1/2 x 12 leather belt

zatch

zatch

Joined
Sep 6, 2008
Messages
460
Quick question for you guys. I bought the work sharp knife sharpener. I like it but I wish I had some more options in belts. It comes with 220 and 6000 grits and I'd like to have some in-between those two. Also, I would LOVE to have a leather belt but I haven't been able to find one.

I attempted to make one out of a strip of leather I already had. It was thin enough to fit in the machine, and was able to use it quite successfully on three knives. That was its lifespan though :(. I attached the two ends by shaving each end down (like a door-stopper, I can't remember the word for that process) and cementing them together using glue that I found at a leather shop (the workers recommended it). I am wondering if the leather was just too thin to survive very long? Maybe the cement wasn't very strong or was the wrong kind?

Any ideas, options, opinions would be greatly appreciated. Belt size is 1/2 x 12 inches. Thanks in advance!
 
tenordrumr said:
Any ideas, options, opinions would be greatly appreciated. Belt size is 1/2 x 12 inches. Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

What about the 1 x 30" or 1 x 42" belts that are already available - surely they would be the right thickness and type of leather for the job? You should be able to make 6 belts from one of the 1 x 42" or 4 belts from one of the 1 x 30" belts. Just a thought, I've never tried it.
 
You might try felt loaded with Cr2O3. In my experience it works better and lasts longer than leather. Supergrit just flat buts the ends together and tapes over them.
 
Some others here have had some success with leather belts that they made up. (see other posts )
From my communication with the mfg. they have tried several vendors for leather belts with none being acceptable. Maybe someone here can get it right if they have not already. Many here are very imaginative in their ways to sharpen. Hopefully they can share their results. I hope Work Sharp is still pursuing this.
 
I made one (leather belt) for my 3x21 belt sander by butting the ends and stitching them with waxed thread. It's still holding together after quite a few years, even though I've abandoned it for a cork-faced belt. As long as the belt is a little slack, or taught with a gap behind it (not sure how exactly the Worksharp is set up) you won't feel the stitches thumping across the knife with every pass. Prior to using the leather, I took an old SiC bench stone and used it to grind most of the abrasive off the face of a regular belt, applied wax to it liberally, and flipped it over to use the cloth backing as a strop with a little compound. It works very well, but if you don't get most of the abrasive off the belt, it'll grind into your sander anywhere it makes contact with a stationary part. You could probably just cover with masking tape or similar and still have use of the original belt as needed. Of course when you flip it back you'll have a bunch of compound rubbing on the inside of the belt...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top