Best belts for sharpening

S

skillgannon

Joined
Apr 27, 2009
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I do a fair amount of sharpening and have been using Hermes 400 grit belts from Pops. They work great but dont last long. I end up playing a couple of bucks per blade if I'm re-profiling. My Trizact 307 don't seem do work well and it looks like it causes a lot of wear to the belt.

What are you guys using?
 
I use the Norax Engineer Ceramic U936 belts. They are expensive lay flat, cut cool and last a long time. I got mine at TruGrit
 
Re-profiling and sharpening are different things. Re-profile on a 220 grit ceramic or zirconia belt and sharpen on a 220-to 400 grit flat and smooth belt. The sharpening should barely wear the belt.
Adam's Norax belt, or similar 3M belts are good sharpening choices. I find that the Trizac belts have too much flex for sharpening.

More than the belt type, the sharpening technique is what matters. Sharpen at a slow speed and hold a consistent angle. A hard and flat surface is very important, so unless you sre making a convex edge, use a flat platen behind the belt. If at all possible, wet sharpening is preferred.
 
For sharpening I use worn out zirconia 120 grit (only when re-profiling or making 1st edge), after that trizact 200-400 grit and few passes on polishing wheel to remove burr. Inexpensive and last long time.
 
when sharpening, speed kills. belts last seconds instead of minutes. if you are making sparks, small areas of the blade you so carefully heat treated are now soft. I like Norton Bluefire 120 and 220, slow and wet, then go to 3M 707E P220 to finish. once I have an edge that is burr free and will cut copy paper, time for stones.
 
I use a 220 AO belt to set bevels and for most general sharpening. A 220 grit edge off the slack belt touched up on a buffing wheel with Zam makes a slightly toothy edge that'll still pop hairs. Its my personal favorite for a working edge. If someone requests less toothy I'll follow it up with a 400 grit, and the rare times beyond that I'll go to Arkansas stones. Once I get to Arkansas stones I'll usually strop on a horsehide razor strop rather than the buffer
 
A rotary platen makes life some much easier.
 
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