Thread: Belt Finishing

I have several old straight razors that I can experiment with. I have a variable speed Bader BIII grinder and some new 2x72 leather and felt belts. So, I'm thinking of trying one or both belts with some compound. Where would you suggest I start? Leather belt, .5 micron compound? Which compound, paste, spray, or powder? I was hoping to hone on a stone and then finish on a belt with compound. Any ideas?

I would not finish the edge on a belt grinder. It is simply too much action. If you have a hanging strop and actually strop 20” and 20 laps on it, it egauls 5 1/2 revolutions of the belt. It would be very easy to go too far and break the edge. Now if you are actually talking about polishing the razor, I’m sure you could get it with a high mirror polish.

Rezdog, I can appreciate your hesitation, but since I have all these extra dubl duck razors, which I believe to be of good German steel, I'm still willing to give it a try. So if anyone can recommend a honing compound and ideas, I'd appreciate hearing your opinions. Regards

I would go as tame as possible, so either pure cerium oxide or pure ferrous oxide. Even just a felt belt is really going to do a lot. Often linen and leather is how an edge gets finished, and it does not take that long either.

Belt finishing is going to make it harder to hone by hand if you have any slight mishap. Not saying you shouldn't. I sharpen knives on belts. But not razors. Your call.

In the case of using linen or felt, do you apply the powdered cerium oxide directly to the linen/felt, or do you mix it into a carrier of some type and spray it onto the linen/felt? The next question of course would be how much cerium oxide is used?

you will be sharpening in the wrong direction on a grinder, a razors edge is too thin for that kind of heat, and pressure,, by virtue of going the wrong way, a roll on the edge is certain. every one who buffs on a grinder will tell you that after they do this they have to hone the razor. most of the compound they use is higher grit than red oxide. so do it if you like its your razors. but the results will be less than what your looking for by trying to make the process easier.

if your honing abilities are not up to snuff you should get some help. Tc

I wouldn’t do it. You may even screw up the temper. Dubl ducks are ground so thin it would be too late before you knew it. Most likely will pull a burr too.

+1 For damage to the temper. I have a 30 micron belt and it works great for polishing but heats up metal too fast.

Another vote for caution and avoidance when it comes to using the 2x72 to hone!

Is your Bader variable speed? If it is not, you will absolutely overheat the edge in a heartbeat. If it is, to avoid damaging the heat treatment you would have to run it so slowly that the advantage of using the grinder would be lost. Also, as TC mentioned, the direction of your drive would need to be reversed. I love my 2x72 and how versatile it is. But IMHO it is just the wrong tool for this job. There is a reason razor makers use their 2x72s to shape the blade but not to hone.

EDIT: just saw your grinder is in fact variable speed. But the other issues remain.