Making my order now....

M

MikeColeman

Joined
Aug 26, 2010
Messages
20
I am ordering belts. I have never used this grinder before. It is a craftsman 2X42. I am making 3 knives. So far I have 2 36 zirconia belts, and 1 each 3m gator belts in 80 grit 180 grit and 400 grit. Is that enough for 3 8" oal knives?
I don't know how fast cpm154 is going to eat them.
 
The step up from 180 to 400 is pretty steep. I'd also stock a few 120s... I find them very useful.

Also, I'd consider getting some higher grit belts too. I got some 800 grit and was very well pleased with what they were able to do.

Anything above that (1000, 1200, 1500, 2000) I do by hand... but you will want higher grit sanding supplies.
 
CPM 154 prior to Heat Treat grinds pretty easy, after its pretty tough. I think you have enough you may want to rethink the grits, I know alot of guys us a 36 I do not, if you have a really thick blade a 36 is fine but not really needed for a thin blade, you will only need one for about a minute a side.

I typically go 60, 80, 120, 220 then heat treat. One of each should do three blades, I typically get 5-6. You will want additional new belts following heat treat unless you are only going to hand sand. I would step back to 220 and finish with 320.

I really suggest Norton Blaze up to 120 grit, they are the bomb.
 
A strategy for dealing with the high speed of the grinder is going straight to the finer grit.

I would buy more 400 grits, maybe even 600

And expecting to get 3 knives out of 1 belt per grit, especially in a short belt is optimistic/ unrealistic.

The price of shipping on that few belt is going to be huge on a per belt basis.
I would spread it out over more belts.

Add that likelihood that you will probably strip all the abrasive off at least one belt until you get the hang of it...
 
The 36 zirconia belts are just going to throw grit in your face.

I'd start at 60 or 80, ceramic if you can get it, then go to your 180 gator, perhaps throw a 240 AO or something in between and then to the 400. I do go from 80 to 400 on the 2x72, but I think there's a learning curve. I'd also never do it with gator belts, they just aren't aggressive belts.

General rule on a 2x72 is one belt per knife if using AO or zirc belts. Some folks get a lot of knives out of ceramic, I get a couple, depending on factors. I don't care for zirconia and prefer to use all ceramic, AO and structured abrasives now, the AO belts will treat you OK. The gators will last all three knives plus, I'd say.
 
Also, for what it's worth - the first belt progression I was "taught" was 80,120,240,320,400,600,800 then hand sand or scotch brite for a machine finish. Only went to 240 before heat treating. Starting out, I think this was a good way to go, less likely to leave scratches from previous grits behind.
 
60,80,120,220,320,400,600,800,1200,2400, 9 micron, 3 micron (the last two are diamond spray on felt pads

-Page
 
I ended up ordering the 2 36grit. 3-60, 3-80, 3-120, 3-240, 2-400 and 2-600. They don't offer above 600 for the 42". I abandoned the gator belt idea after talking to a mentor of mine who uses them on his surface grinder, but not his other grinders. I plan to use the 36 grit belts just for profiling. I'll use 60 grit for shaping.
 
You need more of the finer belts, not less as compared to the coarse/medium ones. At least that's how it works for me.
 
james terrio said:
You need more of the finer belts, not less as compared to the coarse/medium ones. At least that's how it works for me.
Click to expand...

I agree with the above.

I also think the gator belts are damn fine, as long as you're not hogging material. Throw one in and try it out if you update you're order with more 400 and 600 belts.
 
Incidentally don't bother with AO or SC belts, especially in fine grits. The 50's and 80's are kinda usable but fine ones wear out FAST. Go for zirconia or ceramic, you'll actually save money.
 
I use the Aluminum Oxide belts in 2 x 42. They tend to wear out pretty quick in the higher grits. Jantz only goes up to 400 grit on the 2 x 42 and I also use the Norton Blaze belts, but Jantz only has them in 1 x 42 up to 220 grit. I think I'm gonna order from another company the next time.
 
I use AO and SC belts. Zirconia are a waste of money, imo, I've never had one that felt sharp or lasted longer than ceramic in lower grits, I've never seen them in high grits. Everything the zirc belts do, someone else does better or cheaper.
 
I like the gator's particularly on my 2x42 due to the belt speed. They don't "hop".
I hog out with 36 grit zircs and then switch to a 60 grit ceramic then gator's up through 400. Then I switch to a j-flex klingspor belt for 600. I have been trying the J-flex for a few knives now and like them, but just use a 120 and the 600, mostly to handle the plunge line and then a final finish.

In the end, this means most material is removed with the 36 grit zircs, then gators do most of the rest and a j-flex or two handles the plunge and final finish. I generally get two or three knives per belt but sometimes only 1 before it's too worn to do the whole job. A worn belt just generates heat and wastes time. This is one of the reasons I started using the 60grit ceramics, they let me cleanup the marks from the 36 grit, do a nice clean profile and bevel, position the plunge, shape the tang... on a cheaper belt that still lasts well. Then I switch to the slightly more expensive belts that give a better finish and don't hop (which also helps the finish) for more control to get my grind lines where I want them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top