Convexing on a belt sander?

I

iambored388

Joined
Mar 9, 2010
Messages
117
I'm confused on how to do this. Do you just put more slack in the belt and sharpen it like you would for a V-ground blade? Also, how long do alumium oxide belts last?
 
theamazingdrew said:
convexing on a sander
AO belts
Click to expand...
First page says nothing about how to convex on a belt sander.
2nd search gives you sites to buy AO belts.

You always use the slack portion of the belt when convexing, you can vary the pressure and angle depending on the tool, for axes I push into the belt hard and lower the angle a bit so that it gives it a reprofile but a steep angle, for pocket knives I use very light pressure. If you can adjust the tightness of the belts, don't make it too slack, you still want it to be a stiff when you press on it.
How long it lasts depends on how hard you push into the belt and what you're grinding, you can tell when it's time to change belts by feeling the abrasive, I usually save old belts for getting rust off old tools.
 
Roger999 said:
First page says nothing about how to convex on a belt sander.
2nd search gives you sites to buy AO belts.

You always use the slack portion of the belt when convexing, you can vary the pressure and angle depending on the tool, for axes I push into the belt hard and lower the angle a bit so that it gives it a reprofile but a steep angle, for pocket knives I use very light pressure. If you can adjust the tightness of the belts, don't make it too slack, you still want it to be a stiff when you press on it.
How long it lasts depends on how hard you push into the belt and what you're grinding, you can tell when it's time to change belts by feeling the abrasive, I usually save old belts for getting rust off old tools.
Click to expand...

So to get a convex edge you just have to give the belt a bit of slack and do everything else normally? And how long woul you say YOUR belts last on average?
 
No the belt will be plenty slack with out loosening it up.
Just remove the platen(best way) or use a unsupported section of the belt. Blade pressure against the belt will determine how much convex you get plus the closer you are to a support ie. platen roller the firmer the belt will be. Practice on a cheap knife. read posts by jerry hossom linked above. I grind edge up(into the travel of the belt) for heavy re-profiling and edge down for finish. This is personal preference only. ( always place edge in same direction as belt travel when using a leather honing belt)
 
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