machine/belt finish question

[jdm61]

When folks talk about a knife having a machine or belt finish on a user knife, what might they be using do do that? I have heard of people using Scotchbrite belts, etc.

 

[S.Knowles]

Hi Joe, some guys will take the finish down to a grey scotchbite, I think mostly on a simple alloy steel, for some of the stainless and higher alloy stuff ( think cpm) the 3M Gator belts leave a very nice uuniform scratch.

Shawn

 

[james terrio]

I guess it's any finish applied by a machine I think Scotchbrite belts are the most common. Norton also makes a similar product called BearTex in belts, pads etc.

 

[Frank Niro]

I know a maker that uses a 120 grit aluminum oxide belt on stainless blades and does a super job. Frank

 

[richard j]

i just put a nice satin finish on a swamp rat with a worn 320 grit belt and it looks good. the knife is still a wip and there will be some pictures posted of it soon.

 

[Josh Dabney]

600 grit cork belt leaves a nice machine finish.

I've been going to 80 then a pass across a new 220 then a pass or two on a 400 then the 600 grit cork belt even for handfinishing. I don't worry about being perfect on the cork but it seems to save me a bunch of time and paper getting to a clean 400 hand finish.

This is to the 600 cork just for the purpose of checking out the hamon but still needed finish ground so there's still some deeper scratches especially towards the plunge.

Josh

 

[Nathan the Machinist]

I have had a lot of luck with 400 grit followed by green scotchbrite. On hard D2 this leaves a smooth bright finish, on softer steels a nice satin finish.

 

[Robert Dark]

Joe,

A nice looking "belt finish" can be obtained, but only if you go past the grit of the belt (scotchbrite or cork). I have seen too many blades that had the so-called belt finish, but still had many "coarse" grit scratches that should have been removed first.

I always sand/grind past what I want for the finished product, then bring it back to the desired grit.

Does that make sense?

If not, let me know and I will seek immediate medical attention.

Robert

 

[butcher_block]

for me its a A100 gator and then blue/grey scotchbrite

 

[james terrio]

I always sand/grind past what I want for the finished product, then bring it back to the desired grit.

That's a good rule of thumb for either machine finishes or hand-rubbed ones. :thumbup: It always looks cleaner and more even that way.