something better than aluminum oxide?

[PURPLEDC]

im trying to get a knife kit finished and i am trying to round off some handles for a butterfly. I dont have a proper grinder but simply an inverted belt sander. The problem im having is that the aluminum oxide belts are not cutting the steel fast enough and the material gets quite hot after only about 30 seconds on the sander. Does anyone have a source for small belts that will cut faster? i know i need proper equipment but thats awhile off.

 

[Roger999]

Something coarser will get hotter faster, more coarse = more friction, more friction = more heat.

 

[Lucky Bob]

Something coarser will get hotter faster, more coarse = more friction, more friction = more heat.

Not always true. Friction is normal force (basically, pressure) times the actual roughness of the surfaces, so you'll get more cutting for less heating if you go with a coarse belt and let it do its thing than pushing the metal hard against the belt, trying to get a finer belt to hog off metal.

 

[PURPLEDC]

actually that is probably my problem right there. I thought of it the wrong way, i figured the coarse belt was gonna rip through it and i was using alot of pressure instead of letting the belt do its thing. Maybe i was overworking it i guess. Im gonna try it again with a lighter touch.

 

[Seals]

Course belt ,then finish with fine.Occasionally dip it in water to keep it cool.Good luck!