How to: Knife sharpening on a belt grinder

In this knife sharpening tutorial I cover how I sharpen knives on a belt grinder, what grit belts I use, edge angles for different blades, all things to get your knives razor sharp.
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[@lewjac3]

Thanks for the video, you have the soul of a teacher.

[@twwtb]

You can't help but like this guy.

[@bfboobie]

this is EXACTLY the video I needed as I'm looking to get a cheap belt sander for my blades. You cover EXACTLY what I was wondering about. THANK YOU.

[@imrecsikany6349]

My father came from Hungary to Philadelphia,and started a sharpening shop that lasted 40 years. You know your stuff. I am semi-retired myself so such tinkering is in order soon, along with leatherworks. For good memories' sake. Thanks buddy.

[@Laszlomtl]

Very Cool, you have given a credible explanation of how and why you prefer using certain methods for sharpening your knifes,. And you also come across as a likable gentleman!!! Thanks, Laszlo Montreal

[@matsantell6909]

This was one of the best describing diy video i have seen, thanks a lot.

[@gnarlock3927]

True Artisan! This is Day 1 of blade sharpening for me and I just got so schooled. Thank you

[@CHARTERMADE]

Enjoy learning the sharpening process, it will be very rewarding

[@andrewgarrett4959]

I think it would have been informative to explain that a 20 degree angle on you wooden jig actually establishes an edge of 40+ degrees for your final edge since both sides of the knife are sharpened to the centerline of the piece. I say 40 PLUS, because the original angle of the knive's flat bevels also add to the overall angle.

[@bfboobie]

very very important point , thank you. geometry basics and consistent terminology and measurements are important. i think a lot of people misunderstand or at least miscommunicate this about the angles. i mean there could be a chisel edge angle measurement but that is unusual in most knives

[@MrGHansen77]

Thank you so much, the explanation of everything and the demonstration has definitely helped me tremendously.

[@adamkelley6619]

Thank you so much! By far the best and the most complete sharpening video I have seen. It help me a LOT. Again thank you!

[@DraugrForging]

Thanks for your elaborate breakdown. Very helpful for us beginning knife makers!🎉

[@lou3660]

This was the best explanation I have seen. Easy to understand. I learned a lot.. Great job

[@seanjestersloan]

Fantastic! Thank you so much for this video. I was looking for tips on how to put different edges on a blade using a belt grinder. Most tutorials only deal with the overall grind or profile of the knife, not the edge or micro bevel. I do not have a belt grinder but I have a new Work Sharp with the grinder attachment so I wanted to get some tips before I started, to avoid butchering my knives. Thank you again for sharing your knowlege and I look forward to getting stuck into the rest of your videos.

[@daviddaw999]

Thanks for the advice, Terric.

[@MuseLeathercraft]

Thanks Terrick! Love your videos!! G

[@heyimamaker]

Another awesome video! I use my wood lathe and an MDF wheel with polishing compound and that works well for me.

[@PositiveDissent]

You make this seem so easy and straightforward. Thanks for making this video, it cleared up a few things that I've not been able to really understand/put into practice.

[@CHARTERMADE]

You're welcome Zee, I'm glad you got some benefit from it.

[@jorgeluisgarcia1006]

Love your channel, mate!

[@timlovejoy7616]

Very informative and easy to understand

[@CHARTERMADE]

Thanks for your message, glad the video was helpful.

[@MrPhillyval]

I loved the leather belt with the compound. Thx a lot ;-)

[@alfreedom3971]

Very informative video. Thanks for making it!

[@garymundy4398]

Very well done and informative.

[@CantrellLeatherGoods]

Fantastic video! So glad I subscribed and hit the bell! Your great at explaining what you’re doing. Always great content. Thank you.

[@CHARTERMADE]

Thanks Choya, glad you are enjoying the videos.

[@vladimirradic6019]

An excellent presentation with a very clear language brought you a new subscriber. At 08:19 you said grit A45 is equivalent to P500, but it is actually P400 according to numerous available grit conversion charts. Trizact 237AA grit A45 is my finishing belt for butcher/kitchen knives that are decently maintained. I start them on A100 or A65. Abused knives I start on ceramic VSM XK850X P120 and finish on A100. Deburring is done on a slow bench grinder with paper or felt (250mm) wheels. Belt speed on my dry grinder is only 3.5m/s. It is built specifically for freehand or guided knife/chisel/scissors sharpening. I just placed an order for Made in Germany wet belt sharpener that will be used for freehand high volume butcher knife sharpening with VSM ILUMERON RK700X belts, grit P180. Keep well!

[@dscraft6358]

I was searching for knife making videos and found your channel. You do some really nice work. I'll subscribe for sure :)

[@webneko9842]

This is the best video I've seen so far to learn how to do this. Thank you so much. WOuld a polishing wheel on a bench grinder also do what the leather wheel is doing?

