Honestly you don’t need plans if you’re ok with a bit of trial and error. I just bought square tubing and had some angle iron on hand and went for it. The only real adjustment I had to make was increasing the height of my tracking wheel after running it initially and struggling with tracking. My tracking wheel post has a spring underneath it to provide the upright force. Platen simply slides out and you can replace it with a large or small wheel, both of which are pretty easy to make. My large wheel is just a big caster that I mounted and balanced. It works great. Answer from jlo575 on reddit.com
Reddit
reddit.com › r/knifemaking › those who have built belt grinders: how much did it cost, and what plans did you use?
r/knifemaking on Reddit: Those who have built belt grinders: how much did it cost, and what plans did you use?
January 1, 2024 -
It’s time for me to upgrade from my 1x30. I’m looking at the grizzly 2x42, but I’m also considering building a 2x72. However, every plan I’ve come across is pretty damn costly. I’m scared to spend a lot and end up with a subpar product. If possible I’d like to spend less than $700 on this.
If I’m building one, I’d want a design that is easily modifiable in the future with tilting, vfd, small wheel, hollow grind, and waterfall platen. Maybe some other things but not sure what right now.
If I go the 2x42 route I’d probably save up some more money and get a high end 2x72 another time in the future.
Id love some input, especially from those who built their own grinders. I don’t have a welder but might be able to recruit a friend. I may be able to get some free angle iron and tubing and stuff from my work. I may be able to use a cnc plasma cutter, but not sure.
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Honestly you don’t need plans if you’re ok with a bit of trial and error. I just bought square tubing and had some angle iron on hand and went for it. The only real adjustment I had to make was increasing the height of my tracking wheel after running it initially and struggling with tracking. My tracking wheel post has a spring underneath it to provide the upright force. Platen simply slides out and you can replace it with a large or small wheel, both of which are pretty easy to make. My large wheel is just a big caster that I mounted and balanced. It works great.
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Hi. I built myself a 2x72 grinder based on Jeremy Schmidt's plans. It works well enough for me - it has horizontal tilt, and over time I build a surface grinding attachment (very useful), small wheel attachment, big contact wheel, flat platten of course. I even use the drive wheel as a disc sander occasionally. It works well enough, though it is clear it has been designed by someone who does not make knives. But the plans are easy to follow. It does require a stick welder or a mig welder, but even I could build it and it was basically my first big welding project, so the difficulty should be fairly low. Plasma cutter may help, though angle grinder should be sufficient. All the parts were made from flat steel or bar stock. I think there are other plans around, some made by knifemakers. I would look at those. But Jeremy Schmidt has some videos about how he designed and built his grinder and if they speak to you, maybe this machine is for you. Here is a video for a 2nd iteration of the grinder: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dxCAHU_xpY&t=13s . The plans are about 40 USD on etsy, I'd say that's not too bad. But again, there are other options for sure. I would say the VFD is not strictly an option based on the grinder design, it is a feature you can add to the motor (or not). You might be able to pick a single speed motor and then add the VFD irrespective of the grinder design. I would go with the VFD right off the bat though, as it is very useful. It will also be the most expensive item of the whole build, probably. Do not skimp on the VFD, you want something that can withstand the dust and so on.
Langmuir Systems
forum.langmuirsystems.com › projects
2 x 48 belt grinder - Projects - Langmuir Systems Forum
August 2, 2022 - I’ve been wanting to build a belt grinder, but 2 x 72 grinders are too large for what I need. I saw a Youtube video I Built A Better Belt Grinder…Here’s How - YouTube where a guy designed and built a 2 x 48 and it looke…
General | Need plans for belt grinder | Practical Machinist - Largest Manufacturing Technology Forum on the Web
I would like to build a belt sander (grinder?) with a narrow 1" or 2" wide belt. I will probably combine a disc sander and table, and enable slack or platen sanding. Belt length does not matter as I can have them made up locally. Does anyone know of any plans for something like this? Thanks, Greg More on practicalmachinist.com
2x42 shop made belt sander -- now 2x48!! - The Home Shop Machinist & Machinist's Workshop Magazine's BBS
The sander is taken from a set of plans floating around on several of the forums (unknown originator?). There are 5 pages that will go as an email attachment very easily ... send me a PM with your addy, and I'll send them. From the start we knew that 2x42 belts weren't one of the more popular sizes, and often talked about doing a remake to accept the much more common 2x48... More on bbs.homeshopmachinist.net
DIY 2x48 belt grinder + Free Plans - HomemadeTools.net
Making 2x48 belt grinder from bench grinder. Turn your bench grinder to a belt sander! ✏️ Download FREE PLANS Making belt grinder wheels More on homemadetools.net
2x48 belt grinder designs?
