belt finshing

M

magnum .44

Joined
Jun 12, 1999
Messages
1,110
i'm having problems getting a scratchless mirror finish, i can hand rub and get one but it seems to take forever. i first grind bevels with 60grt, them move up to 80grt, 150, 220, 320, 400, and 600, but i'm still having trouble with this mirror finish. i thought of hand rubbing from 220grt, good idea?
 
You need to try the 3m micro belts. You use them with water. I use a sponge.

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A.T.
http://www.customknives.com
 
oh, they work better than silicon carbide. when i get the chance to order them, i certainly will.
 
Micron belts are great for finishing! I use them in 60, 30, 15 and 9 micron grits, and after the 9 it's just a quick buff with white rouge and the blade is finished.

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I love my country! I just don't trust my government!
 
I use Bob E's hint. Grind each different grit at a different angle, it makes a scratch from the previous grit stand out. It doesn't have to be a large angle, just slightly different will work. Obivously, this only works on flat grinds, on hollow grinds you just have to squint alot.

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I love my country! I just don't trust my government!
 
i might offend some one, and for that i'm sorry, but i can't stand hallow grinding. thanks for the advice guys, can i do the step up, like 60, 150, 320, 400. or should i increase more.
 
I grind up to 320 before HT, then start after HT with the micron belts. I forget what grit a 60 micron is about equal to, but it works good on a 320 grit finish after ht and descale. I've noticed that steel in it's soft state tends to gum up the micron belts faster than it does after hardening. I don't touch a blade with Alum Oxide after HT as the wear out too fast.

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I love my country! I just don't trust my government!
 
To get a good mirror finish you are going to have to go to a LOT finer grit than the 600 before buffing.

I like to grind 600 and then switch to the three finest grits of the 3M Trizact belts (used to be named Apex). First a 30 then a 16 and then a 6. I keep a worn 6 and use after the sharp 6 to put the final finish on before buffing.

This has cut my buffing time to less than 25% of my "pre-Trizact" knifemaking days.

A couple of hints on the Trizact. They don't like water. I grind, then dunk to cool, then dry off with a towel before going back to the belt. Also, when a Trizact seems to act like it is quitting a squirt of WD-40 will bring it back to life a time or two.

Another tip: I keep one of those large permanent Magic Markers by my grinder. If you will cover the blade with red dye when going to the next finer grit it will make the little red scratches really show up. Try it, you'll like it. Also use it instead of that old messy blue layout dye.

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Ben R. Ogletree, Jr.
 
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