Figment Original taking shape!
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- MontuckyMadman
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- FigmentOriginal
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- threeninethree
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- FigmentOriginal
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- Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2011 1:13 pm
- FigmentOriginal
- Posts: 140
- Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2011 1:13 pm
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- Joined: Tue Mar 07, 2006 8:25 pm
- Location: Kenmore, Wa USA
Is it a belt or stone grinder? Regardless, awesome find!
If you need belts, I get belts for my grinder from Econoway Abrasives. They'll make any size and its not super expensive.
http://www.econaway.com/
If you need belts, I get belts for my grinder from Econoway Abrasives. They'll make any size and its not super expensive.
http://www.econaway.com/
Funny, I just got am email from them today,twizzstyle wrote:Is it a belt or stone grinder? Regardless, awesome find!
If you need belts, I get belts for my grinder from Econoway Abrasives. They'll make any size and its not super expensive.
http://www.econaway.com/
free shipping until the end of march on orders over $100
discount code "FEB2013"
sam
You don't even have a legit signature, nothing to reveal who you are and what you do...
Best of luck to you. (uneva)
Best of luck to you. (uneva)
- FigmentOriginal
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Thanks for the info guys! Thanks for posting that promo code Sammer. It will come in use. Belts for the machine are 1935mm x 350mm.
Got into cleaning the machine up today. Its been sitting for around 5 years and it wasn't cleaned before they put in into storage. Its amazing what some Simple Green and a little elbow grease can do. Test it out tomorrow maybe.
![Image](http://www.chrischabot.net/pundirty.jpg)
![Image](http://www.chrischabot.net/punclean.jpg)
Got into cleaning the machine up today. Its been sitting for around 5 years and it wasn't cleaned before they put in into storage. Its amazing what some Simple Green and a little elbow grease can do. Test it out tomorrow maybe.
![Image](http://www.chrischabot.net/pundirty.jpg)
![Image](http://www.chrischabot.net/punclean.jpg)
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- FigmentOriginal
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- Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2011 1:13 pm
Got the grinder hooked up to power today. Everything looks great! I do have a few questions for you guys that have/use belt grinders. I ran these questions by a buddy of mine that used to manage a ski tune shop, but he has been out of the business for 20 years so he wasn't positive.
Question 1: What grit belt and what material is best to use?
I was told to not go coarser than 120, or else the grinder will start to take more material from the center of the board resulting in a concave base. I was also thinking about ordering the belt in aluminum oxide. Silicone carbide, zirconia alumina, or ceramic are also available from the Econaway link mentioned above. Which works best for this application?
Question 2: What fluid is used to wet the belt on the machine?
I had thought just water, but my friend had said something about adding a rust inhibitor to the water. Any suggestions as what product to add to the water?
Questions 3: Any finishing tips?
My friend said they would use metal scraping cards and scrape against the grain to get rid of the 'hairs' or 'fuzz' that can be left over from the grinding process.
Test video of the machine under power.
Question 1: What grit belt and what material is best to use?
I was told to not go coarser than 120, or else the grinder will start to take more material from the center of the board resulting in a concave base. I was also thinking about ordering the belt in aluminum oxide. Silicone carbide, zirconia alumina, or ceramic are also available from the Econaway link mentioned above. Which works best for this application?
Question 2: What fluid is used to wet the belt on the machine?
I had thought just water, but my friend had said something about adding a rust inhibitor to the water. Any suggestions as what product to add to the water?
Questions 3: Any finishing tips?
My friend said they would use metal scraping cards and scrape against the grain to get rid of the 'hairs' or 'fuzz' that can be left over from the grinding process.
Test video of the machine under power.
Last edited by FigmentOriginal on Wed Feb 27, 2013 7:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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- Joined: Tue Mar 07, 2006 8:25 pm
- Location: Kenmore, Wa USA
I have zero formal training in ski tech, so take my advice with some warning...
I really like the ceramic belts from Econaway. I think the finest grit is 120 in ceramic. It gives almost a stone-ground finish. For just taking off material I use a 60 grit, I've tried both the silicone carbide and aluminum zirconia, both seemed to do ok. That's a pretty course grit though.
I got my coolant from Sun Valley Ski Tools. It's a non-toxic biodegradable coolant designed for this. Don't use water, you'll turn that gorgeous machine to rust, and make a lot of us angry
The coolant I got is very concentrated, I got a gallon and that will probably last me a lifetime. It's something like a 30:1 mix with water (can't remember of the top of my head).
I have a giant belt cleaner I got on McMaster, the thing is gold. It's like a soft gummy rubber eraser, and it makes the belts look brand new with just a little but of rubbing while the grinder is turned on.
http://www.mcmaster.com/#4836A33
I really like the ceramic belts from Econaway. I think the finest grit is 120 in ceramic. It gives almost a stone-ground finish. For just taking off material I use a 60 grit, I've tried both the silicone carbide and aluminum zirconia, both seemed to do ok. That's a pretty course grit though.
I got my coolant from Sun Valley Ski Tools. It's a non-toxic biodegradable coolant designed for this. Don't use water, you'll turn that gorgeous machine to rust, and make a lot of us angry
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
I have a giant belt cleaner I got on McMaster, the thing is gold. It's like a soft gummy rubber eraser, and it makes the belts look brand new with just a little but of rubbing while the grinder is turned on.
http://www.mcmaster.com/#4836A33
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- Joined: Tue Mar 07, 2006 8:25 pm
- Location: Kenmore, Wa USA
Also - don't take the hazards of this machine for granted. A grinder can grab your shirt and pull you down in a flash. Always keep a strong grip on the ski, if you let go a little bit, you'll be sending a 60mph ski across your shop.
I gave my buddy a little brief on my grinder, and the danger - he smiled and said "yeah yeah, I got this". I turned my back and within 5 minutes had a ski launch across my shop into the wall, and my buddies finger was bleeding everywhere.
I gave my buddy a little brief on my grinder, and the danger - he smiled and said "yeah yeah, I got this". I turned my back and within 5 minutes had a ski launch across my shop into the wall, and my buddies finger was bleeding everywhere.
Ya it happens pretty fast and the ski edge cuts really good, ask me how I knowtwizzstyle wrote:Also - don't take the hazards of this machine for granted. A grinder can grab your shirt and pull you down in a flash. Always keep a strong grip on the ski, if you let go a little bit, you'll be sending a 60mph ski across your shop.
I gave my buddy a little brief on my grinder, and the danger - he smiled and said "yeah yeah, I got this". I turned my back and within 5 minutes had a ski launch across my shop into the wall, and my buddies finger was bleeding everywhere.
![Wink ;)](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
I went into my local friendly ski shop and asked if they could spare some, they filled an old pop bottle for free. It lasted thru a few water changes.
Might have to buy some next year, we'll see.
They are just happy they don't have to grind them any more, so might fill up a bottle again.
I use an 80 grit zirconia belt for rough work then switch it up to 120 zirc or ceramic.
Make sure you "break" the belt well with a piece of wood or something before you put you ski to it.
sam
You don't even have a legit signature, nothing to reveal who you are and what you do...
Best of luck to you. (uneva)
Best of luck to you. (uneva)