⭕️been watching video after video after video after video after............ 🤪 and finally ... a video that shows the things that's pertinent and simple and doesn't rattle on n on... thanks for this ..5 years later... and you're still teaching... good job brother
Of all the videos that are out there to build a grinder, this is the BEST! Just fact, salvage material, no music or shaky camera, just the facts. Thanks P.S. I subscribed.
This is a great design! Ive been searching forever to see if anyone actually kept the display on a treadmill and used it to control the grinder. Thanks for sharing!
Very clever, and I like how cheap it was to build. Going to start looking for unwanted treadmill and get started on one of my own. Thanks for the inspiration and your excellent engineering.
Awesome! @8:17 its clear that the harbor freight hitch receiver should have additional thumbscrew or maybe a bolt on top as well to take out any play vertically. Great job!
+Tactical Ant I noticed that when I edited the footage. That kind of movement isn’t typical, and I haven’t ever had an issue with it. I think it moved that time because I had been moving the grinder around and tightened the platen while still supporting some of the weight so it wasn’t sitting on the bottom of the tube
An excellent and innovative design. I just started on one of my own recently. Originally, I was going to do something like you did, using the controls from the treadmill to still control the motor. But I discovered that it's much easier to wire in a 5k potentiometer. This way you can easily bypass the safety features on the treadmill that prevent you from starting at the same speed each time. Love the video, keep up the good work and be safe 👍
Great video. I'm in the process of figuring out how I want to do my build that will last. I'm curious is it still running or how long did it last for you?
In the few seconds you showed of you actually grinding on the blade I heard the motor slow down a little due to the friction, does it ever slow down too much or does the motor seem strong enough for what you're doing?
That is not a brushless motor. But is one of the nicer treadmill grinders I have seen. I built one too using skate wheels and they work for a bit but I kept eating the bearings! I went to aluminum 2 in contact wheels for $35 on Amazon. That is the most I spent on it. I use it all the time. I plan on doing another one that tips horizontal but I have not decided if I want to stick with a treadmill motor or go 3 phase and VFD. One think I did do on my grinder that I have never seen with treadmill grinders is I put a jack shaft and used a belt to lower the max RPM. I looked up a standard belt speed and 3600 ft a min is standard for belt speed. Those motors turn close to 8'000 rpm. so I drive just under 4 inches times 3.14 is about 1 foot per turn in belt movement. So 7500-8000 FPM you really cant or do not need to run it wide open. The 1:2 ratio on my jack shaft lets my RPM go high on motor but keeps my belt speed down around 3600FPM and doubles my toque. But over all nice build. I built mine out of everything laying around except my wheels. You can view it on my channel. Don't laugh at my video or knives.... Too Hard anyway..as I was new to both. Still am videos. Lol But OMG these grinders are handy. I used mine yesterday to sharpen my mower blades.
Really like you 2x72 belt grinder build. I need to build one like that myself. I guess I will start looking for a old treadmill and start checking at my local salvage yard for some pieces.
Thanks! Unfortunately I did t protect it from the dust and it did start messing with one of the bearings. I was able to clean and lubricate it and it has been fine since.
+2wheel charlie the top tracking wheel by the tensioner is crowned. It started life at a flat wheel from a smaller belt grinder. The grinder was bad. I put a crown in it by spinning it and using a 4” grinder with a flap disc. As far as sourcing one, I know they sell them online. This was just what I had laying around.
Amazing job, especially using scrap for your tools like the treadmill motor, our local scrap lets us take whatever we want for free and it's been a life saver whenever I want to build something. That being said, you should know it's NOT a brushless motor, it's just a standard brushed DC motor. If you wanted a more compact speed controller just use a cheap eBay triac dimmer/motor speed controller and feed it into a full bridge diode, less than ten dollars for a controller that fits in the palm of your hand with a quick and easy turn dial control.
Sorry, I don't feel like reading through all the comments lol, On the speed control is that strictly all treadmill parts or did you have to add anything ? And what size motor did you get/find ? Thanks. Man that does look awesome, nice job..currently looking for all the parts, I just hate anything electrical, that's why I'm curious about the speed control..
