Thanks for that detailed reply, grepper. In retrospect, it wasn't the smartest question - I take my Japanese kitchen knives to 2000 or 5000; somehow it didn't click in my mind that powered sharpening would be no different and require some intermediate grits. Good advice on thrift store knives to practice on, and I'll probably order a spread of belts that I think I'll use and see which I like.
In case anyone is interested, I shimmed my Viel tonight. Previously, the drive wheel was further from the frame at the top than the bottom, causing the belt to track away from the grinder (I couldn't adjust it much with the top screws). I used a feeler gauge to measure about .020" difference, then used 3/8" ID arbor shims about the same thickness under the front motor bolts. That got the drive wheel parallel to the frame, but now the belt tracked a little too close to lthe frame. A top screw adjustment got it nearly perfect:
![[Image: IDzQTy6iVsKNIueGSywqTDMtZDfvEV2n2YkMZkT6...p4T6=w2400]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/IDzQTy6iVsKNIueGSywqTDMtZDfvEV2n2YkMZkT6fVWob7-jWoyVMuHi4jVDU-_YFVSIe9YBV7T9tPU-fKNkdsAWo6UiY1agCxdvwBOKvQy7cHfMF0BRrAW1g1rdk18G75I8p4T6=w2400)
![[Image: bsQOrT_3P8ODXVu5UrBzHbMKBijbpL198VyY2goD...EwyZ=w2400]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/bsQOrT_3P8ODXVu5UrBzHbMKBijbpL198VyY2goDlcRmybh3NQIPMdq5B744kC4NOdV3AdnBtNVo1iTTGS_cvi_QL7H4uNqGZZ5Vehz5vVn0VvZVCY52IacXHk6aGriwuIgrEwyZ=w2400)
The belt is slightly off vertical; I should move the motor forward about 1/8", but it's good enough for me
. Viel really makes a solid machine, a pretty unbeatable value at under $80 for something made in Canada. I wish they made a jumbo version with a 56 frame motor and 2x48 belt!
In case anyone is interested, I shimmed my Viel tonight. Previously, the drive wheel was further from the frame at the top than the bottom, causing the belt to track away from the grinder (I couldn't adjust it much with the top screws). I used a feeler gauge to measure about .020" difference, then used 3/8" ID arbor shims about the same thickness under the front motor bolts. That got the drive wheel parallel to the frame, but now the belt tracked a little too close to lthe frame. A top screw adjustment got it nearly perfect:
The belt is slightly off vertical; I should move the motor forward about 1/8", but it's good enough for me
. Viel really makes a solid machine, a pretty unbeatable value at under $80 for something made in Canada. I wish they made a jumbo version with a 56 frame motor and 2x48 belt!