Viel Conversion, Final Version

[EOU]

Interesting post Ken and like you we've been having trouble finding Zenith television sets and Motorola stereos at Best Buy. When you first mentioned table saws we thought we had you with our 1949 Sears model that still sees frequent use here. Believe it or not it has cast iron table extensions and a cast iron base as well. The saw surface is still flat and level as a pancake. Your 1931 Delta takes the prize though.

[Ken S]

Sears contracted building its tools. Among other companies, the list included real quality builders like Walker Turner. (Surprisingly, many store brands of chisels were made by Buck.) I would not be too humble about a 1949 Sears table saw. 

In our age when companies frequently change names and store brands replace known brand names, I still prefer known reputation. Whenever I am on the edge testing equipment aisle at the hardware store, I go straight for the Edge on Up section, ignoring the rest!

Ken

[Ken S]

Now that my conversion work is done (hopefully), I am finding my two belt grinders two of the most used tools in my shop. Even though I sctually do most of my sharpening with the Tormek, my belt grinders are my go tools for so many tasks. Setting up my octagenarian wood lathe, the Kally made quick work of shining up the lathe's tool post using a fine grit Scotch Brite belt. With a regular belt, the Viel quickly ground the tip off of a turning skew I was reshaping. I would miss them.

Ken

[EOU]

No doubt about it Ken, A Kally is the "Swiss army knife" of tools.

[Ken C]

Several years ago I purchased an electric heat gun. I thought I would try heating the collar. Like magic, it loosened. 

The collar has two threaded holes in the end which stuck. I suspect a ream in the shaft hole will make quick work of the problem and I will be able to use both scissors holders. It has been a good day.

Hello,

I found this site thanks to Sharpeners Report and the "Viel Conversion".  I will convert my Viel S5 to variable speed according to the instructions posted here.  THANK YOU everyone that worked on these instructions!

Now, I'm seeing another (major to me) success in that you converted your Viel scissors jig to use a Wolff scissors clamp holder.  I've thought several times that this would be a GREAT step up from the Viel clamp but how to do the conversion is beyond me.

Would you please advise the particulars of how you accomplished this?  And, which Wolff clamp did you use.

THANK YOU in advance for sharing your thoughts.
Ken C

[EOU]

Good to have you aboard Ken C. and thank you for posting. Yes, Ken S. has done a wonderful job with this Viel modification thread. Thank you for acknowledging his work and best wishes with your project!

[Ken S]

Ken C,

Welcome to the BESS exchange.

I use the Standard Ergo clamp from Wolff. Here is a link:

https://www.wolffindustries.com/products...clamp.html

Before you write off the Viel clamp, you should know that there are two versions. I have heard that the older, original Viel scissors clamp had difficulties. I believe the gentleman who recommended the Wolff clamp to me had the older Viel clamp. The recommendation was made in good faith. However, the redesigned Viel clamp works very well.

I really like the Ergo soft grip clamp on the Wolff clamp. At 68, I don't quite need it yet, however, it is very comfortable to use and I am not getting any younger. Wolff also makes clamps in three widths. The standard width does everything I need, although my inner overplanner likes the idea of different widths.

I would suggest starting with the Viel clamp which is included with the scissors jig. It is the newer design and requires no custom machined adaptor. The adaptor, which cost me the reasonable price of twenty dollars US, is a short piece of round stock with a 3/8” hole at one end to fit the Viel (with a locking screw) and a 1/4” hole at the other end to fit the Wolff clamp shaft. It is an easy project for a local machinist. If you decide to go the Wolff route, it is easily made up later.

Keep in mind when reading my thoughts that my only large volume scissors sharpening project will be sharpening the art room scissors at my grandchildren's school (as a volunteer). As Steve mentioned, my "business name" is "grandpa". A professional sharpener might think differently.

I was unaware of variable speed motors for my Viel when I started. In fact, I planned to use one of three extra motors I already had, only to find that they were too large. I started out with a 1/4 hp motor from Viel. It served its intended purpose well. Variable speed just increases the scope. So does the reversing switch, although not as much as variable speed.

