cork belts

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willy m

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Nov 27, 2007
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hi guys,i have 2 cork belts i bought when i read about some guys using them to sharpen. there were 3 grit sizes i believe(ive had them a long time now) 400,600and800 so i bought the 2 finest grits. when they came it said to run them around 10-15 minuets with a piece of steel against them to break them in. i did that.but i cant seem to get any kind of decent edge with them. i havent used any compound on them. i just dont know what im doing wrong? i get great edges using abrasive belts followed by leather belt with green crome. but i havent been able to figure the cork belts out? any info. would be a big help! thanks,willy:confused:
 
I've got probably the same ones, but I got them to clean up blades. (But I like the 'scotchbrite' ones better for that). Never heard of, or used them for sharpening myself... it was my understanding blade cleanup was their purpose. That also seems to be the purpose they're sold for, at Supergrit.com for example.

cbw
 
I just reread your post and realized you are talking about sharpening. What I say below is what I do for grinding the blade as well as for sharpening.

I believe it was Bob Loveless and S. R. Johnson that came up with this idea of using green chrome on cork belts. I use them and they work great. You have to put the green chrome on the belt though. Tracy at USA Knifemaker Supply has a little blurb about how to use them at http://www.usaknifemaker.com/store/cork-belt-400-grit-ao-2x72-belt-klingspor-premium-quality-p-644.html.

You would probably be better off starting with the 280 or 400 grit belts and then moving up. I use just the 400 and 600 although I may get an 800. After using them I then buff with first the green chrome and then pink no scratch.

Here is what I use, in order (all numbers are grit) - 60, 120, 220, cork 400 with green chrome, cork 600 with green chrome, buff with green chrome and then buff with pink no scratch.

Hope this helps.
 
I was told to soak them in water if it's the same thing im thinking of.
 
thanks for the info guys. but i know i read on this forum guys were using them during the sharpening process. however i have plenty of use for them with some green chrome...willy
 
If I'm imagining right, you don't want to use all that much pressure. It will give you a convex edge, if you press hard it rounds over the edge quickly.

Lighten up the pressure, regrind the edge to a V with a normal belt then finish with a cork. Very hard if not impossible to rework a rounded edge on a cork.
 
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