Platen wear?

[StuNY]

Getting a good workout on my new GIB and am wondering about the Platen I made. I used a piece of 1/4" 52100 steel I had around to make it and did my normal heat treat process on it. After cutting bevels for three knives in AEB-L I took off the belt and noticed there are some fine lines running the length of the platen. There is no extra wear in the area of the platen I was mostly pressing against, and the lines run the entire length of the platen, kind of like the belt was just cutting away at it. I noticed some very small sparks coming out from under the belt (Blaze 36 grit) at the bottom of the platen occasionally as well. I know the hardness came out right. Do you guys normally see this in your platens? I used a 40lb gas spring in building the GIB so there is a fair amount of pressure on the belt. Also, I have made the platen protrude about .050" from the plane of the idler wheels to insure I didn't hit the wheels while putting in a distal taper.

Appreciate any thoughts on this.
Stuart

 

[Darrin Sanders]

I suggest getting JB welding a piece of pyroceram glass to your platen. It'll last much longer before it gets grooves in it and can be replaced. You can order them already cut to size from a few of the knife supply places. They don't like us mentioning vendor names here so if you can't find one send me an email and I'll tell you where to get one. Oh yeah, they're less than $20.

 

[coldsteelburns]

Sounds like a reasonable assumption would be that grit is getting caught inbetween the belt and the platen and digging into the platen while the belt is running..

~Paul

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My YT Channel Lsubslimed

 

[Matt Rochester]

I used 3/16 pyro glass($10). I made a lip at the bottom of my platen for the glass to rest on and epoxied it to the platen. I have used it a lot and don't have any grooves.

I suggest getting JB welding a piece of pyroceram glass to your platen. It'll last much longer before it gets grooves in it and can be replaced. You can order them already cut to size from a few of the knife supply places. They don't like us mentioning vendor names here so if you can't find one send me an email and I'll tell you where to get one. Oh yeah, they're less than $20.