In your case, the mounting plate from Steve (designed by the bessex guys) makes the conversion light years easier. I would suggest switching to the smaller drive pulley while you are converting. The mounting plate is designed for the smaller pulley. I should mention that the conversion can be made with the existing larger drive pulley. My first conversion (“ Gen II”) was done this way. I used the bracket lever handle which came with the Penn State motor. It was a big step forward, however, i think the Gen III conversion is the preferred way to go.

Best of luck with your conversion. Keep us posted and don't hesitate to ask questions and share your experiences.

Ken S (the other Ken)

ps A local machine shop reamed out my adaptor. I tried using a round file. The machinist had a ream, which converted a force fit to a sliding fit. I can now use either clamp.

[Ken C]

Ken C,

Welcome to the BESS exchange.

I use the Standard Ergo clamp from Wolff. Here is a link:

https://www.wolffindustries.com/products...clamp.html

Before you write off the Viel clamp, you should know that there are two versions. I have heard that the older, original Viel scissors clamp had difficulties. I believe the gentleman who recommended the Wolff clamp to me had the older Viel clamp. The recommendation was made in good faith. However, the redesigned Viel clamp works very well.

Thank you very much, Ken S, for your informative post.

I do have the Viel second gen clamp but I have not found an easy way to adjust and set the angle.  I have GREAT difficulty with the plastic hand-wheel adjusting clamping pressure--i.e., many times as I tighten the hand-wheel the clamp slips and I loose the angle I want.  I've tried brass washers in lieu of the steel washer that Viel provided.  I've tried nylon washers as well.  The clamp holding a scissor blade is no problem--easy to adjust and set.  It's the angle adjusting clamp that is so difficult.

I've previously thought that a Wolff (or another similar) clamp might be a solution and was just delighted to find this group and learn that you had done this.  I'll purchase a Wolff clamp and find a local machinist to marry the parts.

I'm a retired local "sharpener" in the area where I live (Texas Hill Country).  Primarily I sharpen kitchen cutlery with a RealSharp Machine fabricated by Don Collins, Forsyth, MO.  Link below.  I converted it from using 30" belts to 42" belts which I also use on my Viel to sharpen scissors (no convex salon scissors) and some hand held garden tools.  I exclusively use 1" X 42" 3M Trizact belts on both machines.  Cost is a bit more per each but they last and last and last.

Converting my Viel to variable speed will be a blessings for those scissor tips as a much slower speed will be an asset to keep from burning tips.  I learned the hard way a few years ago to develop a "touch" to keep this from happening at the speed the Viel operates.  I'll be ordering some "mylar film" belts in the near future and I may have a go at some of those convex salon shears that I've shied away from in the past.  Those "flat-hone" convex scissor sharpening machines are expensive and I'm not interested in going from salon to salon chasing convex scissors.  I have a drop-off, pick-up and return location for the cutlery, etc., that I service which has worked well for me now for recent years.

THANK YOU again for your information retarding the Wolff clamp and your experience with it.

Sincerely,
Ken C

http://realsharpllc.com/

[Ken C]

Hello,

I wonder if anyone that completed a Viel variable speed motor conversion is familiar with this electric motor? FESM550N 3/4HP Variable Speed Servo Motor, Quiet Clutchless, Brushless. Go to: https://www.allbrands.com/products/11456...vo-motor-q

I know of one knife sharpener manufacturer that uses this motor: AMK-75 1x30 Knife Sharpener
Go to: http://amktactical.com/epages/3c926a50-9...roducts/24

Interesting to use a commercial/industrial sewing machine motor on a 1 X 30" belt knife sharpener.

Thanks,
Ken C

[Bubby]

An electric sewing machine motor is an interesting idea. I used a sewing machine motor and speed controller to build a fishing line spooler once. The variable speed is controlled with a foot pedal and works great for the spooler but might have to be modified for a belt grinder. Of course the variable speed controller is built in and comes with the motor. The question is simply whether or not a motor can be found that has enough uumph to sharpen a knife. Maybe the one linked in your post Ken does. A Harbor Freight 1 x 30 is a 1/3 HP and barely gets the job done so maybe 3/4 HP will do a pretty good job.