belts for macarta

[v-6]

what belts do you use for your macarta? the stuff is so tough.
vern

 

[Karl B. Andersen]

Micarta is one of only a few materials that I don't shape entirely by file/hand.
I will use a new 36 grit to knock off the corners and do a little basics profiling, but I will still finish with files.

 

[v-6]

thanks Karl
vern

 

[raythebigfoot]

I use a 36 grit as well to do rough shaping!

 

[tmickley]

Hi Vern...
I use a cheap 36 AO belt. An expensive ceramic is close coated meaning it has a much higher coverage of abrasive material and often more bonding agent on the belt. All this clogs up with micarta or other phenolic easily. A cheap AO belt is usally open coated and has less resin bonding agent. This give the ground/melted micarta a place to go and not clog up the belt. You can take Micarta up a fine a finish grit as you want but it probably does better with buffing after 220 grit.

here is a link to brief reference and handy grit conversion chart http://www.marine.nortonabrasives.c...000000000000001074/Coated Abrasive Basics.pdf

 

[Phil705]

I use old used belts from 36 to about 220, never new ones. And I do use a respirator when I grind Micarta. I agree that buffing (I use green compound) is what brings out the luster, not the grinding.

 

[Nathan the Machinist]

For what it is worth, the stuff mills well. Milled out three micarta handles today...

 

[silver_pilate]

36 for rough, moving up through 220 and 400. I finish with 600 by hand and then buff with white compound. I've buffed straight from 220, but found that if I worked up into the 400-600 range, I got more shine/polish.

--nathan

 

[Nathan the Machinist]

This is a good thread:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=494347

 

[v-6]

thanks guys for the great replys. you guys are real cool, cool,cool.
vern