what grit

S

steve_T

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Mar 22, 2009
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i am going to get some belts for my sander what grits would you suggest i need i have no belts....i would need belts for sharpening and what ever else. thanks
 
I like 50 grit Blaze belts, followed by 120 grit Blaze belts, followed by Gators in whatever their equivalent is in 400's, can't remember off the top of my head. You can get by with your 120's for sharpening, but I like to use 220's in just a cheap a/o belt for sharpening. Keep your 220 seperate and don't use it for anything else so it stays crisp longer. Trugrit.com has good prices.
Matt Doyle
 
http://www.popsknifesupplies.com/

If you call and talk to Pop, he can give your recommendations and help you build an order. He prices are as good any anybody's and he is very helpful to talk too. I recommend you give him a call.

I use 120, 220 and 400. I also keep finer grits around and use them sometimes, but I use those three every time. You may also want a blue (green?) scotchbrite belt. You'll need lower grits than I do (I rough on a mill) and there are a lot of different types of belts in these grits. Run your finer grits slow or you'll dull them quickly.
 
I would like to suggest ordering some good belts, not the cheap ones. Norton, 3M our some of the best. I just reordered some new belts from true grit which was over $ 200.00 + But when it comes to good quality belts you can not put a price tag on that. But with the economy doing poorly I was not surprise. Here is a list of grits to get you started, you can go from there. 50 grit belt 80,120,240,320,400,600,800,1000, and you can go up higher if you need to. Hope this was of help and someone else can add to the list if they want to. :thumbup:

mdoyle said:
I like 50 grit Blaze belts, followed by 120 grit Blaze belts, followed by Gators in whatever their equivalent is in 400's, can't remember off the top of my head. You can get by with your 120's for sharpening, but I like to use 220's in just a cheap a/o belt for sharpening. Keep your 220 seperate and don't use it for anything else so it stays crisp longer. Trugrit.com has good prices.
Matt Doyle
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I just orderd some of Blaze belts. I hear that they cut great and last longer. Big dallar belts.

Terry
 
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Barkes Knife Shop said:
I would like to suggest ordering some good belts, not the cheap ones. Norton, 3M our some of the best. I just reordered some new belts from true grit which was over $ 200.00 + But when it comes to good quality belts you can not put a price tag on that. But with the economy doing poorly I was not surprise. Here is a list of grits to get you started, you can go from there. 50 grit belt 80,120,240,320,400,600,800,1000, and you can go up higher if you need to. Hope this was of help and someone else can add to the list if they want to. :thumbup:



I just orderd some of Blaze belts. I hear that they cut great and last longer. Big dallar belts.

Terry
Click to expand...

I would pay twice what I pay now for blaze belts, I can never use anything else now. you will be very happy I think.

I I generally use a 50 blaze belt pre HT and post HT I use an 80 or 120 CF gator to remove scale. then I go back to the 50 blaze for post HT grinding then I go straight to 220 then 400, 600 all cf gator and I finish with a 800 Norax belt.

the gators leave a pretty even finish but the norax is fantastic.

-Josiah
 
I am with you Rusty! 36 then 120 then 180 (maybe), then 220. I always hand sand with steel blocks and leather covered wooden blocks. I find that LOTS of cheap belts or fewer expensive hi-tech belts evens out the cost. I always vapor etch blades for a passivated finish, which takes the finish to a finer effect.
 
ok i have a stupid question...im a noob. do you use the belt sander for any thing but sharpening?
 
Hello SteveT ... Knife sharpening is done with whet stones. Knife shaping is done with belt grinders. belt sanders are used for handle shaping sometimes

Jason
 
I use 36 for heavy cutting.I use 60 for doing my hollow grinds.Then use 120, 220, 65,45,And use film belts in 30 15 and 9 micron for my polish.
 
I can't speak for anyone else, but I sharpen on my grinder as well as grind knives. A 220 belt is all you need for sharpening if you're going to buff the edge (although I usually grab a 400), if you'll want to strop on the machine, you'll need a leather belt or something that will hold compound.
 
JasonSCarter said:
Hello SteveT ... Knife sharpening is done with whet stones. Knife shaping is done with belt grinders. belt sanders are used for handle shaping sometimes

Jason
Click to expand...

i had a custom knife maker sharpen my knife with a belt sander he used like 3 different belts. my knife was never so sharp.
 
Steve - nearly every maker I know does some part of the sharpening process on a belt. I like to use a slack 400 grit belt and then either buff with a stiff buff and green chrome or use a slack cork belt with green chrome, gets them as sharp as I need them. To touch up an edge or maintain it I use a croc stick or the sharpmaker I was given recently. If a knife is really dull, it goes back to the belt.
 
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