+Morgan Barker That wheel was a flat wheel that I had laying around. I put a crown in it. You can find wheels online for not to much. I believe if you could put a crown in a skateboard wheel, that that could also work.
+keiththecarguy1967 the wheel is one that I just had lying around. The judge allows the wheel to be able to tilt. That change of angle will cause the belt to move left or right (if viewing from straight on) that allows you to align the belt up with the platen. Different belts track different, so you need that adjustment or else the belt may fall off or dig into the side of the grinder. Hope that helps
I am building my first 72 in belt grinder. The hole thing is built but I cant get real poser out of the tread mill motor. It spins up to speed but then i apply pressure to the belt and it comes to a stop. I am at a loss to figure out what is going on. Any help would be great.
@@StraightCutGears I have the drive attached. I changed the circuit board and things got better. I admit I know just enough about electronics to probably no lt die. So just for clarification what is a drive wheel
The pulley on the motor. Is the original pulley still on it or did you take it off? I used my original pulley/flywheel and adapted it to work with a belt. They’re usually very heavy and these motors need that. The extra rotating mass helps keep the belt spinning. Also do you know the horsepower rating in the motor?
Pretty good build IMO. As others mentioned the quality is pretty good and I like the use of the square hitch receiver. Thanks for posting I'll check out the insta!
Hey nice job way to be resourceful👍! I have built the same thing and I was wondering if yours will bog down when you grind, mine will and I’m trying to figure out why. I actually had two treadmills of the exact same motor and controller and I’ve tried swapping the motor and it still bogs down so I’m wondering if it’s normal or if there something wrong with the circuitboard and or transformer? Thanks Woody
+Woodrow Smith Mine bogs occasionally, I think it is just how the circuit board works. It try’s to maintain a steady rpm and sometimes overcompensates when you grind to hard. So it will give more power to maintain rpm and then when you let offf, the rpm spikes. When it spikes it adjusts and drops power and if you try to grind when it is dropping power it will bog really bad.
This is amazing. I am going to build 2 if these for a new shop I will soon be a part of. Beats paying $1000 minimum just for 1! Also, I have never seen a copper knife before. Is it solid copper or is it an alloy?
Hey there, I am looking at trying to make a grinder like yours and wanted to know where you got your tracking wheel and what the cost was? You don't address it in the video that I can tell.
+Gundy1024 the wheel I used was one I had lying around. It started out as a flat wheel that I then ground a crown into. If I did it again I would find one that’s a little wider. The belt is the same width as the wheel.
Excellent work! I'm curious to know what your "earned profession" is? If you are a 'metal fabricator', welder or work in a shop, then your skill wouldn't surprise me (you could probably do this with your eyes closed), if on the other hand you make your living in something totally unrelated, I would have to say WOW! Lets see what sort of knives you'll be cranking out. Whatever the case, you are more "highly evolved" than most guys your age. Well done!
+Egon Speneder Thanks! I learned to weld before I was 15. I also worked in a fabrication shop for a number of years but decided to get out of that line of work because it’s so unhealthy. Now I repair and sharpen surgical instruments. I really appreciate the kind words!
Love the design. I find that the metal used, especially in the table is a bit excessive (JMO) and you could have gone a bit lighter on the steel thickness to lighten the overall weight. Not a big deal. I'm not sure why most belt grinder builds are constructed of 2" and 1 1/2" steel and not downsized to even 1 1/2" and 1 1/4"? To me, I would think that it is steel after all, and that reducing the size won't impact the tensile or rigidity of the unit. Nevertheless, still impressive. How have those skateboard wheels held up? I'm curious to know if they can withstand the pressure of the belt friction as compared to alloys such as aluminum? It certainly is a cheaper route to go when you are on a budget. I would have loved to see what guts of the treadmill you pulled out to construct the speed controller? Enough yammering on my part. Well done! Cheers!
