400 Grit Belts

ddavelarsen

ddavelarsen

Joined
Dec 7, 2000
Messages
5,179
How many of you use 400 grit belts? What's the best one? Where's the least expensive place to get it? How do they work best -- Fast or slow, heavy pressure or light? How can you extend its life on the platen?

:D

These are important questions, I'm figuring out that I'm not getting all the 220 grit scratches, which is why I can't get a decent mirror finish and why my hand finish takes so long. I guess this means more or better 400 grit belts.

I've been using some inexpensive ($2.50), gray colored silicon carbide belts from Supergrit, can't find a brand name. I get about 2-3 minutes of moderate pressure at slow speed on my platen before the belt turns shiny and loses most of its aggressiveness.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Dave
 
I get these 400 grit belts from Koval. They are made by 3M and are silver in color. I dont remember the actual model # or name, but they last a lot longer than what you described. In fact, I take them off after a while and cut them up for hand sanding. They are pretty flexible, and dont crack when you bend them for doing the plunge cut area like regular sandpaper will.
 
These sound like the 3M Trizact belts that I use. They are about $5 each, but they last a *long* time. The guy at True Grit was kidding about leasing them instead of selling them.

Slow speed and moderate pressure- and *no* water. It will cause them to bread down quickly. The A45 is the 400 grit equivalent.
 
Dave, Call Trugrit and ask them for the new Norax belts. I'm not sure what the 400 grit equivalent is, but you'll find they run really smooth and cool and you don't have to worry about getting them wet.
 
I go 60, 120, 220, 320, 400, and then 600 grit. Used to hit em with 500 grit in bewteeen the 400 and 600 but I can't find em anymore. I use aluminum oxide belts. James Poplin sells em for a great price.
 
The Trizact belts are all I use.The extended belt life more than makes up for the extra cost.I can't recommend them enough.
 
Thanks for all the good advice. I think I'm going to "invest" in some Trizact and Norax belts and see what happens. I let you know in a couple months.

Dave
 
Originally posted by RHINOKNIVES
60g 120g 220g 400g 800g ,, double the grit
same finish in the end, less belt's
Click to expand...

Laurence,
Try 36g then 120g. I learned this about 3 months ago from another cutler. I was amazed at how well that works. Just give it a try. I used to start with 60 as well. Starting with the 36g sure does save time.

C Wilkins
 
I've been going 36 60 220 400. I think I'll add Michael's 320 step and see if I have more luck on my mirror finish. But now I wonder if I'd use fewer total belts with the 120 step in there?

Dave
 
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