Build Your Grinder Step by Step

Description:

• material: aluminum 6061 T6

• 4" or 7” outer diameter

• 2.5" wide

• optional bore size (5/8” or 7/8”)

• 3/16" keyway

• crowned

• 1/4"-20 set screw included

4" Drive Wheel versus 7" Drive Wheel (Pros and Cons)

4" considerations:

• Pro: Lower Cost

• Con: Lower belt speed (3800 feet per minute @3600 rpm) does not remove metal as quickly

• Pro: lower belt speed prevents burning while working with wood and allows for small wheel usage on single speed grinders

7" considerations:

• Pro: higher belt speed (6600 feet per minute @3600 rpm) removes metal faster and more efficiently

• Con: Must be slowed down with a variable speed drive in order to prevent damage to bearings on wheels under 1.5" diameter in a small wheel holder

• Con: Higher Cost

Please note, our accessory arms are 2” square. If you do not have an AmeriBrade grinder, please check what size your accessory arms should be. The combo platen can be purchased without an accessory arm from the Parts and Belts Page.

Please note, our accessory arms are 2” square. If you do not have an AmeriBrade grinder, please check what size your accessory arms should be. You can purchase the Tilting Platen without an accessory arm from the Parts and Belts Page.

The rotary platen can be purchased without an accessory arm from the Parts and Belts Page

What is it?

If you are not familiar with rotary platens, there are a few different ways to use them.

The most popular use is for convex grinding. The chassis rotates on it’s spindle to allow you access for grinding on all 3 sides. Each side has a different span between the wheels for varying amounts of support (10, 8 or 6 inches). The longer the span, the less support the belt has, which results in a more convex grind. This is great for creating convex primary bevels or secondary bevels and sharpening.

Another great use is for improved surface finish while flat grinding. If you use the steel platen behind the 10” span, you can achieve high polish finishes on your flat grinds because the rubber belt reduces belt joint bump. This should greatly reduce hand sanding time. WARNING: if you do not have a water or air chilled platen, we do not recommend doing large amounts of stock removal against the hard backer because there is a risk of overheating and melting your belt.

If you have another use for the rotary platen, please let us know so we can communicate that with anyone who is trying to learn.

What’s Included:

• Complete Rotary Platen mounted on an accessory arm

  • Black Oxide Coated Steel Chassis (access holes for water or air lines to accommodate chilled platens. Water chilled platens sold separately)

  • 3 grooved aluminum wheels with bearings and crush sleeves installed

  • Stainless Steel Pinch Point Guard

  • Rubber Belt (Part Number: 300J20)

  • Case Hardened Steel Platen attached to chassis with 2 angle brackets (6.75” hole spacing on platen.)

Use a radius platen to grind a large hollow radius beyond the limit of the largest wheel sizes possible on your grinder. (A 36” radius platen has the same curvature as a 6 foot diameter wheel). Platens are 2” wide x 8” long and approximately 5/16” thick at the ends. They are tapped for 1/4-20 fasteners and the mounting holes are 6.75” apart.

Platens are case hardened to Rockwell C60 for wear resistance

Fits: Rotary Platens and Tilting Platens

Does not Fit: Combo Platens

Place this chiller behind your platen and pump a coolant such as water or air through the internal channels to carry heat away from your platen in high-friction accessories such as radius platens or rotary platens.

Attention: This will not effectively carry heat away from the workpiece being ground. For that, we recommend a mist coolant directly on your part. Rather, the platen chiller will expand the duty cycle of a rotary platen so you can grind longer without melting your rubber belt. If you have a radius platen, the chiller will keep the temperature of the platen low enough to protect the temper of the platen itself.

This is not intended to be used as a grinding surface since it is made of aluminum. A wear resistant platen should be used as the grinding surface between the belt and the chiller body. The hole spacing for mounting the platen is 6.75” and the holes are for 1/4” fasteners. We recommend using heat sink compound between the platen and this chiller to reduce resistance to heat-transfer.

Included:

• Aluminum Chiller Body and Lid fastened together and sealed with an O-Ring

• Spare O-Ring**

• Two swiveling push-to-connect elbows threaded* into the lid for 1/4” O.D. tubing

• Two 10 foot lengths of 1/4” O.D. firm polyurethane tubing (20 feet total)

Not Included:

-Pump and Reservoir. We plan to offer a complete setup in the future, but we currently recommend either an inexpensive TIG Cooler, Laser Cooler or a simple 5 Gallon bucket with any type of submersible pump. Click Here for an example of a cooler we tried from Amazon. Alternatively, you can use compressed air if you have a high volume available.

Includes:

• CNC machined aluminum small wheel holder and mounting hardware

• Accessory Arm

• One Rubberized deflector wheels (2" smooth contact wheels) to decrease the incoming angle of the belt so you can reach into tighter places

  • Please note, our accessory arms are 2” square. If you do not have an AmeriBrade grinder, please check what size your accessory arms should be. The Small Wheel Holder can be purchased without an accessory by clicking here.

