Hello there! Everything is in the title. I pass trough far more sandpaper than I like and I would like to know if, for the finishing sanding part of knifemaking, you know any alternative to those really short-lived sheets of 120 grit, 220 grit and 400 grit sandpaper. It is more to reduce waste assossiated to the process of making a knife than for economical reasons. I use sandpaper found in canadian tire so maybe it's just that I lack the correct tools, or maybe there is diamond abrasives or stones out there that could last way longer ? Thanks! Olivier
I do a lot of handsanding and I’ve tried lots of papers . I buy mine at a auto store for metal . A sheet is 9x 11 I cut it in strips 1 1/2 x11 normally about two strips per side per grit is what I use . I pay about .75 cents per sheet so no big deal. I think the paper is made by sika but I’ll have to check when I get home. I start at 150 gr or 180 gr and work my way up to 400 before heat treat. Then after heat treat start at 400 up to 800 and back down to 600 when I’m looking for a nice finish . I use a steel bar behind my paper when sanding . No sure why your useing so much paper I only go to 220 gr belts then hand sand. Start 150 or 180 depends on the blade of the belt. 220 320 400 600 Sand each at a 45 deg to your blade and each time you change gr change the 45 angle to the other way till you get to 600 then straight with the blade. I bet this all sounds like fun .
I was tired just reading that @Kevin Cox As a sales rep for the auto refinish/ collision industry I can say this, check your local paint jobber for things you need like sandpaper and respirators/ filters (Like the pink pancake filters for grinding 3M part# 2097), you'll find all kinds of neat things! And for the record all sandpaper isn't created equal, so be prepared to pay more for the good stuff! Both Norton and 3M have wonderful products at different tier quality/ pricing. You'll buy 50/100 sheets at a time per grit but in the long run you'll save money over buying small packs of off shore crap that wears out quickly. I am not saying which paint jobber I work for as this is not a sales pitch to benefit me or the company I work for
Very true I buy full packs at a time saves lots that way . And just think @Griff in the last two months I sent 80 blades to heat treat . So much fun lol but I do enjoy handsanding it’s were you see the beauty come out in your knife or for me anyway. Maybe I’m weird lol
I don’t think anyone has figured out a way to not use sandpaper. It’s one of the things of the hobby. Hand sanding is one of my favourite parts of making a knife. Like Kevin says, it starts to show the beauty of what you making. I also like it cause there is nothing going on while you are doing it. Unhook your brain and just go. Kind of zen in a way. Find the same thing when I am stitching my leatherwork.
That we can agree on ^^ slowly making the surface perfect have that kind of zen feeling to it. I'll go and check for better sand paper in that case. My last attempt was with "maximum" sandpaper and I used nearly 3 whole sheets of all the grits to complete one knife. (around 10 sheets in total... I was prepared to use a lot but I found that exagerated for a 10 cm blade ^^) @Kevin Cox i'll try the 45 degree too : I was sanding all the time on the blade length. Maybe that will help ^^
10 sheets per knife that's way to much .I use about 1 1\2 to 2 Sheets per knife in total. You can go to Instagram and see a little vedio on my system on hand sanding kcknives.
Rhynowet Red is a good sand paper to. You can get it at Supergrit.com Nick wheeler as some great vedios on handsanding.
I find the 3M Pro Grade (purple sheets) work really well when wet on hardened steel. Kind of on the expensive side, but outlasts the Norton paper I was getting from CKS.
What has really cut down on hand sanding those Vortex conditioning belts. At $25 each they are pricey, but they make a fantastic finish and a belt lasts a very long time. Run them at about 4000 sf/m. They can make a lot of heat so be careful. I have a "no hand sanding" blade on the go now. This photo is showing the results of the blue conditioning belt.
Dan You mean to say no more hand sanding that’s just no fun at all lol. Vortex belt never heard of that one before care to share were you get them. There is a buffing compound to witch is very good at putting a finish on your knifes it comes in different grits. I’ll get that to when I get home. But like the belts things get hot fast so you have to watch it.
The only thing in stores around that was'nt cheap was Sia (siawat 1713) but it is graded for resin and varnish... Guess that Will not Do it hein?
I get them from Rob. Vortex is Norton's version of a 3M Scotchbrite surface conditioning belt, but according to Rob then last twice as long. (I can't say from personal experience as I have never tried a 3M belt, but I trust him). https://www.knifemaker.ca/Norton-Vortex-Surface-Conditioning-Belts-Mediu.html I like the look of going across the blade. Very "factory finish look" but I use them longways too. Hey don't get me wrong, I *love* hand sanding just as much as the rest of you guys. LOL Put on some tunes and drift off in my thoughts. Dan
I buy my wet-dry sandpaper at Peavey Mart! The cheapest place I've found to date for sandpaper. I don't go through more than a sheet or 2, maybe 3, as I hand sand. I have a 4 inch long by 3/4 inch piece of mild steel that I've cleaned up on the groomer, that I use for sanding. It allowe for a more even wear of the sandpaper. Look up Aaron Gough's dancing block. It's a simple design and relatively easy to make. It will help you in the long run. Personally, I could hand sand for hours. It's usually my arthritic hands that tell me to quit!
