I have found a new level of sharpness

pahl

pahl

Joined
Feb 23, 2002
Messages
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I was sharpening some knives today by hand on some DMT hones.
My fine DMT hone is the green (1200?) After I finish up with the green one I strop the blade on a strip of leather I glued to a board.

Well today I tried something differant. Instead of stropping the blade on my home made strop I took the belt off my Delta 1x30" belt sander and turned it inside out. I then put the belt back on.

I now had the belt installed with the paper side facing out.
I then started it up and put some white compound on the belt.

Then I got the cheapest knife I have and put it up to the belt.
First one side then the other.

The cheapest knife I own was now also the sharpest knife I have ever had in my hands :eek:

I could not believe what a big differance this made.

I went and got my fishing knife and a kitchen knife and touched them up with the belt sander in seconds.

It really seems to work great.

I know you can get leather belts for sanders, but I'm kind of cheap at times and thought I would try and work with what I got first.

Has anyone else tried turning your sanding belt inside out?

pahl
 
Great tip, I haven't tried it yet. Did you work with the edge-first like honing or edge-trailing like stropping?
 
pahl,

I sharpen on belts also. I can get cloth, cork, leather and trizact belts for my size grinders easily. It might be tough in the 30" size. If you can find belts 400 and finer for your grinder, you will really be able to do some FINE sharpening!! Check MSC or the other manufacturing suppliers. For a little more aggressive compound you might try Sisal Wheel Polish. You might also try putting the polish on a worn, fine belt.

Lastly............BE CAREFULL with sharp knives and moving belts!!!;)


Neil
 
Well I have been doing some searching in the knife making section of BF and what I did is nothing new:rolleyes: . There are a few post of knife makers using the back of old belts for sharpening.



Did you work with the edge-first like honing or edge-trailing like stropping
Click to expand...


I just used my DMT hones and sharpened by hand befor using the belt sander trick.

My fishing knife and kitchen knife were still preaty sharp and I just used the belt sander on them as they were.

It looks like a much faster way to strop.

It really makes the edge look nice to. All them fine little scratchs from profiling and sharpening on the DMT hones are polished to a mirror finish :)
 
Originally posted by Dr.Lathe
pahl,

I sharpen on belts also. I can get cloth, cork, leather and trizact belts for my size grinders easily. It might be tough in the 30" size. If you can find belts 400 and finer for your grinder, you will really be able to do some FINE sharpening!! Check MSC or the other manufacturing suppliers. For a little more aggressive compound you might try Sisal Wheel Polish. You might also try putting the polish on a worn, fine belt.

Lastly............BE CAREFULL with sharp knives and moving belts!!!;)


Neil
Click to expand...


I'm interested in what kind of machine you are using.
It would be great to be able to get so many differant types of belts.

What is MSC?
Do they have a web address?

Thanks
pahl
 
John,

I am not sure exactly what machine Neil (Dr. Lathe) uses, but it is a 72" belt machine. Most makers use that size machine. A Cheap 72" machine is a Grizzly, and you can go up to the Burr King/Bader/etc machines which are the higer quality (and higher priced) models.
 
Pahl,

Both of my grinders are run the 2X72" belts. You will probably find the most variety in this size because the machines are pretty standard with knifemakers. I have home made grinder with a horizontal platten that I use for sharpening. I don't sharpen on the platten however, it just acts as a support for the belt.

http://www.mscdirect.com/

MSC has EVERYTHING :)


Neil
 
that is a pretty good idea you got going there.......BUT BE CAREFUL!

You have the butt splice riding up there and it could get caught on the knife blade and cause a very serious incident. Machines can hurt you......especially the ones you are least afraid of!!
 
pahl,

The scotchbrite belts are NOT good for sharpening. I would look for regular abrasive belts under 400. I'll pull out my MSC catolog later and Email you some recommendations. I'm not sure what they will have in the 30 inchers.

As Tom mentioned BE CAREFULL and only grind with the belt moving AWAY from the edge!!


Neil
 
I just ordered a 1x30" Leather belt to try on my belt sander.


I could not seem to find anything else in the 1x30".
Please let me know if you find something else.

Thanks
pahl
 
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