Quote Originally Posted by Toolmaker51 View Post
Changeable diameter rollers...tada! It occurs to me with sufficient belt length adjustment that could be quite broad in variety and only stock 1 belt size. Great justification for such grinders designed with longer belts. Smaller diameters wouldn't be preferred full time as they stress the backing more. But for a few pipe saddles, why not. Any fabricator should see merit in this.
Yes it takes surprisingly little adjustment to change from a 1.5" OD roller to a 4" OD roller. TO make mine easy to change only the nut had to be removed from the idler roller slip 1 off slip the other on. At the motor end the motor was mounted on a 2 rail slide just like the movable vice jaw there was a compression spring on the screw a few turns to loosen or tighten the belt a few more to facilitate a roller diameter change.
The single round ball gear shift looking thing moved the vice in and out and from side to side allowing for even belt wear
and adjustable plate under the belt allowed for flat plane sanding or a fence could be added for sanding things perpendicular to the belt or at angles.
As much as I dislike having to built something twice since my tools never made it back from over there this is 1 that I will be making again.