Do 60 grit belts longer than 36 grit?

chknifemaker

chknifemaker

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Jun 30, 2013
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When I've been grinding knives it seems that the 60 grit blaze belts last lo get than the 36 grit ones....with the 36seem the

abrasive is so big that it gets nocked off. Has anyone else noticed this or is this just a false observation?

Thanks
 
For rough grinding the 36 grit results in much faster metal removal than a 60 grit belt. If you are using belts where the ceramic grit is knocked off the surface of the belt; I would say bad belt. I use 3M 987 F in 36 and 60 with the 60 being used as a follow up to the 36 grit.

Ceramic belts are meant to be fractured to renew the belts abrasive surface. This is done using a solid carbide drill rod or other used carbide tool. The carbide is harder than the ceramic and fractures the ceramic crystal structure when its pressed, using pressure, against the fast moving belt.
Try the 3M belts mentioned above they are better than what your using, last longer and don't fall off in cutting ability as the belt is used.

Fred
 
Make sure you break sharp edges before grinding with the 36 too (ie. 45° bevel towards the edge before grinding actual bevels).
 
I recently used a 36 grit Blade to grind a 12" bowie blade, finish roughing bevels on 2 heat treated 10V blades, rough in bevels on 2 S90V blades already heat treated, and a few other minor tasks. I was overly surprised and pleased with the life and use I got from that belt. It was the first one I had used, and for sure will not be the last. I still have the ability to break the grain on the belt to continue it's service.
 
since i work with thin stock that flexes alot i dont really use 36 grit and stick with 60grit and have a wheel dresser to get a bit more life out of the belts (then give them to the blacksmith guild to use up )
 
Thanks Guys I had not heard of extending the life by using a carbide tool t break down the grain to expose fresh stuff.
Thanks again.
 
I can get at least 30% more life out of a 36 grit blaze over a 60 grit. I find them more useful for rough handle shaping after they don't cut steel any longer. I feel the 36 grit has more ceramic material thickness on the belt. The finer the belt the less they last.
 
I haven't experimented with this, but curious about what people think: On one hand we stick a carbide rod into a belt to keep it fresh- on the other, we break down edges to keep from....knocking the grains off?
Does this actually make sense? It seems like you can't have it both ways.
I can feel the grit fly off when I don't 45 the edges.
 
I think the re-fracturing of the grit is only done when the belt has stopped cutting as well initially (it's loaded, rounded over, glazed, etc).
 
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