Gator belt SFPM

[JTknives]

Just thought I would toss a pole out there and see what belt speed you run your gator belts at. I run my gator belts on the fast side. I use to go real slow but I noticed as I increased the speed the finish improved and the heat from grinding went down. Same goes for pressure. The harder I pushed the the cooler it ground. Currently I run the A300 gators at 3500SFPM with a rather heavy hand. It grinds cool and gives a great finish.

 

[3fifty7]

1800 because it’s the only speed I have at the moment. I love the finish of a gator belt over standard AO abrasive. I’m beginning to experiment with medium and very fine scotchbrite belts and so far I like what I see.

 

[AVigil]

I use Gators as finishing belts so usually run them 1500 and lower.

 

[JTknives]

This is the finish from an A300 at 3500sfpm. Thy just rip off material at the higher speeds. I go stright from the 50grit ceramic belts to the A300. I found that the belts tend to glaze over when I would run them slower. I know there is a chart somewhere showing recommended speed for 3M belts. But hands down the A300 is my favorite belt. I true up my plunge cuts and move the edge bevel up to a full flat grind with them. After that the rest of the gator belts just do light duty and refine the scratch pattern. I have wanted to try the scotch bright belts but I have been worried about washing out the crisp bevel transitions. These blades are AEBL @ 60-61RC and the gators last FOREVER. Last time I bought them was 2-3 years ago. And I buy them in sets of 2. Thoes belts from my last buy are still being used but thy are now used to clean up spines and other things where belt flatness is not important.

 

[TLR]

Same here. I have tried in the past to use them as more than a finishing belt and did not have much luck against 3V. I do like them for a finishing belt though.

 

[skillgannon]

I run mine fast with light pressure. I just thinned the blade on a benchmade M390 blade the other night. I was surprised about how well the gator cut. I thinned it with a 60 grit ceramic then cleaned up with a A300 and took it to a A45 and finished with a maroon scotchbrite. Only 15 to 20 minutes to a nice belt finish.

 

[JTknives]

Yeah the A300 is an amazing belt.

 

[Ken H>]

JT, If your poll says for A300 Gator it would give a better poll of Gator speed.

A300 (around 80 grit) around 2500 to 3,000 SFPM.
A100 (around 220 grit) a tad slower
A45 (around 320 grit) grit for final finish perhaps as slow as 1,000 to 1200 SFPM.

 

[Don Hanson III]

For me they suck at lower speeds.
Don't know what speeds my grinders run, but I crank em up with gators.

 

[Ken H>]

Don, you run even the A45 gator at high speed?

 

[jdm61]

I worry about heat buildup when using the 45,30 or even 65 at higher speeds. But part of that is because I am using them on some very thin stuff.

Don, you run even the A45 gator at high speed?

 

[Don Hanson III]

Don, you run even the A45 gator at high speed?

I might slow the speed a little when I get to A45. I have a love/hate thing goin on with gators.

 

[REK Knives]

I run my a180 on down through a30 gators at around 2000 sfpm, but I run them wet and they work amazingly well especially when I dress them frequently.

 

[JTknives]

I have been wondering about running them wet. 3M says thy are for dry grinding. I wet grind as well with a water spray above the blade. But how well do thy hold up. Bet thy really sling the water

 

[REK Knives]

I have been wondering about running them wet. 3M says thy are for dry grinding. I wet grind as well with a water spray above the blade. But how well do thy hold up. Bet thy really sling the water

They hold up great, no issues with the gators... Just don't try it with the regular trizacts lol

 

[jdm61]

I have done damp, but never wet wet.