Vic, I sent you a pm. I'm stumped! Three pics were on here a moment ago and now they ain't!

yes, i see nothing.

okay, just copied the link direct to my browser and i see what's goin on. that drive belt looks pretty slack. there a tensioner i'm not seeing?

Yeah, I should have mentioned that the set-up wasn't complete when I took the fotos. It's a simple matter of scooting the motor a hair and tightening down. The thing is awfully quiet while operating. The speeds are about 800 linear feet per second, ~1600 lfps, and ~3200 lfps. The stock pulley is at the latter speed.

Smooth operation!

Here ya go.

I guess I used the wrong term - I was referring to the pulley more towards the front of the sander (where the step pulleys are in rackemup's pic).

Speaking of which - rackemup where did you find the step pulley?

I want to know that as well.
There's a PDF of someone modifying the SA180 sander with a step pully transmission, but he spent like $70 to purchase them AND have them machined.
If there was a $15 or $20 set of pulleys that didn't require machining I'd opt for them.
At $70 it's time to start looking at real VFDs for infinite speed control.

Oh now that is so cool. If anyone finds the step pulleys, let us know. That would be all the knife grinder I'd ever need.

This is where I first saw them.
He includes part numbers and ordering information.
http://www.knifeforums.com/uploads/1205593757-Delta_SA180_Final.pdf

It's bothersome that they had to be machined to fit.
Looks to me like the wrong pulleys were selected.
Five thou' of slop is okay ... just threadlock the set screws.
There really ought to be a cheap answer.

I've been out playing with the Delta this morning. It isn't perfect, but here is my Camp Tramp LE. I can see the hamon line, but it doesn't show in the photos.

Why do you go full convex on ... EVERYTHING?

Because that's all I know how to do.