    Attention:

Small Wheels purchased separately

Rather than buying small wheels individually, you can purchase them here as a package with a storage rack included at a discounted rate.

Smaller Kit Includes 6 Wheels (as of 10/07/20) and Storage Rack:

• 1/4” (use caution by running slowly with J weight belts only)

• 3/8” (use caution by running slowly with J weight belts only)

• 1/2” (use caution by running slowly with J weight belts only)

• 3/4”

• 1”

• 1.25”

Larger Kit includes 3 Wheels and Storage Rack

• 1.5”

• 1.75”

• 2”

(image of Larger kit has not been updated to reflect design changes. The current storage racks hold the wheels from just inside the bearings to lock them in better than the previous design)

This mechanism attaches to the flange of a small wheel holder. It allows you to accurately adjust the positition of the platen relative to our full range of small wheels (1/4” to 2” diameter). By setting the platen tangent to a small wheel, you can grind fantastic integral bolsters tangent to the flat sides of a blade or you can create large radius plunge lines at the root of your bevels. Instead of setting the platen tangent to a wheel, you could also position the platen above a wheel and create a “waterfall” platen for achieving a very small radius at your plunge line and adjusting the symmetry of those plunge lines from side to side. Pair this W.I.P. attachment with our fullering inserts and Bader-style small wheels for large blades that require an uninterrupted plane above the small wheel holder.

Small Wheel Holder, Small Wheels, and Fullering Inserts purchased separately

Slide these small billet aluminum pieces into the bearing pockets of your AmeriBrade small wheel holder. This will allow it to hold Bader-Style small wheels (3/4” diameter and smaller) with small bearings inside the wheel instead of our standard small wheels which have larger bearings on the ends. Although this limits how small the wheel can be, it places the cutting surface out in front of the bearings so there is nothing in the way of creating smaller fullers. These inserts can also be used with the W.I.P. attachment to create an uninteruppted plane while grinding integral bolsters on larger blades. Small spring steel clips hold the ends of the small wheels in place while changing belts.

Small Wheel Holder, Small Wheels, and W.I.P. attachment purchased separately

Please note, our accessory arms are 2” square. If you do not have an AmeriBrade grinder, please check what size your accessory arms should be.

10 inch wheel shown for reference, but the kit will come with whatever size wheel you choose

Utilize the reverse tracking of your FastBack 2x72 belt grinder and this attachment to make hollow grinds simple (not compatible with classic frames for lack of reverse tracking control). This attachment raises a 10 inch contact wheel above your large work rest and adds a 2” deflector wheel to re-route the belt in a manner that prevents the belt from cutting into your blade lower than intended (Large work rest purchased separately). By setting the gap between between the work rest and the bottom of the contact wheel you will not over-thin your edge . Since you are grinding on the top side of the blade, visibility is excellent, so know you how to modulate your grinding pressure across the length of your bevel to easily achieve a beautiful result.

The steel wheel-pants are included to reduce the risk of throwing your workpiece and to catch sparks. Caution should still be exercised to work with best safety practices.

Purchase options:

If you already own a 10” contact wheel and accessory arm, you can purchase the kit without the wheel and arm.

Alternatively, you can purchase the entire kit with contact wheel and accessory arm included. (see pictures)

Slide this accessory into a receiver slot of your 2x72 belt grinder to give yourself consistent control over your sharpening process. The low profile clamp allows you to quickly grip the spine of your blades without tools and to grind both sides of your edge symmetrically. Compared to other sharpening machines, using a belt grinder gives you access to your full catalog of abrasives, which means you can quickly repair damaged edges with more aggressive belts and progress up to a mirror polish with a leather strop and polishing compound. This attachment makes sure you maintain a consistent angle while you progress through those different steps to make sure you get a scary sharp edge every time.

This attachment can be used with almost any grinding accessory so you can achieve your desired edge geometry. Slack Attachment (convex), Rotary attachment (slightley convex or flat), Hard Platen (flat), Contact Wheel (concave).

Includes:

• 2” Accessory Arm (for AmeriBrade Machines) or 1.5” Accessory Arm for other brands

• 2 Axis Adjustable Rest Bar

• Low Profile Clamp on long stabilizing handle

• Adjustable oversized shaft collar

Not included:

• Grinding Accessories (must be used with some form of platen, slack attachment, rotary platen, or contact wheel, etc.)

• Belts

• Grinder (for safety, this must be used with a grinder that can run in reverse)

Included:

• Complete Surface Grinding Attachment

  • 4” Diameter x 2.5” wide rubber contact wheel (approximate durometer: 90-95)

  • Accessory Arm Choice

    • 2” Square Steel Arm for AmeriBrade Grinders

    • 1.5” Square Aluminum Arm for Wilmont Grinders or any grinder with approximately a 1 inch gap between the accessory arm and the belt.

