Question about grinder belts

BartlettBlades

BartlettBlades

Joined
Mar 24, 2016
Messages
126
Hey all,

I'm really new to knifemaking and I'm proud to say I have an Esteem grinder on it's way from Brett. At this point I have 0 2x72 belts and was wondering what would be a good starter kit. What belts would I use most and what belts are must haves. I've heard good things about the Norton belts and the 3M Trizact Gator belts. I plan on making knives with various finishes as well, from satin to mirror finish. Another question, are some belts better at working with G10, Micarta or any other Phenolics? I appreciate all of your knowledge on this forum and that's one of the main reasons I went with the Esteem, so I'm sure you guys can help me out with this. Thanks!
 
I recently switched to Cubitron II and absolutely love them. I use 36, 60, and 120 the most. From 120 I generally go to hand sanding.

Scotchbrite belts are also nice to have for a simple working belt-finish.
 
I use VSMs from TruGrit in 36 for profiling, and 60 and 120 for bevel grinding. After that, I go A100 to A45 Trizact. If I don't need a crisp bevel top line I use a blue scotchbrite for a nice smooth finish.
 
I agree with Wulf, cubitron II 36, 60, and 120 are the way to go they last a long time and don't heat up as much as other more economical belts. I usually work my way up to 220, 320, and 400 after I hand sand or just run a scotchbrite belt depending on the desire finish. A couple scotchbrite belts in medium and fine grits are also good to have if you want a nice finish. Save your money on aluminum oxide belts and go ceramic for the initial profiling, you will be thanking yourself later.
 
Thanks for the replies everyone. I'm getting ready to order some 36,60,120, and a 400 for sure. A quick question about the scotchbrite belts....since they are quite expensive compared to the others, what kind of life do you get out of them? Also I'm going to have to get me a chart, since all these manufacturers want to use secret code numbers to specify their grit!
 
The Cubitron II are pretty good, but even better for the cost in my opinion are the cubitron 967 (the gold ones). They simply last longer and cut faster for me. I normally use a 50 or 60 grit depending on thickness of blade for profiling and blade grind but do keep a couple of 40 grits just in case I have to profile thicker steel. From the 50 or 60 grit I go to a 120 hermes j-flex (rb406) very briefly just to clean up the plunge line, and then proceed to the gators(trizact cf). The progression of the gators I use is A160, A65 and A45 and by hand from there.

I also keep 80, 120, 220 & 400 grit of the hermes rb406 for working handle material. They work with just about every type of handle material.

As far as scothbrite belts, they tend to last quite a while. I have had mine for about 5 years and they still have some life in them, but I only use them maybe an hour per week.

I get my belts from Pop's knife supply.
 
I have used over the years, the Norton Blaze, 3M Cubitron And currently am happy with the VSM or The Merit Budget belt in ceramic for grinding.

YOU are going to have to try a few different ones and see what works for the way you grind, Budget etc... For instance, The Cubitiron grab on me and I don't care for them while others like them fine.

Also, I use about half of the belt for grinding my hardened blades then they are used for profiling and hogging off steel that temp isn't important.

Don't waste fresh Ceramic belts for profiling.

I use 36g 60g 120g then to scotch brite and they last a long time. Also for handle Scuplting I prefer Hermes A/O in a stiff back for 40g work then the Blue spuerflex 120's 320's then hand sand from there.

Have fun & stay safe.
 
Thanks for all the great replies everyone. I starting to learn that Rhinoknives is right. I need to find what works best for me. I've tried a few different types of belts, my next order will include some VSMs. I'm making good progress on design and bevels and look forward to sharing my knives with everyone in the future!

Sent from my SM-N915V using Tapatalk
 
Cubitrons are great belts. I started with 36 belts but found them much too aggressive. As I got a lot better at grinding I find I like the 50 over the 40 even. I can just get a cleaner more even grind.
I would bet there might be a difference between jig and hand grinding though. That might be a good question. What belt do you start with jig grinding or hand grinding.
 
BartlettBlades said:
Hey all, I'm really new to knifemaking and I'm proud to say I have an Esteem grinder on it's way from Brett.....
Click to expand...

I'm jealous.....I just placed an order with Brett last week...it'll be another 3 or 4 weeks before I'm grinding on the Esteem.

Here's what I initially ordered from TrueGrit 3 or 4 weeks ago:

5 x 2x72-36 XK760X Ceramic (BVSM272-0036-760) = $26.25
10 x 2x72-120 XK760X Ceramic (BVSM272-0120-760) = $30.00
10 x 2x72-60 XK760X Ceramic (BVSM272-0060-760) = $37.00
5 x 2x72-180 A100 "Gator" 337DC Trizact Aluminum Oxide (BL3M272-0180-A100CF) = $35.75
3 x 2x72-1200 A16 307EA Trizact Structured Aluminum Oxide (BL3M272-1200-A16307) = $23.25
3 x 2x72-600 A30CF "Gator" 337DC Trizact Aluminum Oxide (BL3M272-0600-A30CF) = $21.45
3 x 2x72-400 A45CF "Gator" 337DC Trizact Aluminum Oxide (BL3M272-0400-A45CF) = $21.45
1 x 2x72-AMED Scotch-Brite Aluminum Oxide Medium Low Stretch (BL3M272-SB-AMED-LS) = $28.00

I also ordered a 2X72 leather stropping belt and some green buffing compound for deburring the edge.
 
TonyRV2 said:
I'm jealous.....I just placed an order with Brett last week...it'll be another 3 or 4 weeks before I'm grinding on the Esteem.

Here's what I initially ordered from TrueGrit 3 or 4 weeks ago:

5 x 2x72-36 XK760X Ceramic (BVSM272-0036-760) = $26.25
10 x 2x72-120 XK760X Ceramic (BVSM272-0120-760) = $30.00
10 x 2x72-60 XK760X Ceramic (BVSM272-0060-760) = $37.00
5 x 2x72-180 A100 "Gator" 337DC Trizact Aluminum Oxide (BL3M272-0180-A100CF) = $35.75
3 x 2x72-1200 A16 307EA Trizact Structured Aluminum Oxide (BL3M272-1200-A16307) = $23.25
3 x 2x72-600 A30CF "Gator" 337DC Trizact Aluminum Oxide (BL3M272-0600-A30CF) = $21.45
3 x 2x72-400 A45CF "Gator" 337DC Trizact Aluminum Oxide (BL3M272-0400-A45CF) = $21.45
1 x 2x72-AMED Scotch-Brite Aluminum Oxide Medium Low Stretch (BL3M272-SB-AMED-LS) = $28.00

I also ordered a 2X72 leather stropping belt and some green buffing compound for deburring the edge.
Click to expand...

A suggestion here. Geat idea for the green chrome for dressing a sharpened edge.
Run that leather belt slowly, and I mean maybe 5-10% speed for starters, Those can heat up a thin edge much faster than you think and remember it goes da other way!;)
 
TonyRV2 said:
Thanks for the tip Laurence!
Click to expand...

My Pleasure,
I have found that every different belt & maker will find a "sweet Spot" of speed & pressure for each belt. Generally, The finer the grit, The slower I run the machine & the less pressure I use for that sweet spot of best finishing work.

Get yourself a eraser stick for the A/O belts when working woods.
 
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