Noob blade shop startup advice wanted.

I get it loud and clear about quality in a belt being a factor. However I bought some high dollar cubitron belts that were kinda whateva. they were 2 and a half times more expensive than some vsms I had. Not 2 and a half times better or long lasting.
 
Living The Dream said:
I get it loud and clear about quality in a belt being a factor. However I bought some high dollar cubitron belts that were kinda whateva. they were 2 and a half times more expensive than some vsms I had. Not 2 and a half times better or long lasting.
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I have use VSM for a long time. Good belt, good price.

I use Cubitron II 947a as well. When they feel like they are done, take a peice of steel and grind it with a good amount of pressure on the belt. It will fracture the surface and cut well again for many more knives

When VSM seem dead they are dead, when Cubitron II seems dead it can be brought back to life.
 
AVigil said:
I have use VSM for a long time. Good belt, good price.

I use Cubitron II 947a as well. When they feel like they are done, take a peice of steel and grind it with a good amount of pressure on the belt. It will fracture the surface and cut well again for many more knives

When VSM seem dead they are dead, when Cubitron II seems dead it can be brought back to life.
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How do you like them compared to the blaze. I have not bought roughing belts I a long time as I got a crap ton blaze belts way back and I'm just coming to end of my stash.
 
Pop's knife supply is a good source for belts, too. He pretty knowledgeable about the various types of coarse belts, and carries the ones that work well.

The structured cubic type belts need a big motor and lots of pressure to work right. If you have a 1HP grinder and don't hog off steel hard by pressing hard against the platen or wheel, don't spend the money on them. Run slow or with insufficient pressure will merely make them glaze and stop cutting. The cubic grains need to be sheared under a lot of pressure and speed to keep refreshing them to be sharp. The rule to get a long life from them is run them fast and push hard. I often make the blade glow full red when hogging. Grinding gloves and magnets are a requirement for these belts.

I get most of my belts directly from Klingspore. They offer a significant discount for larger orders. I also use a lot of 3M belts. I see James "Pop's" Poplin every year at Harrisonburg, and buy a couple hundred dollars worth of coarse belts. If I run short, a call to him has more on the way in a day.
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
The structured cubic type belts need a big motor and lots of pressure to work right. If you have a 1HP grinder and don't hog off steel hard by pressing hard against the platen or wheel, don't spend the money on them. Run slow or with insufficient pressure will merely make them glaze and stop cutting. The cubic grains need to be sheared under a lot of pressure and speed to keep refreshing them to be sharp. The rule to get a long life from them is run them fast and push hard. I often make the blade glow full red when hogging. Grinding gloves and magnets are a requirement for these belts.
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Lets clarify that so wrong information is not put out there.

The Cubitron ll 947A

947A
X-weight poly-cotton backing provides greater flexibility, optimized for low/medium pressure, applications on stainless, mild steel and aluminum. 3M™ Cubitron™ II Belts not only last up to four times longer than conventional ceramic abrasive belts, but also cut faster throughout their life. These belts run smoother than most to achieve greater
consistency.

984F Cubitron II Ceramic
Cubitron(TM) II Cloth Belt 984F offers revolutionary performance with 3M Precision Shaped Grain on a YF-weight polyester cloth backing. This high-performing belt contains a grinding aid, making it ideal for medium to high pressure applications on stainless steel and other exotic alloys, along with carbon steel, cobalt chrome, and nickel alloys.


It is important to know what you are using and how to use it.
 
I might have to get some of the 984F Cubitron II Ceramic belts to try. I really get after it when grinding and the blade has a tendency to strip if I use to much pressure. I love the blaze as thy never let me down but I'm not above trying something else in hops of finding something better.
 
JTknives said:
How do you like them compared to the blaze. I have not bought roughing belts I a long time as I got a crap ton blaze belts way back and I'm just coming to end of my stash.
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Blaze always cut well for me but I stopped using them due to the black goo they left on the platen.

I switched to the VSM and they worked great, but then found the Cubitron II 947a and they last longer.
 
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