1" x 30" Felt Belt -> Testers needed!

I've asked around a few folks here. They say it should be no problem to run these wet. It's a fully synthetic product and the joint should hold up without any any issues.

Pricing will be determined shortly, we just wanted to see initially if this would even be marketable and if there'd be any type of demand for it as this is in the very early stages of testing.

To my knowledge the white compound is just the industry standard, nothing out of the ordinary. We would carry these belts exclusively to start out, and feel free to check out the website on the business card I included with this belt for other products (we have many).

I'm loving the feedback by the way! Keep it coming! And a side note -> Myself and a few colleagues will be attending The Blade Show the first couple days this year. I'd love to say hi to anyone that's been helping me out with these.

-Andrew
 
A_T_P said:
I've asked around a few folks here. They say it should be no problem to run these wet. It's a fully synthetic product and the joint should hold up without any any issues.

Pricing will be determined shortly, we just wanted to see initially if this would even be marketable and if there'd be any type of demand for it as this is in the very early stages of testing.

To my knowledge the white compound is just the industry standard, nothing out of the ordinary. We would carry these belts exclusively to start out, and feel free to check out the website on the business card I included with this belt for other products (we have many).

I'm loving the feedback by the way! Keep it coming! And a side note -> Myself and a few colleagues will be attending The Blade Show the first couple days this year. I'd love to say hi to anyone that's been helping me out with these.

-Andrew
Click to expand...
Andrew,
I used the belt 2 x 72" belt yesterday at the Farmer's Market I sharpen at... I sharpened around 40 Japanese culinary & 60-70 German/Americana knives and I used this belt on the Japanese blades only...
This was after sharpening to 30 Microns..., to deburr & polish the final edges.


The Scotchbrite type material this belt is made from, seems finer than the "Blue" Scotchbrite belt I use in a progression for blade finishing, Brown, Maroon, Grey & Blue...

I prefer using Green Chrome compound, which is for Stainless Steels, over the white you included with the belt.. it worked quite well after a short break in time with the Green Chrome... I would load more Green after each knife.

I would present the knife, edge down on the Platen pressing into the belt and do three different angles, 3 times each. First, catching the bevel at its full height, second about the middle of the bevel and then bring the spine closer towards me to get that final 1/4 to the edge of the bevel. The last I do 6 times each side, alternating left side, right side...

I suggest you ship these in a resealable plastic bag, that's what I've stored it in to keep heavy grit contamination out of the belt.... I sharpen Axes etc and use 36 grit belts to hog off the distortions etc and then set the bevel with a 120 grit.

So Far, I'm very happy with the results as it allows me to not have to use the buffer. Polishes and deburrs the edges and one of my customers that lives nearby the Market even stopped back by to rave about how sharp his Global knives were now!:thumbsup:
 
A_T_P said:
Hey all,

I'm not a knife maker myself (though I'd love to get into it!), but I do work for an abrasives manufacture that sells many products specifically for knife making. We periodically bring in new materials to test out, and I'm in need of some people to test out a 1" x 30" "felt-belt" that would be used right before your final finishing, whether that be a leather strop or stone.

The minimal testing we've done so far indicates that this belt holds compound very well (we've used white), and will fall somewhere in your sequence between an 800 grit belt and whatever you use for your final step.

All I'm asking in return is just your feedback! I'm happy shipping this to you at no cost in return for your time testing this out (within the United States). Feel free to get a hold of me through here to work out the minor details of your address and whatnot.

This is actually my first post here, so if it belongs in a different section, moderators feel free to move it! There's a ton of good information here that I'm learning.

Best,

-Andy
Click to expand...
I would like to test a 2x72 belt. I use scotch brite and cork for finishing a blade felt would be a final. I'll try it on Damascus.
TJ Smith blksmith234@gmail.com
 
Rhinoknives1 said:
Andrew,
I used the belt 2 x 72" belt yesterday at the Farmer's Market I sharpen at... I sharpened around 40 Japanese culinary & 60-70 German/Americana knives and I used this belt on the Japanese blades only...
This was after sharpening to 30 Microns..., to deburr & polish the final edges.


