• Beware of Counterfeit Woodturning Tools (click here for details)
  • Johnathan Silwones is starting a new AAW chapter, Southern Alleghenies Woodturners, in Johnstown, PA. (click here for details)
  • Congratulations to Paul May for "Checkerboard (ver 3.0)" being selected as Turning of the Week for March 25, 2024 (click here for details)
  • Welcome new registering member. Your username must be your real First and Last name (for example: John Doe). "Screen names" and "handles" are not allowed and your registration will be deleted if you don't use your real name. Also, do not use all caps nor all lower case.

Grinding Wheels Vs. Belt Sander?

Joined
Apr 4, 2007
Messages
22
Likes
0
Location
Canastota, NY
I've had the worst time trying to learn how to sharpen my tools on the bench grinder I have...so I took the lazy way out and sharpened my tools on the belt sander at work. No blueing of the steel or overheating occured. What is the downside of this practice? I had extremly good results but figure there must be a reason everyone uses grinding wheels.........
Darrin
 
Joined
May 14, 2006
Messages
42
Likes
0
me too

Vinland said:
I've had the worst time trying to learn how to sharpen my tools on the bench grinder I have...so I took the lazy way out and sharpened my tools on the belt sander at work. No blueing of the steel or overheating occured. What is the downside of this practice? I had extremly good results but figure there must be a reason everyone uses grinding wheels.........
Darrin


I do the same. For scrapers and skews its fairly easy but for gouges it is somewhat time consuming in keeping the same profile. It does work with a little practice.
 

john lucas

AAW Forum Expert
Joined
Apr 26, 2004
Messages
8,322
Likes
3,576
Location
Cookeville, TN
The only downside is dulling the paper. I started my turning career using a belt sander to sharpen. If you change to the blue ceramic belts they will last a lot longer.
 
Joined
May 16, 2005
Messages
3,540
Likes
15
Grit is grit. If the belt is moving away rather than into the edge you don't have to be so careful to avoid rounding and ruining it. Little bit of slack in the cloth can do it, so keeping your pressure light to avoid heat is doing things properly squared.

Make yourself a rest like the one you turn on to help with sharpening. Belt sanders tend to have tables.
 
Joined
Dec 15, 2006
Messages
328
Likes
2
Location
Sierra Foothills
I rarely use a grinder to sharpen my wood turning tools, unless I want to make a dramatic change in the style of cutting edge. I find the belt sander to sharpen just as well, perhaps better, than the abrasive wheel and it doesn't remove as much material as fast as an abrasive wheel does. MM has a good point - watch for slack in the belt and use a tool rest to support the tool while sharpening and you'll be much happier with the results.
 
Joined
Jan 31, 2006
Messages
255
Likes
1
Location
Gaston, Oregon
Belt Sander

I know this sounds dumb, but there will be somebody out there try it...PUHLEEZ!!! DO NOT use your woodworking belt sander (in particular if it is hooked up to your dust collector system!!!) for this....do not need those little sparks in there!!! Be safe, use sense, and it does work well. :cool2:
 
Joined
Dec 15, 2006
Messages
328
Likes
2
Location
Sierra Foothills
Nice looking tool but that's a LOT of bucks to pay for a belt sander with a buffing wheel attachment.
 

John Van Domelen

Retired Forum Admin
Joined
Mar 19, 2007
Messages
340
Likes
1
Location
Houston, TX
Belt sander as grinder

I tried sharpening my tools on a belt sander for the first time this weekend. This weekend was the Spring Retreat that GCWA has every year and one of our members made a home made unit using a 4 inch belt sander placed in the vertical position, using the blue belts and running in reverse so that the feed was from the bottom to the top.

I was very dubious of this thing. But let me tell you what - I was damn impressed after using it. I sharpened my flat and round scrapers on it - never have they looked so 'clean' and the burr was unbelievable. The guy had made several rests that held each type of tool at the correct angle. The gouges were easy to do as well.

And so much for the hollow grind works better argument. I certainly didn't miss it.

I am going to keep the grinder for now as well, but planning on building one of these jobs from a portable belt sander that is not getting used atm. I'll just need to build a cradle for it, and a selection of interchangeable rests that I can fit on pegs in front of the belt.

Give it a try if you have access to one - you may never use a wheel again.
 
Back
Top