Posts: 10
Threads: 1
Joined: Apr 2018
Hi everyone,
My name is Kevin, and I recently got a Viel S-5 (my first powered sharpener). I'm still putting it together and was looking for a pyroceram platen, when I got a recommendation to contact Mark Reich, who let me know about this forum.
To give you a little background on my Viel project, I'm just a regular guy who's been using waterstones to keep my knives acceptably sharp (I'm too lazy to keep them really keen, plus I'm slow). As the 'knife guy' I would sharpen kitchen knives for my friends and family occasionally, but most of them were so painfully dull I'd spend ages on coarse stones just to reprofile the edges... only to find them butter-knife dull again a few months later. Sigh, no matter how much I plead not to use plates as cutting boards, or chop frozen meat, or toss knives in the sink full of dishes....
A few months ago I decided to get a KO Worksharp to speed up the work. I could bring it to people's houses and sharpen in the backyard. Well, researching the topic led me to look into all manner of 1x30 and 1x42 belt grinders, and some of the larger ones, too. Since I wanted to keep the machine portable, that ruled out a 2" belt grinder. At the same time, I wanted to keep the door open to dabble in knifemaking in the future, and I have a friend in college who's getting started in knifemaking but is tight on cash, so I could lend him the machine when I'm not using it.
I settled on the Viel S-5 and picked up a motorless one from Lee Valley during one of their free shipping promos. I also got a Baldor 3/4hp motor and KB VFD from some nice ebay deals. I know variable speed seems overkill for a Viel, but I wanted an enclosed motor and a machine that could last a lifetime of use. I wired it up last week, and now I'm experimenting with motor base shims to get the belt centered on the drive wheel. I'm also putting together a Tru-Grit order for 1x42 belts, mostly Norton Blaze and 3M Trizact (I'm welcome to other suggestions).
Does anyone know where I can get a 1" pyroceram platen? That's what led me to Mark, and maybe some folks could point me in the right direction. Thanks for reading my long intro, and I look forward to being a part of the community here.
P.S. I can't seem to add a pic as an attachment, sorry about that.
Posts: 945
Threads: 74
Joined: Mar 2017
Reputation:
0
Welcome to the forum Mr. Kevin, glad to have you aboard. 
I use a Kally not a Viel, but there are many members here who use Viels and have done nice variable speed mods. I'm sure you will hear from them when the world wakes up in the morning.
I've been using 1x42 Cubitron belts and think they are great. They are really sharp and last longer than anything else I've tired.
Posts: 504
Threads: 55
Joined: Feb 2017
Welcome to the exchange, Kevin.
Whoever steered you toward Mark Reich did you a huge favor. Mark called me over the weekend about your pyroceram situation. Pyroceram is used in woodburning fireplaces. I found that glass shops either have it in stock or can order it. (It is a Corning product.)
While I was waiting for my local glass shop to cut mine, I had a thought. I used to have a side business making custom black and white prints in my darkroom. Making one print is time and material intensive to tweak it just right. I could give the customer a substantial price break on a second print and actually make more money. So, I asked the glass shop how much more three would cost.
What you want to find is a shop with some left over off cuts from a larger job. I don't remember the exact prices, however, I recall that one cost around twenty dollars US. Three (actually the glass cutter threw in a fourth slightly nicked one) cost thirty dollars. We both did better. Ask around at glass shops to see who might have some left over small pieces. If you can't find any locally, email me and I will contact my local store. I recall sending my extras to friends. I will check to see if I might still have one. If so, I will gladly give it to you.
Quoting the old Mae West line, "Too much of a good thing is wonderful", (she was a very buxom actress whose name was used for life vests during WWII), I think variable speed really makes the Viel shine. I have found that a small increase in grinding time can give a large increase in temperature control. Like you, I started with the basic Viel from Lee Valley during free shipping. I liked as a fixed speed belt grinder. I like it much more as a variable speed, reversible machine. There are several related topics on bessex.
I was very fortunate to find the bessex group. This group, though small in number, is large in experience and generousity in helpfulness. I have learned much from the others. You are among friends.
Time to roust my grandchildren for school.
Ken
Posts: 500
Threads: 38
Joined: Mar 2017
Bruin this should be a good week for you because you're beginning it with great good fortune. You have fallen into the guiding and capable hands of our very own "Mr. Viel" Ken. There just couldn't be a luckier beginning to a week. Welcome to the BESS Exchange!