  • Dial Indicator

  • Quantity 4 switchable magnets (Additional 3 may be purchased separately if desired)

For use with AmeriBrade 2x72 Belt Grinders

The assembly includes:

• Work Rest Arm (adjustable angle stop installed)

• Adjustable Handle

• Welded Angle Bracket

• Table (your choice of style)

If Horizontal Styles are to be used on a Classic Frame instead of a FastBack Frame, please contact us at info@ameribrade.com so we can weld the bracket in the appropriate position.

Designed to hold the following AmeriBrade Machines:

• Classic 2x72

• FastBack 2x72

• Trident 2x48

• Hyper-Disc Bench Grinder

The 4 inch square pedestal has integral storage to keep all of your accessories at arms reach with your grinder.

The stand is 34 inches tall, putting the working height of an AmeriBrade 272 at 46 inches from the ground

Information about feet:

• Leveling Casters- Chosen for the best combination of mobility and stability, the leveling casters let you roll your grinder wherever you want to work. Once it is in place, the turn of a thumb wheel on each caster lowers a rubber foot and lifts the stand off the wheels for a sturdy base that compensates for irregularities in the floor so you have a sturdy base without wobble.

Accessories sold separately

A stainless steel water bucket and holder to mount to an AmeriBrade Pedestal Stand.

Keep your parts cool enough to handle with this convenient quench tank.

Includes one stainless steel bucket and one mounting bracket.

Comfortable handle with a strong permanent magnet to keep your fingers safe from heat and abrasion while working with small or thin parts.

• Up to 100 pounds of holding force

• Rubberized Grip

• Overall Dimensions (5.25” x 3.4” x 1.2”)

• Magnet Dimensions (4” x 0.75”)

This sturdy bracket allows you to easily transition between vertical and horizontal grinding on your AmeriBrade Classic 272 or FastBack. The locking knob also allows you to position your machine at any angle between vertical and horizontal if desired. The carefully chosen hinge axis offers consistent working heights in both the vertical and horizontal positions while also requiring a very small amount of force to tilt the machine. The mount is compatible with both pedestal and bench mounted machines; however, variable speed bench mounted machines will require that the VFD be mounted remotely rather than on the side of the grinder because the VFD will not clear the benchtop while horizontal.

2x72 Sample Kit ($132 Total 15 Belts)

• Very Fine Surface Conditioning Belt (1 piece)

• 36 Grit Ceramic Belt (2 pieces)

• 80 Grit Ceramic Belt (2 pieces)

• 80 Grit Aluminum Oxide J Flex Belt (2 pieces)

• 120 Grit Ceramic Belt (2 pieces)

• 120 Grit Aluminum Oxide J Flex Belt (2 piece)

• 220 Grit Ceramic J Flex Belt ( 2 pieces)

• A45 Structured Belt [400 Grit Equivalent] (2 pieces)

2x72 Pro Stock Removal Kit ($151 Total 15 Belts)

• 36 Grit Ceramic (5 pieces)

• 80 Grit Ceramic (5 pieces)

• 120 Grit Ceramic ( 5 pieces)

2x72 Budget Stock Removal Kit ($62 Total 15 Belts)

• 40 Grit Aluminum Oxide (5 pieces)

• 80 Grit Aluminum Oxide (5 pieces)

• 120 Grit Aluminum Oxide (5 pieces)

2x72 Finishing Kit ($142 Total 15 Belts)

• 220 Grit Ceramic J Flex (5 pieces)

• A45 Structured [400 grit equivalent] (5 pieces)

• A30 Structured [800 grit equivalent] (5 pieces)

2x72 Flex Kit ($62 Total 15 Belts):

• 80 Grit Aluminum Oxide J Flex backer (5 pieces)

• 120 Grit Aluminum Oxide J Flex backer (5 pieces)

• 220 Grit Aluminum Oxide J Flex backer (5 pieces)

2x72 Sharpening Kit ($156 Total 15 Belts):

• A45 Structured [400 grit equivalent] (5 pieces)

• A30 Structured [800 grit equivalent] (5 pieces)

• A16 Structured [1400 grit equivalent] (5 pieces)

2x72 Leather Strop Kit ($99 Total 2 items):

• 2x72 Leather Strop Belt (1 piece)

• Green Rouge (1 piece)

2x72 Medium Surface Conditioning Bundle ($138, 5 pieces)

2x72 Very Fine Surface Conditioning Bundle ($138, 5 pieces)

2x48 RPM Neil Kit ($105 Total 17 Belts):

• 36 Grit Shredder Ceramic -X weight (2 pieces)

• 60 Grit Shredder Ceramic -X weight (2 pieces)

• 80 Grit Shredder Ceramic -X weight (2 pieces)

• 120 Grit Shredder Ceramic -X weight (2 pieces)

• 220 Grit Shredder Ceramic -J Flex (2 pieces)

• 120 Grit -J Flex (1 piece)

• 320 Grit - J Flex (1 piece)

• 400 Grit - J Flex (1 piece)

• Medium Surface Conditioning ( 1 piece)

• 36 Grit Aluminum Oxide - X Weight (1 piece)

• 220 Grit Aluminum Oxide - X Weight (1 piece)

• 400 Grit Aluminum Oxide - X Weight (1 piece)