SamirCanada - 6-25-2013 at 06:09 AM
Fellow luthier wood working enthusiasts,
where can I find high grit sanding belts for ease of sharpening cutting tools?
I love working with hand stones but I am concidereing starting a mobile sharpening service 
FastForward - 6-25-2013 at 06:18 AM
Hi Samir,
I bought some a while back from tools for woodworking. I am posting a link and I don't know if this violates the rules of the forum,
http://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/store/dept/THS/item/ST-MAF.XX/3M...
Having used them, I would say they would do a decent job, but you have to keep changing the paper frequently. I recently acquired Japanese
waterstones for sharpening, but haven't used them yet, so I can't comment on how they compare.
jdowning - 6-25-2013 at 07:20 AM
Lee Valley of Ottawa sell a wide range of abrasive discs and belts specifically designed for power sharpening of woodworking cutting tool blades (see
pages151 to 152 of their 2013 Tool catalogue).
Ararat66 - 6-25-2013 at 11:03 AM
OK I reckon so long as you don't overheat the blade - but I'm sure you know this, also you can finish off on a whetstone to hone the blade till you
can lick the back of your hand and shave the hairs cleanly without feeling any pull.
Leon
SamirCanada - 6-25-2013 at 07:01 PM
Thanks everyone for the input.
I found this product by worksharp. It looks pretty good I will give it a try. http://www.worksharptools.com/
I am very familiar with wet stones I actually use them for my woodworking tools at home. It just wouldn't be fast enough for mass sharpening however
they are beter especially at finishing the edge in the higher grits so I will offer it as an option to my customers.
Regarding shaving, I shave with a straight razor which I hone myself. It needs to be extremely well finished so the shave is comfortable. I used
norton 4000 , 8000 and chromium oxide paste on leather.
Any other straight razor shaving enthousiasts here?
bulerias1981 - 6-26-2013 at 07:18 AM
I used to do this, now I use a Tormek for my sharpening needs.
Ararat66 - 6-26-2013 at 10:29 AM
You certainly have my respect for that Samir - never had the bottle to do that - I use a traditional safety razor ... and certainly not chisels ...
that would make me 'Leon Palmer, Man of Steel' hmmmmm, not likely :-)
Cheers
Leon
SamirCanada - 6-26-2013 at 10:56 AM
As it turns out Leon my brotha,
there is a forum for everything in these internets. http://www.straightrazorplace.com/
Check it out, its really not as complicated as you think and its very satisfying
Ararat66 - 6-26-2013 at 11:29 AM
I will prepare the first draft of my will right now :-) then check it out ... in the UK we call these 'cutthroat razors' :-)
Leon
jdowning - 6-26-2013 at 12:21 PM
Fortunately Sweeney Todd and his partner were fictional characters in London - they were weren't they Leon? Meat pie anyone!
Surprised that straight razors are still being manufactured.
I always test the sharpness of my freshly honed chisels and plane irons - by shaving the hairs on the back of my arm. I draw the line (for safety
reasons!) when it comes to axe and draw knife blades - although they are made just as sharp as the smaller tools.
Ararat66 - 6-26-2013 at 12:42 PM
Hi there!
Sweeney Todd was fictional as far as I know - but near where I live there really did used to be a Sweeney Todd barber next to a bakery - they had a
mock blood spattered sign ... never went there, or the Bakery !!! The hand shaving thing, I learnt many years ago when I worked for a year casting
large bronze statues and small components at a small foundry in West Wales when I left college - brilliant job.
Leon