At approx speed does your belt sander run for stock removal?  I see that the 2x42 Sears runs at 4400fpm, and their wider 4-6" sanders run a little over 1000fpm.  Is the 4400fpm too fast? Or is lots of cooling going to be ok?

I have the Sears 2x42... it runs too fast IMO.  You wear out belts faster than you should.  Cooling really isn't an issue if you're grinding before doing the heat treatment.  On my list of projects is to convert it to a belt drive with a step pulley to control the speed

Jeremy,

 Another member here suggested to me putting a dimmer switch on a blower to slow down the speed. I think it was lawren. I wonder if you could do the same to your belt sander?

Tommy

Adding a dimmer switch like the ones you use to dim lights will dim the power along with the speed.  The 4600 sfm is very fast.  I have a Craftsman 2x42 that I used to use all the time, and that speed took a lot of getting used to.  The wider sanders aren't set up very well to grind knives on, but can be made to do a passable job with some work, like adding a better platen.

Todd

I use a reastat switch on my craftsman and it works great, you can get the switch at radio shack.