How messy is the EdgePro really? (And a Q about belt sanders)

Shmackey

Shmackey

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May 5, 2000
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I live in a small apartment right now, and space is at a premium--but I have a garage (unattached). I'm wondering if the EdgePro is messy enough that I'll just want to leave it in the garage and trek there with my knives every so often.

If so, I might just get a belt sander, assuming I can learn how to use it well.

(Speaking of belt sanders, does anyone know where to find some good information about using one well? My understanding is that you can do a really great job with the right belts and skill, or you can just use it to whack off a lot of metal.)
 
I've used it on my parent's kitchen counter, table tops, etc. As long as some water on the surface of whatever you are using it on won't cause any harm it shouldn't be a big deal. Just have a towel or two around the base to help contain the water from running off and onto the floor. The water will have a slurry of metal and your stone in it, so make sure that won't penetrate and stain your surface.
 
I put mine on a big cookie sheet that I attached cork feet to. Seems to keep the mess pretty self contained and you can put the stones and everything on it and just put it on a shelf to store. I use my 1X30 belt sander mainly to "whack off a lot of metal" and its quite good at that. At least for me, its going to take a lot of practice to create an even bevel but it sure cuts down on reprofiling time. Try to get one with an attachment for a vac or the filings coming off the belt will get everywhere (speaking of making a mess!)
 
To learn to use a belt sander start with old kitchen knives and comparitively fine grit belts until you feel under control. A 220 grit belt is easy to find and unlikely to get away from you. If you can find a 320 or 400 grit belt it is even less likely to be a problem. If you started out with a 60 grit belt you are real likely to do damage. You can get old kitchen knives at a Salvation Army, Goodwill, or ARC thrift store.
 
Forgot to add that over-heating a blade is a real issue with belt sanding. A light touch and making the pass as quickly as you can in a controlled manner will help prevent heat build up. When starting out, stop and feel the edge frequently to get a sense of how much heat is building up. I'm new at this myself so hopefully you'll get more experienced users to post here.
 
I've been using the Edge Pro for about 6 months and once I understood what I was doing, the mess became minimal. I set mine up by the kitchen sink with an old towel to wipe up water, slurry, etc.

I absolutley love this machine.
 
basjoo said:
Forgot to add that over-heating a blade is a real issue with belt sanding. A light touch and making the pass as quickly as you can in a controlled manner will help prevent heat build up. When starting out, stop and feel the edge frequently to get a sense of how much heat is building up. I'm new at this myself so hopefully you'll get more experienced users to post here.
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I don't know about a sander, but when using a grinder I dunk a blade in a bucket of water after a pass on one side. That helps but won't entirely prevent the problem.

I don't know if you can do this with a belt sander.
 
yes, you can (and should) dunk the blade in a can of water every pass or two you make on a belt sander. Even (and especially) on the little belt sanders.

You can get a 1x30 at Harbor Freight for $30...


Otherwise, the next best option is the Delta SA180 which is a 1x42 and has a 9" disc sander on it too. I still use mine for all sharpening tasks.

Best part is you can get a 1x42 leather belt for it and do "power stropping". :D
 
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