36 grit belts

[steelswing]

who starts with them? I got them with a grinder I won on ebay. I always start around 60 for stock removal, guess I'll be removing a little qucker now
Peace
Bob

 

[Daniel Koster]

congrats on the grinder.

I use them for profiling and general shaping. I should note that I leave it at least 1/16" oversize and take that down with an 80 grit belt. Leaves some heavy scratches...

 

[steelswing]

Thanks for the pointer I thought they might.
Peace
Bob

 

[Mike Hull]

I use 40 grit 977's to rough grind.

 

[Reg ELLERY]

36 are good for roughing down the wood handles. You have a cloud of handle dust in no time. I probably start with too big of a piece of wood. If I was able to drill my tang holes straighter I would be better off.

They work good on steel too but sometimes they seem to have the grit fly off to easy when grinding into an edge instead of across an edge.

The other grits probably do too it is just that I have noticed it with the 36.

I'm sure I will allways keep a couple in stock.

 

[Daniel Koster]

Yes, Reg....I failed to mention that. Be prepared for a shower of belt material on the first few strikes...

I should also mention that I grind edge down. I would imagine edge-up would make even deeper scratches?

I just spent a half-hour tonight removing a scratch that snuck in there (probably at 36 grit) - what a pain...

Will you be grinding on a contact wheel? If so, the extra cushion lessens the deep scratch problem (or so I've been told).

 

[L6steel]

I do all my initial grinding with 36 grit belts and have been for eons. Just got in a new belt order and when I was talking to the belt man I asked him what the coarsest grit he had was and he said 24, hmmm says I. So ordered a dozen of them things to try em out. I'm impatient. I like to grind fast when I'm rough grinding, especially when I'm grinding a big bowie or something like that.
SS to reduce knocking the grit off the belt, grind a slight bevel on the edge of the blade with a used belt before you start grinding. That way you're not putting a sharp edge into a fresh belt. Plus you should wear goggles. Those little grits fly off there at warp speed. Sure would mess up and eye ball.
Take care!!
Michael

 

[Darrel Ralph]

I Like the 976 yellow 36 and 80 for roughing.
They cut so sweet!

 

[Fox Creek]

I start with 36 grit. At first it seems a bit bumpy until it finds its level, but it gets sweet fast. I forge, so the basic form is there. I cant imagine how you stock removal guys manage it. Actually I find this the easiest grit to use; but then my "system" is a bit odd. (YES, eye protection, a good N-95 nuisance dust mask, ball cap and leather apron for me.)

 

[Reg ELLERY]

I do a bit of each stock removal and forging. When I forge I tend to use a 4 inch angle grinder to remove the first fire scale or a 8 inch course grind wheel.

That fire scale is evil on belts. It may just be the damascus with the borax flux but it seams to take the bit out of the belts quick if your not carefull.

 

[jhiggins]

I use 36 grit Nortons when hogging bigger blades, but I use 80 grit when grinding smaller blade for folders. I like the 80 for better control on the small stuff. Its easy to get to excited and hog away too much.