S30V and Belts

I

itrade

Joined
Jul 3, 2002
Messages
645
I can't hardly afford to use S30V. Maybe it's me, but that stuff loads up the belt in a hurry. I killed a $6 60 grit belt on a 2 x 9" blade and that was just the initial bevel and couldn't finish it. Actually I should have used 3 belts at the rate it was loading , but money being what it is.


Is there any way to keep the belts from loading up?


Steve
 
What kind of belts are you using? Most using S30V, use 3-M 967, 977, etc., for course grits, and the Norax or = for everything after that.
Some heat treat first, then grind the bevels, at least on small knives. It doesn't smear as much after HT.
 
What belts are you using? Aluminum oxide, zirconium, ceramic? Are you grinding annealed steel or hardened? Are you gringing against a platen or hollow grinding on the face of a wheel?

These will all affect belt life, but I don't think I would appreciate a supposedly "good" belt not lasting through one blade either. If you think its hard to grind with 60 grit, try the finer grits on hardened steel-that's why you don't see fine or polished finishes- the abrasion resistance properties imparted by the Vanadium content is the culprit.

Perhaps some of the guys who grind it a lot can advise on their favorite belts for rough grinding. The best combo I have experienced is the ceramic ones running at high speed.
 
Good questions,

I'm using cubitron belts (those are 977 I believe). On a flat platen. Annealled steel.

I start at a fairly high speed, but then slow it down to work out some high spots (ok work down to the low spots:p ). Slow speed might be the problem?

What if I use 36 grit just to get the initial bevel roughly cut, then switch to 60 or 80? would that save some belts? Seems like a 36 could hold more gook.

Re the finer belts, ceramic 220+ belts get toasted really fast!!!

I have to make sure I'm very flat before going to those.

Interestingly trizac belts will last almost forever, but they don't cut worth a darn compared to ceramic.

FYI if I use a piece of a ceramic belt over glass and hand sand it lasts a long, long time because I can clear the gook out. However, on the grinder it loads up and there is nothing I can do!?

Steve
 
I have never had problems with the coarse belts, just the other way around, the fine belts seem to do nothing to the stuff.

Flat grinding on any steel wears a belt out fast, try grind a bevel on the edge nearly down to nothing so the edge doesnt strip off the abrasive from the belt, also, I would not go to 36 grit, the scratches get unbelievably deep, especially in a steel that seems to tenaciouly hang onto the scratches when you are trying to finish it.
 
I agreed with tom on the 36 grit belts,I have not used s30v yet but
I am using D2 and I use the 967 80 grit to start my grinds.
D2 can be a little trouble to get scratches out, that is why I like the finer belts.
 
I just went through a bar of S30V . I do most of the grind with 60 grit zircs I get from discount abrasives on Ebay (about $22-$25 for 10). I then go to a 220 grit 3M 707E to clean things up for HT. I get 1-2 blades per belt, depending on size of the blade. After HT, I finish with the Norzon series.

Maybe its just me, but I don't get a better bite or belt life on any steel by using a $6.00 ceramic vs. a much cheaper Zirconia.

Bob
 
On S30v I use a 36 grit 3M ceramic to rough bevel and go to either a 60 or 80 3M, which ever is handiest to grab. I have to watch that I don't take the 36 grit too far since it's a bugger to get those deep scratches out.
 
S30V is not a good choice for the "casual" maker, even with good equipment. It can be a bear, and, it's going to cost you in belts and labor. No matter what you do, it's a hard steel to finish.

RJ
 
RJ,

No kidding!

I've only finished a few, but I have to resort to hand finishing going from 320, 400 and 600.

My biggest problem is the annealed stuff.

On the plus side it does make a nice knife.

Steve
 
steve, it is a hard steel even when annelded. first, do you use a rubber belt cleaner while grinding? also i fine the 60g yellow cubitron belts work much better on s30v at slower speed. the steel fractures off cleanly instead of being gouged off.
 
Thanks Rhino (nice to see you back, BTW)

I'll try slower. I do precut a 45 with dull belt before starting. However, I still get a spray with grit on the first few passes.

Once the belt starts to load up then all is lots.

So, I'll try slower and use the eraser (the eraser doesn't work once it is loaded up!)

FWIW, I switched to trizact for this batch after they got back from the heattreater. Very nice, belts never seem to wear out!? Cut slow, but things are fine.

Is the soft stuff that is driving me nuts. I ordered some cheaper belts until I find a way out of this.

Steve
 
don't wait till its loaded up!that makes the belt hotter which will wear out the belt faster,
 
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