Advice on tools for heavy thinning and repairs

[JKerr]

Hello,

I've got a mixed bag of various Chinese knives, some vintage, some just abused that I've picked up cheap or have been gifted. They've been in storage and gathering dust but I thought it'd be fun to fix them up and maybe move them on. I'll get round to posted pictures later so you can see what I'm working with but they run from your standard Shibazi small slicing knife to big Double Sword brand "rhino" cleavers around 14cm wide and about a kilo and one of those CCK butchers knives that kind of look like a machete among others.

This is purely for myself at the moment but may be something I'd be interested in exploring further with actively sourcing old knives and fixing them up as a hobby. I'm comfortable thinning out on stones but for something as heavy and thick as these its pretty brutal on the tendons and stones. I was hoping for some advice on belt/disc sanders or other options. Most versatile belt sizes, costs, is variable speed a worth while investment or not essential if I'm not going right to the edge etc etc...

Thanks in advance!

Cheers,
Josh

 

[Guirotin]

Hi !
Sounds like a belt grinder is the tool you've been looking for.
The most commons uses a 50x2000mm belt. You can put any belt type on it, but i personnaly use p36, p80, p120 and p240 grits for a smooth work.
I dont use a lot aluminium oxides belts, neither ceramic, i find zyrconium to be the best quality price ratio.

 

[JKerr]

Thanks for the advice. I've been keeping an eye out for a cheap belt grinder but one of the issues I'd have is the foot print. The bench in the shed is only 70cm deep (and it's a small space so putting another work bench in isn't an option). Could probably fit a 2x48" in fine but cheapest I can see without a VFD in Australia is around the $1300 mark or $1800+ with a VFD which is getting a little out of what I'd like to spend (unless my tax return is very generous!).

I've seen Ryan at District Cutlery using a belt grinder that kind of looks like a MultiTool and thought that could be an option for keeping cost down and for the limited bench space. 8"/1HP bench grinders pop up on marketplace every now and again and I can get a 2x48" Multitool for between $250-500. Aside from being limited with things like plunge platens and contact wheels is there any huge disadvantage to using a MultiTool/linisher for this kind of work?

Thanks for the recommendation on zirconium belts too. It's pretty overwhelming the choices out there!

Cheers,
Josh

 

[Guirotin]

If yoi have a 500 isd budget, have a look at a machine like that:
https://mytoolswiss.ch/fr/machine-d...iNrsIXz88BMsIgDPjfMQVYlHk4nD-MzxoCXKwQAvD_BwE
I started with that, and was more tgan happy with it.
It has drawbacks, the main is its fixed speed, but you can make a speed variator if you know well electricity.

And then, you can save time and money for a proper belt grinder later.

 

[JKerr]

Nice one. That's the kind of set up I was contemplating to get started. Thanks for the help @Guirotin !

Cheers,
Josh