What roughing belt

JTknives

JTknives

Joined
Jun 11, 2006
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I knew this day would come but I hoped it would not be in the middle of a huge batch of knives. I went over to my belt rack and to my horror I only had 2 new blaze belts left. I have been using blaze belts for a very long time and the last time I bought them was before thy had the black gunk problem. So considering that has been a very loooong time ago i'm looking for advise on roughing belts. I know belt technology has changed since then and i'm looking for some help. Normally I work with carbon steels but this current batch of blades for blade west has grown to Include 50-60 blades of AEBL. So looking for a good belt that grinds cool with good life. Thanks guys
 
I have good experiences with 3M Cubitron belts on stainless steel. I heard about Cubitron II belts are way better but I have not personal experience.
 
Blaze is still awesome and they took care of the black gunk problem.
 
AVigil said:
Blaze is still awesome and they took care of the black gunk problem.
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Thanks, that’s one concern I was worried about. I just did not know if the fancy 984 cubitron II was worth the extra. Or is it worth going with the cheap budget ceramics for lots less and replace them more often.
 
I’ve switched to the 3M Cubitron 784f for bevel grinding, mostly hardened steel. Both carbon and stainless. It’s made for medium pressure, where the 984 is for high pressure. I discovered the 784 works much better for me since my bevel grinding is medium pressure. I think I wasted some 984 due to glacing.

I use the 984 for hogging out my blanks, where I can give it full pressure on my 3 HP motors.

I use the 784 in 60 and 120 grit, and I’m very happy. They’re a lot cheaper than the 984 too. And they can be used dry or wet.

https://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/1252815O/3m-metalworking-belts-substrate-brochure.pdf
 
Stromberg Knives said:
I’ve switched to the 3M Cubitron 784f for bevel grinding, mostly hardened steel. Both carbon and stainless. It’s made for medium pressure, where the 984 is for high pressure. I discovered the 784 works much better for me since my bevel grinding is medium pressure. I think I wasted some 984 due to glacing.

I use the 984 for hogging out my blanks, where I can give it full pressure on my 3 HP motors.

I use the 784 in 60 and 120 grit, and I’m very happy. They’re a lot cheaper than the 984 too. And they can be used dry or wet.

https://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/1252815O/3m-metalworking-belts-substrate-brochure.pdf
Click to expand...

I had wondered that my self. If you watch there testing thy use a robot to push the steel into the belt. I had wondered if the high pressure belts where not efficient with the average pressure we apply.
 
I like both the Norton 984 and the 3M 984.

The Norton is slightly less aggressive than the Blaze and no gunk.

Both can be used wet.

Jim
 
JTknives said:
I had wondered that my self. If you watch there testing thy use a robot to push the steel into the belt. I had wondered if the high pressure belts where not efficient with the average pressure we apply.
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Yeah, that’s my understanding. When knifemakers say “high pressure” I bet it’s very relative to what the industry, with its robots, consider high pressure.
 
I use Phoenix Abrasives 36 grit ceramics for roughing.
No black gunk, and when ran at high speed give very good life.
I was able to rough grind four 3/8" thick BladeSports Comp Knives with three new belts.
That is tapering the tangs and doing near full height flat grinds.
That's putting roughly five pounds of filings in a bucket.
Personally I'd call that good belt life.
 
Big Chris said:
I use Phoenix Abrasives 36 grit ceramics for roughing.
No black gunk, and when ran at high speed give very good life.
I was able to rough grind four 3/8" thick BladeSports Comp Knives with three new belts.
That is tapering the tangs and doing near full height flat grinds.
That's putting roughly five pounds of filings in a bucket.
Personally I'd call that good belt life.
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Chris what's high speed in this case? Like pressure I think that is often construed to mean different things to different people.
 
kuraki said:
Chris what's high speed in this case? Like pressure I think that is often construed to mean different things to different people.
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About 5200-5500 SFM, roughly 98% of what my grinder will do.
As for pressure, I'm roughly 380 pounds and I'm leaning into it.
If I don't run at full or near full speed, in the motor's optimal torque range, I stall the grinder out, it's 2 hp.
I'm probably not applying the pressure a robot is but I'm not babying it either.
 
I have been wanting to build just a dedicated hogging grinder. Nothing fancy no speed control needed. Just need 2 speeds, zero and fast. Somthing in the 6-7k range and around 3-5hp would do. I would like direct drive. But I digress. Thanks guys for the tips.
 
You know what’s funny. In all my years making knives I have never once used a grinding belt rougher then 50grit. Kinda wondering if I drop to a 36 if it’s going to mess me up.
 
JTknives said:
You know what’s funny. In all my years making knives I have never once used a grinding belt rougher then 50grit. Kinda wondering if I drop to a 36 if it’s going to mess me up.
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36 really chews things up.

I only saw that black gunk off of a couple of belts. I think the problem might be fixed. Maybe you just need to order up 10 Blaze in 36 grit and see what you think.
 
JTknives said:
You know what’s funny. In all my years making knives I have never once used a grinding belt rougher then 50grit. Kinda wondering if I drop to a 36 if it’s going to mess me up.
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It used to be the same for me, 50 grit to start.
Then I couldn't get 50 one time so I went with 36 cause I needed to resupply.
I noticed afterward that it seemed as though I was getting more life from the 36.
That made things easier when I went to 60 to start cleaning the rough stuff up.
36 is rough and will almost throw chips when really hogging.
When I was roughing those four choppers I filled my bucket with 1/4" to 3/8" long slivers.
 
JTknives said:
I have been wanting to build just a dedicated hogging grinder. Nothing fancy no speed control needed. Just need 2 speeds, zero and fast. Somthing in the 6-7k range and around 3-5hp would do. I would like direct drive. But I digress. Thanks guys for the tips.
Click to expand...

JT, for a 7K range single speed grinder you might wish to use a 3600 rpm motor with an 8" drive wheel to get 7500 SFPM range. A 1750 rpm motor would take a 16" drive wheel to get the same speed. I agree, direct drive is the ONLY way to go, and for a hogging grinder no need for VFD.
 
I bought a 36 grit once... Had the texture of rough gravel, but man did that that thing cut.
 
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