2x72 Grinding Belt Preparation

Howard1

Howard1

Joined
Jan 16, 2017
Messages
207
I have been avoiding asking this question for over a year. When I hand sand I lubricant the paper with wd 40. That works out great for me. When I grind I use a dry belt. Is there a prep protocol for belts?
 
I personally wouldn't bother, at least for general grinding. I tried the belt grease and it was good at making a mess but not too much else.
Belt lubricant does have its place, belt grease for aluminum, coolant for finer grits on micarta, water for stone, ect
But I've never found it worthwhile for steel.
 
Howard1 said:
I have been avoiding asking this question for over a year. When I hand sand I lubricant the paper with wd 40. That works out great for me. When I grind I use a dry belt. Is there a prep protocol for belts?
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I do the same thing, not sure why though. When hand sanding I will cut my strips of sandpaper and spray they down with some JB80 then giving it a go.
 
I think the main purpose of the wd40 and other lubricants are to get the slag and old grit out of the way since we’re going back and forth when hand sanding.
On a belt, it’s moving fast enough usually and in one direction to not have to do that.
Some people do grind wet, but I would say that’s more to keep the blade cool and keep dust down and not so much for keeping the belt clean.
Wd40 may work amazing on a belt, but that would get messy quick.
I have used it on my disc grinder though and seems to do well.
 
How about windex or simple green then?
I don’t think I’ve ever used enough wd40 to be dangerous enough to catch on fire.
That would be mess.
 
Some use a Spray bottle with water to moisten the belts, this works well when grinding after HT particularly when grinding thin Folder blades etc. but it does make a hell of a mess! I use Green Crome Rouge on fine Cork finishing belts, then you look like a Martian :D
 
Thanks for the feedback. The one way directionality of the belt makes sense. I will forgo belt prep.
On the comments on lubricating abrasives, I tried simply green and windex but found that I could feel the cutting better with wd40. IMHO.
 
Good ceramic belts have stuff built in to aid lubtication and keeping the steel cool
 
Howard1 said:
Thanks for the feedback. The one way directionality of the belt makes sense. I will forgo belt prep.
On the comments on lubricating abrasives, I tried simply green and windex but found that I could feel the cutting better with wd40. IMHO.
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You have some proof that the directionality really means something in a belt??? ———————————————-To me it looked like a way for the belt company to get out of being sued! ——————-The belt breaks and something bad happens. They can just say, well you must of put the belt on the wrong way!
 
Rhinoknives1 said:
You have some proof that the directionality really means something in a belt??? ———————————————-To me it looked like a way for the belt company to get out of being sued! ——————-The belt breaks and something bad happens. They can just say, well you must of put the belt on the wrong way!
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I've always thought the direction was indicated due to the way the splice is, but who knows.
 
I think he’s referring to the comment I made about the belt spinning in one direction and not about the arrow on some belts.
 
Rhinoknives1 said:
Kevin, I’ve heard that too! But the slice will ether lead on one side of the Platen or the other. How could that make a Diff??
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I've thought the same. If the splice was an overlapping splice it would make a difference, but I believe they are all butt spliced.
 
Kevin McGovern said:
I've thought the same. If the splice was an overlapping splice it would make a difference, but I believe they are all butt spliced.
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That makes sense! Let see?———/////-We have the diagonal Splice, which runs on the left or Right. ————————////Then the ones that look like intertwined knuckles and I won’t buy those because of the big bump! Any others you might use?
 
Howard1 said:
He is.....I mean I was.
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By the way, I use the arrows on the belt as an indicator of how I used it last. I figured that it was a good idea to always have it spin in the same direction. Kind of like a car tire.
 
If you want the max belt life with the smoothest and fastest grinding, build a wet belt grinder. Water is the ultimate belt lube.
 
Howard1 said:
By the way, I use the arrows on the belt as an indicator of how I used it last. I figured that it was a good idea to always have it spin in the same direction. Kind of like a car tire.
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I run then one direction and then when they seem like about 30% of the grit is gone, I then run them the other way!——-My theory is that the grit has been fractured one way, so I want to fracture it the other way for another 30% or so ... ————————-//-//////————////No idea if it works any better? But after about 60-70% of the grit is gone, the belt goes to the non HTed work pile because they start to build up to much heat for my liking while sharpening & grinding my HTed Blades....
 
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