Belt sanding question

[HeavyHanded]

Anybody here that uses a belt sander for sharpening ever use water on the belt. I was experimenting last night with an old wood chisel and using water on the belt seemed to produce a much smaller burr with the coarse belt, and when I switched to a beat up 350 grit belt with a little water, it seemed to remove the burr a lot faster than usual. A quick pass on a leather belt and there was zero trace of the burr. I don't use a paper wheel, it generally takes a lot more time and care to cleanly eliminate the burr when I don't use water on the belt. I used a drywall sponge and just gave the moving belt a light touch with it prior to making a pass. I'll have to try this a little more before I'm sure of what I'm seeing.
HH

 

[changeofseasons]

I will sometimes use water with Micron belts and poly backed SiC belts. I use felt for burr removal though. Unless you can slow the belt down considerably, the grinder will just be flinging the water everywhere.

 

[tiguy7]

We demo'ed a wet belt sander at the butcher shop. A Norton I believe. It was fast and efficient. We called it the handle maker. Decided not to buy it. Couldn't afford to replace knives that often.