a solution for stretched leather honing belts spring will help hold the

[Ken S]

I have read several posts where members experienced difficulties with leather honing belts stretching and no longer being usable. Here is my proposed solution:

Do not try to alter  the belt; make the belt path longer. I am only familiar with the Viel, and admittedly, I have not yet tried this. That said, The top wheel is mounted in a yoke which slides into a square shaft. A spring creates tension to tighten the belt. Placing a shim between the bottom of the yoke and the spring will increase the tension on the belt. I suggest drilling and tapping a hole in the bottom of the yoke. Square pieces of metal can be made up and drilled with a center hole. A machine screw, or, even nicer, a screw with a head for an Allen wrench would hold the metal piece in place. The pressure of the spring will help hold the square piece in place; no great threading strength is required.

Having a variety of metal thicknesses makes tensioning easy.

Ken

[grepper]

I’m not familiar with the Viel, but there are lots of different ways to tension a belt, from very simple to more complicated contraptions with a spring and screw adjustments.
 
A super simple way is just a metal bar bent at 90 that the belt rides on.  A simple clamp makes it adjustable in/out for more/less belt tension or just a hole in the side so it can swing into the belt.  A idler wheel could be attached too.
 
More complicated is an arm with a pulley and spring like something pictured in the attachment.

[napaknives]

You can use quarters to add length to the Viel.  Better yet, try putting an old cloth belt under the leather belt.  The leather belt will stretch to the length of the cloth belt, but it won't get "floppy" by over-stretching.  I use this trick on both the Viel and Kali machines.  This way I can leave the leather belt on a dedicated Viel while sharpening at farmers markets.  (I don't like to change belts while sharpening--it slows me down.)       ..........Dan

[Ken S]

Dan,

A "two bit" solution.....great idea. I love simple ideas which work!

I will look into your cloth belt idea. I definitely think your dedicated machine approach is time efficient.

Ken

[Mark Reich]

I'm pretty sure that the directions that come with the leather belts say you're to take the belt off the machine so it doesn't stretch. They only stretch so far before they break.

I could never remember to remove the belt, or I'd be using it for days on end, so I went through too many expensive leather belts before I figured out the best solution for me.

I use a worn out heavy backed belt under the leather belt. Now I never have to take it off, and the leather belt remains exactly the same.

Using heavy belts under light belts is common practise for me. I haven't stretched a leather belt in years, and it doesn't get simpler, IMHO.

[Ken S]

Very clever, Mark!!!

I love simple but effecrive solutions. 

Keep up the good work.

Ken