2x28 Belt Options

L

Lehbauer

Joined
Feb 16, 2022
Messages
68
Good Morning,
I've made a couple knives now, and am still running the 2x28 grinder while squirrelling away extra cash to upgrade. In the meantime though the only thing I can find for belts are the Task 60 and 120 grit at Princess Auto, or the economy abrasive packs on amazon/ebay. Does anyone know of a manufacturer that is making belts in that size with some more grit options or where to get them? Would love to get some 36 grit to help with hogging off steel, and some 220 + to help with the amount of hand sanding I'm currently doing.

Thanks in advance.
Ryan
 
2x 48 " ? Nope, you actually mean 2x28"

You're in Canada

Most of the belt makers do custom sizes, price by square inch

Truegrit

Klingspor



onlinesupplyca looks good, no experience with them.

I think 36 grit is too coarse, rather use a 60 grit in a better abrasive.

I think the Task by PA is justZirconia aluminum oxide and you would do better to have some ceramic abrasives, but not sure if you can run them fast enough.
 
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yes in Canada, and unfortunately its the 2x28. Combo unit from princess auto, one side belt, one side grinder wheel.
Bought it when was working more with larger steel fab projects, and only this year started knifemaking. Made a tool rest that mounts to the bench I have it bolted to, and it does the trick, but using 60 grit to profile and bevel it burning through belts quickly and takes a long time.
Sent an email off to Klingspor. Thanks for the idea of custom sizing. Looking to make a few more over the next few months, and likely pull the trigger on a 72 late this fall.
 
36 or 40 grit is good, with that size of a belt you need all the help you can get to remove some material. If you don't strip the grit, you will be able to use it much longer for profiling and rough grinding even when the initial sharpness is lost. Up to 120 you would want to try to get ceramics. Above that griz size, the benefits of ceramics are not so noticeable (at least for me).
 
12345678910 said:
2x 48 " ? Nope, you actually mean 2x28"

You're in Canada

Most of the belt makers do custom sizes, price by square inch

Truegrit

Klingspor



onlinesupplyca looks good, no experience with them.

I think 36 grit is too coarse, rather use a 60 grit in a better abrasive.

I think the Task by PA is justZirconia aluminum oxide and you would do better to have some ceramic abrasives, but not sure if you can run them fast enough.
Click to expand...
Klingspor got back to me. Minimum 10 belt order per grit. And 3-4 week lead time. They suggested to order through online supply and it can be shipped direct to me. Going to be a pricey experiment to see if it works or not. Might just hold onto the $200+ and suffer through it to keep saving for the grinder upgrade.
 
What steels are you using? I ask because just because i finally started grinding a knife out of the last piece of some 10v I had left, and I decided to try skipping to 60 grit (norton blaze [really good belts in my opinion), and it just wasn't working out. I had to go down to 36 for any kind of real metal removal with this stuff.

My point is, it won't be that dramatic with normal steels, but having those lower grits can really make your life easier. Especially if you're doing grinding post ht.

I found some 40 grit for that side on Eastwood's site. They're just aluminum oxide, but at least it's something.

If you're going to have to spend 200 for that order. I honestly say buy a cheapo 1x30, and use that until you can get ahold of a better grinder. At least for those you can get any belt you can think of.
 
Lehbauer said:
Klingspor got back to me. Minimum 10 belt order per grit. And 3-4 week lead time. They suggested to order through online supply and it can be shipped direct to me. Going to be a pricey experiment to see if it works or not. Might just hold onto the $200+ and suffer through it to keep saving for the grinder upgrade.
Click to expand...
Two more ideas:
1. It is possible to splice your own belts, check YT for ideas. If 2x72 belts are available, they would produce 2 of your size belts and the rest you could use for hand sanding.
2. Check if 4x28 are more available and split them in half if yes.
 
I know we aren't supposed to do links. But here's a link.
Econaway Abrasives ULTIMATE CERAMIC 2X28 9 Piece Abrasive Belt Kit-Fits Eastwood Sander https://a.co/d/8SuoEWv

I'm guessing this is part of the listing for the belts you've already tried. I definitely think you should at give these a go. They only go down to 60, but they're ceramic so that's a plus.

And +1 for splicing your own belts. It's not too hard. Especially cutting them down width wise. That's actually very easy. But splicing should work well, if done correctly.
 
I have not known anyone who successfully spliced belts for knifemaking. Anyone want to post a series of photos and instructions? as well as video of them running while grinding a blade.
 

Obviously this isn't me.

I've personally only tried once. I didn't have any of the right materials or adhesive. And it didn't work, but I don't see why it wouldn't work if done properly, with the right stuff.
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
I have not known anyone who successfully spliced belts for knifemaking. Anyone want to post a series of photos and instructions? as well as video of them running while grinding a blade.
Click to expand...
FredyCro said:
Two more ideas:
1. It is possible to splice your own belts, check YT for ideas. If 2x72 belts are available, they would produce 2 of your size belts and the rest you could use for hand sanding.
2. Check if 4x28 are more available and split them in half if yes.
Click to expand...



