Thread: Belt grinder/sander mounting height?

I just got a belt grinder/sander the other day and am looking at making a stand to mount it on. Since I will be making it it can be any height that I desire. The problem is with limited experience in this I don't know what I desire! Please don't tell my wife the following as she thinks that I am strange enough already. Standing in the middle of my garage and imagining grinding away Having the center of the contact wheel about the height of my belly button or slightly higher seems to be a good starting point. Any thoughts?

Thanks, Tim

Maybe you could make a quick and dirty table and mess with the height of grinder. Then you could find the height that feels right to you. Maybe try out several tables before making a dedicated stand. I really do not know I am just tossing out ideas.

Belly height sounds good, at that height you could tuck/brace your elbows next to your torso and go sideways with your legs.

I have my grinders and buffer adjusted so that I can work setting down, it is what works for me.

Charlie

Any stand I make will probably be quick and dirty. :-]

I tried to describe a height using the belly button to try and have a common measurement for differently built people.

I am interested in the possibility of sitting down. Do you rest your forearms on your thighs for stability? An adjustable chair could make up for different size wheels etc. and be easier to change than a table. One negative I could see is putting your crotch in a more vulnerable position if something should break or get snagged.

Thanks, Tim

Originally Posted by spazola

Maybe you could make a quick and dirty table


I have my grinders and buffer adjusted so that I can work setting down, it is what works for me.

Charlie

When I had my grinder setup I had it set at the height of my elbow. I ground standing.

Originally Posted by 32t

Any stand I make will probably be quick and dirty. :-]

I tried to describe a height using the belly button to try and have a common measurement for differently built people.

I am interested in the possibility of sitting down. Do you rest your forearms on your thighs for stability? An adjustable chair could make up for different size wheels etc. and be easier to change than a table. One negative I could see is putting your crotch in a more vulnerable position if something should break or get snagged.

Thanks, Tim

Here is my setup. I have to straddle the buckets to pull up to pull up next to the grinder. There is a metal bucket between and the grinder no crotch worries. I leave the chair at the same height the centerline of the wheel is the same no matter the wheel size.

Charlie

Thank you Charlie,

That is much higher than I envisioned. What I was thinking of was more to knee height than chest. Mine is already mounted on a good heavy board that I can move. I have a couple of ideas for temporary tests that include a picknic table a small bench and even the tailgate of my truck for different heights. Yesterday I moved some ergonomic workstations that are electrically adjustable that would be the cats meow.

Tim

Originally Posted by spazola

Here is my setup.

Charlie

The centerline of my wheel is about belly-button height. I think I'd like it just an inch or two higher. I find that I tend to prefer the upper half of the platen. It's not as much of a problem with wheels, but having the blade a little closer to my face would be nice for detail work.

One of the best usability-related upgrades I made was a powerful and positional worklight. Being able to control reflections and carefully inspect my progress improved ease of grinding a lot.

Phillip

Thanks Phillip
I did some work for the first time this last weekend. I used a picnick table for a stand and it was slightly below my belly button. That was to low. I wanted go to high on the wheel for safety. My next try will be about elbow height like Deighaingeal said he liked and which for me is about 2 inches above my belly. :-] I ground 3 razor blanks and made 3 quick knives out of an old bandsaw blade I have had sitting on the shelf for years. Lots of learning and lots more to go. Enough use to know I want to go higher.

Thanks for the tip on the light. The older I get that is more and more important.

Tim

Originally Posted by PDobson

The centerline of my wheel is about belly-button height. I think I'd like it just an inch or two higher. I find that I tend to prefer the upper half of the platen. It's not as much of a problem with wheels, but having the blade a little closer to my face would be nice for detail work.

One of the best usability-related upgrades I made was a powerful and positional worklight. Being able to control reflections and carefully inspect my progress improved ease of grinding a lot.

Phillip

My belt sander is about belly button hight and I work standing up. However my setup I use the slack portion of the belt, down from the top roller to the main drive roller for work where Charles seems to contact the belt right on the main roller. I never see sparks like that, but at 800 and 1000 grit I probaby won't

I have been distracted lately by lots of things and when I have thought of trying to grind some blades I have been put off by trying to get it set up. Here is my solution at least for now. I haven't yet used this set up but it seems like it will work. I like the adjustability in height and the portability. It is not as stable as a permanent bench but with some shimming or finding an exact level place in the floor it will work. I can collapse it but it is a 2 person job to raise it with the weight on it. One of my main points is that I should be able to set it up in 10 min and use it for an hour. Rather than an hour set up to use it for ten minutes. It is still a work in progress but I thought I would show some pics.

Tim