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The Trizact Gator belts "Look" cool <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />:

And I have read some comments somewhere about some people liking them. But, I have read so much, that I honestly can't remember most of what I have read.

I assume you have likely had the opportunity to try more belts than I have. I have mostly just read a bunch. But, I assume you still hang out with Ban (?????) and might get to play with his stuff and starting to accumulate your own based on some possible inside info and playing with his (?????).

The cut lines of the Gator belts seem like they would contour to the grinder wheels better and likely allow the belt to spin smoother (?????) - just theory on my part. I have read where the Gator belts are supposed to run smoother (????).

You already mentioned using and liking the Norton Norzon belts (Ceramic).
I have read some people mention they like the Norton Norax belts a bit more than the Gator belts.
Have you tried the Norax belts?

If I understand correctly, the Gator belts are Aluminum Oxide.
Whereas the Norax belts are ???? not sure... some seem to be AO and other Zirconia (?????)

My concern about the Gator belts is the AO. I have read over and over how AO just doesn't last very long on hardened steel and AO is better for wood and I am guessing fine for micarta (????).

I just recently started using the Silicon Carbide and it does seem noticably better than AO so far.

So, why Gator belts with AO?

Do they make the Gator belts with Silicon Carbide or Zirconia???

Still a bit confused. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />


SO MUCH info and so many options. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Yeah, the gator does look cool. I'm not sure why it runs so smoothly, but your theory sounds legitimate.

I was fortunate to meet Ban early when I started getting into knives. He explained to me a lot of stuff and let me use his 2x72 grizzly and kmg with all different belts. He helped saved me a lot of money because I didn't have to go out and buy different belts to experiment.

I have used Norax at Ban's shop, but I don't have it now because trugrit didn't stock it for my 1x42 when I ordered belts. And I have only really used it for getting the spine, it was more of polishing/finishing belt.

As for the gator not working well on hardened steel, to me, it isn't meant to hog of steel (that's what the Norton Blaze and Norzon are for). The gator has a lot of give so it can't really be pushed hard against when you're running it slack, and it doesn't cut really deep (cuts very clean). BUT that's the exact reason why I like using it for polishing and getting that final convex edge, it puts a clean finish and doesn't need to be pushed hard against get that contour for convexing. So it does cut slower on hardened steel, but by the time I use the belt there isn't much steel left that needs to be removed.

Also, If you use it (gator) with a platen and push hard against it, I can see it destroying the belt very quickly, the grit would just crumble away. But again, I have very specific uses for the gator, it's always for the finals stages and always on slack (unless I'm polishing flats areas, i.e. ricasso, then I use it with the platen). Of the 5 knives I made (few are WIP) and all the knives I've reprofiled, the gator belts are the only ones I haven't changed yet, everything else is on 2nd or 3rd set, but I already have a 2nd set of gators for whenever the originals finally decide to retire. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

JYD #56 Scrap Yard Sword Club #00