With Stacy here, you are guaranteed to burn money and get a belt slap DIY belt splicing

Although, my mother used to do iron on patches on the knees of our clothes.
I wonder if that would work, but not cheap now I'm sure
 
The first video looks like a 100mm/4" wide belt. It is also for a wood belt sanding wood on a wood sander with much less pressure and heat than grinding a blade. The second one looks like 75mm/3". It is used to gently grind steel but looks like it is running at a slow speed. I commend the makers of the videos but wouldn't waste my time and money to do it.

I have tried the exact procedure in the past. I wouldn't waste my time or money to do it again. Everyone I ever heard of that tried it the belt broke ... sometimes violently ... within seconds of starting to grind. The alignment will have to be perfect too or the belt will wobble like crazy at grinding speeds. Anyone who has hogged a blade will know that when a belt starts to wobble it will break any second. If you don't step aside quickly you will get slapped by the belt as it comes off the grinder.
 
Yeah that's what happened when I tried. I just figured it was because I only did it half assed.

I wonder what they use to get them so well together at the factory?
 
Blankblank said:
Yeah that's what happened when I tried. I just figured it was because I only did it half assed.

I wonder what they use to get them so well together at the factory?
Click to expand...
It's good glue, stupid expensive $500 a pint or quart or something.
It has to be refrigerated and used up within some hours.

Completely impractical for diy
 
12345678910 said:
It's good glue, stupid expensive $500 a pint or quart or something.
It has to be refrigerated and used up within some hours.

Completely impractical for diy
Click to expand...
There is some crazy good adhesives out there that just aren't readily available on the shelf of your neighborhood home depot. I used to make acoustic paneling, and 3M made this spray adhesive that was incredible at sticking fabric to insulation board. Only available in a minimum 5 gallon pail all the way up to full 255 gallon commercial tote. Needed a special spray nozzle for application, and you had better be cleaning your spray gun if you were going to let it sit for 30 minutes or more. All special order through my supplier. Short shelf life, well over $100/gallon, but atomized really well, didnt bleed through the fabric, and once set would pull the insulation board apart to try and peel it off. Oh and waterbased, so it didnt off gas like crazy and met all the VOC requirements for green building and LEED.
Don't think I want to try and make my own. Hoping to jump to a 2x72 later this fall or winter. Just have a couple projects including a cleaver for a wedding gift for my niece that are going to be some belt eaters. I suppose if I use up 3 of the Princess Auto 60 grits for a single profile and bevels its still only $10. Just going to take a little bit more time.

Thanks everyone for the input.
7" chef's knife finished this weekend.
Was knife #7
https://pin.it/5fZqayD
 
12345678910 said:
With Stacy here, you are guaranteed to burn money and get a belt slap DIY belt splicing

Although, my mother used to do iron on patches on the knees of our clothes.
I wonder if that would work, but not cheap now I'm sure
Click to expand...
You can buy everything needed to make belts in same quality as factory one .Question is is it worth to do that ?
Google tape joint for sanding belts , google abrasive belt adhesive and you will find them ....
Not far from me, a company makes Klingspor belts. The process is computerized, but nothing special. It is possible to do it with your own hands if you have the right materials.
Blue for P36 P40 P60 sanding belt

White for P80 P100 P120 sanding belt

Red for P150 P180 P240 P320 P400 P600 P800 P1000 P1200 ... sanding belt
Click to expand...
 
Lehbauer said:
There is some crazy good adhesives out there that just aren't readily available on the shelf of your neighborhood home depot. I used to make acoustic paneling, and 3M made this spray adhesive that was incredible at sticking fabric to insulation board. Only available in a minimum 5 gallon pail all the way up to full 255 gallon commercial tote. Needed a special spray nozzle for application, and you had better be cleaning your spray gun if you were going to let it sit for 30 minutes or more. All special order through my supplier. Short shelf life, well over $100/gallon, but atomized really well, didnt bleed through the fabric, and once set would pull the insulation board apart to try and peel it off. Oh and waterbased, so it didnt off gas like crazy and met all the VOC requirements for green building and LEED.
Don't think I want to try and make my own. Hoping to jump to a 2x72 later this fall or winter. Just have a couple projects including a cleaver for a wedding gift for my niece that are going to be some belt eaters. I suppose if I use up 3 of the Princess Auto 60 grits for a single profile and bevels its still only $10. Just going to take a little bit more time.

Thanks everyone for the input.
7" chef's knife finished this weekend.
Was knife #7
https://pin.it/5fZqayD
Click to expand...
I really recommend at least trying those ceramic belts I linked on amazon. They are a huge difference over regular aluminum oxide.
 
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