My New 2X72 Belt Grinder

I've been wanting a 2X72 belt grinder for a while now, and after getting a free working treadmill that I had no need for about a year ago, ( I've made it a personal motto of mine to only run when being chased by zombies) I decided to build one. I really liked the idea of Jeremy Schmidt's grinder with the tiltable belt, but wasn't sure I really needed that. Plus I didn't have a lot of 3/8" steel left over and didn't want to buy more. I liked the simple design of DCKnives grinder and had all the steel so I decided to go with that one.

I bought a set of wheels on eBay right away so I would be committed, then got some belts and after taking way too long, I started to build. Sorry for the "No Progress Pics" thing as once I got started, I kind of got into a groove and forgot to take pics.

Normally, when I build a tool, I paint them all the same color. Machinery gray. And this one was going to be the same. I might throw in some black too just to be crazy. I really liked the simple look of this one and planned on it looking pretty much just like this when complete.

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But that tilting belt thing from Jeremy Schmidt's design kept bugging me, so I thought that if I thought I could somehow incorporate that into my grinder, I would at least TRY to do it. It turns out I could, and it works pretty well too!

One thing I didn't like about the DCKnives grinder design was to change the belt, you have push down on the top of the Pillar with your hand, to loosen the belt and remove it. In Dan's design, he attached an 8-Ball to the top to make it more comfortable to push on. I've seen others using a golf ball, a novelty skull, a baseball etc... but I didn't really like that idea that much. I've seen other designs with a lever to pull down and I thought I'd try to incorporate that into the design, so I drew up this lever and mount, (highlighted in yellow) then cut it out on my CNC table.

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The lever worked awsome! I even had a 2" stainless steel ball bearing laying around so I used that as the tip. It LOOKED really good too...
A little TOO good I thought to myself. Too good to be on this boring, simple, gray grinder that I was building......


At this point in the build I found myself using the lever to compress the pillar all the time because it worked so well and looked so nice. During this time I kept thinking the lever and mount reminded me of something......
STEAMPUNK!

It was then that I decided to make the worlds first "Steampunk Belt Grinder." (I couldn't find one on the Google so I'm making that claim right now damnit!) I'm not really into steampunk, but I do appreciate the look, and I've always wanted to make something functional in the steampunk theme. Now I guess I have a piece of functional art!

Again, no progress pics were taken but here are some pics of the finished build. I used a 2.9hp direct drive DC treadmill motor, and used a CNC plasma cutting table to cut most of the parts for it.
Enjoy!

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When tipping it on it's side, I can use the same work rest by sliding it out and turning it a quarter turn.

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I incorporated a working Voltmeter into it too.

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Steampunk has gears right? Good lord I hope so! I used enough of them!

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Added a little personal touch to the back with a nod to who I got the plans from (Dan from DCKnives calls his the BG-272. This is the BG-272SP!)

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It might also be possible to run a threaded rod and use a nut + washer to pull it down

That's a work of art! Too nice to use. :D It looks like a 2x72 belt sander that would have been built in 1919.

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Originally Posted by bobs409

That's a work of art! Too nice to use. :D It looks like a 2x72 belt sander that would have been built in 1919.

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Thanks! That’s exactly the look I was going for!

This is sick looking!

Really nice looking! I agree almost too nice looking to use :-)

Amazing job Steve!

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Originally Posted by bobs409

That's a work of art! Too nice to use. :D It looks like a 2x72 belt sander that would have been built in 1919.

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And made by Jules Verne.

Above all don't forget the steampunk goggles and a breathing mask...just saying.

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Originally Posted by Buster Gonad

Above all don't forget the steampunk goggles and a breathing mask...just saying.

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Oh I won't... This is what I wear when grinding.
Safety first, style second.

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And it wards off the plague as well. Well done.