[@PennyHicks]

Great lesson thanks

[@Pelle0014]

Really like your vids!

[@TFrax]

THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! I have been looking all over youtube about sharpening knives/axes with a belt sander and no one every specified which direction the belt should be moving. All these videos show the belt going away and towards, it was so confusing. The only person who specified on their vids was the self proclaimed "sharpening pro" wranglerstar who had the belt coming towards his blade and said to have it that way specifically....I thought that was dangerous as hell. Glad I finally came across your vid that clearly states it. Thank you again.

[@CHARTERMADE]

Thanks for your comment, and thanks for watching our videos. So glad you have found it helpful.

[@snipedawgy]

Excellent video, great content with nice editing! I really enjoy how you put these together, can't wait for the next one :)

[@CHARTERMADE]

Thanks, I appreciate the compliment.

[@TobyFireandSteel]

Great video mate. Thanks

[@DeeceCraft]

Great Job Terrick! keep it up!

[@CHARTERMADE]

Thanks so much 👍

[@ReliantHomeSolutions]

Nice video. I would like to hear more about how you pick the sanding grit for each stage of sharpening.

[@iColinCDN]

Great video. Thanks for sharing, it was really helpful.

[@CHARTERMADE]

So glad it could be helpful to you

[@oblazeo]

Nice Vid M8, also diggin tha beat @ 10:50

[@TocilarulTimisorean]

Great video 👍👍

[@dmitryk754]

Great video! I hope to see more soon.

[@CHARTERMADE]

Thanks Dmitry

[@1czechit1]

very awesome!

[@Rsama60]

Good video, I like the explanations too.

[@CHARTERMADE]

Thanks Roland. Appreciate the comment

[@thewoodpb]

Haha great video bro

[@henryworkswoodandmetal]

Great explanation of the process....👍

[@CHARTERMADE]

Thanks Henry

[@harolddial1313]

have you ever tried cork belts with buffing compound for your final edge.I run 2x72 belts on a variable belt grinder

[@roberthoffman7130]

Found your vids as I'm a beginner knife maker and sheath maker lol... I've watched all your vids and enjoy your instructional approach. My approach to my hobbies is slowly combining leatherworking as well. One question to the 2x72 belts I assume you taper your laps when joining to keep the joint nice and even but do you do anything other than glue the leather when making one? I realize a leather belt needs to run slow and with minimal tension. Your advice would be greatly appreciated and thanks for you no nonsense approach I've enjoyed all your vids very much.

[@tonylipari4430]

Great video!! Do you have a video on how to sharpen a one sided beveled chefs knife.

[@Fragkogiannakis_Vasilis]

ΚΑΤΑΠΛΗΚΤΙΚΟΣ ! ! !

[@super66craig]

Just brilliant! you're a great instructor my friend. Could you give some advice on how to figure the measurements to make some wood angle blocks? Like if I used a 4 inch long peice of wood what the dimension from edge to the back of the wood will be cut? Thank you!

[@CHARTERMADE]

Hi Craig, I think just using a protector would probably be the easiest way to getting the angle you needed.

[@rjoinnovativecrafts5124]

May we know how you made your leather belt. Thanks! Great videos

[@Bartowham1]

Great video. How do you sharpen your half round leather tools and punches?

[@jeffjones3246]

Great job and well said. What speed do you run the grinder at?

[@joeldube3887]

What thickness do you grind down to behind the cutting edge on your chef knives???? I've made my first few knives but it seems like i'm still not going thin enough

[@jasonhoward4967]

Is there a 300 series stainless that is good for making knives like 304 or 316?

[@doadoanahtoto740]

Good job ... Kindly how can I get a belt grinder like the one you use?

[@sharpcokorea]

Could you tell me what belt grinder do you use in this video?

[@ffsml74]

What about D2 steel? Would you start with an 80 grit? If so would the 220 be your next go to, or something like a 120? I bought a tracker knife made from D2 and I can’t get a good edge on it. I have been trying to grind it at a 25 degree angle.

[@alexyu6928]

Do you run the belt away from edge or towards to edge? I saw both ways on YT. Any advantage and disadvantage one over the other?

[@Owen322]

What type of finishing belts do you use for the majority of the finishing of your blade

[@christinenorriss9675]

Hi there, when you make the leather belt, how do you join it, for a nice clean even joint?

[@stevendee2831]

Why not both ? Set up a tool steady on the belt at 22° ?

[@nickdavis7520]

Very good video. I subscribed. Where can i buy your knife?

[@pauldelgados4517]

What is the exact model and make of the belt grinder you are using in this video? Thnx awesome sharpening vid.

