Economy Convex Maintenance

WhitleyStu

WhitleyStu

Keep'em scary sharp!!!
Gold Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2006
Messages
831
I did not want to hijack the "Veritas Green Compound" thread so I will post this here... I know a lot of folks like to maintain the convex edge by hand, but if anyone is interested in an inexpensive machine here is what I have put together. I purchased a $29 Harbor Freight 1”x30” belt grinder and fastened it to a piece of .5” high density poly material on its back so the belt is moving away from me. Next I ordered from Lee Valley 500 grit and 1200 grit Aluminum Oxide grinding belts, 15µ (Micron) Silicon Carbide belt, and a Leather Honing belt. I use the belts in that order. If you are just touching up the edge the aluminum oxide belts can be skipped. It actually takes longer to change the belts than to work the blade. It’s no KMG, but it gets the job done. My Tiger Warden has a killer edge with just the leather belt. Here is a pic of the belt grinder and also my other sharpener…
sharpeningservice005yg4.jpg

sharpeningservice003bq3.jpg
 
those look like great tools for maintenance.

unfortunately the last time i used a belt grinder it took of an entire fingernail. i dont have the coordination to use most power tools.
 
oh, how do you get the angle on the edges that you want.

or is it more of a free hand?
 
It is free hand, but there are ways of rigging a rest if you need one. I keep the belt slack and it follows the curve of the convex edge for touch ups. I took a cheap 18" machete from a 30° (per side) to a convex in less than 10 minutes. I'm still practicing with the belt grinder.
 
Great thread! I have one of those Harbor Freight specials. I just bought a $10 survival knife from Big 5 and practiced on it until I was proficient. I even hacked at my retainer wall to destroy the edge so I could do it all over again. Very easy to pick up. I find it easier to strop on 1200 grit for a couple passes on either side to keep the blade touched up though. I need to get my hands on one of those leather belts! I'd probably change my mind after using one of those!
 
pbubsy said:
I need to get my hands on one of those leather belts! I'd probably change my mind after using one of those!
Click to expand...

Yep, the leather belts make for "power stroping". I was suprised how fast they work. I use white rouge on the leather and the edge comes up is like a mirror in no time.:thumbup:
 
Hell. For $30 bucks, I might just buy two. Keep one set up for sharpening and the other for stropping. Nice tip.

Rick
 
When you put the knife on the belt grinder how long does it take before the blade starts to get warm?

How long do you wait before starting again or do you try to keep the blade cold?

I ask because when grinding if you feel the blade get hot to the touch you have most likely taken the edge to a temp that you should not have. Temps can flash real high on a grinder before you know it.
 
Thanks for the heads up WitleyStu! Just went and ordered mine. Can't beleve it is so cheap!

How do you like the Tormek? Been thinking about one of those.
I am a chef and have to sharpen my tools every week...
 
Cobalt, when first starting out, dunk the blade into a bucket of water after each pass on the belt. after you get a feel for it, you can do without the water when just touching up an edge. if you can still hold the blade, it's not to hot.
Just be real careful at the tip, you can lose it quick!

btw Whitleystu, how do you keep your gringing area so clean! mine looks like yours, but in black!
 
Cobalt said:
When you put the knife on the belt grinder how long does it take before the blade starts to get warm?

How long do you wait before starting again or do you try to keep the blade cold?

I ask because when grinding if you feel the blade get hot to the touch you have most likely taken the edge to a temp that you should not have. Temps can flash real high on a grinder before you know it.
Click to expand...

I use a light touch and the blade just gets warm, not hot. By the time you switch to the next belt the blade is cooled. It is not a machine that you are going to "hog off" material so getting very hot is not an issue.
 
steelnut said:
How do you like the Tormek? Been thinking about one of those.
I am a chef and have to sharpen my tools every week...
Click to expand...

For the money the Tormek does a great job. I had thought about an F. Dick SM-111, but at $2100 is was a bit too much for me and only did knives. The Tormek has a wide range of fixtures for many tools. I purchased all three knife jigs and a few others. With the wheel only running ~ 60 RPM there are no sparks and the wheel runs in a water bath. No heat build up and you can dress the wheel to get an agressive edge or a razor edge. If I were into blade making I would get something in the way of a large belt grinder, but for just sharpening the Tormek fills my needs. My wife tells me to not get her knives any sharper!!:rolleyes: Here in the U.S. Tormek is related to woodwork tool sharpening, but I have read that in Europe it is known more as a knife sharpener...
 
Yager said:
btw Whitleystu, how do you keep your gringing area so clean! mine looks like yours, but in black!
Click to expand...

The Tormek gives off no dust as the blade's edge is coated in the water that the wheel is running in. The belt grinder's belts are very fine and give off very little grit. Actually the leather strop belt sheds more than the grinding belts. A dry towel keeps the area clean... If business picks up this summer I may move these two machines to the garage.
 
thanks!

Have you done any large blades, or just the GW? How long would a typical belt last --- would you go through many belts polishing the edge of a FBM?
 
Thanks for the post WhitleyStu!!! Good stuff! :thumbup:

I can't seem to find that belt grinder at Harbor Freight... you have a link to it??


.
 
Cobalt said:
When you put the knife on the belt grinder how long does it take before the blade starts to get warm?

How long do you wait before starting again or do you try to keep the blade cold?

I ask because when grinding if you feel the blade get hot to the touch you have most likely taken the edge to a temp that you should not have. Temps can flash real high on a grinder before you know it.
Click to expand...


The blades never get more than warm when I sharpen mine. Just keep the blade moving. A fbm takes about one or two seconds per pass. a Few passes is all you need. I'm a true believer in this method of sharpening/re-beveling. Super easy for newbies to pick up, and saves MUCH time and energy. If you are worried about burning the temper out of INFI don't be. It takes 900 degrees to do so. You will never come close to half or even a quarter of that When you hear of people burning the temper out of their blade 99% of the time it is from using a power grinding wheel not belt. Just keep the blade moving. I never use water to cool off my blades, It's never going to get that hot unless your sharpening a folder and are moving too slow. The tip gets the hottest because of the thinner blade thickness. I highly recommend everyone try this method, I know I have posted this before many times but I cannot stress how much in every way it is superior to hand sharpening. To everyone trying this I commend you.:thumbup:

Edited to add: You will know if you have ruined the temper because the color of the steel will change colors ranging from tan, black, blue, ect the color depending on what temp you have taken the blade steel to.
 
xaman said:
thanks!

Have you done any large blades, or just the GW? How long would a typical belt last --- would you go through many belts polishing the edge of a FBM?
Click to expand...


A belt will last for many sharpenings, depending on blade size and the amount of steel you take off. re-beveling obviously will take more off the belt/knife than a one stroke per side touch up. The older belts of a coarser grit can be used as a substitute for a finer grit. However a belt in that condition will build up heat quicker than a fresh belt will. I still hand strop because I don't prefer a mirror finish I keep a coarser edge on mine than that for more bite. I only use a few passes on each side with a lee valley chromium oxide loaded strop.
 
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