belt finishing question

[daizee]

Hi all ye makers,

Over in the gallery I posted my latest attempt at belt-finishing.
It's tricky to make sure each successive grit gets full coverage, and I have a couple oopses..

Next time I will probably use some dykem after each belt to make sure I get full coverage with the next belt.
Is this... normal?
Are there other recommended techniques?

Thanks!

-Daizee

 

[Hesparus]

I recommend scotchbrite belts. They're like magic. I hesitated before I bought mine because of the cost, but I find them to be worth way more than what they cost.

- Chris


ETA: I may have misinterpreted your question. I find that the key to getting complete coverage with successive grits is to have a good flat bevel before you change belts. I also find that it is much easier to see the scratches from previous grits if you are making big jumps in grit size. I go straight from 60g hogging belts to 220, and to 400. It's pretty easy to see the difference between a 60g scratch and a 220g scratch. Pretty much just as easy to see the difference between 220 and 400. If you hit it with scotchbrite, it gets even easier to see the difference. I still recommend scotchbrite for belt finishing.

 

[daizee]

Ah, ok, that makes a lot of sense, thank you.

My techniques currently depend on flattening the bevel by hand at 180 with a sanding block, and then using a cross-hatched pattern before brushing longitudinally to reveal the state of the previous grit. Then I go up a grit. This is all confounded by doing it on a belt, which always moves the same direction! Now I'm with ya.

-Daizee