Ok love it, only thing I would do differently is don’t come from below the tube for ur rest instead use the square tube as a second receiver and come from their so as u change up ur platum choices for more versatile uses u can inter change and remove the rest. Easy
+Bill RodgersII that’s a good point. I knew that when I made the rest that way it would be a bit clunky, but didn’t want to waste a bunch of time if the whole design didn’t work.
+Bill RodgersII The ones on the platen are from a skateboard and the tensioner one I had. You can find them online. I believe you can get an entire kit. Depending on how much you use it you could probably use a skateboard wheel on the tensioner also if you could get a crown in it. The tensioner pulley can be wider, it’s actually better that way since it gives you more adjustments
I found on eBay a complete wheel kit to include the drive wheel and platen face for 100.00 almost have it built but the treadmill motor I found was from a older machine and speed was controlled by a slip shive and only 1/3 hp. May have to upgrade that to a farm duty 2 hp which is on sale at harbor freight
Dude !! Brilliant. I just thanked the wife for donating her treadmill to the cause. Thanks for posting..
best home made 2x72 on all of you tube, brilliantly inexpensive.
Thank you 🙏
⭕️been watching video after video after video after video after............ 🤪 and finally ... a video that shows the things that's pertinent and simple and doesn't rattle on n on... thanks for this ..5 years later... and you're still teaching... good job brother
⭕️ps... i really like the quick belt release spring idea... haven't seen that before 👍
Glad I could help!
This is the best design I have seen that's simple and easy to build. I always figured skateboard wheels were cheap and easy to replace
Of all the videos that are out there to build a grinder, this is the BEST! Just fact, salvage material, no music or shaky camera, just the facts. Thanks P.S. I subscribed.
Thank you!
Thats pritty damn slick! The treadmill motor was genius! Nice work. Thats better than a man can buy in my opinion
I'm 20 seconds in and I like where this is going
This is a well made DIY belt sander! Very smart design with minimal materials and a fraction of the cost to build one! You got my thumbs up!
+Mamerto .Dimaloko Thanks!
Excellent work. You had me checking online for treadmills, looks like people can’t wait to get those things out of their houses.
Great job!!!
That is epic as hell using the treadmill panel for control.
$100 and a great design. Way to go!
This is amazing man, I m starting to gather materials to build one. What a smart idea
I gotta say, this is one of the best designs I've seen. And simple at that!
+William Barnhart Blacksmith WB Blacksmithing Thanks!
The heart rate monitor would have been funny 😆
This is a great design! Ive been searching forever to see if anyone actually kept the display on a treadmill and used it to control the grinder. Thanks for sharing!
Brilliant. I have two old treadmills I salvaged to make a drum sander; looks like one will become a belt grinder instead!
Very well done. I have seen some other treadmill builds but nothing to this level!
+neilyeag Thank You
Very clever, and I like how cheap it was to build. Going to start looking for unwanted treadmill and get started on one of my own. Thanks for the inspiration and your excellent engineering.
You should do an update video on this grinder to let us know how it has held up and anything you would do differently
Really Nice Job! Smart Ingenuity beats just dropping tons of money!
Very cool. Now I'm inspired to build my own, thank you!
Genius!! 👍
Puhlezzzzzeee..... Tell me you have plans for this grinder..You did a AWESOME JOB Thank s for posting. 👍
Thats great!
Great build process, thanks for sharing that
Impressive and inspiring! Thank you for sharing!
+Michael Gross Thanks!
Awesome! @8:17 its clear that the harbor freight hitch receiver should have additional thumbscrew or maybe a bolt on top as well to take out any play vertically. Great job!
+Tactical Ant I noticed that when I edited the footage. That kind of movement isn’t typical, and I haven’t ever had an issue with it. I think it moved that time because I had been moving the grinder around and tightened the platen while still supporting some of the weight so it wasn’t sitting on the bottom of the tube
Dude, this is brilliant! Thanks for sharing!
What did you use for the tensioner pulley?
Great vid - thank you for posting.
Wondering if you have considered take quick measurements to put out a simple template / plan of the build?
