BG2600

Want to start by saying that this machine is excellent quality compared to the harbor freight special I had before, however there are a few things I’ll be modifying about it. There are parts of the shell in the back that I want to cut out due to it interfering with belt changes. The belt tensioner knob is in the way so I just unscrewed it and twist it with my hand. When I first set it up, it didn’t want to stay vertical unless I put everything in the set screw, but luckily it has a bolt that works as a good backstop if you push it against a wall or something( I’m building a bench with this in mind just for the grinder) all in all, given that it would cost me $500 to build a 2x72 that I would not have the real estate to use, this was perfect.

This BuckTool 2x42 belt sander is fast becoming my favorite tool in the shop. It has plenty of power and versatility for my knife-sharpening business. The BuckTool 2x42 with its variable speed is perfect for controlling heat buildup on knife blades when performing repairs, thinning, or sharpening. I like the small footprint it requires. Due to the limited space I have to work in, it is ideal. This machine performs all the same functions as machines offered by other companies at 3x the cost. Plus, the savings from buying 2x42 belts compared to 48" or 72" is dramatic. I'm very pleased with this purchase, as well as the many other BuckTool pieces of equipment I own.

Overall I'm satisfied with this little belt/disc combo grinder, with that said there are a few things that I can see improvement on. Cons. First off the LED lighting is very dim compared to the available options today, the diode is about the brightness you would have in keychain lights back in the mid 2000's and battery powered not internally. The mounting bracket out of the box for the eye shield and light is much to close to the grinding wheel and doesn't allow for placing the lights closer to the work without modification... But hey you have the tool right there right? I just don't care for voiding warranties over poor engineering. The part table and swivel arm bolts are both different sized Allens, I would like a quick bolt or at least the same size so I don't have to fumble around for different wrenches, I'll end up welding levers on down the road more than likely. The quick bolt for tightening the metal table often gets in the way of the pieces I'm working on requiring me to adjust the vertical height along with table angle which again causes me to find that Allen wrench. The belt shroud over the small contact wheel is a single piece from motor to top entirely encasing it so don't expect to use the smaller wheel for light material removal. Pros. The motor is very quiet when compared to the other bench belt Sanders I've used. The provided belts, I believe two 80 grit and one 120 grit are of decent quality, I can't find any makers branding but they work well when hogging off metal and the abrasive stays on. Slack grinding feels as nice as my works several thousand dollar machine but don't expect to do major radials. The power is very nice for being so small, I've bit a few parts in hard and it took it like a champ. It actually feels more like a 3/4 than a 1/3hp which left me impressed. The belt wheels are very well machined and tracking stays right where you put it as long as you're not leaning into it to hard.... It is a quick swap belt you know. Belt changes are nice but a couple of quarter turn locking nuts would make it a breeze. The belt internal back rest is very smooth and about an eighth thick of what looks to be Teflon so that should last a while. I haven't cracked into the guts of it yet, but I really feel that this is a good buy. I'm a little irritated that on the website they're sold out and I had to pay an extra $20 for it here but oh well. Feels solid, runs well and looks to be built to last. Take caution though, this is still a home/hobbyist/light work model but well worth the price.

I was expecting cheap, Chinese made junk, about on par with the Harbor Freight sander I've been building knives on for several years. This is not some $2000 2x72 tilting knife grinder, but for the price, compared to what I've been using, this is a Cadillac sander. Instead of spending the money on a flimsy tool stand, they put it into a synthetic backing on the platen. I don't know if it is Turcite or something else, but whatever it is is tough and slick and flat. The belt runs much cooler because of it, and my knife blades aren't overheating. I'm not having to dunk the blades in water every few seconds. This is speeding me up considerably, both because I don't have to stop to dip the blades, and because my high carbon steel blades aren't flash rusting from the water. This sander is also far quieter and has far less run out on every part than the sander I've been using. Tracking the belt is easier, changing the belt is easier, and I don't have a big honking disc sander in my way when I'm sharpening blades. The only place I would fault it is that the table is a bit small to use with a jig, but I think I'll just pick up a piece of steel and make a table top to clamp onto the one provided. For the price, I can make my own tool stand and improve the table.

This is the greatest knife sharpening tool one could buy. Variable speed is awesome. i have several 1x30, 2x48, and they work fine. But this Bucktool 2x42 variable speed does it all. I can start with a blade you can rub on your arm and have a razor in 3 minutes. start with a 120 grit, sharpen until you see BURR, move to other side grind until burr shows up there. Change to 1000 grit belt. Grind until burr is gone, change to yellow felt 2x42 belt. Buff real softly on both sides evenly, not too much pressure. Better to use a angle guide. I never need a guide, done all by eyeball/muscle memory. You got a razor . Take it slow, no hurry. Use 15-17 degree angle. Watch Cliff Curry on You Tube he is the best.

The buck tool grinder is amazing! It has a strong motor and runs perfectly.

As I had hoped, it was all I expected it to be when I unpacked the contents finding it nicely made and finished. It came with extra belts, a nice brass wire wheel and tools for assembly and adjustment. Motor ran smoothly and fairly quietly, exhibiting a good amount of power and performance. The belts tracked easily and were a pleasure to change out, which is a really great feature. While I am not a knife maker, I mainly use it to sharpen knives and tools with a more than satisfactory degree of professional like sharpness! I ordered a varied selection of belts for it and am honing my skills with practice and sharpening knives from my family and friends. The price was right and a $100 discount for getting the Amazon store card was the icing on the cake! A great addition to my small and crowded shop!

I was leery buying this because of some reviews, specially concerning customer support but took a chance and im very happy with it. Its a dream for grinding knife blades and really helped me get shiney straight blades and it really moves material nicely.I gave it 4 stars because the light is pretty chinzy and battery operated, i didnt even attach it, just used a different light instead. Also the design is poor where the handle to slack the belt for removal is in the way if you want to slack grind on the top half of the belt. They could of moved that an inch back and it would of been out of the way but didnt. I suggest using ceramic belts as the cheaper red type belts tend to cause a high spot where it connects so knife blades tends to bounce and chatter. It comes with 2 ceramic belts tho. Set up was easy, for the money im very happy with it and it took my knife making to the next level.