[JerryH]

I have searched about every place and cannot find a place to purchase a 6" leather covered wheel for honing for my power sharpener. Any ideas or do I have to make my own? I've tried the paper wheels, etc. and I still like leather better.
JerryH

[Thomp]

flexcut has a 3" wheel,

and as far as a 6" wheel i guess you would have to make one,

i was told to glue a leather strip on the outside of a flat wooden wheel,

i dont know how something like that would last though,,

i looked for someone with an old steam jenny that use to run off belts to see if i could get some of that old 1/2" leather for making stack disks but to no luck,,,

good luck

[BillinO]

The other day I picked up a weight lifters leather belt , 4 inches wide and 1/4 in thick made several good wheels. Might check sporting good stores, or a local fitness center, that is retiring leather belts.

Bill in Omaha

[Bob_in_TN]

Like Thomp said either turn or have someone turn a wooden wheel and cover it with leather. You could size (diameter & width) to suit you. OR, you can order from Tormek a replacement wheel for their system, make an adapter, and be good to go. BTW, Tormek wants $50 for theirs.

[Thomp]

bob,

i looked at them tormex system wheels,
they look remarkably like a centrifugal go cart clutch housing,

***
in a back issue of chip chats there was a belt sander made from a motor and a lawn mower wheel, maybe a prototype for the 1" belt sanders we have today, there is a lot of ideas in back issues for sure,, maybe the wooden or paper wheel with leather glued on it would work but the point where the strap ends would have to be some special joint to keep it from having a bump...
angle & beveled cut i suspect and some dang good rubber cement,,,
***
the new wet grinder at harbor freight has a 10" wheel with leather mounted on it,. the wheel looks like die cast metal maybe it can be ordered as a replacement for the wet grinder on the web site, im gonna check that...

but that 10" wheel would have to be slowed down,,,, to keep the leather on,, i think at 1750 rpm you would wind up getting a good whipp'in out of it when it heats up and the compound soaks through the leather,,,,

[Bob_in_TN]

You're right Thomp, that 10" would have to be slowed down. Talk about a whipp"in, much worse then daddy's leather belt. Yes, I can remember back that far, and can still remember the temperature of my back side rising.