Lessons learned from first try at grinding a knife out

[Yo Mama]

1. Saw blade spokes do not come off with a belt sander, this also ruins the belt.

2. 80 grit is great with a belt sander for making a bevel and edge, but sucks at removing enough metal to shape out the blade. 36 grit is now what I'm going to start with, then move to 80, then maybe something around 250-300, then higher grit by hand.

3. Angle grinders are fun! They also can ding up the sides easy if you're not careful.

4. My bolted down belt sander and vice are in the wrong spot, and opposite of where I want them to be with the sparks flying. Switching them tonight.

5. My kids think I'm the coolest, they said "Daddy is making fire!".

 

[kieranklein]

I find this grit progression works well for knives. 36,60,120,220,400 hand sand between 600-2500 depending on what I'm going for.

 

[Yo Mama]

Yeah man, I'm dreaming about sand paper all night! It's crazy the though of how much money I'm about to drop. It ain't cheap, but it is fun!

 

[kieranklein]

Its definitely not cheap your right on that. Just got more belts and sheets in the mail today.

 

[redneck]

Have to watch buying too many belts at a time also. I have had 3M aluminum oxide belts go bad from sitting too long. Either the glue or the backing shrinks and they don't lay flat on the platen anymore. The ceramic belts don't have this problem but I wouldn't buy more AO belts in 2x72 than you think you will use in 6 months.

 

[Valkman]

You need to go to 60 grit at least for hogging, it's what I used but some go to 36. 60 grit will grind a knife in no time.

 

[Sam Cade]

I go 36,80, 120, 220. Sometimes skipping the 120.

I then go 80, 120, 220 on the vised upside down palm sander to remove scratches.

If the knife is going to be extra pretty I start hand sanding at this point. Otherwise I go up the progression to 2000 grit on the palm sander.