NORAX lesson learned

[belia]

While grinding a blade the edge started to get a little thin. Figured I'd grind the edge down a little with the edge across the face of my wheel. Wasn't too concerned about stripping my belt since it appeared to be at the end of it's useful life. Faced the edge of the blade, and while doing so noticed what I expected, small amounts of abrasive being stripped from the belt. Made another pass on the main bevel of the blade, lo and behold, it cut like a belt with lots of life again. Has anyone else observed this with NORAX belts? It d##n't make it like brand new but sure kept it out of the trash can a little longer.

[PeterAtwood]

Those Norax belts are pretty amazing. I am consistently surprised at how long they last. I have started to keep two separate hooks with them though. I keep one hook of general purpose Norax belts and then another with only pristine belts that are used for final finish grinding on the flats and bevels of the blade. The reason is, I have noticed that if you wear a groove in the belt you then cannot get a nice consistent finish across your blade.

[Doug Timbs]

I have been trying to get some Norax belts over here and have been told they come in 3 different types of grit configurations.
U266
U264
U254
Could anyone give me some more info on which ones they are using or if they have tried all 3.
Thanks,
Doug

[KittyHawk]

Look at http://www.nortonabrasives.com/indus...logy/norax.asp andhttp://www.nortonabrasives.com/industrial/literature/pdf/7539.pdf.
There's a U242 type also. Haven't got data on these. They look like 'Tri-Helical' with flexible backing.
Using U242 in X65 (~P200) and X22 (~P800).
I think they perform better (low grinding pressure) than Trizact.

[oldwolf]

I went to the site and couldn't find Norax belt listed anywhere.
D## I miss a catagory?

[KittyHawk]

Try 'Advanced Technology' under 'Products'

[oldwolf]

Thanks Erik. I guess putting them under belts would be too easy
Does Tru-Grit carry them?

[tmickley]

I have had the higher grits seem to glaze over or dull and taken a scrap of metal with a sharp edge to it and pushed that into the belt with some force (on a wheel, not a platen). Abrasive dust seems to fly all over but the belt sharpens back up. In looking at the Nortons site on these belts, they seem to be designed for quite a bit of force, more than what I am using finishing blades apparantly so I've taken to sharpening them occaisionally. They do seem to last forever though and I've only had to do this a few times.

[PeterAtwood]

My cousin is head engineer at Norton's Norax division. He says to apply more pressure than you usually would and run the belts fast for best results. He has sent me U264 series and U464 series belts. I found that the U264's are best for me. I have used a ton of x100 grit and x45 grit belts.

[tmickley]

Peter, wasn't it you that started all this Norax insanity by sending some to Hossum?

[Doug Timbs]

Thanks for the info gentlemen, sounds like these belts will be worth a try.
Doug

[PeterAtwood]

Hi Tracy,

Yeah, the irony is I d##n't even realize at the time just how good the belts are. This last year I have made enough knives that I have really gotten more of the feel of all the different belts, not just Norax.