TruGrit - cannot find ceramic belts

B

blandies

Joined
Aug 18, 2011
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I am on trugrit now, here is my shopping cart at the moment....

2 of 2x42-80 A300CF Gator Structured Abrasive

1 of 2x42-120 A160CF Gator Structured Abrasive

1 of 2x42-240 A65CF Gator Structured Abrasive

2 of 2x42-400 A45CF Gator Structured Abrasive

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I'm looking to get a 50 grit ceramic belt with this order but don't see any.
I did see this, but this is not a 50grit ceramic belt is it?

02x042:242-050-411 2x42-50 CS411X Zirconia $3.75 KLINGSPOR
 
get this

2x72-50 R980Y Blaze Plus Ceramic

or this

2x72-50YF 967F Cubitron Super Ceramic

edited, sorry, you are 2X42, get the equivalents if available
 
They don't have the equivalents, get the one you listed or this: 2x72-50YF 967F Cubitron Super Ceramic

get at least two of each one you want
 
This is all they have for 2 x 42 ****Top section only for my size.

http://www.trugrit.com/belts3.htm

The only ceramics I'm seeing are 60 and 120 grits.
I was looking for a 50 grit ceramic, I could deal with a 30 grit but I'm not seeing either.

The one I listed above is a 50 grit but does not say ceramic which is what I believe I need, since this is for the major metal removal.

And those Gators I have in my cart are in fact Zirconia belts right? Not AO.
 
I personally use the 60 grit ceramic blaze and love them, the Gators are a structured AO, but they cut awesome, and last forever!
When I grind I start with 60 blaze, then go 80 gator, 240 gator, then hand sand.
 
BenR.T. said:
I personally use the 60 grit ceramic blaze and love them, the Gators are a structured AO, but they cut awesome, and last forever!
When I grind I start with 60 blaze, then go 80 gator, 240 gator, then hand sand.
Click to expand...

I was recommended Gators by many people. So the Gators being AO belts are good to get for knifemaking? I find it funny everyone recommended the Gators but said never to get AO belts. I'm a little on edge about getting the Gators now. I was looking for a good belt for knifemaking that will last a long time and apparently Gators are just that.
 
The Gator belts sold at TruGrit are 3M TriZact belts (denoted by the CF suffix), and are fantastic! Sometimes they mess up the listing and denote Norton instead on 3M, but if it says Gator and has the CF suffix, I assure you it is a Trizact. The only belts I like better (at the finest grits) are the Norton Norax structured belts. I use TriZact Gators down to 30micron, then switch to the Norax below. The AO belts you want to stay away from are the slurry-coated ones meant for wood, sold at most hardware stores. The TriZact Gators are designed for metal, and are a totally different animal.

IMHO, the difference between 50 and 60 grit ceramic is pretty minor. If they only list 60 grit in the blaze, I would take that over something else in a lower grit.

The guys at TruGrit are great! Don't hesitate to give them a CALL if you have questions. I promise, they'll get you squared away properly if you do.
 
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Get the 60 grit ceramic. It works the same as 50. Also for the gator belts you can go from the ceramic belt to 180 gator then be done or go to 240 if you want it finer. Finish it off with a fine scotchbrite and you're done! That's all I do unless I hand sand
 
02x042:242-060-965 2x42-60 SY965 Ceramic $3.10 NORTON

This is the 60 grit ceramic I seen, Spyderphreak referred to a "blaze" belt, is Blaze another term for the above belt?

Raylaconico,
the following method was recommended by someone (I changed a little to what I am doing),

I rough everything in with my 60 grit ceramic belt and then clean and crisp up my plunges and everything else with a 120 grit belt.

Then hand sanding from 120 grit to 220 to 400 for a nice satin finish, or up to 600 for mirror finish. I start wet sanding at 120 grit right away (mixture of about 4 cups water, 1 tsp baking soda, 1tsp sunlight dish detergent) and go both horizontally and vertically over the blade to make sure all the machined scratches are gone. Change water (to get rid of old shedded grit) and do the same with 220. At 400 grit I switch to any sort of synthetic motor oil I have lying around, and use that with sanding parallel to the spine of the blade only, and then eventually in one direction, to get rid of any "fishhooks" from changing direction on the sanding.

