1x42 and/or 1x30?

[Ken S]

Over the years, I have ownd three belt grinders. All of them happen to use 1x42” belts. I have believed that the larger 1x42 belt size was better suited for more serious work than the smaller 1x30 belt size. Last night I discovered the you tube channel of Cliff Curry (Curry Custom Cutlery). He has done some serious work with several 1x30 belt grinders, including changing bearings; truing wheels, and mofifying a Harbor Freight unit to work with the Viel scissors attachment and a DC variable speed motor. 

I was impressed enough with his videos to begin to think my position on 1x30” belt grinders. I like the smaller size Tormek T4. Is my opinion of 1x30 belt grinders not well founded?

Ken?

[EOU]

Will tell you more about  our perspective on your question in a month Ken. A few months ago we purchased a Harbor Freight belt grinder. We went Harbor Freight because it's cheap, there is a HF store located just down the street, and that is the belt size (1 x 30) that is easy and economical to find diamond belts for. This was all related to our experiments in sharpening ceramic knives. Now, we're headed to Kansas next week for our annual R&D fest and we've decided to take the 1 x 30 grinder as opposed to lugging the Kally there. We've purchased a full complement of 1 x 30 belts and plan on fashioning a knife rest for the HF grinder while we're there. We're so spoiled using Grepper's new knife rest with the Kally that we don't think that we could sharpen, anymore, a knife without one.

Give us a few weeks and we think that we may be able to weigh in on your question with our own experiences.

[grepper]

Compared to a 1x42 a 1x30 may or may not have a smaller footprint on you bench and probably will not be as tall.  Depending on the motor and frame it may weigh less.  Belts are slightly less expensive but not so much so as for it to be a real consideration.  Harbor Freight units are very inexpensive.  

Other than that there are no real advantages with a 1x30 over a 1x42 and indeed some disadvantages.  Shorter belts have less surface area, wear more quickly and there is less belt surface to dissipate heat.  Harbor Freight units run twice as fast as the Kally so heat generation can be a problem.  Of course they could be converted to variable speed but that would negate any cost savings.  There very well may be commercial duty 1x30 units, but most are probably not going to be a heavy duty.

Given a choice I’d take a 1x42

[Mark Reich]

+1

You'll only wonder what you've been missing until you try a 1x30. Then it will be obvious.

[Ken S]

Excellent comments, all. (I would expect nothing less from you.)

Ken