what to do with old grinding belts?

Dementia

Dementia

Joined
Oct 25, 1999
Messages
184
simple.

make handle material from them.
:D
here is my primary test piece of 'beltcarta'

beltcarta.jpg


this one moved while being put through the compression .. so it got a little funny ... but its still rock hard.
i put it in the vice and beat it with a hammer and seems to hold up better than i had thought it would.
:)

now i have a real batch setting in the workshop... and hopefully i can get a nice blade done to match it with ...
it will be my first 'belt knife'
sorry .. that wasnt very punny.
:)
:rolleyes:

this piece was only a few layers ... cause i didnt want to waste the compound if it wasnt going to work out .. but i should get some nicer layering on the new batch, though i do think that it makes for an interesting material to use.
any thoughts?
:D

ok, will post some pics when i have something else to show

D.
 
Bet it will be tough on saw blades and other belts:D
Bet it will look cool when you get it shaped also.
Bruce
 
OK, I love that idea, and you've convinced me to make my own micarta, or at least play around with it.

That being said, have seen several posts about making your own micarta, but search as I might(even broke out the almight powre of Google, though I must not have picked the right key words), I can't seem to find any information on the process or materials needed. So who wants to point me in the right direction?

Also, be very interested in how the belt micarta works for you. ALso, how it works and what the surface/texture/feel of it is like before and after working. I'm very intrigued by your use of your free time and old grinding belts. ;)
 
No slip during in the moment of truth. Could be worth a life time. Sure is fugly though.

RL
 
This I've gotta try. I'd like to know the type of glue your using also. Can't wait to see the pix.
 
I don't know what that patent stealing Dementia's using but I use the same thing I use for all my homemade Micarta. Wallmart fiberglass resin. Just make usre you soak it well so it goes completely through. With tight weaves like belts, thin it with a little acetone!

Gee, I'm sad now. I expected to be able to retire to tahiti where the women don't wear no tops.
 
or the glue you have been sniffing:D i wish you luck on this, as for old belts i find the trash can is were they look the best.
 
Dang, just tossed about a dozen old belts :mad: Cool idea-can't wait to see those handles on a knife.
 
Terry, this is Dementia's thread. I don't want to steal his thunder. Just kidding about the patent theft Dementia!:D anyway...I just give all the layers a good coating of resin and stack them with some compression. Let them dry and cut them up. This was something else I did just to see if it would work. Hmmmm...Don't know what got into Dementia. He must have a lot of time on his hands!:D

PS...To be honest I was making a Joke in my earlier post about using the things for handle material. I think Laurence has the best Idea.

as for old belts i find the trash can is were they look the best. :eek:
 
sorry peter, no infringement meant.
:D :p
i didnt even remember reading that link that you posted
(and i dont consider it a highjacking of a thread ... i am no expert in this subject) ... just had an idea to play with for the fun of it while i was working on other blades.

but .. the resin that i use is used in woodworking .. its supposedly used for coating tabletops when you make them from burls.
this resin is meant to keep the bark from falling off and things like that.
but it is essentially a fibreglass type resin.
the resin that i have been using comes out really quite thin .. so i havent needed to use acetone yet ..
it sets really sloooowly ..

i put a generous amount of the resin between each of the layers and then put it all in between two flat wooden boards and put a weight ontop of it.
then .. leaving it for 10 minutes while i try to get this aweful resin stuff off my fingers :D .. i come back and make sure that all the layers are pretty neat still and havent slipped ..
then i crank them with a vice until it wont budge no more.

wait a day or so.. take it out and cut it out.
now i have a few batches of weird things waiting to emerge from the vice.
:D

D.
 
One of my favorites is blue jean micarta Dementia. I use blue jeans, red cotton T shirts and green T shirts when I can find them. Makes a snazzy handle and holds up well.
 
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