Sorby proedge belt question

[Jamie Copeland]

Hi all

To owners of the sorby proedge, which sanding belt do you use? Have you tried one and prefer another?

I currently use what came on it, but would like to know if the other available belts (some at eye watering prices) are of any good.

I use mine to sharpen my tools which are all HSS.

 

[paulm]

Depends largely on what you want to use it for Jamie ?

Cheers, Paul

 

[stewart]

Mostly the ceramic 60 grit for turning tools but sometimes the 120. I've used aluminium oxide in the past but I wouldn't bother buying any more of these. I've got a couple of trizact belts of 600 and 1200 (I think) which I haven't used much as I haven't used it for plane blade or hand chisel sharpening yet. For turning the ceramic are quick and cool

 

[custard]

Ceramic mainly, most often 60 grit but occasionally 120. They seem to run cooler, cut fast, and last a long time.

I use the trizact belts for knives, garden shears, draw knives, woodworking gouges, and carving tools. They are superb for these applications and can be used virtually freehand with no grabbing or snatching.

 

[paulm]

Ceramic belts are the most long lasting and the coolest cutting, 40 or 60 grit for heavy grinding and re-shaping of tools, 120 grit for refreshing the edge on turning tools.

I've not found finer than 120 grit in ceramic, so if wanting 180 or 240 grit for tickling up tool edges without wasting steel unnecessarily I use zirconium belts which seem to be the next best alternative to ceramic and easier to find in finer grits.

Alox belts aren't really suitable for sharpening in my experience, they blunt very quickly, but would be fine for wood I guess although there are cheaper machines and belts available if the main use is for wood. Not tried trizact belts as haven't had a need to go as fine as those for the work I do, mainly turning tools resharpening, chisels and plane blades (refreshing bevels before honing on diamond plates or 3M film etc), and a bit of tool making and knife making occasionally.

Hope that helps a bit.

Cheers, Paul

 

[Jacob]

Coarse for fast and cool, finish by hand on an oil stone