How to cut conveyor belt?

[JohnDeere4300]

I have never seen powered sheet metal shears. Could these easily cut a large truck tire in half? If so, they might be able to do it.

When i worked underground in the mines we would cut a lot of belt if we had a belt break, and needed to make a new splice,

We used a regular utility-knife for years, we would take the belt clamp lay it on the belt and take the knife and make a cut but it wouldn't go all the way through, and the clamp was so we had a straight cut.
But you could use a board if you needed a straight cut.


After we had the first cut, 2 guys would fold the belt and one would take the knife and keep going over the cut, with the first cut and the belt folded it made it very easy, even with a dull blade.

Then they came out with a electric belt knife just for the coal mines.


*I will try to post a picture here in a hour or two showing a piece of belt with a cut and it folded if it will show up*

 

[Bignoles]

I looked at McMaster-Carr
they have a jigsaw blade that is for leather and rubber
part #4131A17
description says the blade has a knife edge, its a thought but may still take 3 days and who knows how many blades

 

[tallyho8]

When i worked underground in the mines we would cut a lot of belt if we had a belt break, and needed to make a new splice,

We used a regular utility-knife for years, we would take the belt clamp lay it on the belt and take the knife and make a cut but it wouldn't go all the way through, and the clamp was so we had a straight cut.
But you could use a board if you needed a straight cut.


After we had the first cut, 2 guys would fold the belt and one would take the knife and keep going over the cut, with the first cut and the belt folded it made it very easy, even with a dull blade.

Then they came out with a electric belt knife just for the coal mines.


*I will try to post a picture here in a hour or two showing a piece of belt with a cut and it folded if it will show up*

This is similar to the way that I cut the belts now when I am just cutting across them 4 1/2 feet. I put a metal staight edge down and hold it in place with vicegrips on each end and put a crosstie under the belt so it will fold back as it is cut. This is pretty easy with the 1/4 " belt that most places use and not too difficult with the 1/2" belt but still pretty hard with the 3/4" belt.

When cutting the belt lengthwise for 60 feet, I have no way to hold a straightedge in place and must work freestyle. Do you have a photo of the electric belt knife?

Right now it seems like the easiest thing to do is to make my barn 2 feet wider so I can use a whole belt. Either that or hire someone to cut it for me.

 

[tallyho8]

I looked at McMaster-Carr
they have a jigsaw blade that is for leather and rubber
part #4131A17
description says the blade has a knife edge, its a thought but may still take 3 days and who knows how many blades

I'd like to try those. Too bad they only come in t-shank and my saw uses a u-shank. I'll have to try sharpening one of my blades to a knife edge and try it.

 

[JohnDeere4300]

This is similar to the way that I cut the belts now when I am just cutting across them 4 1/2 feet. I put a metal staight edge down and hold it in place with vicegrips on each end and put a crosstie under the belt so it will fold back as it is cut. This is pretty easy with the 1/4 " belt that most places use and not too difficult with the 1/2" belt but still pretty hard with the 3/4" belt.

When cutting the belt lengthwise for 60 feet, I have no way to hold a straightedge in place and must work freestyle. Do you have a photo of the electric belt knife?

Right now it seems like the easiest thing to do is to make my barn 2 feet wider so I can use a whole belt. Either that or hire someone to cut it for me.

No i don't have a picture of the belt knife.

But i remember that it only cuts straight across.

The reason the mines went with it was on the 3/4 in. belt, and to hurry up with break downs.

I didn't like the 3/4in. in the mines, when we had a belt slip it would
take longer to burn through and smoke the place up.

 

[SimS]

Tallyho8;

I've been thinking about your problem. What about a hot knife? Back in the day we used to groove tires with a hot knife and if you were not careful you could cut through the cords of the tire. Or maybe something like the hot metal bar that the box stores have to cut nylon rope. I would be a smoky job but it might work. I just don't know if the hot knives have enough umph to cut 3/4" inch belt. In my last post I also mentioned a throatless shear. Would something like this work? It would be portable. Good Luck SimS

 

[dex3361]

I use mine belt to put down on the ground to put my 3 point equipment on. I dont use the kind with metal wire in it. I cut the belt with a chain saw. Laugh if you like but I had a lot of it to cut and I tried the utility knife and I can cut it with a chain saw like a knife through hot butter. If you are cutting a piece length wise roll it up and clamp it on the sides keeping the clamps well out of the way of the saw kerf. Then cut it like you would a log. It has worked well for me.You might try it on a test piece first and see how it works for you.

 

[DanD78]

I cut the rubber belt I use with a 7 1/4" skill saw with a carbide tooth combination blade. I have even cut it on my table saw for smaller work. I am cutting 36 wide by 1/2 thick with layers of what looks like nylon in the mix. I started out with a roll that was about 5' tall about 10 years ago. You are right the stuff is heavy. I clamp two pairs of Vice-Grips on the end to drag short chunks around.

Dan

 

[dex3361]

I am usually starting with rolls that are 36" rolls and 100' long. They weigh probably 1000# (thats a guess).

 

[JohnDeere4300]

I am usually starting with rolls that are 36" rolls and 100' long. They weigh probably 1000# (thats a guess).

I guess when you use a chain saw it smokes a lot and slings rubber everywhere.

I hadn't really thought about using a chain saw.

I have family that lives in Beckley and Beaver WV.

Me and my brother used to go and trout fish the cherry river.