Posts: 504
Threads: 55
Joined: Feb 2017
04-16-2018, 02:51 PM
(This post was last modified: 04-16-2018, 04:50 PM by Ken S.)
Kevin,
Even more fortunate, you have our resident knife sharpening with the belt grinder expert scientist, Mr. Grepper on the case.....
Ken
Posts: 592
Threads: 26
Joined: Mar 2017
Reputation:
0
Hello Mr. Kevin, thank you for the nice introduction, it's good to see you here.
Wow, you are starting off with a heck of a build! A 3/4hp Baldor and KB VFD is a fabulous combination.
If a Viel ever needed a glass platen, this would be the one. Your lucky friend will have the most capable 1" machine for knife making he could find.
Blaze belts are very good, although the last I knew, they didn't come finer than 120 grit. I haven't ordered 1" belts for quite a while, so I'm not sure who all is making good ceramic belts finer than the excellent 150 grit Cubitrons Mr. Grepper uses. I use Deerfos mylar ceramic belts in the finer grits.
Although they used to be pretty popular, I've never been a fan of Trizact belts. They are too soft unless you're on the platen, it's very difficult to gauge wear, and they build heat more than any other belt. I'd rather have a regular scratch pattern than the Trizact's smooth finish.
You will definitely want a Surgi-Sharp leather belt or two. I like leather with 16µ and 4µ PDP diamond compound for finishing carbon steel. CBN compound works better for deburring stainless.
I'd probably welcome that piece of glass from Mr. Ken if I were you.
Posts: 945
Threads: 74
Joined: Mar 2017
Reputation:
0
Mr. Ken exclaimed, “Even more fortunate, you have our resident knife sharpening with the belt grinder expert scientist, Mr. Grepper on the case.....”
Aw shucks Mr. Ken. I have to pass the accolades to Mr. Reich who is far and above more experienced than I, and who I believe has about 103 Kallys lined up on his bench and many other beautiful high-end grinders too.
Posts: 945
Threads: 74
Joined: Mar 2017
Reputation:
0
The 150 grit Cubitron belts Mr. Mark mentioned are these. They are a cool orange color and look great on a grinder. Super light pressure makes a nice toothy edge, and the belts seem to last and last.
https://www.rshughes.com/search.html?q=1...&fv.1=P150
I also have the 120 grit Cubitron II’s, but they are a bit aggressive for knife edges even for me. Very nice belts though. Sharp and aggressive. Pretty easy to reduce a blade to a toothpick with those things.
I’ve also used the Deerfos 180 and 220 grit belts which are a pretty blue color and really enhance the shop ambience especially when hanging next to the Cubitrons. I like them, but they don’t seem to last as long as the Cubitrons and are just a bit on the fine grit side for me. The 180’s are not bad though and I use them sometimes depending on the blade.
DEER JS 997 Blue Ceramic J-Flex Cloth Belts
http://www.supergrit.com/products/produc...ts-ceramic
Posts: 504
Threads: 55
Joined: Feb 2017
Kevin,
I will look in my shop for pyroceram. If I can't find any, I go by the glass shop fairly often. I'll keep you posted.
On Grepper's recommendation, I ordered ten Cubitron belts from RS Hughes. I am now a satisfied customer.
Ken
Posts: 10
Threads: 1
Joined: Apr 2018
Gents, thank you all for a warm welcome! I'm sorry to reply a bit late tonight as I was out all day.
Ken, I appreciate your tip in checking local glass shops. I did find a 1" piece from USAKnifeMaker, though it's only 5". Do you think I should look for something longer? I'm not sure how long of a piece I should look for. I read I should radius the edges and use original JB weld to glue it on, and that's about all I know. I will do some reading on the forum this week for your older posts on the Viel. I got a reversing switch for the VFD, and I plan to try the Viel both vertically and horizontally to see which works best for me.
Mark, thank you again for inviting me here. I gave my friend an old copy of Loveless's "How to Make Knives," and he's stoked. I got a tip that Blaze belts work well for lower grits, and I found 36, 60, 80, and 120 grits in 1x42. I'll look into some Cubitrons and Deerfos mylar ceramics, and definitely a Surgi-Sharp belt to start. Thanks also for your tips on compound; I have some Elmax, S30V, 3V, etc. so I figure I need something harder than chromium oxide on the leather.
grepper, thanks for those belt links! I only knew one online 1x42 belt supplier before your post, and now I can shop around. Whatever belts work for you and Ken must be winners.
|
