Smooth Contact Wheels Vs. Serrated

[floatlikeariver]

I am curious to find out the benifits and weak points to both smooth and serrated contact wheels for belt sanders. I am doing my homework on this subject before buying my next and last belt grinder. My current machine is very a very poor example, with a serrated wheel only; steady as if it was mounted on a trapeze and my work suffers as a result. Should a serious maker have both wheels in his arsenal, and why or why not? I think so far that I shall buy a KMG. I welcome and appreciate all comments and input.

 

[fitzo]

Serrated hog metal faster and run a little cooler. They wear a little faster.

Smooth runs smoother and finishes better. They heat faster.

More makers seem to prefer smooth to serrated.

 

[John R. Fraps]

Mike said it real well.
I have had a 10"serrated wheel on my Square Wheel, a 2" on my horizontal Bader, and will not put one on the Burr King. I do almost totally all my blades at under 4" for slipjoints and linerlocked folders. While the serrated supposedly eats steel faster and stays cooler, I don't care for serrated at all...for my use... I stick to reasonabley high durometer smooth wheels...and run them pretty slow unless hogging outlines of blades and springs...I do grind in hardened state...
I don't have a KMG but alot of makers seem to consider them extremely fine grinders to use. And while I drooled over one the last time I saw one, I couldn't dare bring home a 4th belt grinder.....and the ones I have other than the horizontal were made prior to KMG being available.
Good Grinding!
Edited to add....You are in the Phoenix area, D'Alton Holder (D'Holder Knives) lives and works in his shop in Peoria near Phoenix. Dee, and his wife Pat, are fine folks. Dee has made a "ton" of beautiful knives, is a highly skilled (I understate Dee's ability by saying master craftsman) and would be a fine gentleman to ask your question, aand to meet and maybe spend a day with after you try out your grinding some. Give him a call and don't miss the opportunity to talk with one of the "Living Legends" of handmade knives.......

 

[JCaswell]

I've never liked the idea of holding a somewhat sharp, pointy thing up against a serrated wheel. I usually use serrated wheels on machines where clamping or fixturing is in place.

 

[LRB]

I too am leary of serrated wheels. I taught the basics of knifemaking to a friend, and he bought a Square Wheel Grinder with a serrated wheel. He was running a very thin 220 grit belt and somehow allowed the point to go into the wheel in such a manner that it snatched the blade from his hands, and drove it through his foot. The concrete floor stopped the blade from going further. A month later, when he could walk again, we examined the wheel and belt and found that the edge on one of the serrations caught the point, and the thin belt allowed enough of a flat between serrations to be noticably grabby. He bought a smooth wheel, and has had no more problems. I realize that his inexperience greatly contributed to this accident, but the serrations can have a tendancy to grab, especially with light weight belts.