I just have a 1x30 sander and was trying to rebevel a machete earlier this weekend. I was using an old 24 grit belt. The belt would barely remove any metal. I don't remember using it much before, but maybe I'm wrong. How much life should I expect out of belts? The blade I'm trying to rebevel is 1/16" thick with soon to be about 3/8 wide bevels. I usually go 24/80/120/180 then leather w/ white compound. After the rebeveling, I can just go to the 180 grit, then leather.
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Belt Life
- Thread starter me2
- Start date
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2010
- Messages
- 106
What kind of belts are you using? I'm betting AO belts in that size. I use mostly 2X72 Zirc belts starting at 60 grit and I get one knife flat ground and save the used belt to knock the sharp edge off my next flat grind. After that the belt is usually spent. It will still take off some metal but runs too hot so I scrap it. If your using AO I would guess it wouldn't last a quarter of the time. Every maker goes a different route on this but I use 60, 120, 240 then hand sand. I usually get two knives out of the 120 and 240 and the finish leaves little sanding. It might save you some belts and give you a little smoother finish for the leather and compound.
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2009
- Messages
- 676
For me, the 1 x 30 was a wonderful response to carpal tunnel syndrome. Having said that, you will spend more on belts than on a new grinder. You may get a little extra from the belts by 'refreshing' them by throwing big sparks on an old file or piece of hard steel. This breaks off fresh sharp edges of the grain and extends the life of the belt.
Consider stepping up - at least to a Sears 2 x 42 or even better - to a Coote 2 x 72. Either one will save you enough on belts to be worth the price.
Rob!
Consider stepping up - at least to a Sears 2 x 42 or even better - to a Coote 2 x 72. Either one will save you enough on belts to be worth the price.
Rob!
- Joined
- Jun 4, 2010
- Messages
- 71
Machetes are fairly soft and most machete users use a file to sharpen them. The machete is the most common working knife used worldwide. Very seldom does one come in contact with either a stone or a grinder belt. I was in Fiji working on a construction project a couple of years ago. My pocket knife had seen some use and was in need of honing. I asked the locals if anyone had a stone I could use. After quite a lot of sign language they ended up presenting me with a file. I think that is the only thing they ever use to sharpen anything. Fijians don't use pocket knives, but they are all familiar with the machete.
The grit is Zirconia. The Al2O3 belts dont last near as long and I can't get them this coarse. I'd love to move up to the Coote 2x72 and set it up w/ variable speed. I'm sure files work fine, but I have much better edge holding and cutting ability with the edges I'm using now. I'm rebeveling and removing damage from my grandmothers old (30+ yr) machete. I'm following, or trying at least, Jerry Hossom's tutorial for machete sharpening. If I can get it down in reasonable time, I would like to take it all the way to the 2000 grit Trizact belts available at Lee Valley.