The Scotchbrite type material this belt is made from, seems finer than the "Blue" Scotchbrite belt I use in a progression for blade finishing, Brown, Maroon, Grey & Blue...

I prefer using Green Chrome compound, which is for Stainless Steels, over the white you included with the belt.. it worked quite well after a short break in time with the Green Chrome... I would load more Green after each knife.

I would present the knife, edge down on the Platen pressing into the belt and do three different angles, 3 times each. First, catching the bevel at its full height, second about the middle of the bevel and then bring the spine closer towards me to get that final 1/4 to the edge of the bevel. The last I do 6 times each side, alternating left side, right side...

I suggest you ship these in a resealable plastic bag, that's what I've stored it in to keep heavy grit contamination out of the belt.... I sharpen Axes etc and use 36 grit belts to hog off the distortions etc and then set the bevel with a 120 grit.

So Far, I'm very happy with the results as it allows me to not have to use the buffer. Polishes and deburrs the edges and one of my customers that lives nearby the Market even stopped back by to rave about how sharp his Global knives were now!:thumbsup:
Click to expand...

This is excellent feedback! It's very much appreciated...Can you school me a little more on the use of the resealable plastic bag? Pardon my inexperience, but I'm guessing if you had this belt hanging up somewhere and were grinding on a very coarse belt that you wouldn't want any of those grains to get into the felt...??

Thanks again!
 
A_T_P said:
This is excellent feedback! It's very much appreciated...Can you school me a little more on the use of the resealable plastic bag? Pardon my inexperience, but I'm guessing if you had this belt hanging up somewhere and were grinding on a very coarse belt that you wouldn't want any of those grains to get into the felt...??

Thanks again!
Click to expand...
That’s correct, Stacy a maker & Mod here also mentioned keeping felt belts in a sealable plastic bag. ———————While yours are a Scynthedic belt, it’s purpose is at the very fine area of the different jobs done in a knife/sharpening shop. If you were to get 36 grit shards of steel on your belt. It can make scratches that will ruin the final edge on sharpening work.. in a nut shell. The finer the belt, the more contamination can ruin your work.
 
What speeds are everyone running these belts at (roughly)?

Lovin' these ideas and feedback! Keep em' coming!
 
I run felt SLOW. Probably at 200 FPM or less.
I will probably run this material a bit faster for final polish on the edge. Maybe around 300-400 FPM.
I will also experiment in using it like an extra-fine Scotch-brite belt at around 1000 FPM. Not sure how that will go, but we'll find out.
 
Hey all!

For everyone that's tested these belts already for me, can you all do me a huge favor and fill out a quick 10-question survey regarding the product? Just click on the link!

https://freeonlinesurveys.com/s/f8b1UIoC

Again, many thanks everyone. Pricing and availability is still being worked on.

-Andrew
 
Done.
My main issue is with the name "felt belt". This is a woven synthetic, and while it may be used in the place of a felt belt .... it isn't felt.
Also, the polish provided was not identified, which places an unknown variable in judging how the belt works and compares t my other felt belts.
 
ATP, just finished your questionnaire .. I will be trying it as a blade surface finish.. I use up to 600 grit Cork belts after Scotchbrite, so my guess is that your belt is around a 850 to 1000???? ......————-I do agree with Stacy that your belt is a fine Scotchbrite and not Felt and should be marketed as such..,thanks again!!
 
Last edited:
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
Done.
My main issue is with the name "felt belt". This is a woven synthetic, and while it may be used in the place of a felt belt .... it isn't felt.
Also, the polish provided was not identified, which places an unknown variable in judging how the belt works and compares t my other felt belts.
Click to expand...

Got it, thanks! I'm learning more every day...
 
Sorry I have not been able to really test the belt yet. I did load it with green compound and sharpened the wife’s kitchen knife and used it to strop the edge. Worked nicely but I will have more info in weeks to come once I get started on a production run of ring knives.
 
JTknives said:
Sorry I have not been able to really test the belt yet. I did load it with green compound and sharpened the wife’s kitchen knife and used it to strop the edge. Worked nicely but I will have more info in weeks to come once I get started on a production run of ring knives.
Click to expand...

Hey not a problem! Perhaps I'll circle back with you at the Blade Show.

-Andrew
 
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