Dressing gator belts

This question is directed at Butch, but if anyone else has any info, it would be appreciated as well. :)

Butch, I've seen you mention several times that you can "dress" gator belts to get more life out of them. Can you elaborate on how you do this and what you use?

I use gator belts as well as norax belts, and the higher grits in particular don't seem to last as long as I think they should. I've tried to freshen them by using a lot of pressure with a piece of steel, but that doesn't do it.

Thanks,
Josh

i have a wheel dresser stone that i use
the gators down to A30 can be dressed (higher grit liek the A16 i have can not )
i liek to do it on a wheel and just press the stone dresser stone into the belt nice and flat/ even to keep the belt flat
it does not take much but the stone works much better then the steel bar

i use my belts till there is little more then canvas backer on them (gators only )

Butch, do you think the abrasives on the belt are getting clogged/rounded over/smoothed ?

Thanks, Butch. Why can't the higher grit belts be dressed? I'll have to get a dressing stone...

Josh

I use a "belt dresser" that I get at sears. It's like a big rubber type eraser. When new, they are about 6" long & a little over 1" square... Found it by the routing bits at my local sears...

Edit: I only use this on the finer belts...coarse belts just chew up the eraser...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by shooter74743

I use a "belt dresser" that I get at sears. It's like a big rubber type eraser. When new, they are about 6" long & a little over 1" square... Found it by the routing bits at my local sears...

Edit: I only use this on the finer belts...coarse belts just chew up the eraser...

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Hmmm.....I call that a belt "cleaner"....

yep, sorry...

yep thats a belt cleaner the dresser is a stone bar
i will try and get a pic of a new belt and a belt im still using (jsut a bit longer)and one of the sub A30 style belts (there made different )

It's one of the good uses for Carborundum hones.

ok so there is an x5 and then used A45 and a new A45
the A30 is as smooth a finish you get with the tall gator belts

they make 2 other kinds of structured abrasive the X16 and X5 are more like fine ceramic on a belt
http://www.harnerknives.com/wp-conte...dsc00501sm.jpg

Hi butch I would have made 20 by now but I been laid up . My neck surgery has gone south and can hardly lift my arms or ide be grinding and asking you more questions. I am going to get some steel off aldo and then ill be set. No point in getting it til im healthy. I finished off 10 knives in the past month. had them heat treated over a month ago . I use the norax structured abrasive belt like the first one you showed but will be getting some gators soon. I have a bunch to use up first I do like the blaze orange for high volume grinding. Some times just to aggresive is bad. Kellyw