Viel belt grinder thoughts

[Ken S]

I purchased my Viel belt grinder after watching Steve Bottorff use one in his Sharpening School DVD. It's a well designed solid and simple machine. I like it. As a side effect of this forum, I can see me liking it even more with some modifications. Maxtheknife's scissors video gave me some ideas. Using a custom machined adaptor to use the Wolff Twice as Sharp holder with the Viel scissors platform seems very clever. 

I called James Hammons of Ace Sharpening in Kansas City to order an adaptor like he made for Max. It is presently in process.

I ordered the Wolff holder through Steve (sharpeningmadeeasy.com). I ordered the standard width holder with the ergo locking screw. Max likes the wider holder. I may end up with a wider holder, however, At present I am the volunteer sharpener for my grandchildren's school and will be sharpening a boatload of kindergarten scissors.

Max has modified his Viel to be variable speed. That seems like the cat's meow. I hope to do the same. I am primarily a Tormeker, and am accistumed to working slow speed and cool.

One of the features Steve likes about the Viel is being able to use it on its back. Inspired by our own Grepper, I watched several youtubes showcasing the Kalamazoo belt grinder. The Sorby has the same feature. Last night I watched several Ken Schwartz videos. Ken did a great job of explaining how to keep the point bevels consistent with the rest of the bevels. On the Tormek, we generally do this by lifting the knife. If the knife could be kept horizontal (level), the point could be formed by just pivoting the blade. Ken did this by using a digital level cube and tilting his belt assembly.

As I really do not want a second belt grinder, I looked at my Viel, trying to determine how to tilt it. The answer seemed obvious, just rest the unit tipped over on the table in a flat position. I may need to clamp on a supporting piece to keep it from shifting, once I set the angle. That should be easily done.

By using the back side of the belt, the edge trailing direction, leather and felt belts should work. Rigging up a flat platform for the back should not be difficult.

Now....if I can just repower this for variable speed, it should be a Super Viel.

Thanks to all who inspired this.

Ken

[Rupert Lucius]

Minutes ago I was talking with Don Bailey who is a member of this Exchange, and asked Don to please come alive.

Don, has a modified variable speed Viel. He was at a quilting Festival in NW Arkansas doing sewing scissors on his variable speed Viel as we were talking.

He has done several other variable speed machines.

Mr. Pete in San Ramon, CA has done plywood enclosures that enable the SM 1 to lay over. My thoughts are that Max has one or more of Mr. Pete's enclosures?

Rupert

[pjwoolw]

Ken you might be able to find a piece / sheet of hard neoprene padding 1/4 or 3/8 inch thick at a local hardware store. That is what I use to lay on whatever surface I'm working on and that keeps the Viel belt sander reasonably stable in either the horizontal or vertical orientation.

[Ken S]

Thanks for your suggestion, Pete. 

I have a Tormek rubber mat which should do nicely. It is about a quarter inch thick. I will use it with the Viel.

Rupert,

I need help switching from the fixed speed 1/4hp AC motor to a variable speed motor and control. Before I purchased the Viel I had a $25 yard sale Dayton. The 1/3hp motor had been rewired with lamp cord. The pulleys and belt needed to be replaced. The disk sander had disappeared. I substituted a larger driven pulley to slow it down. After the fixes, it worked well.

Thanks for sounding the alarm for me.

Ken

[Rupert Lucius]

No problem - it is very affordable and doable.

Let us start with this motor assy. https://www.pennstateind.com/store/TCLVSKIT.html

We have a choice - turn the armature shaft from 15.06 mm to 1/2" or ream the Viel 6" pulley to a slip fit for the Penn motor.

There are two Viel lower frames (both being 1x42) only difference is the size of opening where the motor shaft enters the Viel lower frame.

The older version only required drilling three holes and mounting the Penn Motor.

The newer design opening may require drilling two holes and using a lever that Penn includes in their kit. Or bolting in a metal plate.

I, am sending you a PM with the Email address and telephone number of a friend who has both Viel frame types and several Penn motors in use.

Do not get confused - all is doable.

Yes! I am old and typing on these keys are hell on my finger joints and etc.

Please go to your PM.

Thanks

As always

Rupert

[MaxtheKnife]

like rupert said, the newer model veil's have a larger frame hole............i have some pics................my machine guy welded two nuts to veil frame and then used the mounting arm to connect to frame.........he bend the arm 90* out of the way and that was it.

he did machine out the Veil pulley to match oversized penn state motor.

now on my rally, i had the actually motor shaft resized to 1/2"..............either way is ok.

now the wooden enclosed that peter makes is a fine ticket..........make the kally vertical or horizontal..............i also have bicycle grip mounted on top of all mine.............used for carrying from truck to market/show....................I FOUND OUT THAT IF I.........loosen the set screw and move grip to front................it acts as a leg and i can flip kally horizontally that was as well.
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[Ken S]

I appreciate all the advice. I think my Viel, which I already like as is, will be a steller sharpening machine when it has variable speed.

With my Tormek, I usually prefer to sharpen with the edge trailing. Is it possible to rewire the motor switch to bidirectional? I guess a more important question would be is this practical or just another bit of technological clutter?

Rupert, have you looked into programs which allow you to speak to create emails instead of typing? I have never used one, but have seen friends use them and was impressed.

This project is getting exciting!

Ken

[Rupert Lucius]

Consult with Don about adding a switch to the Penn control box that enables the motor to rotate CCW or CW.

There are three potentrometer inside the control box that may be adjusted to manager the RPM range and etc (again Don).

Will ask my son about a set up enabling me to speak - and avoid the typing. Thanks.

Rupert