An excellent and innovative design. I just started on one of my own recently. Originally, I was going to do something like you did, using the controls from the treadmill to still control the motor. But I discovered that it's much easier to wire in a 5k potentiometer. This way you can easily bypass the safety features on the treadmill that prevent you from starting at the same speed each time. Love the video, keep up the good work and be safe 👍
Jacob Lattimore ok thanks I’ll have to look into it. I used what I had since it was free
Great video. I'm in the process of figuring out how I want to do my build that will last. I'm curious is it still running or how long did it last for you?
Very nice! You saved yourself about $1500 : )
Excellent job!
+Miika Vanhapiha Thanks!
In the few seconds you showed of you actually grinding on the blade I heard the motor slow down a little due to the friction, does it ever slow down too much or does the motor seem strong enough for what you're doing?
Mate.... that is so clever. Great job. I’m very inspired to build my own now. Thank you 🙏
wow! such a brilliant idea! thank you for sharing
+Xylon Guitars Thank you!
That is not a brushless motor. But is one of the nicer treadmill grinders I have seen. I built one too using skate wheels and they work for a bit but I kept eating the bearings! I went to aluminum 2 in contact wheels for $35 on Amazon. That is the most I spent on it. I use it all the time. I plan on doing another one that tips horizontal but I have not decided if I want to stick with a treadmill motor or go 3 phase and VFD. One think I did do on my grinder that I have never seen with treadmill grinders is I put a jack shaft and used a belt to lower the max RPM. I looked up a standard belt speed and 3600 ft a min is standard for belt speed. Those motors turn close to 8'000 rpm. so I drive just under 4 inches times 3.14 is about 1 foot per turn in belt movement. So 7500-8000 FPM you really cant or do not need to run it wide open. The 1:2 ratio on my jack shaft lets my RPM go high on motor but keeps my belt speed down around 3600FPM and doubles my toque.
But over all nice build. I built mine out of everything laying around except my wheels. You can view it on my channel. Don't laugh at my video or knives.... Too Hard anyway..as I was new to both. Still am videos. Lol But OMG these grinders are handy. I used mine yesterday to sharpen my mower blades.
Awesome grinder bud
where do you get the pulleys/wheels?
Excellent job! Great watching this on a Sunday morning with a coffee. Right after Christmas I'm looking for a used treadmill. Thanks man.
extremely talented!
impressive!
+Patrick McBride thank you!
Amazing
is hinged wheel also from threadmill?
Awesome job Brother !
+Will mac Thank you
Very nice dude
Really like you 2x72 belt grinder build. I need to build one like that myself. I guess I will start looking for a old treadmill and start checking at my local salvage yard for some pieces.
Nice work! I was wondering how you protect the motor for the metallic dust that it generates?
Thanks! Unfortunately I did t protect it from the dust and it did start messing with one of the bearings. I was able to clean and lubricate it and it has been fine since.
good job looks like a great design, thanks for sharing
very nice build. what source for the tracking wheel? are any of the wheels crowned? I really like your colors. many thanks
+2wheel charlie the top tracking wheel by the tensioner is crowned. It started life at a flat wheel from a smaller belt grinder. The grinder was bad. I put a crown in it by spinning it and using a 4” grinder with a flap disc. As far as sourcing one, I know they sell them online. This was just what I had laying around.
One of the nicer DIY builds Ive seen. Some good ideas used here, thanks for posting!
+The Truckers Log Thanks!
Most don't reuse the treadmill controls, why is that? Looks like it worked fine for this one.
Great idea
How do I get plans or more info to build this myself?
Hitch receiver........!!!!!! 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼 Thanks!
Nice job man, nice n simple but functional 😜
Great build man, how has it held up? Any mods?
Awesome Job!! May build one my self..
+Steve Haines Thank you
Amazing job, especially using scrap for your tools like the treadmill motor, our local scrap lets us take whatever we want for free and it's been a life saver whenever I want to build something. That being said, you should know it's NOT a brushless motor, it's just a standard brushed DC motor. If you wanted a more compact speed controller just use a cheap eBay triac dimmer/motor speed controller and feed it into a full bridge diode, less than ten dollars for a controller that fits in the palm of your hand with a quick and easy turn dial control.
