Power File

[Onoff]

I appreciate it'll be a 'project', but for all the difference in costs between bought v. grinder + parts it hardly seems worthwhile?

I shall ignore that and...

 

[fizzy]

I got a b&d on recommendation from here. I used it way more than it's £40 price tag would imply it would last for.

Eventually the bearing went in the end, but, being a "brand" I just went on eBay and got a branded drop in replacement and was on my way again.

If it broke in a way that could not be repaired I would certainly buy the same again without considering other options.

With those blue zirconium belts, it flattens weld out, I think, quicker than a flap disc on my Hitachi grinder.

Same here.
And yes quicker and safer (I think) than a grinder - a lot less scary to use anyway

 

[Onoff]

4 60N cabinet gas struts ordered:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Automatic-Cupboard-Hydraulic-Pneumatic-Mechanism/dp/B07SRHQQ44/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?

 

[Onoff]

Will it matter that the "prong" at the front, is 15mm wide but the sanding belt 13mm?

 

[stuvy]

I have a black a decker and the same belts as mentioned by @hooblah

 

[Onoff]

How do the belts stay on the rollers?

On the DIY ones I've seen the rear roller is crowned.

 

[James1979]

On mine the rear (driven) roller is a wide v for want of a better description. The small roller in the nose is crowned and you can adjust the tracking with a small set screw

 

[BarrieJ]

Another vote for B & D, had mine, must be the best part of 30 years, for twenty of those years it was in use several times a week and often for extended periods.
Bought another, the first one still works although it's had a couple of blades.

 

[tom2207]

Another vote for B & D, had mine, must be the best part of 30 years, for twenty of those years it was in use several times a week and often for extended periods.
Bought another, the first one still works although it's had a couple of blades.

same here ,,, mines about thirty years old a blue grey color , still works very very well and really handy.
I was using it this afternoon to trim down a plastic window sill , with a fresh belt and some care you can do some artsy things with them ,, I laughed at my mate thirty years ago when he bought his , they were the new fangled doo hicky then ,, soon stopped laughing when I borrowed it ,, they are a great bit of kit ,,,
Now I must try an oscillating multitool ,,, they look mighty good too.

 

[Onoff]

Plenty of 25mm box here and a fair few lengths of 15mm. 18V Fakita:

15mm slides inside the 25mm. Slack will be taken up by a 3D printed slide/block. One of those furniture gas springs inside

Will probably cut the guard out and fix the 25 box to it. So the guard curves forward.

Need an M14 stud connector now. I've got M14 taps so might look at tapping a bit of round bar...

 

[eddie49]

Ready-made round bar M14:

Threaded Studding Connector Nuts M3 to M14 A2 Stainless Allthread Tube Sleeve | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Threaded Studding Connector Nuts M3 to M14 A2 Stainless Allthread Tube Sleeve at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[eddie49]

Here's one somebody made earlier:

 

[Onoff]

Here's one somebody made earlier:

Thanks. Had already seen that one hence my going for gas struts.

 

[Onoff]

Found a random offcut of stainless with a pre-drilled centre hole. Handy as no lathe access at the mo. 30mm dia, 20mm long. Drilled through at 12mm and tapped M14x2:

Fits alright:

Where the guard clamps around is nom 42mm dia. A bit of split scaffold tube goes on, needs fettling as a tad tight. Maybe I'll run a 42mm hole saw through it before slitting:

 

[Monkey Harris]

Another vote for B & D, had mine, must be the best part of 30 years, for twenty of those years it was in use several times a week and often for extended periods.
Bought another, the first one still works although it's had a couple of blades.

mines been great..

just need to oil the front roller bearing now and then..

 

[Onoff]

Somebody measure me their front roller on a B&D one when convenient please. The roller on the end of the arm, part 107.

Also is it rubber tyred?

Cheers

 

[JohnH]

Rubbered 16mm OD

 

[Onoff]

4 of these turned up. Looks like a 6mm thread on each end:

 

[Turbo]

Will it matter that the "prong" at the front, is 15mm wide but the sanding belt 13mm?

Yes, you won't be able to sand fully into a corner! The way around that would be to buy full size belt sander belts & cut your own small belts from it slightly wider than 15mm.

I would also suggest you make your nose bearing from a std small roller or needle bearing and no rubber. Thats the way the ferrex one is & it works great

 

[Onoff]

Yes, you won't be able to sand fully into a corner! The way around that would be to buy full size belt sander belts & cut your own small belts from it slightly wider than 15mm.

I would also suggest you make your nose bearing from a std small roller or needle bearing and no rubber. Thats the way the ferrex one is & it works great

Ta. "Life" stopped play this weekend! Hospital visits, car mechanics, playing Dad's taxi and a bit of DIY. Will get back on it soon.