[@timurkunak1327]

Great thanks! I”m not very good in English, and did I understand you correctly - the belt is not running against the blade, it runs .... like to say ... away from the blade ?

[@ashwhite1014]

That's a 40 deg edge inclusive. To end up at 20 inclusive, you set a 10deg angle from belt. Sharp is sharp tho 👌

[@mreightytwenty8709]

Hi again. Can you tell me a average to good belt sander to start of with and what sand paper belts to get ? Thanks stay safe from NZ

[@dylanmorrison951]

On your sander theres a flat peice under the belt so it dosnt go soft and concave the edge is that an addon? Im looking into getting a belt sander and it dosnt look like they all have that.

[@triune_blades]

What grinder/motor/vfd do you have?

[@philtheknifeslijpdienst4123]

Hy, which speeds do you use on the 80, 220 and 500 belt? as long as it doesn't heat up too much? do you advise edge leading?

[@dorseywsg]

Excellent!! Question;? Compounds ,5 , .03 . how thick is an average! Grren, white and brown?

[@andreblais9960]

Liked your video , tried the 20 degree , started with 1000 then 1200 then 1500 then 5000 , can’t get an edge right why ????

[@emrahercancakir]

Amazing video. Thank you for putting it together. I am hoping to use your technique on a katana. Can you please provide some details on how to cool down the blade to avoid overheating?

[@CHARTERMADE]

Work on a slow speed and use new belts. Touch your edge after each pass to make sure you not getting any heat build up.

[@emrahercancakir]

@@CHARTERMADE Thanks! what should we do if the heat is building up? Considering katanas are made out of high carbon steeels, is it safe to use a wet towel or a bucket of water?

[@pnluther]

Why in these videos do they not mention the direction of the belt? Can't see the direction in the video. I've not found one video yet that explains this. Does anyone know of a video that does that? I guess I've seen about 20 videos and yet to find this basic motion explained. Very frustrating. Anyway, thanks for this video.

[@henningolivier7346]

Wat do you charge for a leather belt for charpening ?

[@russptube]

Hi. Why would you not have the belt running towards you as this would eliminate the burr issue. Maybe not with the strip.

[@mreightytwenty8709]

Great video mate, Can you tell me please, I want to start a mobile sharpening biz here in NZ. What would be best for me? A tormek T8 or say 2 belt sanders like you use. Thanks

[@CHARTERMADE]

Both would work. The benefit of the tormek is it is jig based ie you can set your angle. It is very slow compared to a belt sander. A Belt sander would take more practice but when you have the skill honed it is much quicker and parts stay very cool with ceramic belts.

[@mreightytwenty8709]

@@CHARTERMADE Thanks you from NZ

[@cospittner3526]

What brand/make of grinding machine is that? What is an extractor - just cool air?

[@MuckingMunt]

I suspect he's just using a regular dust extractors passage of air. They're essentially vaccums fixed in place to suck up fine particles rather than them ending up in your lungs. You most often see them on woodworking equipment, where ther is a lot more dust from cutting, sanding and polishing. I dont think the air would be chilled specifically, just the constant movement of room temperature air over the hot metal edge would sap the heat out by means of convection. The idea being, you dont want the metal getting too hot as you grind as it risks damaging the existing heat treatment of the steel and degrading the hardness (resilience) of the blade. By way of example, if you hold a plain piece of metal or steel against a grinding wheel or belt for long enough, the friction will generate enough heat to discolour the metal to a bluish colour. This is affecting the molecular structure and thus properties of the material.

[@Laffittem]

Can you clarify belt going on opposite direction of knife? Is the belt direction going towards the edge it away from it?

[@CHARTERMADE]

if the belt is running towards the edge of the knife then then the belt will be cut by the edge.

[@macknesky5646]

You are a great teacher! Well done!

[@khristopherdunham7494]

I've noticed most grinders I've seen rotate in the opposite direction as yours. Can you easily change direction of belt grinder or do you need to get a specific type of grinder?

[@CHARTERMADE]

All my grinders have 3phase motors with VFD inverters. This is what allows to set a motor in forward or reverse with a flick of a switch.

[@khristopherdunham7494]

Got it. Thanks for the reply!

[@josiehardy6988]

I would have thought the opposite for cutting leather, the thinner the edge the easier it would cut though thick leather. Is the reason you put a 25 degree angle on the pattern knife because a 15 or 20 degree angle would dull to quickly? Also I know you can't give away all your secrets but how do you make your leather polishing\honing belts. Do you skive both ends of the strap, then join the skived ends with a adhesive, then add stitching? or is it possible to cut a large loop out of a large piece of leather then wet it so the shorter side can be stretched to match the other side, then you have a seamless belt? I hope explained well enough that you understand what I mean. Thanks for taking the time to video and sharing your knowledge and experience.

