I have the opportunity to buy a Fontaine sander (model 1404) with a few extra belts for 1K. The machine is in good condition.
Also, the guy selling the sander has a Fontaine Stone grinder (model SS-11) with a 130mm wheel that he will throw in for another 600.
Both machines are in good condition. The stone grinder doesn't do me much good as most of my skis are wider than 130mm.
I have looked online, but can't find a lot of good info on these machines and their reputation, used prices, or availability of parts if need be, etc. SVST looks like they have parts, but I cannot see prices without an account.
Anyone familiar with these machines? Good price? Cost to upgrade to a wider wheel on the grinder?
Thanks in advance.
Fontaine Sander and Stone (need input)
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Sherpa Burns
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MontuckyMadman
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I have a fontaine with an autofeed and a 6" x 80" belt.
I highly recommend an autofeed.
I have found the ceramic belts to do the best job after a heavy detune.
Silicon carbide is recommended by econoway and the other custom abrasive companies but ski shops use the ceramic.
Yes svst will have all the replacement parts you need for these machines.
As I understand fontaine and grindright were both purchased by winsterstigler around 1999 and they kept the grindright name and just swallowed fontaine. USA made machine.
I paid 500 for mine and then I had to haul it, and traded some other stuff so around 900 when all said and done.
It was in pretty good condition, new water pump and main motor.
It is an older machine circa 1994.
Works very well after you figure out what belts to use and stuff.
Thats sounds like a pretty fair price depending on condition.
Ask your self if you have ever had your skis stone ground. You can get a good pattern in the base when using a belt and a smooth finish it just takes a bit longer.
The epoxy left on our bases after pressing gumms up and dulls the belt pretty quick so I keep just a few for only removing the epoxy and then I swithch. I would say initial belt investment would be in the $150 range for some 80's and 100's 120's and a couple 150's
Unless you are racing a stone isnt needed IMO.
detune your belts with a stone and put a magnet in a prefiltur in panty hose to catch metal from the edges before it can get to the water pump.
I use a tapmatic non toxic bio degradable cutting lube in the water mixture. its tough to be over lubed but if not enough the bases will be furry and the belts will cut the base quicker than the edge and give you a concave base if you grind for to long on an aggressive belt.
This can happen any way so just be sure when you see a bunch of spark initially grinding that you are grinding edge and after that they will diminish and then you are just grinding base which is no good.
Mind you I have only been using mine for about a year and have ground a dozen pairs from the press, on it and this is what I have learned. I had some shop time on a big machine and so pro tips so I kinda sorta know what I am talking about.
I highly recommend an autofeed.
I have found the ceramic belts to do the best job after a heavy detune.
Silicon carbide is recommended by econoway and the other custom abrasive companies but ski shops use the ceramic.
Yes svst will have all the replacement parts you need for these machines.
As I understand fontaine and grindright were both purchased by winsterstigler around 1999 and they kept the grindright name and just swallowed fontaine. USA made machine.
I paid 500 for mine and then I had to haul it, and traded some other stuff so around 900 when all said and done.
It was in pretty good condition, new water pump and main motor.
It is an older machine circa 1994.
Works very well after you figure out what belts to use and stuff.
Thats sounds like a pretty fair price depending on condition.
Ask your self if you have ever had your skis stone ground. You can get a good pattern in the base when using a belt and a smooth finish it just takes a bit longer.
The epoxy left on our bases after pressing gumms up and dulls the belt pretty quick so I keep just a few for only removing the epoxy and then I swithch. I would say initial belt investment would be in the $150 range for some 80's and 100's 120's and a couple 150's
Unless you are racing a stone isnt needed IMO.
detune your belts with a stone and put a magnet in a prefiltur in panty hose to catch metal from the edges before it can get to the water pump.
I use a tapmatic non toxic bio degradable cutting lube in the water mixture. its tough to be over lubed but if not enough the bases will be furry and the belts will cut the base quicker than the edge and give you a concave base if you grind for to long on an aggressive belt.
This can happen any way so just be sure when you see a bunch of spark initially grinding that you are grinding edge and after that they will diminish and then you are just grinding base which is no good.
Mind you I have only been using mine for about a year and have ground a dozen pairs from the press, on it and this is what I have learned. I had some shop time on a big machine and so pro tips so I kinda sorta know what I am talking about.
sammer wrote: I'm still a tang on top guy.
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twizzstyle
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- Location: Kenmore, Wa USA
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Sherpa Burns
- Posts: 73
- Joined: Mon Feb 07, 2011 8:39 pm
Thanks. The stone grinder has an autofeed but not the sander. The sander uses 14" X 80" belts so I can do boards as well. I dont board, but what the hell.
I talked to SVST and to get just the 150mm stone, it is a $1010. In addition, I need to retrofit the machine so having some aluminum cut and bent to fit the stone. My time plus materials, I would be at 1600 minimum for the stone grinder so I think I'm gonna pass on the stone grinder (which sucks because there is not even a scratch on the machine).
The sander will be mine!!!! I have a hand tuner that fits a ruby stone and straight/true bar. I will keep using this in the meantime to provide the structure that I would otherwise get from the stone grinder.
If anybody wants the stone grinder, let me know. I'm in North Idaho so you would need a way to transport, but I'll gladly pass the deal on.
I talked to SVST and to get just the 150mm stone, it is a $1010. In addition, I need to retrofit the machine so having some aluminum cut and bent to fit the stone. My time plus materials, I would be at 1600 minimum for the stone grinder so I think I'm gonna pass on the stone grinder (which sucks because there is not even a scratch on the machine).
The sander will be mine!!!! I have a hand tuner that fits a ruby stone and straight/true bar. I will keep using this in the meantime to provide the structure that I would otherwise get from the stone grinder.
If anybody wants the stone grinder, let me know. I'm in North Idaho so you would need a way to transport, but I'll gladly pass the deal on.