Which grit flap disk???

D

Dave21243

Joined
Dec 25, 2017
Messages
4
So I used to use good ole grinding wheels to sharpen my axes and hatchets, but I now use a flap disk. Been using for about 2 months. I have a 60 grit disk and it works well, but id like to know the best grit for the sharpest and most durable grind. Preferred grit and brand would be great! Also, do you go from like 60 then 90 etc or just one?

P.S. New here so I apologize if this has been asked, but I have found nothing on it.
 
i use a norton blue fire 60 grit on my 7". i dont know if its the best but i like zirconium cause it lasts longer than aluminum oxide

for small jobs i use a normal sander wheel with 60 grit ceramic. it seems to eat material but wears away fast enough to leave a good shine
 
I have the zirconium too. Where I live we can only find 60 grit. Normally the finer the grit the better and smoother the finish, but I'm also far more into woodworking than metal working and didn't know if the same rule of thumb applied.
 
i wouldnt know much about woodworking with a flapper.

when you're working metal you gotta take into account heat build up. rougher grits produce less heat, but they're rough. cheap stuff like aluminum oxide (brown stuff) will wear fast enough to give you a shiny finish but they dont last long at all. generally the disc is only good for 1-2 heavy jobs.

generally i keep the ceramic for utility stuff and my zirconium for heavy stuff
 
I definitely don't use a flap disk on wood, just saying I know more about wood than metal. I don't care for a shine as its not hanging on a wall, just splitting wood. I just want the best edge. I sharpen with a file for a really sharp edge, but when working I only have time for the grinder. I have heard of people getting good results with a flap disk too (almost as well with a file and whetstone) I just don't know if it's true. Plus if it is, I don't know what grit.
 
you'll still need to top it off with a file but a 60 grit is fine for most things. be it aluminum or zirconium
 
I sharpen a lot of pulaskis and axes for our local trail crews. The shear volume of works means I can't give them the file and stone attention I give my personal axes. Out of necessity this is flap disc work. I prefer a 40 grit disc for the reason phantomknives stated above - less heat. It produces an adequate finish for a tool I'm going to sent out with volunteers. They could still use a quick touch-up with a stone but they don't get it, no time. I can do 30 pulaskis, axe and adze ends with 1 40-grit disc. The disc will still cut after that but the work starts to get slow and discs are cheap.

Pile_o_Pulaskis.JPG
 
Square_peg said:
I sharpen a lot of pulaskis and axes for our local trail crews. The shear volume of works means I can't give them the file and stone attention I give my personal axes. Out of necessity this is flap disc work. I prefer a 40 grit disc for the reason phantomknives stated above - less heat. It produces an adequate finish for a tool I'm going to sent out with volunteers. They could still use a quick touch-up with a stone but they don't get it, no time. I can do 30 pulaskis, axe and adze ends with 1 40-grit disc. The disc will still cut after that but the work starts to get slow and discs are cheap.

Pile_o_Pulaskis.JPG
Click to expand...

I just like looking at this picture.
 
I've used 36-grip flap disks with good results. And the finish was much finer than I expected. Just watch the edge so the disk doesn't catch it! Hit it with a stone quickly after and you have a good working edge. At least in my experience.
 
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