[@CHARTERMADE]

Hi Josie, i actually sharpen at different angles for different leathers but its quite hard to add so much information in a single video without making it more confusing. Anything between 15-20 degrees is perfect. On the belts, I skive both sides and join at 6cm overlap. I then glue a 25cm piece of canvas on the underside going either side of the join. this prevents any pressure on the join. Hope that helps, regards Terrick

[@josiehardy6988]

@@CHARTERMADE Awesome I had not thought of that, that is a great idea. I have tried to making one before, but it just blew apart at the joint, I only glued the skived joint together. I have never seen one in person so I didn't know how they were made. Thanks for the reply. Your craftsmanship on everything you do is amazing, I can only hope my work will be a quarter as good as yours and I'll be happy. Thanks again.

[@Naddan49]

80 grit 220 your finest belt Brownells 555 Polish O-Ray leather belt running on slow What was the finest grit? And which 555 Polish? White, gray or black?

[@CHARTERMADE]

Hi Burt. The finest grit is trizact 845. The polish is black.

[@richardbranton2780]

I don't know why people go and spend a thousand dollars on a knife sharpening system when you can do it on a belt grinder 4 times as fast and just as good. Every time someone tells me they are going to buy one I tell them to watch this video 👍

[@CHARTERMADE]

Cheers thanks for your message

[@marcellamaierauthenticsell9755]

I love u terick

[@HoutmeyersP]

I am a bit puzzled here. If you use a 20 ° piece of wood to set the angle for an edge....you get a 40 °angle in total on your knife.....since you are not grinding a shisel grind. For your kitchen knifes you get a 30° total edge...thats really not a sharp edge ??

[@HoutmeyersP]

Thats not the point i am making. In the video above he is using a wooden 20 degree angle as a guide to grind a 20 degree angle on a chefs knife. But those knifes are sharpened at both sides since you do not use a shisel grind on such a chef knife. If you grind 2 equal sides at 20 degree you get a knife with an edge of 40 degree total. In his explanating drawings at the start you see only 15, 20 an 25 degree total edges....no 30,40 or 50 degree. A plain wood shisel has about a 25 degree angle total.....it needs to be no less for strenght since you are hammering the shisel trough woodgrain (hardwood and softwood even trough endgrain). You can not use a 25 degree angle in a chefs knife....it would not be very easy cutting. So why use a even less sharp angle of 40 degrees total on a chefs knife ??? He should have made a 10 degree wooden guide to get at a 20 degree edge total on a chefs knife. Draw a 40 degree angle on a piece of paper and compare that with the knives you own....you will see thats not the edge you have on any chefs knife in the kitchen :) Use the same reasoning using a using a 25 degree wood guide...that will give you a 50 degree total edge angle on any knife that is sharpened at both sides.....i assure you wont be cutting anything with that broad of an angle.

[@tomekpi7050]

:D

[@gravediggermaxvabeachva]

i like it - thanks........

[@Bobb1julie]

An excellent toutorial.Well articulated ..Presented in a very professional manner . Just what I need another hobby at age 85 ..Being a retired Pro Photographer I appreciate your close up shots . When you can capiivate your audience as you can do , you have arrived. T U 🙏🏿👍.Is a grit of 400/1000/leather acceptable where the knife or deadly sharp and used for filleting fish and cutting up deer ?

[@CHARTERMADE]

Thanks for your message and Im inspired, 85 and taking up new hobbies. I hope to be just like you. All my personal knives will only go to a 400grit on a belt and then the leather strop. I will do hunting knives and kitchen knives like this and I prefer the feedback I get from this edge. Regards Terrick

[@Bobb1julie]

TU Terrick ... I have found a new friend

[@stimpsonjcat67]

How old is the child? ;P

[@stevendee2831]

Im an artisan . I cant afford a shop like that . I marketed on etsy.com and all around in a 75 mile radius . Now im back working in healthcare and i get the same rate i made in 1998 . Wtf

[@vanemaster4345]

Value i got out of the video: You want a razor sharp knife? Own a big a$$ expensive belt sander!

[@patrickhennigan9689]

I've been a machinist for 47 years have my own machine shop and watching you use that bandsaw without the guards is plain dumb. What your showing the other 30,000 people who watched this video is it's ok to use a bandsaw that way. Have you ever seen somebody cut one of their body parts off? It's not pretty and blood all over the place. I love your videos but at least when you put one of your videos out there consider the safety factor.

[@camojoe83]

Sharpening a good knife with power grinding tools: Step One: Don't. The end.

[@super66craig]

Always some expert chiming in. I'll follow his method thank you

[@cfonvip5151]

to much talking.

[@artincorona]

Your'er on crack! He talked just enough to explain the information he was trying to get across.