I have got a cheap but serviceable commercial belt sander that I have successfully used for thinning knives. The only downside of the thing is that the belt is basically only accessible from the right hand side, the left hand side is taken up by the running gear and covers of the belt and stuff. The belt runs "towards me". (Pic: https://cdn.preisvergleich.check24....heppach-bgs-700/scheppach-bgs-700_600x600.jpg)
So far I have thinned my knives always with the edge "trailing" for both sides. That worked well for the right hand side of the blade. I made do for the left hand side by holding the knife at weird angles and maneuvering the knive on parts of the belt where the handle would mostly not get in the way of the covers and the running gear, but it was a bit of a PITA and has caused some uneven spots and slightly mauled handles.
My question is: can the left hand side of knive be safely thinned with the edge "leading", without the knife cutting into the belt, catching and getting hurled right into my chest or stomach as I am sitting in front of the belt sander? I am fairly secure in my motor skills and I am sure I would be able to hold the knife consistently at such a low angle that the actual bevel of the knife would be gliding over the belt, like the raised tip of a ski lets it glide over the snow, but I am still a bit leery. The speed of the belt is not adjustable, so it is always running at full speed ...
So far I have thinned my knives always with the edge "trailing" for both sides. That worked well for the right hand side of the blade. I made do for the left hand side by holding the knife at weird angles and maneuvering the knive on parts of the belt where the handle would mostly not get in the way of the covers and the running gear, but it was a bit of a PITA and has caused some uneven spots and slightly mauled handles.
My question is: can the left hand side of knive be safely thinned with the edge "leading", without the knife cutting into the belt, catching and getting hurled right into my chest or stomach as I am sitting in front of the belt sander? I am fairly secure in my motor skills and I am sure I would be able to hold the knife consistently at such a low angle that the actual bevel of the knife would be gliding over the belt, like the raised tip of a ski lets it glide over the snow, but I am still a bit leery. The speed of the belt is not adjustable, so it is always running at full speed ...