Grinding Belts - Is there a limit to how good to go?

Triought

Triought

Joined
Jul 18, 2014
Messages
129
I have a couple sanders a 4X36 and a 1X30. I bought some 3M belts to try on the 1X30 and noticed a huge difference over the stock belt that came with it. This proves to me that better belts are definitely the way to go. The question I have (I looked in the sticky and couldn't find this info, I looked at the stickies and used the search feature but didn't see anything stand out.. I saw the http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1049666-Ten-Tools?p=11983527#post11983527 by Stacy but that just said to have all grit sizes.) is there a limit to the value of the belts? I noticed some belts can go upwards of $20. I was looking on Jantz and saw there is blaze belts that are supposed to be good. I really liked the 3M gator belts I bought a couple of, but I'm wondering if I'm using the wrong belts and would be better served like something like the blaze belts, or to go with the cheaper generic belts from JANTZ or another place. What belts do you use, and why?
 
Last edited:
I just try and use decent ceramic belts. I've been using Klingspor lately and they've been working great. I went down to 36 grit and i can get the majority of the bevels done in less than 10mins almost. Super fast. Just gotta watch things because it can go bad quick.
 
I never bought any of those structured belts for a long time due to cost. First one I bought changed my mind. They really do last and keep a consistent finish for a long time.
 
I'm going to try some of the blaze belts I think, I really want to try a low 36-40 grit for faster metal removal.
 
I have mostly used blaze in the past, then I started using the Cubitron 987 (I think thats the right number), but on my last order from supergrit, I decided to try some of those purple bora-7's. My initial impression is that they are awesome. I've only ground about 4 or 5 knives with them, but they seem pretty sweet.

Has anyone else used the bora-7's?

-Adam
 
The conversation is if you use a lot of pressure when grinding go with the Blaze belts. If not use the 3M ceramics Frank.
 
Frank Niro said:
The conversation is if you use a lot of pressure when grinding go with the Blaze belts. If not use the 3M ceramics Frank.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I do press down harder than I should most likely. I will go Blaze. I couldn't find the cubitron belts in 1 X 30 at any knife supply place.
 
The replies should keep in mind the grinder he's using moves very quickly and has a small surface area.

So! Durability (how long it'll last) and heat are probably the most important things then price. At least that's how I read it.
 
Strigamort said:
The replies should keep in mind the grinder he's using moves very quickly and has a small surface area.

So! Durability (how long it'll last) and heat are probably the most important things then price. At least that's how I read it.
Click to expand...

yep, price isn't the issue as long as I get a benefit from paying that price. I was wondering if the higher priced belts would be superior to the cheaper ones or if I was better off with the cheaper ones and wouldn't see a difference.
 
I use the blaze and really feel that the $ per belt is paid back in easy of grinding and the number of knives you can grind with one belt (comfortably). With time being an issue I tend to change to a new belt quicker and use the old belts for profile. Profiling seems to rip the grit from the blaze pretty quick but I just burn up the belt at this point. I save a few new belts just for handles so they remain sharp.

There has been some discussion on breaking the surface of the blaze, I tried with a hardend piece of steel, thought it worked a bit but not really sure, any discussion??
 
The key is to find the belts that fit your grind style, then know when to stop using them and grab a new belt. If it isn't cutting, all it's doing is heating. A worn belt is responsible for more screwed up knives than anything else, I'd bet. Simplest concept in the world, but darn near every maker does the same thing... We wouldn't use dull knives, would we? So, why the hell do we insist on using dell belts?!?!??

I know, I know... They're expensive. Screwing up a perfectly good knife by pushing too hard because your belt is shot is more expensive.

To answer your direct question, the belt progression for me is:
Blaze 36
Blaze 80
3M 707 120
3M 707 220
3M 707 240
Klingspor 309 400 or 3M Micron 30 micron(depends on material)
 
Frank Niro said:
The conversation is if you use a lot of pressure when grinding go with the Blaze belts. If not use the 3M ceramics Frank.
Click to expand...

This is one of the most important, and most overlooked issues when selecting belts.

I grind very light because I started out with tool grinding on stones in the machining industry, and many of the most popular belts work terribly for me.

A lot of folks don't realize just how much force is needed to properly re-fracture the abrasives.

Keeping a bit of scrap carbide around can work pretty well, running it across the belt can crack up some of the dull points a bit, but it still isn't a real fix.

For instance the new cubitron II that everyone's raving about, they work terribly for me because I end up just burnishing the points on the abrasive, and then it literally is worse than garbage. Blades get burning hot with zero material removal.
 
On that topic, I'm always experimenting...
It bothers me that, even though I agree that using a belt that has lost its crispness wastes time and risks a bad grind, when we throw em out most of the grit is untouched.

Had a batch of the cheap blue belts I use for rough grinding wood handles headed for the garbage can, and took a close look- they were kind of clogged up and glazed enough that they weren't working well on wood, but it looked like there was a ton of untouched abrasive.
I thought, what's to lose by just trying them on some annealed D2 blanks....they didn't cut anywhere near as slick as a new 967, but nowhere near as bad as I thought they would- for profiling and doing rough flat grinds I'd get a couple blades out of each one before it was flat...took a bit of pressure- more than I'm used to using, but it did eat that steel.
Food for thought.
 
Last edited:
Triought said:
I have a couple sanders a 4X36 and a 1X30. I bought some 3M belts to try on the 1X30 and noticed a huge difference over the stock belt that came with it. This proves to me that better belts are definitely the way to go. The question I have (I looked in the sticky and couldn't find this info, I looked at the stickies and used the search feature but didn't see anything stand out.. I saw the http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1049666-Ten-Tools?p=11983527#post11983527 by Stacy but that just said to have all grit sizes.) is there a limit to the value of the belts? I noticed some belts can go upwards of $20. I was looking on Jantz and saw there is blaze belts that are supposed to be good. I really liked the 3M gator belts I bought a couple of, but I'm wondering if I'm using the wrong belts and would be better served like something like the blaze belts, or to go with the cheaper generic belts from JANTZ or another place. What belts do you use, and why?
Click to expand...

Actually, in that thread I didn't mention belts at all. I suggested good quality sandpaper from 100 to 1000 grit.

Belts need to fit what you are sanding/grinding as well as the machine you use. There is not much advantage to a cubitron belt if your machine is low power Those belts are made for high speed and large motors.

I like the blue zirconium belts for general use, and they work well on lower grade grinders. The orange Blaze and similar belts are super for hogging out steel on a 2X72 with a couple horses pushing it. Plain old AO belts are good for handles, and SC belts in the finer grits are for getting the surface smooth above 400 grit.

Most belts of the same type are sold roughly in the same price range by suppliers, but there are suppliers who offer discounts for volume. I don't know what belt you saw at $20. The range for knife making belts in 2X27 size is normally between $3 and $9.
 
I'm getting ready to order a batch of belts ... Does anyone have a supplier source they could recommend. Wouldn't mind saving a couple of $$ this go around.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top