How To Sharpen A Knife On A Belt Grinder

How to sharpen a knife with a belt grinder.
I used the following things.
- KMG 2x73 belt grinder
- 120 grit Norton Blaze Ceramic Belt
- Trizact A30 belt
- 1/4” spiral sewn buffing wheel with green chromium oxide compound on a high speed buffer
TheSharpeningGuy.com

[@garycullen1241]

Great video! I sharpen my blades at about a 17 degree angle, right behind the top of the 10" wheel I use. It's where the belt is very stiff. I also run the belt towards me. All the old timers did it that way. You kids are afraid of the belt running towards you! LOL You always make sure your belt doesn't have any nicks and it works fine. You are barely touching the belt like you said anyway, so it's not going to dig into the belt as long as your belt is good. I grind the primary hollow grinds with the edge up and the belt running towards me, (Belt running down) using my 10" wheel as well. I forget why the old guys said to do it that way. I think it's so you get a crisp line for the hollow grind. I do buff with the cutting edge down because my wheel is not stiff enough and you don't want the buffer to grab the blade! I do have a leather belt that I just remembered. I will try your method. I'm not stubborn enough to keep an open mind. I still learn something new every day, after 55 years of being a self taught machinist, that has run a very successful manufacturing business for 43 years. I see your T shirt says Peru, IN. I'm near Chicago Il., in New Lenox, IL. Your 150 miles from me. Do you ever come this way on I-80? I'd love for you to stop over. See if you can find me on Facebook. I'd like to show you my knives. My name is Gary Cullen. My Instagram is; garycullen116

[@Ratlins9]

Nice video but one suggestion. Set your camera higher, closer and angled downward to obtain a better view. Your arms were level with the knife so it completely obscured the knife sharpening process. Your narration and tips were excellent.

[@DouglasPayne-yo2ib]

Tried so many ways that didn't work - very sharp very quickly - Thank you!

[@TheSharpeningGuy]

Glad it helped!

[@BeenThrDunThat]

Thanks for the vid 😊 I am so glad I stumbled onto your services though even if it is a bit of a drive for me. You have a customer for life now. The knives I have dropped off, even our cheap ones, are just amazingly sharp. Will keep them coming for sure. It was great to see your setup. Keep up the great work!

[@TheSharpeningGuy]

Thanks!

[@RedBullOficialSupport]

Can you make a video of all the gear that you use to sharpen the knives? Like the belt sander or sharpening wheels etc

[@jordanjohnson7266]

I’d love to see this also!

[@DaleElder11]

Great video, thank you.

[@TheSharpeningGuy]

Glad you liked it!

[@jukio02]

I use the ken onion edition work sharp. I took the guides off and twisted it so that the belt is horizontal where the belt is spinning away from me. I just use an off brand 120 grit belt, and it works perfectly fine. I used a 400 grit, but it wasn't sharpening that well(it was okay), so I just use 120 and that's it. I used a diamond sharpener before this, and it was awesome, but it just took too long, now I sharpen my knives fast and effortlessly.

[@GlennLaguna]

Great tutorial Matt. 😎

[@TheSharpeningGuy]

Thanks!

[@leadingedgeknifeandtoolsha4128]

GREAT VIDEO!!! ULINE CATALOG FOR THE WIN!!

[@TheSharpeningGuy]

Thanks! Those catalogs do come in handy for that.

[@pikeandtrout]

Exactly what I needed. Thanks for the video. Can I ask. in general how many knives can be sharpened with a trizact belt?

[@natewarner359]

Yes

[@thomask837]

Nice set up there

[@TheSharpeningGuy]

Thanks!

[@thomask837]

@@TheSharpeningGuy thanks for the reply. Hey can I ask. Do you ever use a Tormek T8. Trying to decide between it and a 2x48 or 72

[@TheSharpeningGuy]

I own a T7. That being said, a 2x48 or 2x72 is way better.

[@thomask837]

@@TheSharpeningGuy thanks for the confirmation. I was thinking of getting the new t8 but I think a 2x48 will do the trick

[@TheSharpeningGuy]

That sounds like a good choice.

[@keithbarnold2]

Great video Matt. It would be nice if the camera was set to show a close up view. Your hands are in the way.

[@kenmalesky351]

What do you find is best for deburring as there are so many options these days? Can you explain why ceramic belts vs others? Thanks, great video.

[@TheSharpeningGuy]

Thanks! I personally prefer quarter inch spiral sewn buffing wheels with green compound. That being said, hard felt wheels, paper wheels, cardboard wheels, felt belts, leather belts, etc. can also work well. I prefer ceramic belt’s because they last a long time, cut with very little heat, and leave a nice consistent scratch pattern.

[@kenmalesky351]

@@TheSharpeningGuy where do you get your wheels if I may ask

[@TheSharpeningGuy]

Perfect Edge Cutlery

[@joef1551]

Hi, just a question. What grit is an A30 belt?

[@TheSharpeningGuy]

@@joef1551600 grit

[@jordanjohnson7266]

Hi Matt, why do you prefer horizontal grinding? Also, why do you prefer a radius, platen or large wheel?

[@TheSharpeningGuy]

The horizontal part is really just personal preference. I personally like it better ergonomically and I’m also more used to it, but as you’ve seen I can use both and both work well. As far as the radius platen or wheel goes, I think it gives you a cleaner and crisper edge than a belt sliding over a flat platen does.

[@l26wang]

@@TheSharpeningGuy Would the radius platten give a slight hollow or concave to the bevel? i.e. if you brought it to a flat stone, not the entire bevel would be ground until the hollow is removed?

[@markmerz8594]

I have a kmg. What is on your platen?

[@TheSharpeningGuy]

I have a radius platen on it. You can either make your own like I did, or there are various ones for sale.

[@bas4241]

You said you are putting a convex edge on the knife, but it looks to me like you are putting a slightly concave edge on it…your platen is bowed out like a wheel. To get a convex edge you would need a slightly slack belt. Am I missing something?

[@TheSharpeningGuy]

If I said that (I did not rewatch the video), then I misspoke. I was probably trying to say I was using a convex platen, not that it would produce a convex edge.

[@bas4241]

That sounds right…Thanks!