Does anyone have any experience using felt buffing belts for polishing after grinding? Any advantage over a buffing wheel?
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Does anyone have any experience using felt buffing belts for polishing after grinding? Any advantage over a buffing wheel?
I had a few felt buffing belts, i always seemed to get one grain of 36 grit in the belt when I was trying to buff, no matter how well I cleaned my machine off. They worked ok, but I have had a lot better luck with regular buffing wheels.
In theory they seem like they would be the bees knees, being the same diameter as what you ground on, but in practice I would say meh, maybe for coarse emery.
I have been known on occasion to put buffing compound on a worn out hight grit or cork belt, it works kind of crappy but serves a need on a rare occasion.
Just curious, are you guys talking about using them bare for a cleaning/polish or loaded with some type of polishing compound?Quote:
Originally Posted by karlej
I was taking about with compoundsQuote:
Originally Posted by JP5
I guess I'll stay with regular buffing wheels. Thanks for the response.
Seems BobAllman was telling me about scotchbrite belts.
Any good use for those between the grinding and the polishing?
For me, Scotchbrite is a bit too coarse but great for removing fire scale or heavy rust. The 3M wheels I found are way too coarse for renewal work except for some spine cleaning but have to be followed by a lot of sanding. Problem is that they follow any dent or pit and smear it over in the direction of rotation. Good to make a brushed finish though...Quote:
Originally Posted by sharptonn
JME, YMMV
~Richard
I hear you. Still...different 'grits' are likely available and being thin against a hard wheel it might be nice for things blemish-free. Sanded or freshly ground. Bob said they are nice, I recall
I was thinking about before the polish if a mirror is desired.
I think the a little worn fine scotchbrite belt makes a great quick and dirty satin finish.Quote:
Originally Posted by sharptonn
My favorite asinine scotchbirte belt thing to do is use a worn out scotchbrite belt underneath (yes, put two belts on at the same time) another belt (yes it will track). It makes for a super cushy contact wheel that is good for getting scratch lines to from spine to edge. Strange but true,
I have a couple of the felt belts, never got them to work the way I wanted them to with compound.
I do love the scotchbrite belts though. an a65 or a45 belt finish under a blue scotchbrite belt finish is one of my favorites for kitchen knives. a maroon scotchbrite belt works great for removing firescale on tangs before using epoxy, doesn't really take off enough metal to mess up flat tangs, but leaves a coarse enough scratch pattern for the epoxy to grab ahold of. they also work good for me when brightening up a forged finish, looks especially nice on a large 10"+ bladed rough and ready chopper. a tip for using them is to keep a cheap welders wire brush handy, and when the belt starts to get loaded up with scale and nastiness run the wire brush up against the belt while its running to clean it, throws gunk everywhere though.
spazola, ill have to try that trick with using the scotchbrite belt as a cushion for a finish belt.
We almost did away with felt belts entirely but found our way back to them after working out the technique. Our felt belts wore quickly in the center, leaving high points on either side of the contact wheel. This resulted in poor contact with the hollow grind and an uneven polish. That is, until we figured we could just focus pressure on the high points, essentially the usable .5 inch on either side, and pass the whole grind along it. The felt belts also rounded nicely over the edge of the contact wheel so it blends well. With enough time and patience (and lots of buffing compound), you can get a phenomenal mirror polish this way. We still finish on buffing wheels with finer compounds.