Messed up my Leek on the belt sander!

T

trugracie

Joined
Nov 10, 2009
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257
Today was my first time sharpening a folding knife on my harbor HF belt sander. I used grits starting from 220, 320, 400, 600 that I got from Pop's Knife, and a leather belt with green KSF compound.
Anywhoo, I went at it taking my time going just a few passes on each belt, hoping to get a mirror polish like on my machetes, and I f****d my leek up.
Take a look for yourself. :( Somehow I removed about 1/8" close to the handle.

Mine
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Stock (courtesy of New Graham Knives)
KS_1660_BR1.jpg


Can anyone please tell me what the hell I did wrong?:o
I'm glad I didn't try this with my G10 Endura my wife gave me first.
Then I would have freakin shat!
 
You should have started with 400 grit, and been a lot more careful.
 
sharpening with belts is stupid if there is already an established edge bevel. Grinders are for making knives, stones are for sharpening.

If you do not have the skill to use DMT diamond stones freehand get a Lansky diamond system

http://www.lanskysharpeners.com/LKDMD.php

power sharpening unless you use a slow wet wheel is likely to cause you to at least partially ruin the temper of the extreme edge of the cutting bevel. Always keep fluid on the abrasive regardless of what system you use

-Page
 
I've sharpened several of my knives using the top of the belt with a wheel to convex the established edge.However I only use a fine cork belt loaded with compound.
 
Use very light pressure on the belt, and if possible slow the machine down- right down. All it takes is one or two light passes on each side of the bevel. and pay attention to your angle. Use a fresh 320g and a 400g belt before removing the burr using stones or a sharpening system like the ceramic rods.
 
The reason we use belt grinders for making knives is that they remove a lot of metal quickly. You only needed a light sharpening. A piece of corrugated cardboard would probably sufficed to polish the edge.
If you swat a fly with a hammer you should expect the damage!
Just another of life's little lessons.

~Alden
 
trugracie said:
Can anyone please tell me what the hell I did wrong?:o
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You used a belt grinder to sharpen a knife.

:D

Seriously, it can obviously be done but it takes a very light touch and a fair amount of skill. Next time practice on junk till you get the hang of it. 220 is really very coarse, you'll do more damage than good with it unless the edge is totally gone. Even 400 will produce a rather toothy edge. The guys using cork or leather and compound to polish their edges are on the right track I think.

What would you take for that Leek? I've been looking at them but hate to ever pay new prices ;)
 
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james terrio said:
You used a belt grinder to sharpen a knife.

:D

Seriously, it can obviously be done but it takes a very light touch and a fair amount of skill. Next time practice on junk till you get the hang of it. 220 is really very coarse, you'll do more damage than good with it unless the edge is totally gone. Even 400 will produce a rather toothy edge. The guys using cork or leather and compound to polish their edges are on the right track I think.

What would you take for that Leek? I've been looking at them but hate to ever pay new prices ;)
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Make me an offer!
I really don't like it anymore after that.
 
Thank you everybody!
This is actually the first time I mess up on a blade. I'm sure part of it is because its so freaking thin.
Well I don't care about the knife much, to be honest with you.
What I'm really trying to find out is WHY the part closest to the edge wore down more than the rest?
 
Because you held it at the angle that removed the material more by the ricasso. This is very common esp for new makers. I did it several times and have to really think about not doing it even now. But like the others said belts are for grinding. If you are VERY VERY careful you can sharpen but it takes a lot of practice.
 
SHoulda hit it with a light 600 BELT to get the bevel right then the leather with white rough
 
Dang..... 220 will eat the hell out of a thin edge like a leek. You could have used 800 and really quick swipes on the belt if you wanted to reprofile the edge to convex.

I sharpen all my knives with my belt sander and never over heat the edge and get perfect convex edges with even bevels... Usually if a knife needs a touch up 800 will do great.

If you have a major chip then that is where 220 comes into play. I once had to thin out the edge of a very thick bussee... and 80 grit did that in about 2 swipes.. very nice and saved a hell of a bunch of time.

The best piece of advice on a belt grinder.. start out with flea market knives until you perfect your skills. Find out what works and what doesn't. Make very quick passes unless you want to burn your edge (de-temper the steel.) Not so quick that it will mess your rhythm up... but don't go slow.
 
Another word... when in doubt, start with the finest grit or least-abrasive belt or stone you have. It's easy to go a step coarser if that doesn't work. The other way around... well, you know.

It's also really easy to dip too close in by the ricasso as others said. I'm fairly sure that's how recurve blades were invented... "ooops! dang... ummm... I meant to do that!" :)

You can email me at james.terrio@yahoo(dot)com if you really want to get rid of that Leek. I warn ya tho, I'm cheap! 'Specially since ya ruint it :D

Robert Dark said:
What ? You mean there is another way to kill them? No wonder I have dents in everything around me.
Click to expand...

Hold REAL still Robert, there's a fly right between yer eyes... lemme get that for ya... :eek:
 
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Thank you guys!
I did another knife today just for shats and giggles. It came out perfectly fine. Apparently I was holding it at an angle, and most definitely used too much grit.
I'm not so heart broken with that leek since it was a knife I found, however I learned a very important lesson about thin ass knives and belt sanders. "They just don't mix".
Do you think a DMT Diafold fine/extra fine would work better on a thin edge?
 
Yes, the DMT products are pretty darn good. As Page says, keep the "stone" wet, water will do for diamonds. If you don't let the blade get super dull, that should work just fine for a thin edge like that.
 
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