anneal shmanneal

[Mark Williams]

How much differance does it really make on belt wear? I'm still grinding on a big chopper out of hot rolled 2 1/2 x 1/4 1095 and it has worn out 1 ceramic belt and is on its way to the second before it's done. I know that flat grinding wears belts faster than hollow, but good grief! Is this just from not annealing?

Mark

 

[Bruce Bump]

Mark I think you have two problems. One, the blade is not anealed and may be work hardening as you grind especially if you are letting it get hot while grinding. And two, you need to make smaller knives.

 

[John Frankl]

Are you forging? If so, scale is a real belt killer. Take off all the scale with an angle grinder. Start with your belts once you are down to bare steel. Some makers also begin their grinds on a large wheel before moving to the platen (I do not so I can't give specifics).

John

 

[Gib Guignard]

99% of my knives are gound after teat treating as
I forge to shape as much as possible. All the
grinding I do befor heat treating is corecting the
profile. What belts are you using, you will get what
you pay for in belts. I start with 36 grit Norten
Hoggers runing as fast as my Berr King will go and I
get at least 8 to 10 or more blades depending on
size then drop to 60 grit, 120 grit and so on. I get
rid of the scale by soaking in whith vinager over
night. Gib

 

[Mark Williams]

Thanks guys,

I thinks my problem is two-fold like Bruce B said. I annealed the blade now grinds much easier.Also the blade size is about 15" so i'm sure that didnt help much.

Mark