Razor Edge paper wheel motor

[olddogrib]

Is a 3/4 hp approx. 3450 rpm grinder motor to fast for the paper wheel system? I wouldn't use this ion high $$$ cutlery, but I got it for kitchen knives, broadheads, scissors, etc. >3000 is what the website recommends. I know I haven't practiced enough to hold a good steady angle yet, but it seems steel gets too hot very quickly and I just roll the burr back and forth.

 

[OHALLUM]

I use a 3450 rpm motor with my paper wheels. The blade will get hot quickly if you don't keep it moving and don't use a light touch. Also, the wax should be applied to the grit wheel, and that keeps the heat down and keeps the sparks down if applied right. I do not have a problem with overheated blades as the wax nearly covers all the grit on the wheel. I also feel the blade for any heat after each pass, and either dip in water, or just wait a second before re applying to the wheel. The slotted wheel with the grinding compound applied will burnish the burr off quickly and leave the blade quite sharp. It just takes practice to acquire a workable technique for good success.

Omar

 

[Czechmate]

I'm using this exact grinder below; I turn the speed way down so it's probably running close to 2000-2500 RPM. I also only run one wheel at a time for clearance issues; so my grit wheel & slotted wheel get swapped on the left side as I'm right handed. Works great for me... :thumbup: (all guards removed to fit the larger diameter 8" wheels on my 6" grinder setup)

Also, watch you dwell time and pressure - a light touch is all that's needed or the result is excess heat and a larger burr on the edge in my experience.

Trial and error on cheap blades goes a long way to helping you get proficient at the wheels - far more than any advice from a stranger on the Internet...

 

[Czechmate]

I use a 3450 rpm motor with my paper wheels. The blade will get hot quickly if you don't keep it moving and don't use a light touch. Also, the wax should be applied to the grit wheel, and that keeps the heat down and keeps the sparks down if applied right. I do not have a problem with overheated blades as the wax nearly covers all the grit on the wheel. I also feel the blade for any heat after each pass, and either dip in water, or just wait a second before re applying to the wheel. The slotted wheel with the grinding compound applied will burnish the burr off quickly and leave the blade quite sharp. It just takes practice to acquire a workable technique for good success.

Omar

This is hugely important, especially when the wheels are fresh/new as they cut really aggressively. I use my wheels to sharpen pretty much everything that can be sharpened.

 

[Zidfeldts]

This is hugely important, especially when the wheels are fresh/new as they cut really aggressively. I use my wheels to sharpen pretty much everything that can be sharpened.

Once I got the wax worked in it didn't seem to build up much heat.

 

[Czechmate]

Once I got the wax worked in it didn't seem to build up much heat.

For sure; I found a little goes a long way in helping minimize heat. I have yet to re-grit the grit wheel so it does help slow down wear a lot.

Here are a couple of old pics of my setup for reference; single wheel on the left side to eliminate elbow/arm scrubbing on the right.. :foot::thumbdn: (the first pic has both wheels mounted for illustrative purposes but that's not how I actually run it LOL!)

Happy sharpening!

 

[Bill Hoffman]

I've used a 1/4 hp 1725 Baldor buffer for years. Works wonderfully, is slower so you
make fewer mistakes, well balanced and plenty powerful. A little spendy, but when
you're sharpening around 75 blades a week the economics work out well. Yeah, I
know, 75 a week isn't many, but after 50 or so years sharpening stuff, I feel confident
that my equipment works extremely well for me. Perhaps a little slower, but when you're
sharpening a $500-600 knife, a little slower isn't a bad thing.

Bill

 

[Czechmate]

I've used a 1/4 hp 1725 Baldor buffer for years. Works wonderfully, is slower so you
make fewer mistakes, well balanced and plenty powerful. A little spendy, but when
you're sharpening around 75 blades a week the economics work out well. Yeah, I
know, 75 a week isn't many, but after 50 or so years sharpening stuff, I feel confident
that my equipment works extremely well for me. Perhaps a little slower, but when you're
sharpening a $500-600 knife, a little slower isn't a bad thing.

Bill

Slower is not a bad thing at all. The paper wheels are leaps and bounds faster than any sharpening system I've ever tried so nobody should be complaining about speed LOL!...