Sandpaper?

B

BChou-E29

Joined
Dec 4, 2009
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503
So I just found out that the woodworking sandpaper I've been using is inadequate for knife making and I'm looking for a new sandpaper supplier other than my local hardware stores since they don't carry silicon carbide paper. Any ideas? I'd prefer to buy paper in smaller quantities (like 10 sheet packs) since I'm on a tight budget and I don't have a lot of time to devote to my hobby anyways. I found 10 sheet packs of SiC paper on Knifekits.com for like $5 but since they don't state a reputable brand I'm kinda hesitant... Any help would be greatly appreciated as always :)
 
Your local hardware stores and auto-parts stores will have better stuff up to very high grits as it is used in auto body finishing.
 
Most knife makers use sanding belts. When they loose their ability to remove steel on the belt grinder I cut them up and use them for hand sanding, they last much longer and still have enough bite to last a long time for hand use.

It seems that the folks making belts really make them to last.

We were stripping down a log cabin to re-seal the logs, I handed the man doing the sanding a hand full of used 36 grit belts and he was able to sand the all sides of the cabin (it is not a small cabin) and only used part of one of the belts and brought the rest of them back.

We hate to throw them away and one call to a knifemaker (and there is probably one close to you) who has many used belts laying around could easily set you up for life.

Good Luck
 
I use the Norton 3x premium paper in 60 (for shaping micarta and G10) and 120 and 220 grit for dry work on blades. It works well enough if you use it right. When you are working with hardened steel you want to be particular about how much pressure you use and how you move the blade across the paper, if you scrape a sharp edge hard across the paper it can strip the grit right off, using too much pressure will cause it to wear too fast. At any rate you want to get real comfortable with throwing the paper away as soon as it gets dull, which can be pretty fast with some steels.
 
Thanks for the replies guys

Gossman Knives said:
I get my paper from Home Depot. They carry Norton sandpaper. Good stuff. Works real well on micarta. If you want silicon carbide paper look at http://www.supergrit.com/products/products_sheets-blacksc.asp
Scott
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Odd because I went just last week and they said the only stuff they had was some 3M sandpaper that was for woodworking.

I would switch to aluminum oxide, it stays sharp longer and could be a little cheaper.

George
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Wow this is confusing, silicon carbide or aluminum oxide... I'll have to try that when I get sandpaper since the aluminum oxide paper I have is way too dull to do any good. I've heard silicon carbide cuts better but its worth a shot. To think that I used to think there was only one kind of sandpaper... :o

Most knife makers use sanding belts. When they loose their ability to remove steel on the belt grinder I cut them up and use them for hand sanding, they last much longer and still have enough bite to last a long time for hand use.

It seems that the folks making belts really make them to last.

We were stripping down a log cabin to re-seal the logs, I handed the man doing the sanding a hand full of used 36 grit belts and he was able to sand the all sides of the cabin (it is not a small cabin) and only used part of one of the belts and brought the rest of them back.

We hate to throw them away and one call to a knifemaker (and there is probably one close to you) who has many used belts laying around could easily set you up for life.

Good Luck
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Funny cause I was just thinking about how I haven't seen many makers from New Jersey around the forums. I'll look into it though.
 
Nebulae said:
These are really cheap in terms of $/sheet but you have to buy them in 50 sheet packs
http://www.onlineindustrialsupply.com/abrasive-sheets-silicon-carbide-waterproof-9--by-11--paper-sheets.html

still though for $14 you wont have to buy that grit for years

I just ordered 6 grits last Wednesday I tell you how it goes.
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Those are the folks I deal with and have for a few years . No complaints on quality or price . Best shipping price also and they carry cloth backed sheets for the course grits , holds up much better on the disc than the paper sheets . I also trim off the excess with a paper cutter and use those strips for hand sanding .
 
I started using Rhynowet Redline paper after the recommendation of several makers, it's aluminum oxide but cuts more aggressively and lasts longer than any other sheet abrasive I've tried. 50 packs are $20 or so, 10 packs are $4-$5 or so. I spend a lot less time sanding and go through a lot less paper now. Here's a link, supergrit also has plenty of other good stuff to look at.

http://www.supergrit.com/products/products_sheets-brownredao.asp
 
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