Belt sander, is it all that you need?

[masa]

Hi

I have a belt sander and I was wondering if I should buy an edge pro. I would like a nice edge but with the belt sander it isnt so consistant. Is edgepro what I need or practise?

thanks

 

[yoda4561]

A bit of practice with the belt sander will get you really close in cosmetics. The other thing is you need to use the right belts, a nice worn 220 grit or fresh 400+ grit belt works best for sharpening when you want a pretty edge. A worn 120 is great for machetes used on fiberous weeds and for rope slicing edges. Most custom makers sharpen on a belt sander, and with some practice you can do that just as good as they can.

The edgepro with polishing tapes though, it really doesn't get much better than that. Kinda sucks for repairing large damage on a big knife though, or for re-setting the bevel with a badly blunted edge, so you'll still want the belt sander around for those jobs. Get practicing

Here's an old chisel ground kitchen knife I resharpened a while ago, edge was all beat up and had been used to hammer through frozen chickens with, as you can see by the spine, a hammer. Didn't remove all the damage, just what was needed to get the blade back into cutting shape. This was done on a sears 2x42 and a Norton Norax x30 belt.

 

[SpyderPhreak]

Practice. practice, practice. Good belts meant for steel like the Norton Norax and 3M Trizact help too. For the ultimate in edge shine, get a SurgiSharp leather belt (and some green and white buffing compound) to finish your edges! A good place to buy this stuff is TruGrit.

 

[masa]

Thats a very nice edge. I have been sharpening on stones all the while. I was surprised that I can can a better and sharper edge on it than on a belt.
Think what I need is more practise. Thanks for the help, its back to the belts.

 

[eccvets]

A worn 120 is great for machetes used on fiberous weeds and for rope slicing edges.

I've tried this as well as putting a nice mirror razor edge on my machete and I really enjoy the sharp, more refine edge. Seems to glide much easier thru the leaves, branches, and brush I come across (I just have to sweep it across the stupid 5-7 foot high panic grass and watch them fall). With the rougher edge I find I really gotta hack at it using up a lot more effort which fustrates me.

 

[Komitadjie]

I sharpen down at a local sporting goods place on the weekends, and the belt is all I've found a need for. I have an EP that I use a fair bit on my own stuff, and a WEPS that just shipped today that I'll be using for ceramics and fun. I guess it depends on precisely what you want to accomplish. With the Trizact abrasives and SurgiSharp leather, I can put on edges that can pass almost any realistic test you'd want to put a pocket knife to, and are nicely polished. I say 'realistic' because I haven't managed to get one to pass the hanging hair test yet, but they'll shave effortlessly, push-cut phonebook paper, smoothly sever twine, etc.

Honestly, if I had to pick only one sharpener to use? It'd be the belt. The versatility is just tremendous. Keep practicing! If you want to spend some cash to improve your equipment,look into a Kalamazoo SM1 belt grinder and the Trizact belts that Doug Rising offers. The Trizacts last a lot longer and leave a much more even, consistent finish than a grit belt does.

 

[masa]

thanks all for sharing with me your experience.