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Beyond knives: deburring, radius work, sculpture, tool steel, nickel alloys and non-ferrous metals on a belt grinder, and how to do it safely.
21 articles · written in Sterling, Illinois
21 articles
Steel is stiffer per inch. Aluminum is lighter, corrosion resistant, and in a solid 1.5-inch bar is plenty rigid for any attachment. Here is how the two compare, and why every Torus arm is solid aluminum.
A kukri’s inward curve defeats a flat platen and its thick spine soaks up belts. Here is how I sharpen kukri blades on the 2×72: a small wheel for the recurve, grits for thick steel, holding the angle, and finishing.
A full hollow straight razor is ground almost to nothing on a large contact wheel. Here is why 14 inches is the standard, how to mount it on a 2×72, how to keep thin steel cool, and matching both sides.
Tough steels like CPM 3V, M4 and 52100 eat cheap belts and heat up fast. Here is how ceramic and Cubitron belts compare on cut rate, heat, life and cost, and which one I run on the 2×72.
Carbon steel, stainless, tool steel and damascus all grind differently, and a VFD lets you match belt speed to each. Here is how I set speed by steel on the 2×72, and why thin stainless wants slow.
Knifemakers are not the only ones who need a 2×72. Sculptors use the same machine to rough out forms, add texture and polish bronze and steel. Here is how to set a belt grinder up for art metalwork.
Thin cuts better, right up until the edge turns blue. Here is how I take a knife edge thin without burn-through: where to stop before heat treat, what changes at 220 grit, how I check thickness, how often I dip.
A dagger has four bevels and every one has to match. Here is how I grind symmetrical double-edged daggers on the 2×72: scribing a true centerline, setting the rest once, checking symmetry after every pass, and finishing both edges.
A san mai sword has a hard core between soft cladding, and one hot pass or one deep gouge shows forever. Here is how I grind long laminated blades on the 2×72: support, heat control, even bevels, and finish.
If your grinder buzzes through the bench, the drive wheel is the first suspect. Here is what throws a wheel out of balance, how to check it, and why a machined aluminum drive wheel runs smoother.
Offset pulleys are cheap and simple. A VFD gives you every speed between stall and full tilt from a knob. Here is how the two compare on cost, torque, noise and convenience, and which one I put on my grinders.
Heat is the enemy of every blade on a belt. Here is where it comes from, how belt speed, pressure, grit and platen material change it, and the habits that keep a blade cool enough to protect its temper.
Built in Sterling
I machine the parts, hand-assemble, track and test each grinder before it ships. Most orders leave in seven to ten business days from time of order.
Fiber-laser-cut 6061 aluminum on the 9x12-inch base. Easier to tilt and move, and corrosion resistant.
My heaviest 2x72: a 3/8-inch steel chassis with machined dual-axis tracking. Bolt it down and it stays put.
Reaches the choils, finger grooves and inside curves a flat platen never will. Wheels from 1/2 to 1.5 inches.
Built to order
I answer my own email. Tell me the work you do and which grinder you are considering.
