Surface Grinder Question....

Chris Crawford

Chris Crawford

Joined
Apr 14, 2001
Messages
380
I'm trying to fix up a surface grinder, and I'm trying to decide between running the stone wheels or belts. I searched the archive and read many of the posts about this debate.

It seems that the folder makers prefer the stones because they tend to be more accurate, but the belts seem to be better for grinding down damascus billets.

I'm primarily a folder maker, so I'm starting to lean toward the wheels, but one thing I want to do is to surface damascus to use in my folders.

What are the experiences that you guys have surfacing damascus with stone wheels? Also, I would like to get some fresh opinions on your experiences between using the wheels and the belts.

Thanks -chris

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Chris Crawford Knives

 
Chris, I like to fly-cut damascus on my mill and then finish it off on the surface grinder. Stones are very acccurate but very slow. .001" is a deep cut and only .100" wide at each pass. I spend hours at the surface grinder but get good results. Ive never tried one with the belt set-up but suspect it is faster and accurate enough. Rough forged damascus is still a super challenge to any surface grinder but fly cuts very nicely if annealed first.
 
Chris,
Bruce is correct. it would be best if you could use a fly cutter or face mill to knock off most of the scale and some of the material at least on one side of the billet so you have a nice clean surface to stick to the magnetic chuck. I have always used stones. They last longer and are far more accurate. The belt has more surface area but it also means that it will create more heat. The larger the surface area the more likely it will lift up the material and cause it to bow while grinding. I'd go with a stone. A stone won't make as much of a mess, the grit from the belt will get everywhere where the stone is heavy enough to stay in the ways of the machine. You will want a "K" rated wheel, it is fairly soft and will give you a good finish. You can get them 1/2 in wide up to 3/4. Do a search on ebay.
Chuck
 
On converting one to belt, there is a guy in, I believe, South Africa who sells the conversion kit. He uses 100 durometer wheels, so you don't get the distortion etc. Ed Caffrey recommended the guy. He said, even with the freight from there, it is cheaper than buying here.
Dang! I thought I had the URL, but don't. You can get it from Ed at his forum, at CKD.
http://www.ckdforums.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=10

Or contact him from his website.
http://www.caffreyknives.net/
 
stone here. they will go a long way too.
then you can hand sand on a flat surface, I use a flat
polished piece of granite about 1 1/2" x 2' x 2' with sanding paper taped to it.
 
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