What's your workhorse belt?

[Infi-del]

So I got a nifty belt grinder and have really been enjoying it. I can get anything razor sharp now and it all looks even and professional. Even started sharpening for money with some of the local owned eateries. I found that coarse belts aren't so coarse when moving at a low speed. I can get a hair popping edge with 100 grit. I also find that the coarse belts don't seem to heat the blade up as fast which was surprising to me. I'm not noticing that the edge gets really any sharper when I step up to 500 or even 1200 grit. It just looks prettier. Plus I think for kitchen knives a coarser edge might be an advantage. So I'm gonna invest in one major grit that will do most of the work I need. I'm thinking 220 grit. Seems to leave a nice satin finish on the edge and produces a wicked sharpness. I'm eventually gonna get a leather belt to strop the edges but I think I'm gonna stick with two grits. From you guys that use belt a lot... what's the one grit that does most of the work for ya? I've found a place that sells 1X42 belts from 320 grit down for like $1.00 each. Was thinking about buying about $50.00 worth of 220 belts. But I wanted to know if maybe 320 would be more useful. What's your workhorse belt?

 

[cbwx34]

I think you're on the right track. I've gone the "use 3 or 4 belts down to sub micron" route... now I do pretty much what you suggest. 220 or 320, then to a leather belt. You can just get 220s and as they wear, save a few and use them if you need a finer grit. Maybe grab a couple of 100-120s... just in case you run into a major job. But it sounds like you have a good plan to me.

I'm sure you've probably seen this, but in case you haven't... that's what this guy is doing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLjFjT4vYsM

cbw