leather backing on platen

mattd

mattd

Joined
Oct 6, 2003
Messages
252
Has anyone or does any glue a peice of leather on their platen when finishing using a belt?
 
I've been using leather on my platten for a while now. It works pretty well, but wears out faster than I would like. One of these days I am going to locate some belt material (as in conveyor) and try that.

IMHO the leather works better than the commercial platten pads that wear out right now.
 
Try "sole bend" leather - available from Leather Factory or Siegel of Ca.
Sole Bend is the stuff made into leather boot soles - it is highly compressed to prevent wear and will hold up much better than regular vegtan.
 
I love leather. I didn't glue it. 2 x 10 piece of the thick stuff. Just carved a notch across the back, about 2" from the end and place that over the top of the platen. It floats between the top wheel and the platen. The remaining 8" is on the platen. The belt holds it there fine.

I rubbed some moly grease on the leather. I'm not getting much wear on the leather at all. I don't use it for blade grinding. Just finishing bolsters and handle stuff. Makes for nice edges.

Steve
 
definitely helps cut down on the "chatter"...
 
I made a platen and glued a piece of belt (for pants) on the platen and it worked well but the leather wore out quickley. Good idea, pure execution, back to the drawing board.
 
I tried the shoe sole leather (and most everything else), before switching to the pyroceram...no comparison. Doubt I'll ever try anything else.
 
Kinda depends on what I'm doing.

Blades grinding - hard platen
Blending/finish - canvas/graphite
bolsters/handles - leather
grooves/guards - slack belt

Steve
 
I didn't know that putting different things on platens was something that was done so much. Is there a place for in depth information? like pyroceram, graphite and slack belts.
 
I beleive you can still get both rubber and graphite belts in 2" widths from K&G. I glue the graphite belt to the rubber belt. I get about a year out of it.

Michael
 
Michael,

Another great idea, Thanks. Gonna try that one. Sure is easy, hhmmmmm might even try it on a mouse pad. That will give me an even softer platen - for special purposes.

Steve
 
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