Wonky Plunges

imill3567

imill3567

Joined
Aug 5, 2014
Messages
378
Am I the only one who cannot get a good plunge if they change belt weights for finishing? For example I can get a nice slightly rounded plunge with a 220 grit j flex but if I switch to one of the finishing belts which are almost all heavyweight (cork, trizact, compact grain, Norax, etc) they don't bend the same and so they won't conform to the plunge the same and almost always lead to slight imperfection. I'm considering just going to only 400 grit j flex after the 220 then sometimes a scothbrite which is soft enough to conform. I like the idea of a finishing belt which isn't done after one use but they don't seem practical for knives with plunges.
 
After the 400 grit j-flex I go to a 22 Norax. It conforms the same. After the Norax belt I hand sand starting with 400 grit.
 
I usually go to a flexible AO belt for cleaning up plunges and then scotchbrite or cork? Hermes has some nice flexible 120 and 220 git ceramic, so I do the blade all the way up to my final belt and then go back and use those 2 belts to clean up the plunges and then refinish the entire blade when I do the plunges. I also use a hard felt platen, so I make sure to keep the plunge cut carbide faced jig on the blade until it's fully ground and belt finished. Helps the over runs into the ricasso area and keep the plunge sharper and not just washing it out completely. The Norax are more flexible than the Trizact Gators, can't remember how the non gator trizacts flexed? Sun has a new belt to compete with the Norax/Gators that I think Pops carried, not sure how flexible it is though?
 
Taz said:
I usually go to a flexible AO belt for cleaning up plunges and then scotchbrite or cork? Hermes has some nice flexible 120 and 220 git ceramic, so I do the blade all the way up to my final belt and then go back and use those 2 belts to clean up the plunges and then refinish the entire blade when I do the plunges. I also use a hard felt platen, so I make sure to keep the plunge cut carbide faced jig on the blade until it's fully ground and belt finished. Helps the over runs into the ricasso area and keep the plunge sharper and not just washing it out completely. The Norax are more flexible than the Trizact Gators, can't remember how the non gator trizacts flexed? Sun has a new belt to compete with the Norax/Gators that I think Pops carried, not sure how flexible it is though?
Click to expand...
I actually have a couple of those sunmax I will try them because they are more flexible than a cork or gator belt. I use those same Hermes ceramic j flex belts at 220 for my plunges. I also must have a different Norax Tom Lewis Tom Lewis because mine is fairly stiff but I'll take another look. Thanks for the input
 
Radius your platen and radius your wheel and be sure to break the edges of the belt will get you a nice plunge.

Remember when you go from a Thin belt to a thicker belt the radius increases.
 
AVigil said:
Radius your platen and radius your wheel and be sure to break the edges of the belt will get you a nice plunge.

Remember when you go from a Thin belt to a thicker belt the radius increases.
Click to expand...
Yeah the thin to thicker and stiffer belt is essentially the problem I was getting at. My glass platen does not have the edges radiused when I replace it I will definitely do that. It's not so much getting a good plunge that's the issue. I've finally figured that out (definitely still chasing really good plunges but they're respectable) it's maintaining it in finishing. I tried the sunmax out on a knife I was about to tumble and those are nicely flexible and will last longer than a cheap a/o 400 grit.
 
imill3567 said:
Yeah the thin to thicker and stiffer belt is essentially the problem I was getting at. My glass platen does not have the edges radiused when I replace it I will definitely do that. It's not so much getting a good plunge that's the issue. I've finally figured that out (definitely still chasing really good plunges but they're respectable) it's maintaining it in finishing. I tried the sunmax out on a knife I was about to tumble and those are nicely flexible and will last longer than a cheap a/o 400 grit.
Click to expand...
Just radius it now, use a slack belt and then a cork belt to finish
 
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