12-29-2019, 02:26 PM
Speaking of belts, I've read recommendations for Norton Blaze as well as 3M Trizact. I have not studied these at all. I have a feeling they are both very good. Kind of like deciding between BMW and Mercedes.
For my WSKO I have some Norton Norax belts. They seem to have the abrasive applied in a helical pattern, which is supposed to make them wear longer and leave a finer finish than the micron rating would suggest. In my experience the x200 (200 micron) performs like Norton says: It leaves about an 80 grit equivalent finish and the belt seems to wear slowly. I think I've done between 150 and 200 blades on that belt and, while it's showing some wear, it's still going strong. But I didn't pick Norax on purpose. It was just what Darex had, so I bought it and liked it.
Any suggestions for belt brand/model and coarseness? I was thinking something like 120, 400, and 1000. Like Grepper, I'm looking to put good edges on knives fairly quickly. I generally find that an edge that's pretty coarse, yet full apexed and fully deburred, makes one of the best utility edges. A few times I have made an edge on the WSKO with a 100 micron belt and then deburred. That edge worked really well for cutting cardboard and lasted a lot longer (on the exact same blade) than an edge taken to 22 or 9 micron.
Maybe I should have something like a 220 or 320. I think that emulates what most knife manufacturers use to sharpen blades.
Thanks,
Brian.
For my WSKO I have some Norton Norax belts. They seem to have the abrasive applied in a helical pattern, which is supposed to make them wear longer and leave a finer finish than the micron rating would suggest. In my experience the x200 (200 micron) performs like Norton says: It leaves about an 80 grit equivalent finish and the belt seems to wear slowly. I think I've done between 150 and 200 blades on that belt and, while it's showing some wear, it's still going strong. But I didn't pick Norax on purpose. It was just what Darex had, so I bought it and liked it.
Any suggestions for belt brand/model and coarseness? I was thinking something like 120, 400, and 1000. Like Grepper, I'm looking to put good edges on knives fairly quickly. I generally find that an edge that's pretty coarse, yet full apexed and fully deburred, makes one of the best utility edges. A few times I have made an edge on the WSKO with a 100 micron belt and then deburred. That edge worked really well for cutting cardboard and lasted a lot longer (on the exact same blade) than an edge taken to 22 or 9 micron.
Maybe I should have something like a 220 or 320. I think that emulates what most knife manufacturers use to sharpen blades.
Thanks,
Brian.