Cork Belts

Big Smitty

Big Smitty

Joined
Aug 30, 2007
Messages
509
Anyone using cork belts. I bought a 400 and a 600 grit cork belt to try and used them tonight on 2 knives I heat treated yesterday. I used standard belts to 400 grit then switched to the 400 cork and then 600 cork and then to 600 cork with some polishing compound. All grinding scratches are gone and i have a real nice finish. Tomorrow I am going to hand sand as i want a 400 grit satin finish.
 
Just started with some. Ordered by accident and figured what the heck, I'll try them. Yes, so far I love them! I only have a 600 but my next order will include a 400 also. They don't replace hand-sanding in my book, but they lessen the work extraordinarily!
 
I use a 600 grit cork belt after 400 grit AO. It doesn't take all of the scratches out for me (especially with stainless steels), but it gets it much closer. If I go to 15 and 9 micron belts after the 400, the cork works better for me. The buffer will take out all of the scratches after micron to cork.
 
Big Smitty said:
Anyone using cork belts. I bought a 400 and a 600 grit cork belt to try and used them tonight on 2 knives I heat treated yesterday. I used standard belts to 400 grit then switched to the 400 cork and then 600 cork and then to 600 cork with some polishing compound. All grinding scratches are gone and i have a real nice finish. Tomorrow I am going to hand sand as i want a 400 grit satin finish.
Click to expand...

Cork belts RULE.
I'd like to have 200 grit cork belts as well, but I can get them only 600 grit and above.
:rolleyes:
 
I really like the cork belts on the 2 blades I tested them on. Does anyone have any "special" techniques that they use to get the most out of them, or is it just standard old grinding technique?
 
If i intend to handrub finish a blade..,i take it up to 600 grit belt,then 400 cork loaded with green compound.,then 600 cork loaded.both belts are well broken in.after a few minutes on each belt you'll be damn close to a mirror finish.so hand rubbing only takes a few minutes!!

When i want a satin finish i go to 400 grit,then 400 cork belt with no compound.still gives a bright fine finish,but gives a nice scratch pattern!

Heres how my satin's look.

ikbs6.jpg
 
I think that they would be good for finishing hollow grinds. I will have to try when my grinder is done!
 
I was thinking of getting them just to make them into 2X72" strops. I'd assume they would rock at slow speeds when putting a mirror finish on a cutting bevel
 
balibalistic said:
If i intend to handrub finish a blade..,i take it up to 600 grit belt,then 400 cork loaded with green compound.,then 600 cork loaded.both belts are well broken in.after a few minutes on each belt you'll be damn close to a mirror finish.so hand rubbing only takes a few minutes!!

When i want a satin finish i go to 400 grit,then 400 cork belt with no compound.still gives a bright fine finish,but gives a nice scratch pattern!

Heres how my satin's look.

ikbs6.jpg
Click to expand...

I really like this knife. Love the way to blade is ground:thumbup:
 
There is a great write up by S.R. Johnson in the other forum. I believe it's on mirror polishimg .It's an older posting. Frank
 
Balibalistic-nice knife! Grinds are sweeeet! How long are you finding that the cork belts last? How long do they last for using buffing compound.
 
Thanks Fella's!!

I've been using the same 3 cork belts for over six months with no sign of slowing down!the two that i load with compound get better as i use them.the 400 i use for satin's gives the same results everytime.as long as your grind is even off the belts the cork belt finish wont take long!
 
I bought a cork belt years ago but it hasn't been used much. Loading it with polishing compound is a new idea for me. What compound are you using?
Thanks, Lynn
 
Lynn, I just use green chrome rouge on the belt. If you want to remove more stock with it, you could maybe go to a black - something that I've been wanting to try before going to the green belt.
 
Big Smitty said:
I really like the cork belts on the 2 blades I tested them on. Does anyone have any "special" techniques that they use to get the most out of them, or is it just standard old grinding technique?
Click to expand...

Several years ago there was (were) a (several) major thread(s) on the Steve Johnson Forum on TKN about cork finishing. They got very detailed on techniques that work extremely well. The first step is to take the cork belt and run it on scrap steel to get the grit worn down and then to coat the belt with either CrO or white rouge. You use the rouge coated belts to get a great finish. Search the original threads for much more detail.
 
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