Belt Sander Sharpening -- Getting started?

M

maskedbacon

Joined
Jan 3, 2011
Messages
52
Hi guys,

I've been looking around the web and I'm really excited about the idea of belt-sander sharpening. I currently use a Sharp-Maker and it's done great things for my kitchen knives and pocket knives, but the idea of taking machetes and axes to it just sounds silly. Plus I have tons of really dull knives that I'd love to take a whack at (that doesn't take me 2 hours per knife).

Anyhow, what I'm wondering is this... what grits and kinds of paper would you recommend? I'm looking at... http://www.leevalley.com/us/wood/page.aspx?c=&cat=1,43072&p=48040 and I'm not too sure where to start.

I also want to get stroping belts and compound and I'm not sure which ones are best (or where I should go to get them).

Finally, is anyone opposed to the Harbor Freight 1x30? I looked around for alternatives and it seems like I could get a 2x42 from Sears (for $150) or buy a Grizzly online for around $90. People seem to really like a Delta model but they stopped making it.

Thanks!

(and if this post has been made many times before, I'd be happy with a simple link :) )
 
I have a 1x42 from Kalamazoo that I use for sharpening. I use belts ranging from 220 to 800 depending on the blades sharpening needs. I also have one of the leather stropping belts from lee valley that I use for finishing. I also have a Craftsman 2x42 that I use for major stock removal. I personally feel that it runs too fast for maintenance sharpening, but is a great sander in my opinion. No experience with the grizzly or HF model.
 
richard j said:
you might find this post i made interesting. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...ime-is-important-to-you?p=9186306#post9186306 (post 690 if the link fails to take you to the right post)
Click to expand...

you've made me want to throw my 9micron belts away, let alone the strop :D

I'm going to have to get me a grinder let alone some wheels.. you're the man...... !! so you're saying you can leave it at 400 no strop and push cut free hanging newspaper .............. awesome......

op, I have a hf sander and its been a good work horse nothing wrong with it at all, and leevalley is a greats source for your needs....
 
Hi guys,

I just replied and it disappeared for some reason :-/ But thanks for all the replies!

I bought 120, 200, 600, 800, and 1000 bit Aluminum Oxide belts from trugrit along with another 120 bit Silicon Carbide to see if there's any difference between the two. I also got a leather belt and their Green Chrome compound. Do you know if it's any good?

I also have my new 1x30 HF sander here... although I think it might be a lemon because its alignment is all screwed up. But one thing at a time...

Anyone ordered from trugrit? I haven't heard anything from them and their process seems to be kind of unusual.

Thanks again.
 
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