Scotch Brite belt, any danger?

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PMQ

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Feb 17, 2020
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I'm having some Scotch Brite belt, or surface conditioning belt coming, it's my first time using these. Before, I use a buffing wheel to clean up my grind lines.

We all know that the buffing wheel is the most dangerous tool in a shop, and we should treat it with respect. So does the same danger applies to surface conditioning belts? They're made from similar materials.

The reason buffing wheels are so dangerous is if you contact the wheel above the 90 degree line, and the blade get yanked out of your have, you'll get impaled. The technique I use to grind my bevels is the push-stick technique,so if as long as I keep the blade on the platten, I should be technically under the 90 degree line right?
 
I don't think I ever heard of anyone getting hurt with a Scotch=Brite belt. I have heard of people ruining the belt by accidentally cutting it.
 
Scotch bright belts are run really slow (or at least i run them slow), whereas a buffer is run really fast, so there is much less energy involved (and thus less risk). At least in my experience, scotch bright belts are not at all "grabby" on edges, though as previously said, i would not risk contacting the belt with the knife tip up...
 
I run em fast and I run em slow and kinda medium too. Think I sort of prefer medium. I think they are pretty safe either way. Course that tip deal extends to any belt for sure not just Scothbrites.
 
Skiller1nc said:
Don't grind tip up into the belt, it will grab and throw the knife down and take a chunk out of your belt. Ask me how I know that. Other than that though I've never had an issue.
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+1 on this. I've never had a close call with the buffer, but one time I was trying to scotchbrite the heel area of a large kitchen knife and the corner caught and flung the tip of the blade into my belly. Luckily I had rounded the spine and the back part of the tip was what made contact. I got a tiny little cut from the actual point, but a couple of degrees difference might have given me a perforated liver. Only close call I've ever had in the shop in 12 years of knife making. I'd treat them with similar caution as your buffer, or maybe even more.
 
the belt is much safer from my shop time use. just a tip you can use buffing compounds on the belts too
 
not as dangerous as a belt, but be careful, i bet it still would take the skin off a knuckle.
 
I stopped using the scotch brite belts, did not like the way the could blur a clean grind line. For a similar brushed finish I switch to a broken in cork belt with no compound.

It leaves crisp grind lines, does not get contaminated like a scotch brite belt can, and leaves a beautiful satin finish.
 
Be careful as Scotch-Bright belts can leave long and deep gouges in soft material. I rebrush customre's knife blades if they have scratched blade surfaces when I receive them. Just a step I do to give the blade a nicer look when returning the sharpened knife. I only use the blue very fine or grey super fine Scotch-Bright belts. I have found coarse and medium belts to be too agressive for cosmetic corrections. Also, start out using very light pressure till you get a "feel" for the belt.
 
I no longer run them fast. I had one separate but not break so it kept running around the wheels and whipped me about 6-7 times before I was out of range. Two inch wide welts to the back and shoulders sucks!!!!!
 
I run them at about 60% ( if that's an option for you). I also put a few drops of cutting fluid on the blade before putting it against the belt. I've tried all kinds of lubricants and solutions and found the Tap Magic cutting fluid to give the best finish.
 
Bill Siegle said:
I no longer run them fast. I had one separate but not break so it kept running around the wheels and whipped me about 6-7 times before I was out of range. Two inch wide welts to the back and shoulders sucks!!!!!
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I fear the day that happens with any belt. Hasn't happened to me yet, knock on wood.
 
Bill Siegle said:
I no longer run them fast. I had one separate but not break so it kept running around the wheels and whipped me about 6-7 times before I was out of range. Two inch wide welts to the back and shoulders sucks!!!!!
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That happened to me once with a ceramic belt, my grinder at that time had a terrible tracking wheel, so whenever I run the belt off the platten to grind the plunge, it would wobble further out than what most would consider safe. The belt snapped on one side but not completely so it kept going and hit me on the head.
 
Guess it depends on the use case... ;)

If someone wasn't very .... brite ... and wanted to be dangerous with these belts... they could run it right at them grinding the plunge lines with a waterfall platen. Now that would be very scary! :eek:


I've ground a lot of blades edge up with these belts without issues. Generally on full flat grinds that I plan on stone washing. I've never had one grab and throw. I normally run the machine at 60%.
 
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