Now Heat treat and then back to 220 hand sanding back up to 400 or 600 grit.

After all that I will use a diamond stone for putting my edge on the knife (cutting edge).

How's this process sound to everyone?
After typing this out I suppose I do not even need the 80, 240, or 400 grit Gator belts. The only belts it seems I need is the 60gr ceram and 120gr gator.

I'm sure I have something wrong in this process so if anyone spots flaws please let me know.
 
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The above has been Revised. I will be placing my order hopefully tonight after hearing some feedback. I'm pretty sure all I need is some 60 grit ceramic belts and some 120 grit gator belts....nothing else.
 
Sorry about the blaze reference. Some of the Norton ceramic belts are a blaze orange color (maybe all of 'em, idk) and are sometimes just referred to as blaze belts.

If I were you, I would take a few mintues today and CALL TruGrit. They should be able to help you decide what belts you might need for your purposes.

Something you might think about doing since you are already using the belt sander so much is to put your cutting edge on with it. It is pretty fast, and will give you a really nice convex edge. You can go down to ~1,200 grit and call it good, or if you get the 2x42 leather belt, you can put a mirror edge on that knife using green compound.
 
I just placed an order actually, 60 grit ceramics, 36 grit zircs, then mostly gators up through 600. I have some 120 grit ceramics and j-flex AO belts that I use for specific tasks, but the 36 grit zircs and 60 grit ceramics do most of my material removal and the gators put a progressively finer finish.

I really like the gators but they don't remove much material for their "grit" they're excellent at surface finishing though, and last a very long time if cared for.
 
If you're hand sanding your blades, I would go with 60 grit ceramic then 180 gator. start hand sanding with 220 silicone carbide sandpaper then go up to 400 or 600. I usually stop at 400 and never go higher than 600.
 
Excellent. All taken care of and the order is placed. I did not see Trugrit add any shipping charges in at all, even on the total. Do they accommodate free shipping?
 
No, they charge actual shipping, so they will add it in before billing you. I guess ther website isn't set up for that. Usually pretty reasonable rates though.
 
Oh, didn't want any hidden fees. My bank account has already overdrafted me on several things, mostly my fault. Guess I'll get in touch with them just to be sure.
 
Blandies,

What is your end game here? You are showing signs of addiction and you haven't made a knife. If you can't afford everything you want now, pace yourself. Buy some steel, a file or two, sandpaper. Start with the minimum. Build from that over time. I know you may think I'm hard on you but what the hell? This is not worth over extending yourself.

I will make you a deal. Get a piece of steel and profile and drill it. Send it to me and I will bevel it 80-90% to save you on belts. I will send it back with handle material and liners and hardware and you can take it from there.
 
alb1k said:
Blandies,

What is your end game here? You are showing signs of addiction and you haven't made a knife. If you can't afford everything you want now, pace yourself. Buy some steel, a file or two, sandpaper. Start with the minimum. Build from that over time. I know you may think I'm hard on you but what the hell? This is not worth over extending yourself.

I will make you a deal. Get a piece of steel and profile and drill it. Send it to me and I will bevel it 80-90% to save you on belts. I will send it back with handle material and liners and hardware and you can take it from there.
Click to expand...

I have made several knives, though I would not call them knives per say. I did everything to a finished blade and did not HT it, which I later found out I should have done. I just practice a lot on my bevels and shaping, never messed with much handle material other than dymonwood. Tanto,file knife,regular pocket blade,neck knife,and some more types.

I've been collecting small amounts of tools here and there for a couple years. I've had an interest in this for quite some time and made my first file knife 3 years ago and have been learning/making since then. I've been saving my spare money since then up to this moment so I can invest in everything I need for easy and enjoyable knifemaking, I know 100% I want to make small knives as a hobby ever since the file knife. It was very enjoyable, even if it wasn't good. But since then I found I do need some better equipment or I just burn myself out on it.
Between my kids college and bills, I just can't afford any high-end equipment, which is fine...I wouldn't get the use I should out of it since I am a novice.

I really do appreciate the offer but I couldn't make you do that. The overdrafts was from my wifes purchases, not tools.
Thank you very much though.
 
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OK, I'm sorry if I jumped to conclusions. You clearly have a plan and if I can help I will. Best of luck.
 
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