How fine do 15 micron belts get after use?

[snipes1027]

I'm about to pull the trigger on a 1 x 30 and was reading a very old thread about the setup I archived for myself a while back. Jerry Hossom gave a BUNCH of great info and included a suggested set up and procedure in which he finished he knives with the 15 micron lee valley belt, after a 1200 belt. That brand new 15 micron is rougher than the 1200 which wouldn't make much sense but everyone including the lee valley website says that get finer after use. Anyone have any idea how fine they get??????


here is the original thread
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=496644&page=4

 

[Jason B.]

They get very fine and loose a lot of their cutting power. I've also had both of mine come apart on the sander, they over time develop cracks and end up splitting apart.

Personally I feel they are a waste, my next belts will be 600 grit and no higher. Get a leather belt and some compound too, it works better for finishing.

 

[richard j]

i have a 15 micron belt thats close to 16 years old and it feels like smooth plastic but still cuts. i only use it if i want to put a mirror finish on something like a guard before buffing. they will start off rough but will smooth out after use. i have a 9 micron belt about as old but it seen quite a bit of use back when i got it in the early 90's. i get a similar finish by using a well worn 400 grit belt.

 

[Bufford]

I have some 9 and 15 micron belts, and they do last a long time. To extend the life of these belts, I wet them down as I use them to polish. First I make sure that the blade has been brought down to a 400 and then a 600 grit to minimize the time needed on the micon belts, as they can only do their job if the steel is properly prepped on the 600.

Then I spray the water on the moving micron belts. Things get a bit wet at this point, but the micron belts work really well when wet, and keeps the belt cutting longer by reducing the loadup of grinding grit.

 

[snipes1027]

They get very fine and loose a lot of their cutting power. I've also had both of mine come apart on the sander, they over time develop cracks and end up splitting apart.

Personally I feel they are a waste, my next belts will be 600 grit and no higher. Get a leather belt and some compound too, it works better for finishing.

That was my original analysis too, just go straight through on the grinding belts to 1200 (9 micron) and then strop with compound as far as you want to go then finish with bare leather and be done, and you contributed to the post I mentioned quite a bit yourself knifenut, and to most of my previous posts, thanks.

 

[Jason B.]

I should also mention I use my beltsander with no platen, you can still do V and convex you just need more pressure control.

The combo I like now is a 80 grit blue zirconia and my leather belt with #6 compound from lowes, it works very well until I get to more wear resistant metals then I must switch compounds. The zirconia belt lasts and lasts and produces a very clean edge when they become "broke-in".


I don't do this for all knives, just ones that are used and abused a lot. For example my dad's ZDP endura sees so much abuse that using stones to keep it maintained takes more time than I have so this two step process work perfect. It could be sharper if I used one more belt between but its razor like as is and that's good enough for him. In years of sharpening I've learned that with some things quality is better than quantity such as in this case where the quality of the abrasive trumps the number of abrasives needed.

ZDP after 80 grit belt

After polish

Sharp too

 

[me2]

Thats a pretty sweet lookin edge for 80 grit. I've done the same for my work knives with a 120 grit and white compound on leather.