The 1 Inch Belt Grinder Solution

As I have mentioned I used the 1x30 Harbor Freight belt grinder for years.  I could have just bought another one and financially it would be just fine.  Instead I bought two other bench top belt grinders.  A 1x30 from Wen and a slightly more powerful 1x42 from Buck Tools.
The Wen was a bit of a disappointment at first.  For the first several months sometimes when I would start it up it would be stuck.  I don't mean hard starting.  I mean stuck.  That seams to have worked itself out.  I just put a new belt on it and it started fine.  In fact its been a while since I had to give it a push with my finger to break it loose. I might even put the side cover back on if I can find it.  For now it seems to be working just fine.  Its POM wheels seem to be holding it, but of course they would need to last for years to hold up as well as the cast and machined metal wheels on the Harbor Freight belt grinder.
The Buck Tool was not at all a disappointment.  I have run it for months and months with a single padded fine finishing belt.  I just put a new belt on it today for the first time.  I can bog it out, but it takes a fair amount of pressure, and fine belts bog out easier than coarse belts.  Its two speed, but I honestly don't know what they lo speed is for.  Wood sanding maybe.  I use it for polishing and deburring.  I have no clue how it compares to a big name brand belt grinder, but its been a joy to use.
I mostly just use the Wen for deburring.  I think I am going to move it over next to the Buck Tools so I remember to deburr with the belt on the Wen, and polish with the belt on the Buck Tools.  Depending on how they each hold up if/when the the Wen fails I'll probably replace it with a second Buck Tools 1x42.
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Bob La Londe
CNC Molds N Stuff
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