Paper wheel vs belt sander

[Infi-del]

If someone is going to get a 1X30 cheapy... I suggest going with the paper wheels. Those 1X30s are terrible. I know lots of guys use them well. But lots of others ruin good knives with them. They run too fast. Not what they were meant for. A good slow 1750 is what you want. It allows you to take your time and really shape the edge to your liking.

 

[myt132-cu]

Mr. Infi-del, you're my kind o' people.

 

[scubasteve1942]

Thanks infi-del for the suggestions and opinions. I'm going to be ordering the kalamazoo 1SM.

 

[Infi-del]

Thanks infi-del for the suggestions and opinions. I'm going to be ordering the kalamazoo 1SM.

You will love it. I've never been happier and sharpening a knife takes no time now. Invest in a leather belt from Lee Valley and some Diamond Spray for your finished edge from Hand American. I suggest the .25 Micron. Really does a number on an edge. Here are some links for ya

Diamond Spray
http://www.handamerican.com/diamchrom.html

Leather Belt
http://www.leevalley.com/us/wood/page.aspx?p=48040&cat=1,43072 (Their abrassive belts are good too. But you can find your 220-240 grit belts in bulk cheaper elsewhere)

 

[maximus83]

I would recommend stones above any power equipment, but it is all up to you.

Not disagreeing with you, but could you elaborate on WHY you say that? I'm kind of in a learning stage here so would like to understand better why you prefer stones over power tools.

 

[StaTiK]

Most people say that because power equipment can wreck a blade fast if done incorrectly. Stones, if done incorrectly, take a lot longer to wreck a blade.

I bought a set of paper wheels and, to be honest, I'm not any good at it. They aren't as easy as some videos make it look. My first thought was that they were defective... but I'm cognizant of the fact that most newbies are probably apt to say the same thing regardless of the product. Heck, when I first learned to ice skate I felt that the skates were improperly sharpened (but come to find out I just didn't know how to skate). Paper wheels are probably the same.

I'm practicing with cheap knives (think gas station cheap) and they won't get sharp. This could just be the cheap steel, but I'm hesitant to try it out on a "good" knife. I'll probably have to try a 8CR13MOV blade which, even though it is one of my favorites, is still inexpensive to replace.

One nice thing, though, is that they can remove a lot of metal if you want to. I intentionally took the serrations off a cheap blade and it took hardly any time at all.
-StaTiK-

 

[rustyshackelford]

Not disagreeing with you, but could you elaborate on WHY you say that? I'm kind of in a learning stage here so would like to understand better why you prefer stones over power tools.

Just a heads up that this post is about 2 years old and you might have trouble getting him to respond.

 

[maximus83]

Ah, didn't realize until now that I had accidentally resurrected a pretty old thread. Prob better to start a new one.

 

[eccvets]

buy both, their really not that expensive. I use the belts to quick grind the edges down and finish off on the wheels. you can get a nice edge pretty freaken fast using this method.

 

[eccvets]

Not disagreeing with you, but could you elaborate on WHY you say that? I'm kind of in a learning stage here so would like to understand better why you prefer stones over power tools.

probally cuz he loves to waste time and effort getting an meh results.

 

[richard j]

statik, i'll be glad to give you some tips over the phone on how to use the wheels. in post 3 above by electric, he called me one day to get instructions on how to use the wheels. after talking with him for about 15 minutes he decided to give it a try for the first time. (due to an accident, electric only has 1 eye and that could make using the wheels difficult to use due to depth perception) after 15 minutes he calls me back all excited that he was able to get a shaving sharp edge.

maximus83, heiheit messed up a blade which was not the fault of the wheels. i offered to give him some help which he turned down. i have been sharpening with the wheels for over 20 years and i get great results. if you want to learn more i'll be glad to give you a call.

 

[Lou Castle]

Despite Richard's excellent advice with phone tips, I was unable to get an acceptable edge with the paper wheels. What I got was extremely sharp, but the edge "wandered." That is, the ground edge that the wheel polished wasn't straight or parallel to the sharpened edge. From an aesthetic view it wasn't acceptable on a good knife. The failure was mine, due to shoulder injuries I wasn't able to hold the blade at the same spot on the wheel consistently.

I got a Harbor Freight belt sander and some belts and, because only the angle on the belt has to be consistent, (not the exact placement of the knife on the belt) it gives me about the same degree of sharpness without the wandering.

The HF sander is low quality, exactly what I'd expect for the cost, and one of these days I'll step up to a better machine.

 

[rayban]

I believe you can get a nice edge using either method.......on your lawn mower blades.

 

[Karda]

I believe you can get a nice edge using either method.......on your lawn mower blades.

Hmmmmm.......

:foot:

I used my paper wheels for the first time tonight....I'm sold.
I was sharpening everything that wouldn't move...I even got a little more life from a Exacto-knife blade I was about to throw out.
I'm sure I have plenty practice to do, but I see great results already:thumbup:

These wheels make me look like I know what I'm doing!

 

[Mack]

I believe you can get a nice edge using either method.......on your lawn mower blades.

Exactly what do you mean? The wheels have put some fantastic edges on my knives. Are you saying my knives are no better than lawn mower blades?

 

[Samael]

I'm gonna go ahead and subscribe to this just to see where it goes. Hope it doesn't go where I think it will.

 

[Komitadjie]

Well, I'm voting for "to hell", but that could just be my cynacism talking.

I've always found this whole debate rather amusing, I've handled great edges made both ways. Sorta like the old Glock / 1911 issue. There ain't necessarily a "best" answer, just the best for the specific individual in question. Personally, I fall into the "belt" camp, I've seen too many knives torched by people that didn't know what they were doing with the wheels. But nobody'll deny that Richard gets awesome edges off of his, and really knows his s**t!

Just a matter of personal preference and skill more than anything else, I think.

 

[Blues]

I'm gonna go ahead and subscribe to this just to see where it goes. Hope it doesn't go where I think it will.

If it goes where you and others suspect that it might there's gonna be more than just warnings handed out...If folks don't want to offer constructive advice they should seriously consider not posting and just moving on.

 

[Noctis3880]

Either one works fine for sharpening. I feel it's just personal preference for the most part. Though I for one would prefer a full size belt sander for regrinds and putting grinds on. As well, using the slackened portion to put on a convex edge is a lot more forgiving of imprecise angles than the wheels or using the platen on the belt sander. Of course, I suppose the belt sander is more idiot-proof when you only have to worry about the angle in which you hold the knife, and not both the knife angle relative to the wheel as well as the exact position on the wheel(sharpening at 20 degrees at 3 o clock is different than sharpening at 20 degrees at the 2 o clock position).