Grinder for Sharpening - Questions

Bill,

It is easy to do exactly that. However, if you get a few practice blades from a thrift store, you'll reduce the chances of you wreckign a good knife a lot. The tendency is to go real fast or way to slow, and both are bad. But it doesn't take long before you are taking smooth, light, brisk pulls across the belt. Sharpening with a belt sander does take a lot of concentration that can't be interrupted though. It doesn't take much to mess up! But it doesn't take much practice before you get good at belt sharpening. For thinning out a thick bevel, you have less to worry about than going with higher grits and trying to really sharpen too.
 
Cray that is what I kind of thought. You almost have me convinced on getting one of these cheapo grinders. Maybe one day I'll have a chisel ground kitchen knife to practice sharpening on. :) :)
 
One thing I recommend to new belt-sander-owners is to make a stop by the local craft store and pick up some 1/4" x 1" x 24" basswood. Practice putting on an edge with the basswood before trying it on an actual knife. It's not exactly the same, but it's a great ice-breaker for relaxing yourself at the belt grinder before you hit it with the good stuff.

There are many bonafide knifemakers who still use this technique to test knife designs, grinds, etc. ;)
 
Johnathon, I am way late chimming in on this thread. That very Harbor Freight model is the one I started with. I did, probably, most of my 16 knives so far with it. I paid 10 or 20 bucks more for mine and the price in your link is a give-away. It runs fast but if you learn on it you will aquire a feel that will stay with you and benefit you in the future. It is also the grinder that I cut my index finger in half on. It runs fast and is unforgiving but I am glad I was able to get one when I first started out.

If you get one, get your belts from Pop's Knife Supply. He supplies them in the grits you'll need and he will treat you right and sincerely help you in getting started with a 1 X 30, or any other size as far as that goes. No, I do not work for Pop's but I give credit to those that prove themselves worthy of it.

RL
 
In my zeal, and after my previous success, I tried sharpening 2 more knives today. Both have been a complete disaster. Lets run down the list so far.
Successfully sharpened
Faberware butcher knife, Faberware filley/boning knife, Cold Steel machete (panga), Boye Prophet Companion.

Botched
Smith and Wesson hunting knife
Benchmade 730

I removed most of the coating from the 730, and rounded the point. These two arent too much of a loss, since the handle has been replaced on the smith twice, and the 730 has had the serrations ground off and resharpened to a plain edge.

How do I keep from rounding the tips off? The other parts I know how to fix. When I removed the coating, I was using too shallow an angle and pressing into the belt too hard. Thanks for any advice.
 
Also, I just tried to put a new belt on the sander and it wont fit. I had been using the one it came with, but the replacement was from home depot. I loosened the tension/tracking wheel as far as it would go, but it still wouldnt fit.
 
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