. I went and took out my good old Smith's TriStone Arkansas stone and home made strop from an old leather belt and a piece of scrap wood I cut and sanded into a long paddle shape.

All manual of course, and I would say of all my tools, that stone and strop are used more than anything else.

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