Most economical / best bang for your buck ceramic belts?

[Drew Riley]

I've heard you can use an old file as well, do you think that'd do the trick?


I've got a rubber belt cleaning stick I use, but it honestly really only works when grinding non-metal stuff like handle material.


I may have done this once or twice lol...

Old files can work, yes.

 

[Cole2525]

I've used a lot of different brands, my favourite for rough grinding is Klingspor CS912Y 40 grit.
But what gets you the best performance relative to cost is going to depend on the prices on belts in your area.

 

[Mecha]

Best bang for the buck in my experience is VSM, the high-dollar ones that cost like a buck more than the slightly cheaper VSMs. That and the purple Bora-7.

 

[Natlek]

Klingspor CS912Y

I never used CS 912 Y but I use CS 910 Y and i will not change them for any other brand .Did you ever try CS 910 Y ?

This is true .........I can make several heavy pass before I fill temperature ..............

The close coating offers very high levels of aggressiveness and ensure a high stock removal rate. The multibond gives this abrasive belt increased performance as it reduces the amount of waste material adhering to the abrasive grain. This quality provides for cool grinding. When used for sanding on steel, the product will not produce any heat-induced annealing colours on the workpiece

CS 912 Y ACT

Abrasive belt CS 912 Y ACT – for aggressive abrasive performance and outstanding efficiency The abrasive belt CS 912 Y ACT by Klingspor delivers

www.klingspor.de

CS 910 Y ACT

Abrasive belt CS 910 Y ACT – the special product for an extra long service life The abrasive belt CS 910 Y ACT by Klingspor has been specially

www.klingspor.de

 

[Cole2525]

I never used CS 912 Y but I use CS 910 Y and i will not change them for any other brand .Did you ever try CS 910 Y ?

This is true .........I can make several heavy pass before I fill temperature ..............

CS 912 Y ACT

Abrasive belt CS 912 Y ACT – for aggressive abrasive performance and outstanding efficiency The abrasive belt CS 912 Y ACT by Klingspor delivers

www.klingspor.de

CS 910 Y ACT

Abrasive belt CS 910 Y ACT – the special product for an extra long service life The abrasive belt CS 910 Y ACT by Klingspor has been specially

www.klingspor.de

Yes, mostly used the CS910Y in 60 grit, very good belt life. The CS912Y are a little bit cheaper and a little bit sharper, I think the CS910Y grind cooler and last longer.
My Klingspor rep told me the CS910Y are being replaced in their range by CS920Y and he gave me a bunch to try out, they seem closely comparable to CS910Y. I really like the 24 grit, makes bevelling thick blades extremely fast.

 

[Scaniaman]

I never used CS 912 Y but I use CS 910 Y and i will not change them for any other brand .Did you ever try CS 910 Y ?

This is true .........I can make several heavy pass before I fill temperature ..............

CS 912 Y ACT

Abrasive belt CS 912 Y ACT – for aggressive abrasive performance and outstanding efficiency The abrasive belt CS 912 Y ACT by Klingspor delivers

www.klingspor.de

CS 910 Y ACT

Abrasive belt CS 910 Y ACT – the special product for an extra long service life The abrasive belt CS 910 Y ACT by Klingspor has been specially

www.klingspor.de

Have you used Bora-7, a comparison would be interesting?

 

[FredyCro]

Have you used Bora-7, a comparison would be interesting?

What's you opinion on 120 Bora? I seem to kill them fast. Like even hard pressure doesnt return that initial sharpness. On softer and not hard wearing steels it will grind ok even half used, but it looses that initial bite quite fast. Was thinking on going down to 80g bora and then switching to cheaper zyrconium and/or gator belts altogether. 40g lasts a lot even grinding large kitchen knifes.

Maybe i am asking too much switching from 40 to 120. I think i had some 60s as well but not so sure anymore. Maybe i was just lazy and skipping grits too early

 

[Joseph Bandeko]

Has anyone tried the “optimal ceramic“ belts from pops?
They seem very interesting and the science behind it makes since.

Optimal Ceramic 2x72

Engineered for the Knife-Maker Runs Cooler Cuts Faster Microcrystalline ceramic grain abrasive with a medium-closed coating and optimised self-sharpening effect on a very sturdy polyester cloth backing: achieves maximum stock removal – and therefore cost savings – when grinding high-alloy steels...

popsknife.supplies

I’m going to need to order more belts soon, thought about giving them a try.

 

[Crag the Brewer]

Has anyone tried the “optimal ceramic“ belts from pops?
They seem very interesting and the science behind it makes since.

Optimal Ceramic 2x72

Engineered for the Knife-Maker Runs Cooler Cuts Faster Microcrystalline ceramic grain abrasive with a medium-closed coating and optimised self-sharpening effect on a very sturdy polyester cloth backing: achieves maximum stock removal – and therefore cost savings – when grinding high-alloy steels...

popsknife.supplies

I’m going to need to order more belts soon, thought about giving them a try.