I like this!!!!!
I need one
I live in Athens Greece. Can I buy one???
Thank you
Please answer me
Sorry , no I can’t
Sorry, I don't feel like reading through all the comments lol, On the speed control is that strictly all treadmill parts or did you have to add anything ? And what size motor did you get/find ? Thanks. Man that does look awesome, nice job..currently looking for all the parts, I just hate anything electrical, that's why I'm curious about the speed control..
Everything from the motor to the control board is all treadmill
Nice work. Thank you
+Stewart Mackay Thanks
Brilliant!
Came across your channel by accident but really enjoyed this video a 2by 72 is something I would like to build in the future
I was curious about where you got the crowned pulley on the tracking assembly.
+Morgan Barker That wheel was a flat wheel that I had laying around. I put a crown in it. You can find wheels online for not to much. I believe if you could put a crown in a skateboard wheel, that that could also work.
you're a genius
+Eric A haha I don’t know about that, but thanks!
what did you use for the tensioner wheel?
It was a wheel I had from another smaller grinder. It was flat and I had to put a bevel in it
Just saw your video on the belt grinder.... What is the wheel at the tensioner, don't really understand what the hinge is for.... Awesome build!
+keiththecarguy1967 the wheel is one that I just had lying around. The judge allows the wheel to be able to tilt. That change of angle will cause the belt to move left or right (if viewing from straight on) that allows you to align the belt up with the platen. Different belts track different, so you need that adjustment or else the belt may fall off or dig into the side of the grinder. Hope that helps
Using a hitch receiver is brilliant
+Jarod Morris I used to work in a shop that custom built trailer hitches, so it was one of the first things that came to mind
Nice machine !
Ingenious thanks for the tips
+Ray Adelic your welcome, thanks for the comment
I am building my first 72 in belt grinder. The hole thing is built but I cant get real poser out of the tread mill motor. It spins up to speed but then i apply pressure to the belt and it comes to a stop. I am at a loss to figure out what is going on. Any help would be great.
Ken Lewis does the motor have a flywheel on it?
@@StraightCutGears I have the drive attached. I changed the circuit board and things got better. I admit I know just enough about electronics to probably no lt die. So just for clarification what is a drive wheel
The pulley on the motor. Is the original pulley still on it or did you take it off? I used my original pulley/flywheel and adapted it to work with a belt. They’re usually very heavy and these motors need that. The extra rotating mass helps keep the belt spinning. Also do you know the horsepower rating in the motor?
@@StraightCutGears Ok I will keep that in mind I replaced the fly wheel with a low weight drive wheel
That’s probably your issue
Pretty good build IMO. As others mentioned the quality is pretty good and I like the use of the square hitch receiver. Thanks for posting I'll check out the insta!
fantastic build - very impressed!
Hey nice job way to be resourceful👍! I have built the same thing and I was wondering if yours will bog down when you grind, mine will and I’m trying to figure out why. I actually had two treadmills of the exact same motor and controller and I’ve tried swapping the motor and it still bogs down so I’m wondering if it’s normal or if there something wrong with the circuitboard and or transformer? Thanks Woody
+Woodrow Smith
Mine bogs occasionally, I think it is just how the circuit board works. It try’s to maintain a steady rpm and sometimes overcompensates when you grind to hard. So it will give more power to maintain rpm and then when you let offf, the rpm spikes. When it spikes it adjusts and drops power and if you try to grind when it is dropping power it will bog really bad.
Hey bloke great build how about some dimensions I want to build one the same
great job, i see you fell against the grinder twice with that beveled hair do
Great Job.
This is amazing. I am going to build 2 if these for a new shop I will soon be a part of. Beats paying $1000 minimum just for 1! Also, I have never seen a copper knife before. Is it solid copper or is it an alloy?
Yes it is solid copper. It was made as a decorative gift.
@@StraightCutGears I saw that also and its very, very cool.