Personally I built the first option as for me it had more of the functionality I wanted. However the second is easier to tension and track, and takes up a smaller footprint
More on reddit.com 3
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March 21, 2023Videos
18:42
2X48 Homemade belt grinder - YouTube
17:57
DIY 48x2” Belt Grinder - It’s a beast! - YouTube
10:49
2X48 Belt Sander DIY - YouTube
20:57
Making 2x48 Belt Grinder from Bench Grinder | Free Plans - YouTube
17:42
Is This the Budget Knife Maker's Solution? Bucktool 2 X 48 Grinder ...
08:04
Leaked Harbor Freight 2x48 Hercules Belt Grinder - YouTube
Thepracticalengineer
thepracticalengineer.com › blog › beltgrinder
My 2x48" Belt Grinder - its a beast! — The Practical Engineer
January 26, 2020 - The small footprint made me decide to go with a 2x48” belt design and the wish for a beefy motor and suitable for various material made me decide to go with a 3 phase motor on a VFD.
Address Haarlem
Mazay DIY
mazaydiy.com › home › homemade 2 x 48 knife making belt grinder
Homemade 2x48 knife making belt grinder — Free Plans and 3D model
Today I will show you how to make knife making belt grinder from bench grinder. Download free PDF plans with dimensions, 3D CAD model
Published December 2, 2023
Etsy
etsy.com › all categories › art & collectibles › drawing & illustration › digital
2x48'' Tilting Belt Grinder Plans PDF and DXF Files Included Inch Plans - Etsy
February 5, 2023 - Fantastic drawings as well as the DXF. I'll be bring these plans to get cut by plasma to save a lot of time and get better results. Highly recommended seller! Purchased item:  2x48'' Tilting Belt Grinder Plans | PDF and DXF Files Included - Inch plans
BladeForums
bladeforums.com › knifemakers discussion forums › shop talk - bladesmith questions and answers
How come no one makes a good 2x48 Grinder? | BladeForums.com
February 15, 2021 - Belt selection seems to be a bit more limited for 2x48, at least at Trugrit. If you do want to build your own, consider modifying the plans by @bjansen available in this thread. He built a very similar 2x48 in this thread. Click to expand... Wow, thanks! ... There is a good reason most knife grinders (and most industrial grinders) are 2X72 or longer - belt life.
The Hobby-Machinist
hobby-machinist.com › forums › the projects area › members projects - post your projects here! › just for fun
2 x 48 Belt Grinder build | The Hobby-Machinist
July 24, 2025 - I started building a 2 x 48 belt grinder a while back, I finished cutting out all of the main parts today. I bought a Huanyang VFD and a 2HP 3 phase motor last week. I still need a few items, but I'm ready to start drilling a tapping holes. I got the DXF files from Tim Welds YouTube and...
Practical Machinist
practicalmachinist.com › forums › manufacturing today › general
General | Need plans for belt grinder | Practical Machinist - Largest Manufacturing Technology Forum on the Web
December 28, 2009 - Do a search for no weld belt sander. A guy in Minnesota sells the plans. He is also knife maker. Years ago copied a 1" Kalamazoo. Does work for light work. Deburring and lawn mower blades. ... To correct my post. Search for No Weld Grinder.
Bladesmith's Forum
bladesmithsforum.com › new work › show and tell
Homemade 2''x48'' Belt Grinder - Bladesmith's Forum
April 25, 2013 - I am currently rebuilding my shop after a couple of years of travelling around for work and what not. FIrst on my list was a new belt grinder. It seems that where i live in ontario, is an expensive venture to get a 2''x72'' grinder shipped. So i decided to build one. It is currently outfitted to ...