Looks like a good price, too

 

[Scaniaman]

What's you opinion on 120 Bora? I seem to kill them fast. Like even hard pressure doesnt return that initial sharpness. On softer and not hard wearing steels it will grind ok even half used, but it looses that initial bite quite fast. Was thinking on going down to 80g bora and then switching to cheaper zyrconium and/or gator belts altogether. 40g lasts a lot even grinding large kitchen knifes.

Maybe i am asking too much switching from 40 to 120. I think i had some 60s as well but not so sure anymore. Maybe i was just lazy and skipping grits too early

I get decent good life out of 120 I think. P40 more so, but it's like that in general. The finer grits go faster. I have some VSM P400 ceramic, they are good for one knife or so.
I also go P40 then P120. Then Bora-3 P220. Higher than that I use some kind of compact grain.
I do have some P60 belts too, they are good on small thin blades like 2 mm.
80 I will not use again, I just don't see a place for them.

 

[godogs57]

Pops sent me VSM 880’s but the packing slip said Optimal ceramic belts. Is Optimal and VSM the same?

 

[Joseph Bandeko]

The Optimal belts are made by VSM.

 

[Natlek]

Have you used Bora-7, a comparison would be interesting?

It would be interesting , but I will need to order Bora-7 from Austria or Germany .Here in Macedonia I can get Klingspor belts custom made for me , only disadvantage is I need to order 6 in every grit size I need them .
You can buy one Klingspor belt there so you can make that comparison , I bet on Klingspor

 

[FredyCro]

It would be interesting , but I will need to order Bora-7 from Austria or Germany .Here in Macedonia I can get Klingspor belts custom made for me , only disadvantage is I need to order 6 in every grit size I need them .
You can buy one Klingspor belt there so you can make that comparison , I bet on Klingspor

What size/length do you use? I can send you couple of belts on my next order, I get them from Poland (same website that Scaniaman shared before, enigma24.eu).

 

[ricaga]

I am trying to make wood carving knives from straight razors. I tried using Norton Trizact 40 grit. I have to grind down the spine which can be as much as .125 down to .08 or so. I ground about 5 blades and the belts were now 80grit.
I ordered some shredder belts from Combat, any feedback with these on a 1 X 30 ?
Ric

 

[Seedy Lot]

I have been using VSMs in 50 grit for years but feel the 40+ Cubitron lasts longer and have less rogue scratch marks.

Worth your time for a little trial and error.

 

[ashwinearl]

One thing to keep in mind, is that some belts wear differently and expose new grit depending on how much pressure you exert. There are some belts that like hard pressure that break away old grit and expose new sharper grit, like the Blaze I think. I'm more tentative and don't exert that much pressure on the platen, and then ended up just glazing over them. As others have said, sometimes a dressing bar can expose newer grit and add life.

The best advice others have given is to just experiment and keep notes.

Another issue to consider is that if I am trying to maximize life out of a belt, it is usually time to just change the belt. When I change the belt life seems to improve greatly, and grinds improve instantly.

 

[Scaniaman]

One thing to keep in mind, is that some belts wear differently and expose new grit depending on how much pressure you exert. There are some belts that like hard pressure that break away old grit and expose new sharper grit, like the Blaze I think. I'm more tentative and don't exert that much pressure on the platen, and then ended up just glazing over them. As others have said, sometimes a dressing bar can expose newer grit and add life.

The best advice others have given is to just experiment and keep notes.

Another issue to consider is that if I am trying to maximize life out of a belt, it is usually time to just change the belt. When I change the belt life seems to improve greatly, and grinds improve instantly.

For low pressure grinding Deerfos PS999 is the best ceramic I have tried. I use it mainly for convexing on the felt platen at 120 grit. But I just picked up a bunch in 50 grit too.

 

[Jonathan BRG]

I grind 90% or more after heat treatment.
I started with Nortons, and moved to Combat.
I’ve been happy with both……but not sure I know enough to know.

For a fairly decent sized single bevel k-tip gyotu, in O1 or 52100….I can get by with one 36 grit, but I feel like I could cut my grinding time in half with two.

Thinking I have to try the VSM’s just to see if I can get a little more value.
That seems to be the consensus here.
Ordering some now.
Thanks for all the input.

 

[Crag the Brewer]

I grind 90% or more after heat treatment.
I started with Nortons, and moved to Combat.
I’ve been happy with both……but not sure I know enough to know.

For a fairly decent sized single bevel k-tip gyotu, in O1 or 52100….I can get by with one 36 grit, but I feel like I could cut my grinding time in half with two.

Thinking I have to try the VSM’s just to see if I can get a little more value.
That seems to be the consensus here.
Ordering some now.
Thanks for all the input.

Pretty sure you will love VSM's.

I didn't like combat abrasives