Well done! What did you use for the tensioner (top) wheel? How have the skateboard wheels & bearings held up over time?
Skateboard wheels seem to be holding up just fine. The top tensioner was a flat wheel that I had lying around. I had to grind a radius into it.
where did you source the tracking wheel? thanks!
nvm i found a comment where you answered this question. thanks for the awesome content! very helpful
Just figured I'd mention that the treadmill is not brushless or a BLDC motor, but is a permanent magnet brushed motor or PMDC motor.
Thanks for the Harbor Freight receiver tip. Now I don't have to remove the weld seam
Nice.... Thank you for sharing
Hey there, I am looking at trying to make a grinder like yours and wanted to know where you got your tracking wheel and what the cost was? You don't address it in the video that I can tell.
+Gundy1024 the wheel I used was one I had lying around. It started out as a flat wheel that I then ground a crown into. If I did it again I would find one that’s a little wider. The belt is the same width as the wheel.
You should get into making and selling these. I’d buy one
can i get the plans by any chance
Excellent work! I'm curious to know what your "earned profession" is? If you are a 'metal fabricator', welder or work in a shop, then your skill wouldn't surprise me (you could probably do this with your eyes closed), if on the other hand you make your living in something totally unrelated, I would have to say WOW! Lets see what sort of knives you'll be cranking out. Whatever the case, you are more "highly evolved" than most guys your age. Well done!
+Egon Speneder Thanks! I learned to weld before I was 15. I also worked in a fabrication shop for a number of years but decided to get out of that line of work because it’s so unhealthy. Now I repair and sharpen surgical instruments. I really appreciate the kind words!
Great build. I think I need to root around my garage and see if I can find some steel to burn together. Thanks for posting.
+Ron Walsh Thank you
Very very 😎
How much would you charge to make one of these?
nice job. just subbed. I like a nice mix of content
+Hodge-Podge Garage Thanks man, I appreciate it!
Love the design. I find that the metal used, especially in the table is a bit excessive (JMO) and you could have gone a bit lighter on the steel thickness to lighten the overall weight. Not a big deal.
I'm not sure why most belt grinder builds are constructed of 2" and 1 1/2" steel and not downsized to even 1 1/2" and 1 1/4"? To me, I would think that it is steel after all, and that reducing the size won't impact the tensile or rigidity of the unit. Nevertheless, still impressive.
How have those skateboard wheels held up? I'm curious to know if they can withstand the pressure of the belt friction as compared to alloys such as aluminum? It certainly is a cheaper route to go when you are on a budget.
I would have loved to see what guts of the treadmill you pulled out to construct the speed controller? Enough yammering on my part. Well done! Cheers!
Ok love it, only thing I would do differently is don’t come from below the tube for ur rest instead use the square tube as a second receiver and come from their so as u change up ur platum choices for more versatile uses u can inter change and remove the rest. Easy
+Bill RodgersII that’s a good point. I knew that when I made the rest that way it would be a bit clunky, but didn’t want to waste a bunch of time if the whole design didn’t work.
great machine
+lawrence ogden Thanks
👏👏👏👏
Question I’m having issues finding wheels 2 inches wide
+Bill RodgersII The ones on the platen are from a skateboard and the tensioner one I had. You can find them online. I believe you can get an entire kit. Depending on how much you use it you could probably use a skateboard wheel on the tensioner also if you could get a crown in it. The tensioner pulley can be wider, it’s actually better that way since it gives you more adjustments
longboard wheels on ebay
I found on eBay a complete wheel kit to include the drive wheel and platen face for 100.00 almost have it built but the treadmill motor I found was from a older machine and speed was controlled by a slip shive and only 1/3 hp. May have to upgrade that to a farm duty 2 hp which is on sale at harbor freight
Very nice build!!! That's awesome. Ok...how much would it cost for you to build me one??? 😂😂😂
+Cory Brown Thank you! I’d love to be able to make multiples of it but I don’t really have the tooling and shop to. Maybe in the future
Oh crap almost thought it was a Lindybeige video at the start lol.
Hi ! Can you make for sale ?