Thanks again KG for your efforts in putting all this together! This is exactly what I need to be reading over before I get started with the new Kalamazoo. I haven't ordered belts yet but plan to do that today...(it came with one 80 grit).

I'm carefully planning the set up and placement to optimize everything. I can see how 'dry runs', i.e. standing at the machine, holding the blade in the work position, is really useful not only in understanding some of the finer points that you and others mention, but also in positioning the machine, setting up the work area etc.

To stray just a little...I'm thinking about changing careers...getting out of the plumbing buisness (why don't we have spell check?) and I thought after I get up and running with the belt sander about the concept of starting a sharpening service. Any thoughts? How to get started? The guy in the Aaron Brown clip seemed to have a nice little gig going.