Which belts last longest for handle preparation?

scotchleaf

scotchleaf

Joined
Oct 23, 2006
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Which belts last longest for handle preparation? I used some ironwood on a handle and it ate my remaining 2x42 belts.
 
Ironwood clogs belts like a mofo. Get a belt cleaner bar.
 
I've got one and used it quite a bit. I ended up having to use a rasp. I guess I thought the desert ironwood was not in the same class as tropical woods as far as density goes, but after looking at this, I was informed otherwise
 
Try working wet and using a piece of rubber to clean the belt. I use the yellow Jflex belts for higher grits and flow low grits I use a new sharp 36 grit ceramic cubitron belt and then once it gets dull I use it to grind hardened bevels and it gets sharp again. The 36 grit ceramic belts clog much less than AO belts for me.
 
I remove as much material as possible with saw and rasp and then the yellow j flex belt in 220 grit and finish rest by hand. It does eat a lot of sandpaper.
 
Slower belt speeds helps with ironwood too but that's probably not much of an option with your 2x42. Use that belt cleaner often. I use ceramic belts up to 120 on ironwood then go to A/O for 320. Rest is by hand.
 
Tis the nature of the beast!

Another vote for cutting as close as possible first and then use fresh Hermes Superflex J weights. The belt cleaner will help a bit, Just be prepared to go through a few belts with ironwood.
 
Yeah, You can scorch any wood trying to grind to fast.
Horsewright said:
Slower belt speeds helps with ironwood too but that's probably not much of an option with your 2x42. Use that belt cleaner often. I use ceramic belts up to 120 on ironwood then go to A/O for 320. Rest is by hand.
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