sharpening on my 2 by 72

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willy m

Joined
Nov 27, 2007
Messages
255
hello all! ive been sharpening knive by hand a long time,i can even whittle hair. i built a 2by72 from tracy's plans. i did some research on machine sharpening using the blade forums/google site (searching that way is great). ive been practicing with old knives. i use 220 to start a really bad blade, then depending on the edge i go to either a 100 micron or a 65 micron. then 45mic. finally 15 mic. to finish. then i strop by hand and they seem to turn out well. but,after my bf research it seems many use cork 600 and 800 and finish with a leather belt. so i bought the 600 and 800 cork and the leather belt. now,how do you break the cork belts in? they look like sand dried on wet paint! are their any break in tips for the cork and the leather? also do you strop the same on the mach. as you do by hand? any advice would be a big help!!!! thanks,willy;)
 
I'd ask in the Knifemaker's Forum, they're more likely to know these kinds of things (in point of fact, I've seen them discussed, but don't remember the answer)
 
Take a bar of steel and round off the edges on a 220 grit belt. Put the cork belt on and work the steel bar hard for 10 minutes. Stuff will come off all over the place as you break the belt in, so wear your safety gear. Once the belt is broken in you can use it as is, or charge it with green chrome oxide and use it. Cork belts are superb once you get used to them (and once you break them in).Many makers go from a 400 grit to a cork belt and mirror polish.
Stacy
 
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