Belt separation disorder...

[kvehikite]

I have an issue. It is painful to throw away belts. This last weekend I went through the massive pile of abrasive belts hanging all over the shop trying to make room for the bright and shinny new ones that just arrived. This was extremely difficult. I inspected and turned each belt over and over in my hands trying to rationalize that each was still useful. There are still two big piles sitting on the floor. Anyone else suffer from this? Is there a way out? I know they are worn out...I know they need to go, but I just can't do it. I'm running out of room.

 

[john april]

i toss them when i cant read the printing on the back side.

 

[REK Knives]

A little tip to get more life maybe... I use a diamond dressing stick and run it across the face to make the abrasives sharp again. But mostly I just toss them and get a fresh one!

 

[Rhinoknives1]

I have a pile that I keep for profiling and other jobs where it doen't really have to be a fresh belt.

I do want to tell you that some of the best advise about belts & usage I've ever been told is.

Use Belts as if they were Free! Sharp fresh belts are a big part of the equation for a handsome looking knife.

 

[timos-]

I struggle with this too. It just sucks getting rid of a huge pile of worn belts, especially when alot of them still have strips of good abrasive, but overall It sucks even more trying to use these belts when I could be done in half the time with a new one.
Do you just bag em and toss em or do you at least cut them up a little? Also has anyone tried worn out old belt mycarta?

 

[Rhinoknives1]

I struggle with this too. It just sucks getting rid of a huge pile of worn belts, especially when alot of them still have strips of good abrasive, but overall It sucks even more trying to use these belts when I could be done in half the time with a new one.
Do you just bag em and toss em or do you at least cut them up a little? Also has anyone tried worn out old belt mycarta?

I tie them is a knot and put them in the Recycling can. any grit left on the belts would make working the Belt/Micarta very tough.

Put on a new belt and speed up and improve your work!

 

[Nathan the Machinist]

I'm so wasteful it's disgusting. Someone could start a cottage industry selling belts I throw out. I've consumed hundreds of belts so far this year and I mill my bevels.

What it boils down to is, when you're short on time, and a fresh belt will get the job done faster, sometimes it makes sense to through money at a problem. *shrug*

 

[William Schrade]

I'll cut some of the decent ones up and use them for hand sanding but not for finish work.

 

[Scott Hanson]

I just threw about 25 out and I probably could get rid of a few more, I keep about 6 or so for lawn mower blades.

 

[Greenberg Woods]

I think it just comes down to how much your time is worth. When I first started making knives as a 16 year old scrounging together money from knife sharpening and pet sitting, I actually used Laurence's slightly worn belts. What was worth my time simply wasent worth his, and it worked out pretty well. Now that I have better things to be doing like selling wood, studying for midterms or trying to get a date im a lot more liberal with my belts.

 

[tiguy7]

A Mastersmith said don't grind on a polishing belt. A corollary might be don't grind on a grinding belt that is cutting like a polishing belt. Something about heat build up and slow removal.

 

[Josh Rider]

Lol seeing this thread makes me realize I'm not replacing belts like I should.

 

[Rhinoknives1]

I think it just comes down to how much your time is worth. When I first started making knives as a 16 year old scrounging together money from knife sharpening and pet sitting, I actually used Laurence's slightly worn belts. What was worth my time simply wasent worth his, and it worked out pretty well. Now that I have better things to be doing like selling wood, studying for midterms or trying to get a date im a lot more liberal with my belts.

After about 50% of the grit is gone, The build up to much heat for my Bevel Grinding & Sharpening work.

I've got a large pile I'm putting in with the Griz 2 x 72" Package I'm selling and any Noob in the area that wants to stop by my place or the Brentwood Farmer's Market on Sundays I will gladly give some of these belts to, so you can get grinding.

Just PM me.