The Home Shop Machinist
bbs.homeshopmachinist.net › forum › general
2x42 shop made belt sander -- now 2x48!! - The Home Shop Machinist & Machinist's Workshop Magazine's BBS
May 22, 2008 - The sander is taken from a set of plans floating around on several of the forums (unknown originator?). There are 5 pages that will go as an email attachment very easily ... send me a PM with your addy, and I'll send them. From the start we knew that 2x42 belts weren't one of the more popular sizes, and often talked about doing a remake to accept the much more common 2x48...
WeldingWeb
weldingweb.com › threads › shootr-s-2-x-48-belt-grinder-build.712214
Shootr's 2 x 48 Belt Grinder Build
December 10, 2021 - Community Forum for Welding Professionals and Enthusiasts To Interact and Learn - Free
Pinterest
pinterest.com › explore › diy and crafts
2x48'' Tilting Belt Grinder Plans | PDF and DXF Files Included
This tilting belt grinder, versatile with dual functionality, rollers and contact wheel, is compact in dimensions and can meet the main requirements of operators with the minimum of difficulty in construction and use. The construction of this belt sander requires the machine tools of a machine ...
Scribd
scribd.com › document › 631681292 › 2x48-belt-grinder-plans-pdf
2x48-belt-grinder-plans.pdf
The document provides plans and instructions for building a DIY 2x48 belt grinder. It lists the necessary materials which include various fasteners, sanding belts, bearings, wood boards, and other hardware.
HomemadeTools.net
homemadetools.net › forum › diy-2x48-belt-grinder-free-plans-91112
DIY 2x48 belt grinder + Free Plans - HomemadeTools.net
May 15, 2022 - Making 2x48 belt grinder from bench grinder. Turn your bench grinder to a belt sander! ✏️ Download FREE PLANS Making belt grinder wheels
HouseMade Industrial
housemade.us › products › revolution-diy-2x72-belt-grinder-plans
DIY 2x72 Belt Grinder Plans | Build the Revolution Grinder – HouseMade Industrial
Revolution DIY 2x72 Tilting Belt Grinder Plans
The Gen 5 Revolution 2x72 DIY Tilting Belt Grinder Plan Set *** Current version of these plans is Gen 5*** PLANS INSTANTLY DELIVERED TO YOUR EMAIL AFTER PURCHASE The Revolution 2x72 was designed with the home builder in mind. All the steel, materials and tools needed to fabricate this powerful machine are very easy to come by. The novice fabricator can put this together and have a versatile, feature-rich, tilting 2x72 Belt Grinder that would cost thousands of dollars if it were manufactured. Get the plan set and see how you can Revolutionize your home workshop with one of the most important t
Price $25.00
GrabCAD
grabcad.com › library › diy-2x48-knife-making-belt-grinder-1
DIY 2x48 Knife Making Belt Grinder | 3D CAD Model Library
May 14, 2022 - The GrabCAD Library offers millions of free CAD designs, CAD files, and 3D models. Join the GrabCAD Community today to gain access and download!
Reddit
reddit.com › r/knifemaking › 2x48 belt grinder designs?
r/knifemaking on Reddit: 2x48 belt grinder designs?
March 21, 2023 -
I'm trying to design a belt grinder. I have a single phase 1hp motor. One design is more conventional but everything is welded. I'm not too concerned with that. Space and weight are my limiting factors. The other is more of just vertical with a long planten. I have struts for tension. Sorry for the terrible drawing I'm on my car and had a second so I drew one up and thought I'd get quick input before I started on the project. I can do some better sketches if needed. I also attached pictures similar to what im trying to mimic. Probably use 3/16 or 1/4 plate
YouTube
youtube.com › watch
DIY Belt Grinder 2x48" [PLANS] - YouTube
If you would like to download plans for this project, click the blue "JOIN" button next to the SUBSCRIBE button :)Hi. My name is Darek and in this video I'll...
Published February 7, 2018
Bladesmith's Forum
bladesmithsforum.com › forges, tools, equipment and materials › tools and tool making
2x42/48 belt grinder options - Bladesmith's Forum
July 11, 2024 - Another bit of kit that I need to think about as I get back into smithing is one that I never had in the past: a belt grinder. These are just such incredibly useful tools that I am not willing to try to get along without one again. I know there have been endless discussions on knifemakers' forums...
Model Engine Maker
modelenginemaker.com › index.php
A DIY Budget Belt Grinder
April 7, 2021 - A DIY Budget Belt Grinder