You asked.....( You know how I can type <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> )... PM sent. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Top Secret?
All Hush Hush?
Is imaginefj's life in danger now that you told him?
Inquiring minds wanna know...
Talk!
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

another cat slayed!

Yes... It's a Texas thing. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />



Yes.... if he considers wasting time hearing about my career dagerous to the use of his life.





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You don't need to see his work history.

This isn't the sharpening info you're looking for.

You can go about your business.

Move along... move along.






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Seriously, just trying not to "Hijack" the "Sharpening" thread by boring people with my work history or Hijacking this thread into a who does what type of work tangent.
But, as simple, short and fast as I can: We both do work related to Real Estate.

.

Got my belts from Lee Valley - 220, 320, and two leather ones. The first leather one I put on yesterday stretched until it was rubbing against the frame. Is this normal i.e. inconsistencies in the leather or prone to stretching due to length and narrow width? It's been humid here too. The second belt was fine/didn't stretch. I didn't measure it but eyeballing it looks to be about an inch or enough for the top pulley on the delta to move all the way up against the frame.

Gonna call Lee Valley later today.

edit: Called them, they were great, mailing a replacement with a SASE to return the long belt.

Well, after reading about careers I have made it out unharmed.

Got the GAH-RAGE set up:


here's the issue with the leather belts, notice the top pulley rubbing the frame in the first pic:



So out of the twenty or so knives I had to practice on I decided to do it in two batches. They were all in different states and had different angles on the blades. I left out the better looking for my second run and this time I think I'm gonna go knife by knife changing belts rather that try to do them all on each belt, then change to a lighter grit belt. - Some required steeper angles just to dent them so after a few hours into it I got "sloppy". Not really feeling the leather belt, was using green compound and the edges were feeling dull coming from the 320 grit. Was trying to go really light and am thinking I just have to keep refining the technique...

Thanks for all the info, have wanted to do this for years!

I have never had any luck with the leather belts on any of my sanders. I strop by hand. I noticed the platen is in place for bevel edges. For a nice convex, just loosen the allen head bolt and rotate it out of the way. That's one thing I like about the Delta. Nice shop. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

I noticed that on some real cheap knives I had the green compound on leather really did seem to dull it. Polished the edge but didn't have the micro serrations that perhaps made the blades feel sharper. The knives I was sharpening really were junk. They are great for picking weeks though.

Keep working on it, I have the same delta and leather belt w/ green compound, and it always gets me the extra pizazz I'm looking for.

Gonna keep at it, the batch uproach was a mistake. If they all started out the with the same edge it may have gone better. I got really good edges on my kitchen knives.
How often should I be reapplying the compound on the leather belts?
How often should I be lubricating the Delta. It's starting to sound a touch "clanky" after about 7 hours of use, nothing major, I just notice a difference - I spent a lot of time with the 220 belt..... Come to think of it, might be other things vibrating on the table....

With the leather belt since it's thicker ans softer compared to the standard belts, you just need to find that sweet spot (the right angle with the right amount of pressure).

I don't really keep count of how often I reapply the compound. I can feel the difference with the edge when the compound is worn out, and when I feel it's not abrasive enough, I apply more.

I keep the side cover off my delta as well, i try to vacuum as much dust as possible from all the moving parts to keep everything running smoother, but I haven't had to do any maintenance except tightening the drive belt. See if that helps transition the the power more smoothly, because the belt does get more slack from when you first assemble it.